The big guide to choosing a payment solution

What is a payment solution? And what is a payment method?

There are many terms in the payments world and several are used interchangeably, payment solution, payment system, payment gateway, payment method, payment service. At its core it is not that complicated: as a web shop operator you need to choose 1) which payment methods you want to offer and 2) one or more payment providers that can deliver them.

• Payment method = different ways to pay
• Payment provider = a company that offers one or more payment methods (their own and/or others')

Psst! To offer card payments you need two things: card acquiring and a payment gateway. Some providers offer only one, but more and more offer all-in-one solutions.

Different payment methods and examples of online payment solutions

• Card payment. The customer enters a card number (debit, charge or credit card). Considered one of the simplest payment methods. Offered by Stripe, Adyen, Klarna and more.
• Invoice / Buy Now Pay Later. The customer gets the goods first, invoice later, often perceived as the safest payment method. In 2026 digital invoices with bank ID-style authentication are standard in many markets. Offered by Klarna, Walley, Qliro and others.
• Direct bank transfer. Online banking, Swish or similar services. The customer logs in and pays directly. Swish dominates the Swedish market, fast, simple, popular.
• Apple Pay / Google Pay. Tap-to-pay via mobile biometrics. Has grown significantly in recent years and is expected in most modern stores.
• Cash on delivery. Has dropped sharply in popularity and is barely used in e-commerce today.

You pick one or more of these for your store. Klarna Checkout is one of the most established all-in-one solutions and includes Klarna invoice, direct payment, card payment and more. Swish for business is another common component on the Swedish market, the payment pops up automatically on the customer's phone for confirmation.

How to find the best payment solution for your web shop

Go through the following to cover the essentials:

• Consider your customers' preferences. Security, speed and simplicity rank differently depending on customer group. Different customers prefer different payment methods, offer several.
• Consider provider trust. The provider handles your customers' money. Pick well-known players that customers recognize.
• Compare costs. Three cost types: setup cost, monthly cost, transaction fee. Costs can vary depending on your e-commerce platform, with Quickbutik, for example, the monthly cost for Klarna Checkout is included.
• Review payout time. The time from purchase to money landing in your account varies. Some providers offer shorter payout times via special agreements, choose Klarna via Quickbutik and you get the money after just four days.
• Think about contract length and notice period. Contracts vary, 0 months vs 12 months is a big difference.
• List features and consider uptime. Can customers save details? Does reconciliation work with your accounting software? How stable is the provider's service?
• Ask yourself if you can trust the provider. Expertise, support, and updates that keep pace with industry changes.

With a grip on the terms, the different payment methods and the comparison criteria, you are ready to navigate the jungle. Good luck!