Unzer vs. Ratepay: Which Payment Service Provider Is the Better Choice? (2026)
Comprehensive comparison of Unzer and Ratepay: target audience, payment methods, integration, support & more. Make the right decision for your business.
Are you considering whether Unzer or Ratepay is the better choice for your online shop or omnichannel business? Both providers originated in the DACH region and both are ‘buy now, pay later’ (BNPL) specialists. However, this is where the similarities end.
Ratepay is a German BNPL provider focusing on invoice purchases in e-commerce. Unzer is a full-service payment provider specialising in SMEs and mid-sized businesses. The unified commerce platform UnzerOne consolidates payment, customer, and inventory data from both online and offline sales channels. "Buy now, pay later" (BNPL) is a key part of Unzer’s offering and can be integrated as a white-label solution.
This article details how the two providers differ—and which solution is better suited to your needs.
Unzer vs. Ratepay – At a Glance
Criterion | Unzer | Ratepay |
|---|---|---|
Positioning | BNPL specialist, full-service PSP & unified commerce platform | BNPL specialist (focus on e-commerce) |
Target group | SMEs & mid-sized businesses, omnichannel merchants | Large online merchants; also SMEs via cooperation with PayPal (requires separate integration & contract) |
BNPL Models | Invoice, direct debit, instalment, and pay-in-3 (DE, AT, CH) | Invoice, direct debit, pay-in-3 (DE, AT) |
White-label BNPL | ✅ Yes (including end customer portal in the shop’s look & feel) | ✅ Yes (depending on integration model / PSP) |
POS Capability | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited |
Unified commerce | ✅ Central UnzerOne platform bundles all channels | ❌ Not integrated |
Full-service PSP | ✅ 40+ payment methods | ❌ BNPL only |
Pricing model | Individual, Interchange++ | Individual, transaction-based |
Support | Personal account managers, German-speaking support | Personal account managers, German-speaking support |
Trustpilot | 4.7 / 5 ⭐ | 3.0 / 5 ⭐ |
Markets | Europe, BNPL for DACH & NL | DACH, NL |
Supported plugins | e.g. Shopify, Shopware, Magento, Oxid, WooCommerce, PlentyMarkets, JTL, Oxid | Shopware, Magento, Oxid |
Both Payment Service Providers in Profile
Unzer
Unzer is a European full-service payment provider headquartered in Berlin, with locations in Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Luxembourg. Over 90,000 merchants across Europe use the platform, supported by around 750 employees.
The central payment platform UnzerOne consolidates online, POS, and mobile payments within a single infrastructure. BNPL—invoice and instalment purchase—is offered by Unzer as a full white-label solution: no visible third party, no external app, full risk is borne by Unzer, and payout occurs directly after goods are shipped via factoring.
Unzer specifically targets mid-sized companies and SMEs: businesses that do not have large IT teams, but require enterprise-grade payment infrastructure.
Ratepay
Ratepay is a German BNPL provider with more than 15 years of experience in the DACH payment market. Since 2023, Ratepay has been part of the Nexi Group. The focus is clearly on invoice purchase, direct debit, and pay-in-3 for e-commerce—especially for larger online merchants with high transaction volumes.
Ratepay is not a full-service PSP: for additional payment methods such as credit cards or wallets, a separate payment service provider (PSP) is required, with Ratepay integrated as a complement.
Ratepay vs. Unzer: Comparison of Key Criteria
1. Payment Methods and BNPL Models
Function | Unzer | Ratepay |
|---|---|---|
Invoice Purchase | ✅ DE, AT, CH, NL | ✅ DE, AT, CH, NL |
Installment Payment | ✅ DE, AT, CH | ⚠ Only pay-in-3, no flexible terms, DE+AT |
Pay-in-3 | ✅ DE, AT, CH | ✅ DE+AT |
Direct Debit | ✅ DE+AT | ✅ DE, AT, NL |
White-label checkout | ✅ | ✅ Depending on integration model/PSP |
POS financing | ✅ | ⚠️ Conditional (if merchant’s own POS solution) |
Mobile payments / wallets | ✅ Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay | ❌ |
Credit cards | ✅ | ❌ |
Key differences:
- Ratepay exclusively covers BNPL products. For all other payment methods—credit cards, wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, SEPA—a separate PSP is required. Unzer offers all relevant payment methods via a single interface and contract.
- Ratepay offers only pay-in-3 (three interest-free instalments) for instalment purchases. Flexible terms or classic monthly instalments are not currently part of its product portfolio. Unzer additionally offers flexible instalments with individual terms—relevant for higher-value goods where pay-in-3 models may not suffice.
2. POS Integration and Omnichannel Capability
A key difference between Unzer and Ratepay is the breadth of the product portfolio and cross-channel integration.
- Unzer: BNPL is part of a comprehensive commerce ecosystem. In addition to invoice and instalment purchases, Unzer offers many other payment methods, point-of-sale systems, and payment terminals for brick-and-mortar retail. Through the UnzerOne platform, merchants can centrally manage payments and transactions from various channels.
- Ratepay: The focus is on white-label BNPL solutions for e-commerce. Ratepay handles risk checks, financing, and debt management for invoice and instalment purchases. Additional payment solutions, point-of-sale systems, or physical payment terminals are not core to the business.
For merchants who require not only BNPL but a variety of payment methods, instore payment processes, or a cross-channel payment infrastructure from a single provider, Unzer offers the appropriate solution.
3. Technical Integration & Shop System Connectivity
Both providers offer technical integrations for common shop systems. The details:
Unzer:
- REST API for custom adjustments
- Plugins for Shopify, Shopware, Magento, PlentyOne, Oxid, and other standard shop systems, along with ongoing development of additional extensions/shop apps with extra features (e.g., Shopify Checkout Booster app)
- POS SDKs for instore terminals
- No-code solution for BNPL at the POS
- Mobile payment integration via UnzerOne
Ratepay:
- Integration usually via PSPs or platform link
- Plugins for Shopware, Magento, Oxid available
- No native POS or mobile infrastructure
For retailers without in-house development capability, Unzer’s single interface covering all channels—online, mobile, POS—is a major advantage.
4. Pricing and Fees
Both Unzer and Ratepay offer individualised pricing; neither publishes standard rates. Rates depend on:
- Transaction volume
- Selected payment methods
- Risk profile and industry
- Contract model and duration
Important for overall cost comparison: Ratepay only covers BNPL. For credit cards, wallets, or other payment methods, a separate PSP contract is required—with its own fees, setup costs, and administrative effort. With Unzer, everything runs through a single interface and contract.
For larger volumes, Unzer’s Interchange++ model is recommended, being more transparent and typically more cost-effective than flat rates.
5. Customer Service and Support
Support is an often underestimated factor in payments. If a system fails or an integration does not work, rapid, personal assistance is essential.
Unzer and Ratepay both offer personal account managers as well as German-speaking phone and email support. This is especially relevant for mid-sized merchants lacking their own IT department, where system outages immediately impact business.
Which Payment Service Provider Is the Better Choice for Whom?
Scenario | Recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
Large online shop, high e-commerce volume, PSP already in place | Ratepay or Unzer | Both are good BNPL additions; Unzer is preferable if you plan to switch PSP or need instalment payment with flexible terms |
SME / mid-sized business, online + offline | Unzer | Unified commerce via UnzerOne, POS-BNPL, full service from a single provider |
Omnichannel merchant (online + POS) | Unzer | Only provider in this comparison with native POS-BNPL integration and cross-channel dashboard |
Shopify merchant in DACH | Unzer | Dedicated Unzer Checkout Booster app, BNPL promotion directly at checkout, dynamic payment method logic |
Shopware, Oxid, Magento shop systems | Ratepay or Unzer | Both offer plugins for these shop systems |
Shopify, WooCommerce, PlentyMarkets, JTL, OpenCart, PrestaShop shop systems | Unzer | Unzer offers plugins for a broad range of popular e-commerce platforms |
Growing business without in-house IT | Unzer | Native plugins, personal support, modular scaling without the need for in-house development |
Pure BNPL addition (no PSP switch, pay-in-3 sufficient) | Ratepay or Unzer | Both providers are BNPL specialists |
Conclusion: BNPL Specialist vs Unified Commerce Platform
Ratepay is a solid choice for larger online merchants who specifically need invoice, direct debit, and pay-in-3 as BNPL products in e-commerce and already use a PSP for other payment methods.
Unzer is the better choice if you:
- Need BNPL with all other payment methods from a single source—without a second contract.
- Want to offer flexible instalment payment with individual terms (not just pay-in-3), or if you want to enable instalment purchase in Switzerland as well.
- Want to integrate e-commerce and brick-and-mortar channels on one platform.
- Are an SME or mid-sized business seeking enterprise-grade infrastructure without extensive IT resources.
- Operate via Shopify or another common shop system and want maximum control over the checkout.
The key difference: Ratepay is a BNPL specialist focused on e-commerce. Unzer is a complete unified commerce platform, in which BNPL is an integral part of a comprehensive payment infrastructure—not an isolated add-on.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Ratepay and Unzer
What is the main difference between Unzer and Ratepay?
Ratepay is a specialised BNPL provider focused on e-commerce. Unzer is a full-service PSP that integrates BNPL as a white-label solution within a unified commerce platform—with 40+ payment methods, POS integration, and a centralised dashboard.
Do both Unzer and Ratepay offer white-label BNPL?
Yes, both support white-label BNPL—meaning no third-party logo at checkout, no third-party registration for end customers, full control over customer data and checkout design. However, Ratepay is often integrated via an intermediary PSP, which can limit direct control.
Which provider supports flexible instalment payments?
Unzer supports both pay-in-3 and flexible instalment payments with individual terms in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Merchants can offer various financing models depending on the use case—especially relevant for higher-value goods.
By contrast, Ratepay offers only pay-in-3 (currently in Germany and Austria), i.e. splitting the purchase amount into three interest-free instalments. Flexible instalment plans or classic monthly instalments are presently not part of the product portfolio.
Which provider supports POS financing for physical retail?
Unzer supports BNPL directly at the POS—digitally, in real time, and paperless. Ratepay is focused on e-commerce and does not offer native POS integration.
How do the costs of Unzer and Ratepay differ?
Both providers offer customised terms depending on volume, business model, and industry. Important for overall cost comparison: Ratepay requires an additional PSP for all non-BNPL payment methods. This supplementary contract and its fees should be included in the comparison. Unzer, on the other hand, covers everything under a single contractual arrangement.