How to choose the best payment gateway for your mobility business?
April 4, 2023
min. read
As you're getting close to launching your vehicle-sharing business, one of the important decisions is what payment gateway to use. Without one, you won't be able to collect payments from users via app. But choosing the right solution might feel daunting since so many options are available.
The good news is – we've got you covered.
In this article, you'll find an overview of what payment gateways are, what payment processing solutions integrate with ATOM Mobility, and the key factors to consider when choosing a payment gateway for your shared mobility venture.
What is a payment gateway?
Simply put, a payment gateway is the “bridge” between the customers' payment method and your bank account. It's the tool that validates your customer's card details or credentials for online payment methods (e.g., digital wallets such as ApplePay) to ensure that funds can be transferred to you, the operator.
For ATOM Mobility users, there's an option to choose between two types of payment gateways:
Hosted, when the client is taken to an external payment page hosted by the payment gateway provider to enter their payment details, such as credit card information or login credentials (e.g., PayPal or local bank integrations). In our case, the payment page opens in-app, meaning that the end customer won't know the payment takes place outside of the app.
Self-hosted/native SDK integration is when the payment gateway system is integrated into the app, allowing the client to complete the payment without leaving the site.
Most businesses nowadays use such hosted and integrated payment solutions – those are quick and easy to set up, and the solution provider takes responsibility for transaction validation and security.
How do hosted and integrated payment gateways work?
Your business most likely has a bank account used to manage the company's cash flow. It's, for example, where you make and receive payments for invoices issued.
Now, to start accepting payments at scale, you need to set up a payment gateway that will allow you to automate the process of collecting payments. It's impossible to manually prepare and send an invoice to every customer for every ride – those could be thousands of invoices a day for relatively small amounts.
Payment gateways link your bank account with the customer's chosen payment method that they'll be asked to add when downloading your app. From then on, whenever clients use your shared mobility solution, your payment gateway will collect the money, then transfer it to your bank account within few days.
For their service, payment gateway service providers charge a processing fee, which can be either a specific amount or a percentage of the transaction value. The fees vary depending on the service provider, the type of card the client has added, and more.
For example, Stripe’s regualar fee is 1.5% + €0.25 for European cards. For a €4 transaction, they'd charge 1.5% of €4 + €0.25. That's a €0.265 commission in total.
As you estimate your business' expenses and potential profits, such processing fees must be carefully considered. In the shared mobility industry, such microcharges can quickly add up and “eat” as much as 6.6% of your revenue (see the Stripe example above).
Payment gateway providers that integrate with ATOM Mobility
The ATOM Mobility platform integrates with a number of payment gateway solutions, which will allow you to collect payments wherever your business is based. Once you've chosen the one that's right for your business and set up the account, you can connect it to your ATOM Mobility account.
But first things first – here are the many options available to you:
Stripe
Stripe is one of the most popular payment processing solutions worldwide, allowing businesses to accept and manage online payments. It enables businesses to accept credit and debit card payments, digital payments, and more. Stripe also supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bancontact, iDEAL and more.
Pros
- Supports 135+ currencies
- Easy to set up, with an intuitive user interface
- Supports a wide range of payment methods
- Transparent pricing – flat rate per transaction, no monthly fees
- With the help of ATOM Mobility, you can get a significant discount on transaction fees
Cons
- Doesn't operate everywhere in the world
- Fees for international transactions can be higher than competitors'
Payment processing fee (without discounts provided to ATOM Mobility clients):
- 1.5% + €0.25 for European cards
- 2.5% + €0.25 for UK cards
- 3.25% + €0.25 for international cards
Adyen
Adyen is among the largest companies in the payment processing market. This payment processor supports over 250 payment methods, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Klarna.
Pros:
- Supports 187 currencies
- A wide range of payment methods and currencies supported
- No monthly or setup fees
Cons:
- Transaction fees may be a bit unpredictable, as they vary a lot depending on the payment method
- Adyen requires new merchants to have at least 1 000 000 EUR in annual turnover, so it may be complicated to open an account. ATOM Mobility can assist with special conditions, as our customers have no minimum threshold.
Payment processing fee:
- €0.11 + payment method fee (see here)
Checkout.com
Checkout.com allows merchants to accept payments from a variety of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, various alternative payment methods (PayPal, digital wallets), as well as various local payment methods. Checkout.com has great coverage where Adyen or Stripe do not operate.
Pros
- Supports transactions in 150+ currencies
- Easy to set up, clean and intuitive interface
- Quick payouts
Cons
- The pricing structure is a bit complex & fees may vary depending on transaction volume
- Supports 18 payment methods – less than their competitors
Payment processing fees:
- 0.95% + $0.20 for European cards
- 2.90% + $0.20 for non-European cards
HyperPay
HyperPay provides payment processing solutions for businesses of all sizes and enables operators to accept both card and digital payments. HyperPay covers the MENA area – Middle East North Africa – and integrates with the ATOM Mobility system.
Pros
- Easy to set up and integrated with the operator's website or mobile app
- Supports a wide range of payment options – payment cards, digital wallets, MADA, bank transfers
Cons
- The pricing structure is a bit complex & fees may vary depending on the payment method and the volume of transactions
- You can't just create an account – you must get in touch with HyperPay to do it
Payment processing fees:
Depends on the currency and payment method; not stated on the website.
Bambora
A payment processing solution that's available in multiple countries around the world. It offers a range of payment options, including credit and debit cards, e-wallets such as PayPal and Alipay, and more.
Pros
- Supports payments in multiple currencies
- Supports a variety of payment options – including AliPay, which is widely popular in China
Cons:
- Not available in all countries
- Setting up Bambora can be a bit complex for those with limited technical expertise
- $49 set-up fee
Payment processing fees:
Fixed fee ($0.10-$0.30) + percentage fee (1.7%-3.9%)
Regional payment solutions
ATOM Mobility integrates with several regional payment gateways, which is helpful for businesses focusing on specific markets. Providing users with an option to pay for your services in their local currency and with a payment method they're familiar with, helps ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty.
A payment gateway for businesses in Latin America. Processing fees depend on the country and payment method but typically are between 2.5% and 5% per transaction.
A payment gateway for businesses in Africa. Transaction fees depend on the payment method and the volume of transactions – usually between 2.9% and 3.8% per transaction.
A payment system is primarily available in Ukraine and other countries in Eastern Europe. Payment processing fee – 1.5% per transaction.
A payment processing platform that's primarily available to businesses based in Ukraine. Fees for card transactions range from 1.5% to 3%.
A payment solution for businesses in the Baltic region of Europe. It allows users to make a payment by simply entering their phone numbers. Payment transaction fees start at 1.3% or min. €0.10.
A payment gateway that provides online payment solutions for businesses in Azerbaijan. The fee for card transactions is 5%.
Local bank integrations
Another option is to offer your clients to pay through their local bank integration. Since people tend to prefer payment solutions they are familiar with, offering your clients the option to pay through their local bank integration may help you convince new users to give your ride-sharing service a try.
A bank integration primarily for businesses operating in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Albania. Fees for card transactions typically range from 0.7% to 1.5%.
A bank integration primarily for businesses operating in Ukraine. Fees for card transactions typically range from 1.5% to 2.5%
A bank integration for businesses primarily operating across the Caribbean and Central America. Fees for card transactions vary – contact the bank for more information.
New integrations
Currently, the ATOM team is working on 3 new payment integrations so our clients have more options and can find the most suitable solution for them. If you have a preference regarding the payment gateway, you can talk to our team, and we will plan the integration process together.
Key factors to consider when choosing a payment gateway
As you see, there are dozens of payment gateway solutions available. But which one is the one and only for your business?
Before you make your decision, here are six crucial things to consider:
- Stability and SLA - how secure and stable the solution is. This should be the first criterion, as cooperating with an unstable solution will lead to losses. Do other similar businesses use them? Do they have case studies? Does their support answer within a reasonable time?
- Costs and fees – what will it cost you to set the solution up? How big are the transaction fees? Are there any additional monthly fees? Try to estimate the volume and value of your monthly transactions – for many payment gateway solution providers, the fees depend on these factors.
- Payment methods supported – people are different, and so are their preferences regarding online payments. Some prefer to pay with digital wallets, while others only trust banks and their integrations. The more payment methods you'll be able to offer, the larger audience you'll be able to attract.
- Regions operating in – does the chosen payment gateway even work in your region? Also, if you're aiming to build a global ride-sharing business, you may want to select a payment gateway with a worldwide presence.
- Holding time – how long can the funds be cleared and transferred to your bank account take? For most payment gateways, it's usually 3-7 days. Generally, the sooner you receive your money, the easier it will be for you to manage your business.
- Currencies supported – check whether your payment gateway supports payments in different currencies. People want to pay in their local currency, so you want to ensure they have such an option.
- Security – as a rule of thumb, you want your payment gateway to be level-1 PCI DSS compliant and have fraud detection features.
To sum up
Choosing the most appropriate and cost-efficient payment gateway may feel daunting at first, but the secret to making this process easier is just knowing exactly what you want and need.
Where is your business going to operate?
How big is your target market?
How much can you make in your first year in business? Be realistic.
Where do you see your venture in 3-5 years?
By answering these questions, you'll have a clearer picture of what you need from your payment gateway solution provider.
Good luck!
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How to launch a scooter sharing business in 2026: A step-by-step guide
🛴 Launching a scooter-sharing business takes much more than buying scooters and publishing an app. Choosing the right city, selecting reliable hardware, planning operations, and investing in software that can scale all play a major role in building a successful mobility business. This guide walks you through every stage of the process, from market research and business model selection to fleet management, customer acquisition, and how operators can launch in as little as 20 days.
August 6, 2026
min. read
Launching a scooter-sharing business no longer requires millions in funding or a team of software engineers. What once took large mobility companies years to build can now be launched in a matter of weeks. The challenge has shifted from technology to execution. Today's operators compete on reliability, operational efficiency, and the ability to work with cities rather than around them.
The opportunity, however, remains strong. According to the 2025 European Shared Mobility Index, Europe recorded more than 640 million shared mobility trips in 2024, with scooters remaining one of the largest mobility segments. For entrepreneurs looking to enter the market, the biggest advantage is that they no longer have to build everything from scratch. Proven business models, mature hardware, and established software platforms have made launching a scooter-sharing service much more accessible than it was just a few years ago.
Here's what to consider before launching your first fleet.
Step 1: Choose the right city
The success of a scooter-sharing business often depends more on the city than on the scooters themselves. Before investing in vehicles, take time to understand the local market. Does the city issue permits for scooter-sharing operators? Are there already established competitors? Is the population dense enough to support frequent short trips? Well-developed cycling infrastructure and strong public transport networks can also work in your favour by creating first and last mile travel opportunities. Competition isn't necessarily a bad sign. If multiple operators are already active, it usually means there is proven demand. The challenge is understanding whether there's room for another service and how your business can differentiate itself.
Step 2: Build a business model that fits your market
One of the first decisions is choosing how riders will use your service. Some operators choose a free-floating model, where scooters can be picked up and parked anywhere within a designated service area. Others prefer station-based systems that require trips to start and end at fixed locations. Free-floating fleets offer greater flexibility for users, while station-based systems usually provide more predictable operations, simpler charging logistics, and fewer parking issues.
Pricing deserves just as much attention. Many operators combine an unlock fee with per-minute pricing, while others introduce subscriptions, ride bundles, or daily passes for frequent users. It's also worth defining your target utilisation rate before purchasing vehicles. A fleet of 200 scooters averaging five trips per day is generally a healthier business than a fleet of 500 scooters averaging only one or two.
Step 3: Choose hardware that will last
Buying scooters is only one part of the investment. Operators should look beyond purchase price and evaluate durability, battery capacity, weather resistance, maintenance requirements, spare part availability, and the total cost of ownership over several years.
The hardware inside each scooter is equally important. GPS tracking, remote locking, battery monitoring, vehicle diagnostics, and theft protection all depend on reliable IoT connectivity. Many newer operators also choose swappable battery systems because they reduce downtime and allow batteries to be replaced on the street instead of transporting scooters back to a warehouse for charging.
Choosing hardware that integrates smoothly with your software platform will make expansion much easier later on.
Step 4: Select software that can grow with your business
The customer usually sees only the mobile app, but software runs almost every part of a scooter-sharing business. Beyond booking and payments, operators need tools for fleet management, pricing, subscriptions, maintenance scheduling, customer support, analytics, reporting, and day-to-day administration. As fleets grow, managing these processes manually quickly becomes unrealistic. When comparing software providers, look beyond the list of features. Consider how well the platform integrates with your hardware, whether new vehicle types can be added later, and how much of the daily operational work can be automated, what other operators are saying about the software.
Platforms such as ATOM Mobility's vehicle-sharing software bring rider apps, fleet management, payments, maintenance workflows, and analytics together in one system, allowing operators to manage the business without relying on multiple disconnected tools.
Step 5: Think about your first riders before launch day
Successful operators usually spend weeks preparing their first marketing campaigns before the fleet goes live. Referral programmes can encourage existing users to invite friends, while partnerships with universities, hotels, offices, residential developments, and local businesses help introduce the service to potential riders. Introductory discounts often work well during launch, but long-term success depends on giving people a reason to keep coming back after the promotion ends.
Step 6: Prepare your operations before the first ride
Many mobility businesses don't struggle because demand is low – they struggle because operations become difficult to manage as the fleet grows. Before launch, operators should already have clear procedures covering:
- vehicle inspections
- charging and battery swaps
- maintenance and repairs
- fleet balancing
- customer support
- incident reporting
It is also worth deciding when operational action should be triggered. For example, at what battery level should a scooter be collected? How many inactive hours should pass before a vehicle is relocated? When should damaged scooters automatically be removed from service? Answering these questions early helps create consistent operations as the business grows.
How long does it actually take to launch?
Building custom mobility software from scratch can easily take 6-12 months or more, particularly when mobile apps, payments, IoT integrations, and fleet management systems all need to be developed from 0. Custom mobility software also costs 10 times more and may not be delivered in time.
Using a white-label platform shortens that process considerably. With ATOM Mobility's vehicle-sharing platform, operators can often launch in as little as 20 days, depending on branding, hardware integrations, payment setup, and operational readiness. That allows founders to spend less time developing software and more time preparing the business itself.
Launching a scooter-sharing business has never been easier from a technical perspective, but long-term success still depends on execution. Choosing the right city, investing in reliable hardware, selecting software that can grow with the business, and establishing strong operational processes all have a much bigger impact than simply deploying more scooters. The operators that build those foundations early are usually the ones best positioned to scale in the years that follow.
Want to learn more?
For entrepreneurs who want to dive deeper, ATOM Academy (https://www.atommobility.com/academy) is a free online learning platform created by mobility industry experts. It includes practical video courses covering topics such as:
- How to launch a shared mobility business
- Fleet operations and maintenance best practices
- Pricing and business models
- Marketing, support and customer acquisition
- Mobility software tutorials and platform walkthroughs
- Industry trends and expert insights
Whether you're preparing to launch your first fleet or looking to optimise an existing operation, the Academy provides practical guidance based on real-world experience from hundreds of mobility projects worldwide.
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New feature alert: Vehicle availability calendar for P2P rentals
📆🚗 Managing vehicle availability is now easier than ever. Each rental vehicle can now have its own availability schedule, allowing operators or vehicle owners to define exactly when it can be booked. Keep vehicles available 24/7, create recurring weekly schedules, configure multiple unavailable periods, and make one-time availability changes directly from the calendar - all while preventing conflicts with existing bookings.
August 4, 2026
min. read
Managing vehicle availability has become much more flexible. With the new Vehicle availability calendar, every rental vehicle now has its own availability schedule, allowing operators or vehicle owners to define exactly when a vehicle can be booked.
By default, vehicles remain available 24/7, but operators can switch to a custom schedule and configure recurring unavailable periods or make one-time availability adjustments directly from the calendar.
Key capabilities
📅 24/7 availability by default
Newly added vehicles are automatically available around the clock. No additional setup is required.
🔄 Recurring weekly availability schedules
Configure custom weekly availability for each individual vehicle by defining one or multiple unavailable periods for every day of the week.
Navigation:
Vehicles → Select vehicle → Edit → Set availability
⚙️ Multiple unavailable periods per day
Need to block vehicles for maintenance, charging, cleaning, or personal use? Add as many unavailable time slots as needed for each day.
📆 One-time availability changes
Override the recurring schedule for a specific date without affecting the permanent weekly configuration. Perfect for holidays, temporary maintenance, or special events.
Navigation:
Vehicles → Calendar view → Click any available or unavailable time slot to add or edit
🔴 Visual availability overview
Unavailable periods are highlighted directly in the vehicle calendar, making it easy to identify when a vehicle can or cannot be booked.
🛡️ Booking conflict protection
To prevent scheduling issues, the system validates every availability change. If the selected period overlaps with an existing booking, the update cannot be saved and the operator will receive an error informing them that a booking already exists for that time.
How it works
The feature combines two layers of availability:
- Recurring schedule – the vehicle's permanent weekly availability pattern.
- Calendar exceptions – one-time changes that apply only to a specific date without modifying the recurring schedule.
For example, if a vehicle is normally unavailable every Wednesday from 10:00–12:00, you can temporarily extend, edit or reduce availability for a single Wednesday while leaving all future Wednesdays unchanged.
Why it matters
P2P rental businesses often manage vehicles with different owner preferences and operating hours. This feature gives operators the flexibility to support virtually any availability scenario while keeping bookings accurate and preventing scheduling conflicts.
Whether you're managing a small peer-to-peer fleet or thousands of rental vehicles, the new vehicle availability calendar makes availability management significantly easier and more reliable.
Driver App demo credentials - Email: test@atom.com, Password: driver
