Trustly
Trustly is a Swedish open banking payment method enabling direct bank-to-bank payments without cards or app downloads. It connects to 8,300+ banks across Europe and North America, offering instant con…
💬 Verdict
Trustly is a solid choice for businesses processing high-value transactions in iGaming, fintech, and e-commerce, offering reduced costs and speed. However, its opaque pricing and bank coverage limitations make it less suitable for small businesses or those with a broad consumer base. If you need fast, secure, and cost-effective bank payments with strong coverage in Europe and North America, Trustly is definitely worth considering.
Trustly
Free plan available — no credit card required
📊 Pros & Cons
Pros
- 👍 No card interchange or scheme fees, which reduces payment costs on high-value transactions.
- 👍 Instant payment confirmation and fast settlement improve merchant cash flow and enable same-day withdrawals.
- 👍 Bank-level authentication and strong customer authentication reduce fraud and chargeback risk.
- 👍 Simple customer experience: no app download, no account creation, no card or wallet needed.
- 👍 One API connects to 8,300+ banks across Europe and North America.
Cons
- 👎 Pricing is opaque; merchants must request a quote and there is no self-serve pricing.
- 👎 Coverage varies by country and smaller banks may not be supported, causing checkout options to disappear for some customers.
- 👎 Only works for customers with online banking, so unbanked users and card-first shoppers are excluded.
- 👎 Dispute and refund timelines follow bank rails, which can be slower and less familiar than card chargeback processes.
- 👎 High-risk businesses may face strict underwriting and delayed onboarding for certain categories.
🎯 Use Cases
Trustly has strong gaming industry adoption, instant deposits, and fast withdrawals — important for casino and sportsbook operators.
Trading apps, wallets, and digital banks use Trustly to let users push money from their bank instantly without card fees.
Bank-to-bank payments remove card limits and reduce fraud risk for expensive purchases, making it easier for buyers to complete large transactions.
Trustly's payout products allow marketplaces and platforms to send funds directly to sellers' bank accounts with fast settlement and easy reconciliation.
🔍 Deep Dive
There is no free merchant plan; Trustly charges transaction, payout, and possibly integration fees based on a custom quote. Cross-currency conversion and international payout fees can add up, and developer resources are needed unless you use a prebuilt plugin.
Moderate — the customer flow is simple, but merchant integration, authentication testing, and compliance review require technical effort.
Businesses targeting customers who strongly prefer cards, digital wallets, or BNPL, or those operating in countries with limited Trustly bank coverage.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trustly really free?
Trustly is free for the customer making the payment, but merchants pay a transaction fee. Pricing is not publicly listed; you have to contact Trustly for a custom quote based on volume and country.
How does Trustly work compared with PayPal or Stripe?
Trustly is an open banking payment method, not a digital wallet. The customer authorizes the payment directly through their online bank account, so there is no card processing, no account registration, and no app to download.
Which countries and banks support Trustly?
Trustly connects to more than 8,300 banks across Europe and North America, including major banks in Sweden, Germany, the UK, Poland, the Netherlands, and the United States. Smaller local banks may not be covered in every country.
How fast do merchants receive funds?
Payments are confirmed in real time, and funds are typically settled to the merchant the same day or next business day. Payouts to customers usually arrive within seconds or minutes, depending on the customer's bank.
Do customers need to create an account or install an app?
No. Customers select Trustly at checkout, choose their bank, log in with their existing online banking credentials, and authorize the payment. There is no separate account or app.
How do refunds and disputes work?
Refunds are sent back to the original bank account. Card-network chargeback rules don't apply, but disputes are handled through bank payment rails, which can make the resolution process slower than a traditional card chargeback.
