Payment providers are external service providers that handle the technical processing of online payments. In the appointment booking system, payment providers are integrated for prepayments: customers pay directly in the booking process before the appointment is bindingly confirmed.
Integrated payment providers
- PayPal: The best-known and most widely used service; accepts PayPal balance and credit card
- Stripe: Professional solution with broad support for payment methods (credit card, SEPA, Apple Pay, Google Pay and others)
- Digistore24: German system that acts as a reseller and handles VAT processing
- Sofortüberweisung (Klarna): Direct bank transfer without a PayPal account
Selection criteria
- Target group: PayPal is the best known among private customers; Stripe is suited to more professional setups
- Payment methods: Stripe supports the widest range
- Fees: All providers charge transaction fees (typically 1.5-3% + a fixed amount)
- Tax handling: As a reseller, Digistore24 takes care of tax processing, which is attractive for some providers
- GDPR / server location: Important for privacy-conscious operators
Behavior in the booking flow: Depending on the configuration, payment can be made directly in the booking process (prepayment) or after the appointment (post-payment). If the payment fails, the appointment remains unconfirmed.