Simpler Checkout vs. PayPal Express Checkout: Which helps you sell more?

Overview of Simpler Checkout and PayPal Express Checkout

PayPal Express Checkout is well-known for its brand recognition and convenience. It offers a secure way to complete purchases using PayPal accounts, with the added options of Apple Pay and Google Pay for some level of payment flexibility. PayPal's reach is substantial, as many customers are familiar with and trust the PayPal brand, making it an appealing choice for certain demographics.

Simpler Checkout is trusted by over hundreds of e-commerce stores across Europe and serves a network of more than half a million shoppers. It is built to revolutionise the checkout process—making it up to 80% faster than traditional systems and boosting conversion rates by as much as 35%.

With a focus on speed, simplicity, and diverse payment options, Simpler aims to deliver a checkout experience that meets the expectations of today’s demanding customers. It integrates PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, Revolut Pay, and more, making it a comprehensive solution for diverse customer needs.

For first-time users, Simpler's streamlined checkout requires only essential details, allowing purchases in under a minute, with automatic account creation.

Returning users can complete their checkout in under 7 seconds thanks to auto-filled information, ensuring a fast experience across all stores using Simpler.

Simpler also has an inbuilt loyalty program, Simpler Coins, rewarding customers for their purchases and encouraging repeat buying without any extra cost for merchants.

With Simpler, customers get more payment options, faster checkouts, and loyalty rewards, giving merchants a clear edge in conversions.

Payment Options: Breadth and Flexibility

One of the biggest differentiator between Simpler and PayPal Express Checkout is the range of payment options available.

PayPal Express Checkout supports:

• PayPal (Primary)
• Apple Pay (Limited availability)
• Google Pay (Limited availability)

While this selection works well for customers who prefer PayPal, it’s limited compared to what today’s consumers expect from a diverse payment ecosystem.

Simpler Checkout outshines PayPal by including PayPal as just one of many payment options, providing an integrated suite that offers:

• PayPal
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Klarna (Buy Now, Pay Later)
• Revolut Pay
• Credit/Debit Cards
• More Local Payment Methods

With Simpler, customers get a wide array of payment options, making it more likely that they will find their preferred method. This flexibility is crucial for improving conversion rates, particularly for shoppers who are inclined towards alternative payments such as BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later).

Cost Considerations

PayPal Express Checkout is known for its convenience, but that convenience comes with a hefty price tag. PayPal's fees can quickly add up, especially for small to medium businesses. PayPal charges fees that can exceed 2.9% + €0.30 per transaction, and these costs can be even higher for international payments or additional services.

Simpler Checkout, in contrast, is a subscription-based model starting at just €9 per month, making it more cost-effective for growing businesses aiming to optimise checkout costs. By bundling multiple payment options at a lower fee, and providing a state-of-the-art, conversion-focused checkout, Simpler helps merchants reduce transaction expenses and boost profitability.

Each plan comes with a 30-day free trial, giving businesses an opportunity to test Simpler’s impact on conversions before committing. Learn more here.

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Checkout Experience

PayPal Express Checkout is convenient for customers who already have a PayPal account, offering a familiar and trusted brand for first-time purchases on unknown websites. However, it lacks payment flexibility, which can be a drawback for customers wanting more options. Additionally, creating a PayPal account for first-time users can be cumbersome, adding unnecessary friction to the checkout process.

Simpler Checkout creates an intuitive, streamlined experience for both first-time users and returning shoppers. New users enjoy a quick and easy checkout, without needing to create an account manually—details are automatically saved for future purchases, ensuring an efficient experience for subsequent transactions. Returning users can complete their purchases in under 7 seconds thanks to auto-fill capabilities, and all without sacrificing security.

For mobile shoppers, Simpler's mobile-first design and integration of multiple payment options make the checkout experience much smoother compared to PayPal's traditional form-based checkout.

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Integration: Quick and Seamless Setup

Simpler Checkout is designed for easy integration, providing dedicated support to ensure a smooth implementation process. It integrates with existing e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce, Prestashop, Magento, Opencart, CS Cart and more with minimal setup, allowing merchants to start benefiting from its features quickly and efficiently.

PayPal Express Checkout, while well-established, often requires more development time and technical effort to integrate, which can be a hurdle for small and growing businesses.

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Case Study: Simpler Checkout in Action

Simpler Checkout is trusted by hundreds of brands across Europe, providing a seamless and flexible checkout experience that drives conversions and customer satisfaction.

Below, you can see two specific brand success stories to demonstrate the tangible impact Simpler can have on e-commerce performance.

Funky Buddha Case Study:

Funky Buddha, a leading clothing brand in Southern Europe, integrated Simpler Checkout to enhance the online customer experience.

• They saw 24.7% increase in conversion rates.
• 75% of buyers skipped the funnel and bought directly from the product page or mini cart.
• 10% of purchases completed in just one click (averaging 6 seconds).
• 57% rise in registered buyers.

Read the full case study.

MyBrand Shoes Case Study:

MyBrand Shoes, a trendy European footwear retailer, integrated Simpler Checkout to improve payment flexibility and streamline the buying experience.

• 98% of Orders Completed Earlier in the Funnel: 53% directly from the product page, 45% from the mini-cart, reducing drop-off rates.
• 18% of Orders via Digital Wallets: Quick, secure payments like Google Pay and Apple Pay gained traction.
• 13% of Orders via PayPal & 8% via Klarna: Significant uptake of modern payment methods.
• Checkout Share Improved from 10% to 22%: Over three months, Simpler's streamlined funnel increased adoption.
• Average Purchase Time: 6.8 seconds for returning customers and 72 seconds for first-time shoppers, indicating an optimised, seamless experience.

Read the full case study.

Why Simpler Has the Edge

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• Broader Payment Choices: While PayPal Express focuses on its own ecosystem, Simpler allows customers to use not only PayPal but also Klarna, Revolut Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more—making it a more flexible solution.
• Cost Savings: Simpler's subscription-based pricing is transparent and generally more cost-effective, particularly for businesses with growing sales volumes. PayPal's per-transaction fees can become prohibitively expensive over time.
• Optimised for Conversions: Simpler Checkout boosts conversion rates up to 35% by simplifying the checkout process and offering diverse payment methods, leading to fewer drop-offs.
• Built-In Loyalty Program: Simpler's integrated loyalty program, Simpler Coins, encourages repeat purchases and helps merchants foster customer loyalty without additional costs. By contrast, PayPal Express lacks loyalty integrations, leaving merchants to handle customer retention strategies separately.
• Mobile-Friendly Design: Simpler's mobile optimisation focuses on reducing friction at checkout, leading to faster conversion. With more than 50% of shoppers purchasing via mobile devices, Simpler's optimised interface offers a tangible advantage over PayPal.

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Conclusion: Which Should You Choose?

If your business is looking for a basic solution that caters mainly to PayPal users and doesn’t mind the higher costs, PayPal Express Checkout might fit the bill. However, if you want a versatile, cost-effective, and modern checkout solution that supports a wide variety of payment options, Simpler Checkout clearly has the edge.

With Simpler, merchants benefit from lower fees, broader payment flexibility, and a more seamless experience for mobile and desktop users alike. These features not only enhance the user experience but also contribute directly to increased conversions and profitability.

Ready to make checkout simpler and more effective for your customers? Get Simpler

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