Online payment gateway

Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) review (2026)

Vendor: Elavon · Reviewed: 2026-05-11

Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) is uK-specific gateway popular with established SMBs and mid-market. Owned by Elavon. Opayo is the UK gateway formerly known as Sage Pay, rebranded after acquisition by Elavon in 2019. Hosted-page (Form), API integration (Direct), or in-frame (iFrame) options. Designed for UK SMB and mid-market merchants with established trading history.

Editorial review in progress

Hands-on test of Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) is scheduled. This page covers public-knowledge UK specifics: pricing, SCA handling, setup, pros and cons. We will add a verdict and overall rating after the hands-on test completes.

Who Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) is best for

  • Established UK SMBs and mid-market with 1+ year trading history
  • Merchants on legacy Sage accounting stack (Sage 50, Sage 200) wanting tight integration
  • B2B invoicing with optional card-on-file recurring
  • Charities (discounted rates available)
  • Multi-currency merchants needing UK acquirer relationship

Who should not use Opayo (formerly Sage Pay)

  • Pre-revenue or new merchants (Opayo prefers established trading)
  • Self-service no-developer setups (Stripe, Shopify, Square better)
  • High-risk verticals
  • High-volume merchants above £1m monthly (Adyen interchange-plus wins on TCA)

UK pricing

Bespoke per merchant. Typical SMB tier 1.5% to 2.5% blended UK online. Monthly gateway fee £20 to £40. Plus Elavon acquirer fees (separate). 3-year typical contract.

UK specifics: Elavon Financial Services DAC is the UK acquiring entity. Opayo is FCA-authorised payment service provider. Money settles to UK business bank account via Elavon merchant agreement.

Recommended plan: Opayo Direct (API) for established merchants with developer resource.

Pros

  • +UK-specific product with UK support team
  • +Tight Sage accounting integration
  • +Elavon acquirer relationship (bank-grade)
  • +Multi-currency online card processing
  • +Established UK trust signal for B2B

Cons

  • ,3-year contract typical
  • ,Setup-led pricing not always competitive vs Stripe
  • ,No omnichannel terminal product (in-person via separate Elavon merchant agreement)
  • ,Older brand recognition (still says Opayo or Sage Pay in some UK shop owner conversations)

SCA / 3D Secure 2 support

SCA via 3D Secure 2. Opayo offers 3DS exemption-engine on higher tiers. Transaction Risk Analysis available for established merchants.

Setup complexity

Medium. Form (hosted) is straightforward. Direct API requires developer. Sales-led onboarding typical 1 to 3 weeks.

Competitors and alternatives

Direct UK competitors to Opayo (formerly Sage Pay): Stripe Checkout, Worldpay Online, Barclaycard ePDQ, Lloyds Cardnet.

FAQs

What is Opayo (formerly Sage Pay)?

Opayo is the UK gateway formerly known as Sage Pay, rebranded after acquisition by Elavon in 2019. Hosted-page (Form), API integration (Direct), or in-frame (iFrame) options. Designed for UK SMB and mid-market merchants with established trading history.

Who is Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) best for in the UK?

Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) is best for: Established UK SMBs and mid-market with 1+ year trading history; Merchants on legacy Sage accounting stack (Sage 50, Sage 200) wanting tight integration; B2B invoicing with optional card-on-file recurring; Charities (discounted rates available); Multi-currency merchants needing UK acquirer relationship.

Who should not use Opayo (formerly Sage Pay)?

Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) is not the right fit for: Pre-revenue or new merchants (Opayo prefers established trading); Self-service no-developer setups (Stripe, Shopify, Square better); High-risk verticals; High-volume merchants above £1m monthly (Adyen interchange-plus wins on TCA).

How much does Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) cost in the UK?

Bespoke per merchant. Typical SMB tier 1.5% to 2.5% blended UK online. Monthly gateway fee £20 to £40. Plus Elavon acquirer fees (separate). 3-year typical contract.

Does Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) handle SCA / 3D Secure 2?

SCA via 3D Secure 2. Opayo offers 3DS exemption-engine on higher tiers. Transaction Risk Analysis available for established merchants.

How long does Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) take to set up?

Medium. Form (hosted) is straightforward. Direct API requires developer. Sales-led onboarding typical 1 to 3 weeks.

Does Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) work for both online and in-person payments?

No. Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) is online-only. For in-person payments you need a separate card machine and acquirer relationship.

What are the alternatives to Opayo (formerly Sage Pay)?

Direct competitors in the UK market: Stripe Checkout, Worldpay Online, Barclaycard ePDQ, Lloyds Cardnet.

Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-05-11.