Hungary
Digital payments in Hungary
Population
Online population
Banked population
Payment Gateways in Hungary
Payment methods in Hungary
Online commerce is booming in Hungary, thanks to growing mobile use and wide-ranging payment habits. Here are the key takeaways:
- Hungary’s e-commerce industry is estimated to be a $2B market today, but that number is anticipated to double by 2027
- Approximately 10% of online transactions ($200M) are from offshore merchants.
- Only 34% of e-commerce transactions are made using cards: the remaining two-thirds are is made up by banking apps, e-wallets and digital payments
- In 2022, mobile devices accounted for over 40% of all online purchases
- The average annual online spending of a Hungarian is less than USD 300, estimated to creep above USD 400 by 2027
What is a Payment Gateway?
A payment gateway is a web service that allows merchants to accept online payments. It’s the secure connector between a customer’s payment method — whether it’s a credit or debit card, an e-wallet or a bank account — and the merchant’s account, allowing payments to move swiftly and securely.
2Checkout
2Checkout is one of the world’s most known gateways, providing over 200 countries, Hungary included. It also supports multi-currency, multi-language and subscription billing, so it’s a versatile option for international e-traders.
There are three price plans available on the platform that cater to varying business models and scales. With no infrastructure to set up or monthly costs to incur, 2Checkout offers an easy solution for Hungarian merchants to reach customers worldwide.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Setup Fee | Free |
| Requirements | Business license + verified email + bank account |
| Accepted Payment Methods | Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, American Express |
| Available in | Hungary + 200+ countries |
| Supported Currencies | 87 major currencies |
| Setup FeeFree | |
| RequirementsBusiness license + verified email + bank account | |
| Accepted Payment MethodsVisa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, American Express | |
| Available inHungary + 200+ countries | |
| Supported Currencies87 major currencies |
Pros
- No monthly or annual fees
- Perfect for selling digital goods and subscriptions
- Widespread international penetration and local identity
Cons
- More expensive transaction fees for premium plans
- High-risk businesses may experience delays in the approval process
Braintree
Braintree is a full-stack payment gateway owned by PayPal which allows businesses to accept and process online payments and to split these payments from mobile apps or web sites. Braintree is known for its versatile APIs and easy integration, and supports payment methods worldwide.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Setup Fee | Free |
| Requirements | Business account verification and API integration |
| Available Countries | Hungary + over 40 countries |
| Supported Currencies | 45+ major global currencies |
| Setup FeeFree | |
| RequirementsBusiness account verification and API integration | |
| Available CountriesHungary + over 40 countries | |
| Supported Currencies45+ major global currencies |
Pros
- Accepted currencies and payment methods are very extensive
- Compatible with all main eCommerce platforms: Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce
- No setup or monthly fees for standard account holders
Cons
- Fees are a bit higher compared with some competitors
- Advanced features may require developer support
Checkout.com
Checkout.com is a global payment gateway that provides access to a large range of card payments, digital wallets and local payment solutions. It is known for its modular architecture and developer-friendly APIs and is being used by emerging e-commerce outlets to process payments worldwide.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Setup Fee | Free |
| Requirements | Business registration documents, ID verification, business website, and KYB approval |
| Available in | Hungary, plus 45+ countries globally |
| Supported Currencies | Major global currencies (EUR, USD, GBP, etc.) |
| Setup FeeFree | |
| RequirementsBusiness registration documents, ID verification, business website, and KYB approval | |
| Available inHungary, plus 45+ countries globally | |
| Supported CurrenciesMajor global currencies (EUR, USD, GBP, etc.) |
Pros
- Supports multiple online payment methods
- Transparency and pricing flexibility
- High scalability and uptime
- Excellent customer service and onboarding resources
Cons
- May be better suited for medium-to-large businesses than small merchants
- Requires developer skills for full integration
Authorize.net
Authorize.net is one of the most time-tested payment gateway providers with more than 430,000 merchants. Offering strong fraud prevention, a variety of recurring billing options and an easy-to-use set of APIs, it is a popular option for small to mid-sized companies. Although US-headquartered, it also provides services for European markets including Hungary for USD/EUR transactions via international merchant accounts.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Setup Fee | Free |
| Requirements | Business registration, merchant bank account, and documentation for onboarding |
| Available in | Hungary (with EUR/USD merchant account setup), U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and more |
| Supported Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CHF, DKK, AUD, NZD, SEK, NOK, PLN |
| Setup FeeFree | |
| RequirementsBusiness registration, merchant bank account, and documentation for onboarding | |
| Available inHungary (with EUR/USD merchant account setup), U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and more | |
| Supported CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CHF, DKK, AUD, NZD, SEK, NOK, PLN |
Pros
- Reliability reputation
- Seamlessly integratable with e-commerce platform
- Upgraded fraud prevention features to help you keep your money safe
Cons
- Monthly fee (applies even for very low-volume merchants)
- Not optimized for non-U.S. currencies
Stripe
Stripe is one of the world’s most successful online payment gateway platforms. It’s used by millions of companies around the world, ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Supporting Hungarian businesses, Stripe enables merchants to accept payments online, including handling subscriptions and provides support for processing payments globally.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Setup Fee | Free (Pay-as-you-go model) |
| Requirements | Business entity, local bank account, verification process via KYC |
| Available in | Hungary, EU, North America, APAC, LATAM — 40+ countries |
| Supported Currencies | 135+ currencies including HUF, EUR, USD, GBP, PLN, CHF |
| Setup FeeFree (Pay-as-you-go model) | |
| RequirementsBusiness entity, local bank account, verification process via KYC | |
| Available inHungary, EU, North America, APAC, LATAM — 40+ countries | |
| Supported Currencies135+ currencies including HUF, EUR, USD, GBP, PLN, CHF |
Pros
- APIs that are friendly to the developer and are well-documented
- Supports over 135 currencies
- Integration with WooCommerce and Shopify out of the box
Cons
- Payout delays for new accounts
- More advanced features might need some assistance from the developer
Skrill
Skrill is one of the most popular payment gateways that you can use to send and receive money from all over the world. It is located in London and has been widely adopted throughout Europe, across Hungary and by more than 120,000 merchants globally.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Setup Fee | Free |
| Requirements | Personal or business account, email verification, optional KYC |
| Available in | Over 30 countries including Hungary, Germany, UK, Poland, Italy |
| Supported Currencies | Over 40 currencies including EUR, USD, HUF, GBP, PLN |
| Setup FeeFree | |
| RequirementsPersonal or business account, email verification, optional KYC | |
| Available inOver 30 countries including Hungary, Germany, UK, Poland, Italy | |
| Supported CurrenciesOver 40 currencies including EUR, USD, HUF, GBP, PLN |
Pros
- Simple to install and easy to activate
- Accepts a broad range of payment methods
- Low fees for card payments
Cons
- Limited customer support
- Monthly inactivity fee after 12 consecutive months
FAQ
Can PayPal be used in Hungary?
Yes. PayPal is available in Hungary for personal transactions and business activity as well as sending and receiving funds.
Can I pay with euro in Hungary?
Euros are widely accepted for tourists in some areas and online shops also accept it, but exchange rates are usually quite unfavorable. Better to use the local currency, the forint (HUF).
Can I use ApplePay in Hungary?
Yes. Apple Pay was launched in 2019-2020, is supported by a number of Hungarian banks and works in stores and online on Apple devices.
