How Express Checkouts Simplify Your Cross-Border Payment Gateway Integration | Best Payment Solutions for Europe (2025 Guide)

Selling online in Europe sounds exciting, but handling payments isn’t always simple. When you sell in just one country, payment processing is straightforward. But once you start selling across borders, things get more complicated. You’re dealing with different currencies, banks, payment regulations, and customers who prefer different ways to pay. All of this can quickly become a headache for businesses trying to grow internationally. 

That’s why having a smooth and fast checkout process is so important. Customers expect the checkout to be easy and familiar, no matter where they’re shopping from. If your checkout is slow, confusing, or doesn’t offer the payment methods they trust, they’ll likely leave without buying. In fact, nearly 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned, often due to issues like unexpected costs or complicated checkout processes. And when cross-border payments involve things like currency conversions or unfamiliar options, that number can get even higher. 

The solution? A good cross-border payment gateway. It helps businesses connect with local banks, support local payment methods, and follow important rules like PSD2. And when you combine this with express checkout solutions, you make the process even easier—reducing friction, improving conversion rates, and giving your customers the fast experience they expect. 

In this article, we’ll explain what cross-border payment gateways do, why they matter, and how express checkouts make international payments faster and easier. 

What is a Cross-Border Payment Gateway & How Does It Work? 

A cross-border payment gateway is the tool that connects your online store to payment systems in different countries. It lets you accept payments in different currencies and through various local and international payment methods. It also handles the behind-the-scenes tasks like currency conversion, security, and following payment rules. 

How is it different from a local payment gateway? 

A local payment gateway is focused on one country. It supports the local currency, common local payment methods, and local regulations. But if you want to sell in more than one country—maybe from France to Germany, Poland, or the Netherlands—you need something more flexible. That’s where cross-border gateways come in. They offer: 

• Multi-currency support: So payments get automatically converted to your preferred currency. 

• Support for local payment methods: Like iDEAL in the Netherlands, BLIK in Poland, or Bancontact in Belgium. 

• Compliance with regional regulations: Adhering to standards like PSD2, which mandates Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) for electronic payments within the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK. 

• Security features: To keep cross-border payments safe. 

Most of these gateways also offer a cross-border payment API. This lets businesses connect their online store, app, or checkout system to the gateway easily. APIs make it simple to customize the checkout process, integrate express checkout options, and add new payment methods without starting from scratch. 

The Role of Express Checkouts in Cross-Border Payment Solutions 

When a customer’s ready to buy, you don’t want them to stop and think twice at checkout. That’s where express checkouts come in. They speed things up by removing extra steps and making the payment process quick and familiar. 

What is an Express Checkout? 

An express checkout is a faster, easier way for customers to pay. Instead of filling out long forms with shipping details, billing addresses, or card info, they can pay in just one click or a few taps. That’s because their payment details are already saved with trusted providers. 

Some popular express checkout options include: 

• Stripe Express Checkout Element 

• Klarna Express Checkout 

• Express Checkout Amex 

• Express Checkout integrations for Squarespace 

• WooCommerce Express Checkout plugins 

These solutions are built to make checkout as smooth as possible. They’re especially useful in cross-border payments, where customers might otherwise face extra steps like currency conversion or security checks. Express checkouts simplify all that, helping customers finish their purchases without hassle. 

How Do Express Checkouts Simplify Cross-Border Payments? 

Implementing express checkouts can significantly enhance conversion rates in cross-border e-commerce. Merchants offering four express checkout options have achieved conversion rates of 67%, compared to 52% for those without any express options. Additionally, providing a variety of payment methods can improve conversion rates by up to 30%, as customers are more likely to complete purchases when familiar payment options are available. By simplifying the checkout process and accommodating local payment preferences, express checkouts effectively reduce cart abandonment and boost sales. 

Express checkouts fix this by: 

• Auto-filling payment details using wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Klarna. 

• Supporting local payment methods (like iDEAL, BLIK, Bancontact) automatically. 

• Reducing verification steps by safely storing customer details. 

• Handling currency conversion, so customers can pay in their local currency without doing the math. 

These tools work in the background, making sure customers can pay quickly, using the method they trust, no matter where they’re located. 

How Express Checkouts Reduce Cart Abandonment in Cross-Border Sales 

One of the biggest reasons customers abandon their carts is a complicated or slow checkout—especially when shopping internationally. Long forms, unexpected fees, and unfamiliar payment options drive people away. 

A complicated checkout process with multiple steps, confusing forms, and unclear instructions can quickly lead to frustration and cart abandonment. Studies show that 22% of consumers will abandon a website if the checkout process is too complicated. Additionally, 17% of shoppers are deterred by a complex checkout process. Furthermore, if the checkout process takes longer than 30 seconds, more than 50% of customers may abandon their carts. By simplifying the checkout process and accommodating local payment preferences, express checkouts effectively reduce cart abandonment and boost sales 

Top Cross-Border Payment Gateway Providers in Europe with Express Checkout 

1. Neopay 

Neopay is built for businesses growing in Central and Eastern Europe. It’s ideal if you want secure, local payment solutions tailored to this region. 

• Supports PLN payments, BLIK, SEPA transfers, and direct bank connections. 

• Covers Open Banking in 15+ countries (Poland, Finland, Norway, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, etc.). 

• Provides virtual IBANs and fast payouts, making account management easy. 

• Offers flexible APIs for express checkout setup and local payment integration. 

• Ensures high security and compliance with PSD2, SCA, and local regulations. 

2. Stripe 

Stripe is popular across Europe, offering a wide range of payment methods and strong APIs. 

• Provides Stripe Express Checkout Element for smooth checkout. 

• Supports key European options: iDEAL, Bancontact, Sofort, SEPA, Klarna. 

• Easy integration with WooCommerce, Squarespace, and custom stores. 

• Handles multiple currencies and follows PSD2, SCA rules. 

3. Klarna 

Klarna is well-known for flexible payments, trusted especially in Nordic countries and Germany. 

• Offers Klarna Express Checkout with Buy Now, Pay Later, Pay Now, and installment options. 

• Supports local payment methods. 

• Quick integration with WooCommerce and Shopify. 

4. Adyen 

Adyen is great for large businesses needing wide European coverage. 

• Supports many regional payment methods: SEPA, Giropay, iDEAL, Sofort, Bancontact. 

• Strong APIs, fraud prevention, and compliance tools. 

• Works well with WooCommerce, Magento, and custom platforms. 

5. Mollie 

Mollie is simple and popular with small to medium businesses in Europe. 

• Supports express checkouts and payment options like Klarna, SEPA, iDEAL, Bancontact. 

• Offers clear, transparent pricing. 

• Easy plugin setup for WooCommerce and Squarespace. 

How to Choose the Right Cross-Border Payment Platform for Your Business 

With so many payment gateways available, how do you pick the one that’s best for your business? Here’s what to keep in mind: 

1. Support for Local Payment Methods 

Make sure the provider supports popular methods in your target countries—like BLIK in Poland, iDEAL in the Netherlands, or Bancontact in Belgium. Familiar payment options build trust and increase conversions. 

2. Express Checkout Options 

Look for platforms offering built-in express checkout features. Providers like Stripe, Klarna, Mollie, and WooCommerce integrations make it easy to speed up the checkout. 

3. Currency Conversion & Settlement Speed 

The right gateway should handle multiple currencies automatically and offer fast settlement times. This helps avoid payment delays and keeps your cash flow steady. 

4. Compliance & Security 

The provider should be fully compliant with PSD2, SCA, GDPR, and local rules. It should include security features like fraud detection and encryption—no extra work needed. 

5. API Flexibility & Platform Integration 

If you’re using WooCommerce, Squarespace, or a custom store, choose a provider that offers a flexible API or ready-made plugins. This makes adding express checkout flows and local payment methods easier. 

6. Transparent Pricing 

Watch out for hidden fees. Providers like Mollie and Neopay are known for clear, upfront pricing—important when scaling across markets. 

Conclusion 

Cross-border payments can feel complex, but they don’t have to be. Express checkouts remove the hassle by giving customers a fast, smooth way to pay—no matter which country they’re shopping from. 

Choosing the right cross-border payment gateway is more than just about processing payments. It’s about creating a checkout experience that’s easy, secure, and tailored to local preferences. Platforms like Stripe, Klarna, Adyen, Mollie, and Neopay make it possible. 

If you want to grow your business across Europe, making express checkout integration a priority is a smart move. It’s the simplest way to boost sales, lower cart abandonment, and keep your customers happy.