BlueSnap vs. GoCardless: A Comprehensive Comparison

Choosing the Right Payment Processing Strategy for Your Business

When selecting a payment processing solution, the choice between BlueSnap and GoCardless represents a fundamental decision about your payment strategy and business model. BlueSnap offers comprehensive global payment orchestration with support for credit cards, digital wallets, and 110+ payment types across 200+ regions, while GoCardless specializes in bank-to-bank Direct Debit payments for recurring transactions. This decision shapes not just your payment processing costs, but your entire approach to customer billing and international expansion. BlueSnap processed over $20 billion in transactions in 2024, serving businesses with complex global payment needs, while GoCardless generated revenue of around USD 167.6 million in 2024 and processed almost USD 50.3 billion in payment volumes, focusing on businesses requiring recurring payment collection.

Key Takeaways

Payment Focus: BlueSnap is a global payment orchestration platform supporting credit cards, wallets, and 110+ payment types, while GoCardless specializes exclusively in bank-to-bank Direct Debit and ACH payments
Pricing Philosophy: BlueSnap uses standard 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fees for global payments, while GoCardless offers lower-cost Direct Debit at 1% + $0.20 (capped at $4 per transaction)
Global Reach: BlueSnap provides local card acquiring in 47 countries with 100+ currencies, while GoCardless operates Direct Debit schemes in 30+ countries
Use Case Alignment: BlueSnap excels for businesses needing diverse payment methods and global e-commerce, while GoCardless is purpose-built for recurring subscriptions and invoice payments
Market Position: BlueSnap serves B2B and B2C businesses requiring comprehensive payment options, while GoCardless targets businesses with recurring billing models

Payment Solution Type Overview

Modern payment processors can be categorized into distinct approaches based on their payment method focus and target use cases.

Global Payment Orchestration Platforms offer comprehensive payment processing across multiple payment types including credit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, and local payment methods. These platforms prioritize flexibility, global reach, and integration capabilities to serve businesses selling internationally with diverse payment needs.

Bank Payment Specialists focus exclusively on bank-to-bank payment methods such as Direct Debit, ACH, SEPA, and BACS. These platforms emphasize lower transaction costs, automated recurring billing, and reduced payment failures specifically for subscription-based and recurring payment models.

BlueSnap Overview

BlueSnap is a Global Payment Orchestration Platform that simplifies payments, while helping businesses reduce costs and increase sales. Founded in 2001, the company has evolved into a comprehensive payments solution serving B2B and B2C businesses globally.

What Is BlueSnap?

BlueSnap provides an All-in-One Payment Orchestration Platform designed to increase sales and reduce costs for B2B and B2C businesses globally. The Platform supports online and mobile sales, marketplaces, subscriptions, invoice payments and manual orders through a virtual terminal. BlueSnap’s capability to facilitate global sales through a single integration and contract empowers businesses to sell worldwide with local card acquiring in 50 countries, offering various global currencies and payment types that cater to customer preferences, including popular eWallets.

How Does BlueSnap Work?

BlueSnap operates as a unified payment orchestration platform that connects businesses to multiple payment methods, currencies, and acquiring banks through a single integration. BlueSnap’s Platform is connected to a network of 30 global banks. Through its flexible processing engine, it routes transactions with intelligent payment routing technology to the best banks to ensure maximum payment success. The platform handles the entire payment lifecycle from checkout to settlement, including fraud prevention, compliance, and reconciliation.

BlueSnap’s approach centers on providing modular payment technology that can be tailored to specific business needs, with each element turned on or off as required.

BlueSnap Features and Pricing

BlueSnap’s Features

110 payment types, including popular eWallets
Local acquiring in 47 countries via a network of local banks
Support for over 100 currencies and processing payments from 180 countries
Intelligent payment routing for optimal approval rates
Built-in world class fraud prevention to protect sales partnered with Kount
Chargeback management and automated accounts receivable
White-labeled payment solutions with automated underwriting
Subscription billing and recurring payment management
Virtual terminal for manual order processing
Level II and Level III B2B transaction support
Built-in tax compliance and regulatory solutions
Comprehensive API and hosted checkout options

BlueSnap’s Pricing

Standard pricing: 2.9% + 30p per successful transaction
Custom pricing available for high-volume businesses
No setup fees, monthly fees, or annual fees
£15 fee for each chargeback
Pricing may vary based on business size and transaction volume

BlueSnap’s Transaction Fees

Online payments: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Custom rates for high-volume merchants
No monthly minimum fees
Volume-based discounts available

BlueSnap’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths of BlueSnap

Comprehensive Payment Types: Access to 110 payment types including popular eWallets enables businesses to serve diverse customer preferences
Global Infrastructure: Local acquiring in 47 countries reduces cross-border fees and improves authorization rates
Intelligent Payment Routing: Connected to a network of 30 global banks with intelligent payment routing technology to ensure maximum payment success
All-in-One Solution: Single integration provides payment gateway, merchant account, and advanced features
Strong Fraud Protection: Partnership with Kount provides advanced fraud prevention and device fingerprinting
Embedded Payments: White-labeled solutions for platforms with automated underwriting and onboarding
Proven Track Record: Processed over $20 billion in transactions in 2024

Weaknesses of BlueSnap

Standard Pricing: 2.9% + $0.30 fees are higher than Direct Debit alternatives for recurring payments
Complexity: More features mean steeper learning curve compared to specialized solutions
Account Compliance: Some user reports of strict account compliance reviews
Implementation: May require developer resources for full API integration
Limited Direct Debit Focus: While available, bank payments aren’t the primary focus

Who Benefits the Most From BlueSnap?

BlueSnap Is Best For

Global E-commerce Businesses: Companies selling internationally requiring multiple payment methods and currencies
B2B Companies: Enterprises needing Level II/III transaction support and complex invoicing
Platform Businesses: SaaS platforms and marketplaces requiring embedded payment solutions
Multi-Channel Sellers: Businesses processing payments online, mobile, in-person, and via virtual terminal
High-Value Transactions: Companies processing large B2B transactions requiring optimal routing
Diverse Payment Needs: Businesses requiring credit cards, digital wallets, ACH, wire transfers, and local payment methods

Ideal Use Cases For BlueSnap

International B2B companies requiring global payment acceptance
Software platforms monetizing payments for their merchants
E-commerce businesses expanding into multiple countries
Subscription businesses needing both card and alternative payment methods
Companies requiring sophisticated fraud management and chargeback protection
Businesses needing accounts receivable automation with global capabilities

GoCardless Overview

GoCardless is a fintech company that specialises in bank payments including recurring payments, Direct Debit processing and Open Banking. Founded in 2011, GoCardless provides a payment gateway that enables businesses to set up and manage payments, subscriptions and invoices with automated payment processing.

What Is GoCardless?

As of 2022, GoCardless reportedly processes $30 billion worth of transactions annually and operates in the UK, European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. The platform specializes in bank-to-bank payments, allowing businesses to automatically collect payments directly from customers’ bank accounts using schemes like Direct Debit (UK), ACH (US), SEPA (Europe), BECS (Australia), and PAD (Canada).

How Does GoCardless Work?

Customers set up payment details online taking only two minutes to complete, and customers are always notified by email when a subscription is starting or one-off payment is being taken. Once authorized, businesses can automatically collect payments on scheduled dates without requiring customers to take action for each transaction. The platform handles the entire Direct Debit lifecycle including mandate creation, payment collection, failure management, and intelligent retry logic.

GoCardless’s approach focuses on removing the friction and cost of card payments by leveraging bank payment networks, giving businesses full control over when and how much they collect from customers.

GoCardless Features and Pricing

GoCardless’s Features

Direct Debit collection across 30+ countries
ACH Pull payments in the United States
SEPA Direct Debit for European payments
BACS Direct Debit for UK payments
PAD (Pre-Authorized Debit) for Canada
Instant Bank Pay powered by Open Banking for immediate payment confirmation
Success+ intelligent retry technology for failed payments
Protect+ fraud prevention for bank payments
Real-time payment tracking and reporting, payment failure alerts, and customer insights
Integration with 350+ partner softwares including Xero, Sage, and QuickBooks
Customizable payment pages and branding
Webhooks and comprehensive API
Automated reconciliation with accounting software

GoCardless’s Pricing

Standard Plan:

1% + £0.20 per transaction
Max price cap £4 per domestic transaction
No monthly fees for first 90 days
Integration with dashboard or API

Advanced Plan:

1.25% + £0.20 per transaction, max cap £5
Success+ intelligent retry for failed payments
Instant bank account verification
Custom payment pages and email notifications

Pro Plan:

1.4% + £0.20 per transaction, max cap £5.60
Protect+ fraud prevention and monitoring
Full customization capabilities
Advanced chargeback management

Custom Plan:

Volume-based pricing for high-transaction businesses
Country-specific rates
Priority support
Pre-sale solutions engineering

GoCardless’s Transaction Fees

Domestic payments: 1% + £0.20 (capped at £4) for Standard plan
International payments: 2% + £0.20 per transaction (no cap)
High-value transaction fee: 0.3% applies to payments above £2,000
Charities receive 25% discount on standard transaction fees
Refund and chargeback fees apply in certain countries

GoCardless’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths of GoCardless

Low Transaction Costs: 1% + £0.20 capped at £4 is significantly lower than card processing fees
Recurring Payment Expertise: Purpose-built for subscriptions, invoices, and recurring billing
Payment Control: Businesses control when and how much to collect, eliminating late payments
Reduced Failure Rates: Success+ intelligently retries failed payments to maximize collection
Extensive Integrations: 350+ pre-built integrations with business software
No Card Expiration Issues: Bank accounts don’t expire, reducing payment update friction
Instant Bank Pay: Instant payment confirmation using Open Banking
Strong Growth: Revenue grew 38% in FY24, with international markets growing 47%

Weaknesses of GoCardless

Limited Payment Methods: Only supports bank-to-bank payments, no credit cards or digital wallets
Slower Settlement: Direct Debit payments take several days to clear vs instant card payments
Geographic Coverage: While expanding, fewer countries than global card networks
Not Ideal for One-Off Purchases: Best suited for recurring billing, less optimal for one-time e-commerce
Account Compliance Reports: Some users report strict compliance reviews and account closures
Customer Setup Required: Customers must complete mandate setup, adding friction vs card payments

Who Benefits the Most From GoCardless?

GoCardless Is Best For

Subscription Businesses: Companies with recurring monthly or annual billing models
Membership Organizations: Gyms, clubs, associations collecting regular dues
Invoice-Based Businesses: B2B companies sending recurring or variable invoices
Service Providers: Utilities, telecom, insurance, and other recurring service businesses
Charities and Nonprofits: Organizations qualifying for 25% discount on fees
UK and European Businesses: Strong presence in Direct Debit markets
Cost-Conscious Businesses: Companies wanting to reduce card processing fees

Ideal Use Cases For GoCardless

SaaS companies with monthly or annual subscriptions
Merchants charging customers on a recurring basis including services based around subscriptions (like gyms or newspapers) or recurring payments (like auto loans or utilities)
Membership-based businesses collecting regular fees
Rental property management collecting rent payments
Accounting firms managing client retainers
Educational institutions collecting tuition and fees
Businesses wanting to eliminate late payment chasing

Financial & Market Insights

Market Position: BlueSnap processed over $20 billion in transactions in 2024 serving B2B and B2C businesses requiring comprehensive global payment solutions. As of August 2025, BlueSnap’s annual revenue reached $75M with approximately 273 employees. BlueSnap announced it has signed a definitive agreement to join the Payroc family, setting the stage for continued global payment innovation.

GoCardless generated revenue of around USD 167.6 million in 2024, up from USD 119.4 million in 2023, demonstrating strong year-over-year growth. Payment volumes reached almost USD 50.3 billion in FY24. GoCardless has 834 total employees and operates as a private company.

Growth Trajectories: BlueSnap was recognized as a Data Quadrant Champion and Emotional Footprint Champion by Info-Tech Research Group in 2024, and received the 2025 BigCommerce Technology B2B Excellence Award. The company continues expanding its embedded payments capabilities and global acquiring network.

GoCardless grew revenue by 41% to £132 million in full-year 2024, with international revenue from markets outside UK & Ireland growing 49.4%. North American revenues increased 51% in FY24, showing strong expansion beyond European markets. GoCardless recorded its first-ever profitable month in March 2024 and aims to post its first full-year profit within 12 to 18 months.

Investment and Innovation: BlueSnap has raised $87.5M, with backing from Great Hill Partners and Parthenon Capital Partners. The company continues investing in payment orchestration technology and accounts receivable automation.

GoCardless is backed by Alphabet’s venture arm GV, Accel and BlackRock, and was last privately valued at $2.1 billion in February 2022. In July 2022, GoCardless acquired Open Banking provider Nordigen, and in March 2024 acquired payment services company Sentenial (operating as Nuapay), expanding capabilities in open banking and payment sending.

Feature Comparison

Feature	BlueSnap	GoCardless
Billing & Invoicing	✅	✅
Currency Support	✅	✅
Customizable Branding/White Label	✅	✅
Deployment Options	✅	✅
Fraud Prevention Tools	✅	⚠️ (Basic tools)
Integration Capabilities	✅	✅
Management Tools	✅	✅
Payment Types Support	✅	⚠️ (Recurring only)
Reconciliation Tools	✅	✅
Reporting & Data Analysis	✅	✅
Security/Compliance	✅	✅
Smart Routing	✅	❌ (Not applicable)
Split Payments	✅	❌
Supported Payment Methods	✅	⚠️ (Bank only)
Tokenization	✅	✅
Vaulting	✅	✅

Final Summary & Recommendation

Key Reasons to Choose BlueSnap

Your business requires comprehensive payment methods including credit cards, digital wallets, and local payment options
You need global payment processing with local acquiring in multiple countries
You’re expanding internationally and need support for 100+ currencies
Your business model includes both recurring subscriptions and one-time purchases
You require sophisticated B2B features like Level II/III processing
You need intelligent payment routing across 30 global banks for optimal approval rates
You’re building a platform requiring white-labeled embedded payment solutions
Your transactions include high-value B2B payments requiring specialized routing

Key Reasons to Choose GoCardless

Your primary business model is recurring subscriptions or regular invoice payments
You want to significantly reduce payment processing costs compared to card fees
You need to eliminate late payment chasing with automated Direct Debit collection
Your customers are primarily in countries with established Direct Debit infrastructure
You want to avoid card expiration issues and payment update friction
You require extensive integrations with accounting and business software
Your business model benefits from predictable, automated payment collection
You’re a charity or nonprofit qualifying for 25% fee discount

The Bottom Line: The choice between BlueSnap and GoCardless depends fundamentally on your payment method requirements and business model. BlueSnap excels as a comprehensive global payment orchestration platform for businesses requiring diverse payment methods, international expansion, and sophisticated payment routing across credit cards, digital wallets, and bank transfers. GoCardless specializes in bank-to-bank recurring payments, offering significantly lower costs and purpose-built features for subscription and invoice-based businesses.

Choose BlueSnap if you need payment method flexibility, global card acceptance, and comprehensive payment orchestration. Choose GoCardless if your business model centers on recurring payments and you want to minimize costs by focusing exclusively on bank-to-bank Direct Debit collection.

The two platforms serve complementary rather than directly competing use cases—BlueSnap prioritizes payment method diversity and global reach, while GoCardless optimizes specifically for recurring bank payments. Some businesses may even benefit from using both: BlueSnap for one-time purchases and international credit card payments, and GoCardless for domestic recurring subscriptions.

Important Note: This comparison focuses on the core capabilities of each platform. BlueSnap supports ACH/Direct Debit as one of many payment methods, while GoCardless specializes exclusively in bank-to-bank payments. Businesses should evaluate their primary payment collection model—if recurring payments represent the majority of transactions, GoCardless’s specialized focus and lower costs may provide better value. If payment method diversity and global card acceptance are priorities, BlueSnap’s comprehensive platform offers greater flexibility.

This comparison is based on publicly available information as of October 2025. Pricing and features may vary based on specific business requirements and negotiations with each provider.