How to Choose the Right Payment Methods for Your SaaS
Pubblicato: Luglio 25, 2025
To grow your SaaS (Software as a Service) business globally:
- Provide diverse payment methods
- Reach more customers
- Reduce cart abandonment rates
Studies show that up to 13-18% of online shoppers will abandon their cart if their preferred payment option isn’t available.
To achieve the above, this guide will walk you through how to figure out and set up payment options that fit your business and what your customers prefer, making your checkout experience better and helping you grow steadily.
Figure Out What Payments Customers Prefer, Region by Region
Start by looking at how people prefer to pay in each country you’re targeting. This step is super important because payment habits are really different around the world, and that has a direct effect on how well your software company can turn visitors into paying users.
Pinpoint the main metodi di pagamento locali in your target countries that are relevant for a SaaS or subscription business. The table below gives you a general idea of payment preferences by region, specifically for SaaS and subscription models.
|
Region / Business Model |
SaaS and subscription |
|
Global customers |
American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard, Visa, Apple Pay, Google Pay |
|
Asia-Pacific customers |
UnionPay, JCB, Alipay, WeChat Pay |
|
European customers |
Cartes Bancaires, Bancontact, Bacs direct debit, SEPA direct debit, iDEAL, SOFORT, Przelewy24, PayPal, EPS, Multibanco, Blik, Finnish Banks, Nordea, OP-Pohjola, Trustly |
|
North American and Latin American customers |
ACH debit, Pre-authorized debits, Boleto Bancario, OXXO, ToditoCash, MercadoPago, Pix |
If your SaaS product is aimed at the German market, make sure to offer SOFORT and SEPA direct debit. If you don’t, you could see a lot of people abandoning their carts, as German customers might just leave if their preferred payment method isn’t there. In Brazil, it’s really important to have Pix and Boleto Bancario available to capture a big chunk of the market.
Free SaaS Payment Methods Checklist
Quickly and wisely choose the right payment options for your SaaS.
-
Local and Global Payment Methods
-
Best use cases for each method
-
Key regions and countries
-
e altro!
Match Payment Method Features with Your Business Needs
Once you know what people prefer regionally, look at the features of different payment methods to see how well they fit your SaaS or software business model.
|
Payment Method Family |
Supports Recurring Payments |
Supports Refunds |
Supports Disputes |
Payment Confirmation |
Common Use Case for SaaS |
|
Pagamenti con carta |
sì |
sì |
Yes (Highest rate) |
Immediato |
Subscriptions, One-time Licenses |
|
Portafogli digitali |
sì |
sì |
Yes (Lower rate) |
Immediato |
Mobile subscriptions, In-app purchases, Account top-ups |
|
Pagamenti istantanei |
No* |
sì |
No |
Immediato |
One-time purchases, Initial subscription setup, Rapid upgrades |
|
Bonifico bancario |
No |
sì |
No |
Delayed |
High-value B2B subscriptions, Invoicing, Manual renewals |
|
Pagamento in contanti |
No |
No |
No |
Delayed |
Markets with low card/bank penetration, One-time software purchases |
Some instant payment methods (like iDEAL) don’t naturally handle recurring payments, but many payment processors can turn them into direct debits for ongoing subscriptions.
For a SaaS company that offers recurring subscriptions, focus on payment methods that work with ongoing billing such as card payments and digital wallets. Involuntary churn (when payments fail due to things like expired cards or not enough funds) make up 20-40% of total churn. Implementing strong systems for recurring payments can significantly keep this down.
If your SaaS offers monthly subscriptions, you’ll benefit from using ACH debit in North America or SEPA direct debit in Europe where these methods are popular. This helps reduce churn because bank account details usually don’t expire, unlike credit cards.
Free SaaS Payment Methods Checklist
Quickly and wisely choose the right payment options for your SaaS.
-
Local and Global Payment Methods
-
Best use cases for each method
-
Key regions and countries
-
e altro!
Perform a Self-Assessment for Your Payment Strategy
Before you implement new payment methods, evaluate your own capabilities and goals to make sure they line up with the payment options you’re considering. How to self-assess your strategy:
- Market Entry Approach:
- Question: Are we entering a market where credit card use is low, or where one specific local payment method is overwhelmingly preferred for SaaS purchases?
- Why it matters: Ignoring local preferences can lead to many customers leaving their carts. For instance, if you expand into Brazil without supporting Pix (an instant payment system), you’ll miss a huge part of the market, as Pix is expected to handle 51% of e-commerce transactions by 2027.
2. Revenue Model Fit:
- Question: Does our SaaS model mainly rely on recurring subscriptions, one-time licenses, or usage-based billing?
- Why it matters: Multiple payment methods are just better suited for certain ways of making money. Card payments and digital wallets are perfect for recurring billing, while bank transfers or instant payments might be better for big, one-off software license purchases.
3. Risk Comfort Level:
- Question: How comfortable are we with payment disputes and fraud?
- Why it matters: Payment methods have different rates of disputes. Card payments usually have the highest dispute rates, while instant payments and bank transfers have lower risk because they require more authentication.
4. Operational Effort:
- Question: Do we have the resources (money, tech, legal help) to manage multiple payment methods, various payment gateways, handle local tax compliance, and deal with currency conversions?
- Why it matters: Managing a lot of different payment systems can be complicated and expensive.
Partnering with a comprehensive Merchant of Record (MoR) like PayPro Global can make this whole process much simpler and cheaper. An MoR handles things like processing subscriptions, supporting over 70 payment methods, making sure you’re compliant with global taxes, and managing legal and regulatory stuff across different countries. This frees up SaaS and software companies to focus on building their product and getting new customers, instead of worrying about payment infrastructure.
Free SaaS Payment Methods Checklist
Quickly and wisely choose the right payment options for your SaaS.
-
Local and Global Payment Methods
-
Best use cases for each method
-
Key regions and countries
-
e altro!
Set Up and Tweak for Better Conversions
Once you’ve picked the right payment methods, focus on integrating them smoothly and making your checkout process as good as it can be.
Embed payment methods directly into your checkout flow. A smooth checkout is absolutely essential for SaaS.
Show a variety of payment options clearly at checkout. Make sure the logos of accepted local and international payment methods are easy to see.
For a SaaS company selling worldwide, ensure your checkout page automatically knows where the customer is and shows them the most relevant local payment methods first, followed by widely accepted international payment methods. So, for a customer in the Netherlands, iDEAL should be a top choice. For a customer in Brazil, Pix and Boleto Bancario should definitely be there.
Troubleshooting Tip: Keep an eye on how many people leave their carts and try A/B testing your checkout page to spot any sticky points. Make forms simple, allow guests to check out, and use progress bars to guide users. A single-page checkout can really boost conversions.
Free SaaS Payment Methods Checklist
Quickly and wisely choose the right payment options for your SaaS.
-
Local and Global Payment Methods
-
Best use cases for each method
-
Key regions and countries
-
e altro!
Keep an Eye on Things and Adjust
Global payments are always changing so regularly check how your payment methods are performing and adjust your strategy. New payment technologies come out and customer preferences shift.
Track key metrics like conversion rates for each payment method, transaction success rates, dispute rates, and average costs of transaction. This data will tell you how well your payment strategy is doing.
If you see a drop in card payments and an increase in digital wallet use in a particular market (like Apple Pay and Google Pay becoming more popular in the US), consider highlighting digital wallet options more prominently. Apple Pay handles 14.2% of all online consumer payments in the US, and Google Pay has a big share of the mobile wallet market.
Regularly update your payment integrations so they align with the newest versions and security features of all the payment methods you use.
Conclusione
Choosing the right payment methods is a critical step for SaaS or software businesses looking to expand globally. By understanding regional preferences, evaluating different payment options based on your business needs, and regularly monitoring performance, you can provide a seamless and effective checkout experience. This strategic approach not only helps you reach more customers and increase conversions but also supports long-term growth and improves customer satisfaction in diverse markets.
FAQ
-
Start by analyzing regional customer preferences in your target markets, then match those with payment methods that support your SaaS model’s needs, especially recurring payments. Consider factors like conversion rates, dispute risk, and operational costs.
-
Use payment methods that are reliable in supporting recurring billing, like credit/debit cards and digital wallets. In some regions, bank-based methods like ACH debit or SEPA direct debit are also relevant for managing subscriptions and reducing churn.
-
Local payment methods are key because customers prefer familiar options, which leads to higher conversion rates and lower cart abandonment. Offering these opens up new markets where traditional cards use might be low.
-
Partner with a Merchant of Record (MoR) like PayPro Global. An MoR will manage the technical integration, compliance, and all the various payment methods across different regions, simplifying global operations for your SaaS.
-
While direct bank transfers typically don’t support automated recurring payments, they can be suitable for high-value one-time software licenses or B2B invoicing. Some platforms can convert initial bank redirects into direct debits for recurring billing.
-
Payment methods requiring strong customer authentication, such as digital wallets or instant bank transfers have lower fraud and dispute rates. Using these protects your SaaS business from revenue loss.
-
In markets with large unbanked populations, like parts of Latin America or Southeast Asia, cash-based vouchers (e.g., OXXO, Boleto Bancario) are highly preferred. While they don’t support recurring payments, they can significantly expand your reach for one-time software purchases.
Pronto per iniziare?
Siamo stati dove siete voi. Condividiamo i nostri 19 anni di esperienza e trasformiamo i vostri sogni globali in realtà.
Italiano 
English 
Español 
Português 
Português do Brasil 
Français 
Deutsch 
Nederlands 
Polski 
Română 
Українська 
简体中文 
日本語 
한국어