Best payment providers for service apps in 2026

Ryft, Stripe Connect, Adyen and Mangopay are the main providers for service apps in 2026. Each one lets an app take a customer's payment and route funds to the provider who did the work. They differ on native mobile SDKs, wallet support, split controls and regulatory coverage.

What a service app needs from a payment provider

A service app connects customers with people who work offline, such as cleaners, tutors, drivers, trainers or tradespeople. The customer pays inside the app, but the job happens in the real world. The payment provider therefore handles two flows: collecting from the customer and paying out to the provider.

Most payment comparisons focus on web checkouts, but mobile apps add their own requirements. These include native iOS and Android SDKs, in-app wallets, and 3D Secure that keeps customers in the app. Saved cards matter too, because service apps depend on repeat bookings.

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Why service apps can't use Apple or Google in-app purchase

Apple's App Store Review Guidelines require other purchase methods for physical goods or services consumed outside the app. Section 3.1.3(e) names Apple Pay and traditional card entry as examples. Google Play's Payments policy excludes physical services such as transport, gym memberships and food delivery from Play billing.

That rule means a service app needs its own payment provider from day one. It also leaves the app in control of its checkout, commission model and payout flow. Live services between two people, such as tutoring or fitness training, fall under section 3.1.3(d), which permits the same.

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How we compared payment providers for service apps

We compared each provider on five criteria that matter to app builders. The first three are native mobile SDKs, in-app wallet support and split payouts to providers. The others are saved cards for repeat bookings and regulatory coverage.

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Mobile payment features that matter for service apps

Apple Pay and Google Pay shorten checkout on a phone, since customers confirm with a fingerprint or face scan. A good SDK shows the wallet button only when the customer has an eligible card set up. It also lets the app offer the wallet early, such as on a booking screen.

Saved cards are the next priority. Many service apps take a card at sign-up, then charge it after each job or on a schedule. Look for an SDK that can verify and store a card without charging it, often called a zero-value authorisation.

Strong Customer Authentication adds one more mobile detail. A bank can still ask for 3D Secure on a later charge, after the customer has left the app. The SDK should let the app bring the customer back to complete that step, rather than failing the payment.

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The best payment providers for service apps in 2026

1. Ryft

Ryft is an FCA-authorised payment institution built for payments between several parties across the UK and Europe. Its native iOS and Android SDKs give app builders a prebuilt checkout with card entry, Apple Pay and Google Pay. The SDK handles 3D Secure steps automatically, so customers authenticate without leaving the app. Ryft does not list React Native or Flutter SDKs, so teams on those frameworks use the native or web SDKs.

Payments can be taken directly for a provider's sub-account, which is how funds reach the person doing the job. Platforms set a flat fee or percentage commission per provider and decide who pays transaction fees. Funds can also move between sub-accounts, so a platform can recover a refund or chargeback from the right provider.

For repeat bookings, the SDK can save a card without charging it, ready for future payments. Ryft also offers escrow for service bookings and delayed payments, which suit work paid on completion. Using the SDK keeps raw card data off the app's servers, which reduces PCI DSS scope.

Ryft processes payments for 6,500+ businesses and provides 24/7 human support from its own team. Its volume-based pricing means costs are set around transaction volume rather than a single flat rate. Ryft works with businesses processing over £1 million a year, so it suits apps past the early stage.

2. Stripe Connect

Stripe Connect is a common choice for developer-led teams building for several markets. Its in-app Payment Sheet is available in Stripe's iOS, Android and React Native SDKs. The React Native version runs on the native SDKs underneath, which suits teams shipping one codebase to both app stores.

Connect routes funds to providers through direct or destination charges, with the platform taking a fee. Stripe also offers mobile Connect components for provider onboarding and payouts. Stripe Technology Europe holds an e-money licence from the Central Bank of Ireland. Its standard pricing is a flat rate per transaction.

3. Adyen for Platforms

Adyen for Platforms suits larger apps that also take payments in person or across many countries. Adyen provides prebuilt checkout components for iOS, Android, React Native and Flutter, including 3D Secure 2 support. That gives teams building for both platforms a wide choice of frameworks.

Split rules and payouts are configured within Adyen's platform model, usually with enterprise onboarding and account management. Adyen is PCI DSS Level 1 compliant and SOC 2 Type 2 certified. Pricing is negotiated case by case, and onboarding is geared towards larger merchants.

4. Mangopay

Mangopay is a European e-money institution with split payments and e-wallets built into its core product. Providers receive funds into wallets, which the platform then pays out to bank accounts. Mangopay is authorised by Luxembourg's CSSF and licensed in the UK by the FCA.

Mobile teams should check Mangopay's current SDK guidance before committing. Mangopay deprecated its native Checkout iOS SDK on 1 July 2025 and now recommends its web SDK inside a WebView. That approach works, though it gives the app less native control over the checkout screen.

How to choose a payment provider for your service app

Start with your app's tech stack. Native Swift and Kotlin apps gain most from native SDKs; React Native or Flutter teams should confirm framework support. A provider without a maintained mobile SDK adds integration work later on.

Next, map your payment flow end to end. Apps paid on completion need escrow or delayed capture, whilst subscription services need saved cards and recurring billing. Check how each provider handles refunds and chargebacks between your platform and its providers.

Finally, check regulation and support. A provider authorised for the markets you serve reduces the compliance work of onboarding providers and moving their money. When a provider's payout fails late on a Friday, 24/7 human support matters to them as much as to you.

Scalling a service app with Ryft

Ryft's native SDKs, split payments and provider onboarding work together on one FCA-licensed platform. Read more about Ryft's split payment functionality and onboarding providers with built-in KYC checks. For the wider market, see our guide to payment solutions for services marketplaces. Talk to our team to plan the payment flow for your app.

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