Adyen vs GoCardless
Both Adyen and GoCardless are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the payment processing space. This comparison breaks down their features, pricing, compliance posture, and data residency so you can make an informed choice for your team.
Quick Overview
Adyen
EU- Headquarters
- Amsterdam, NL
- Pricing
- Per-transaction
- Open Source
- No
GoCardless
EU- Headquarters
- London, GB
- Pricing
- Per-transaction
- Open Source
- No
Key Differences
- Data residency differs: Adyen hosts data in Netherlands, EU, while GoCardless hosts in GB, EU. If your organisation requires data to stay in a specific EU country, this distinction matters for compliance.
- Adyen holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications, providing third-party assurance of its security practices. GoCardless does not currently hold these certifications, which may matter if your organisation requires them for vendor approval.
- Adyen was founded in 2006, giving it a 5-year head start over GoCardless (founded 2011). More time in market often means a larger user community and more mature integrations, though newer entrants may offer more modern architectures.
- Each product has unique strengths: Adyen offers Unified commerce and Card processing, while GoCardless provides Direct Debit (SEPA, Bacs, ACH) and Recurring payments. Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Adyen | GoCardless |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Adyen | GoCardless |
| Pricing | Per-transaction | Per-transaction |
| Free Tier | ||
| GDPR | ||
| ISO 27001 | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, NL | London, GB |
| Data Centers | NL, EU | GB, EU |
| Unified commerce | ||
| Card processing | ||
| Local payment methods | ||
| Risk management | ||
| Data insights | ||
| POS terminals | ||
| Recurring billing | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Issuing | ||
| Platform payments | ||
| Direct Debit (SEPA, Bacs, ACH) | ||
| Recurring payments | ||
| Open banking payments | ||
| Payment pages | ||
| Retry intelligence | ||
| Webhooks | ||
| Dashboard | ||
| API |
Pricing Comparison
Adyen
Per-transactionper-transaction
GoCardless
Per-transactionper-transaction
Compliance Comparison
Adyen
GDPRISO 27001SOC 2DPA
GoCardless
GDPRDPA
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How to Choose
Your procurement requires ISO 27001 certification
Choose Adyen
You need enterprise-grade support and stability
Choose GoCardless
You prefer a nimble provider with personalised support
Choose Adyen
Adyen vs GoCardless — FAQ
What is the main difference between Adyen and GoCardless?
Both Adyen and GoCardless are European payment processing solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: Adyen is headquartered in Netherlands while GoCardless is based in GB. Adyen is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, while GoCardless is based in London, GB. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, Adyen or GoCardless?
Adyen uses per-transaction pricing, while goCardless uses per-transaction pricing. Both use per-transaction pricing, so compare the tiers that match your team size and feature needs.
Are both Adyen and GoCardless GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both Adyen and GoCardless are European companies that store data within the EU/EEA and offer Data Processing Agreements. Neither is subject to the US CLOUD Act or FISA surveillance. Additionally, Adyen holds ISO 27001 certification. For GDPR purposes, either option eliminates the legal risks associated with using US-based services.