Payment Gateway and Merchant Accounts in Hungary

A payment gateway in Hungary connects your website, app or invoices to a merchant account, so you can accept card payments and receive the money in forints or euros in your business bank account. Whether you run a webshop in Budapest, a SaaS company in Debrecen selling across the EU or a supplement brand in Szeged, the right set-up depends on what you sell, where your customers are and how much risk a provider sees in your business model.

QuadraPay is a merchant services partner for businesses in Hungary and across Europe. We look at your business, your website and your expected volumes, then match you with EU acquiring and processing partners whose underwriting fits your business, including high-risk industries that mainstream providers often decline. You see the full fee breakdown before you sign anything.

Payment Gateways and Merchant Accounts in Hungary: What You Get

A payment gateway and a merchant account are two parts of the same set-up. Here is what each part does.

Payment Methods in Hungary: How Customers Pay

Hungary is moving away from cash quickly. According to the Magyar Nemzeti Bank’s 2025 Payment Systems Report, Hungarian-issued cards were used for about 1.97 billion purchases in 2024, up 10%, and 71% of online purchases were paid electronically. Online purchases made up 32.4% of card spending by value, up from 23.5% in 2019, and almost 60,000 online acceptance points were active with domestic providers.

For a business selling to Hungarian customers, that means:

• Cards come first. Accept Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, with 3-D Secure for online payments.
• Mobile wallets matter. More than 2.5 million cards, about a quarter of all cards, are stored in mobile wallets, and wallets accounted for 25.6% of card purchases in 2024. Apple Pay and Google Pay at checkout are now expected.
• qvik instant payments are growing. qvik is the MNB’s standard for instant bank payments by QR code, NFC or payment link, built on Hungary’s instant payment system. The MNB reports about 30,000 retailers accepted it by the end of 2024. Ask your provider whether it offers qvik or other instant bank payments alongside cards.
• Bank transfer and cash on delivery are still used for larger orders and by some online shoppers, so many webshops keep them as options.
• Price in forints, settle where you need to. Hungary uses the forint (HUF), not the euro. Show prices in HUF to local customers, and settle in HUF or EUR depending on the provider. If you sell abroad, see multi-currency payment processing.

Since 1 January 2021, shops in Hungary that use an online cash register must also offer customers a way to pay electronically, such as by card, so most physical businesses now need card acceptance as well.

Choosing a Payment Service Provider in Hungary: What to Compare

Hungarian merchants can choose between local gateways and banks, such as SimplePay, Barion and the acquiring arms of Hungarian banks, and international providers licensed elsewhere in the EU and passported into Hungary. Every payment service provider must be authorised by the MNB or by another EU or EEA regulator. Before you compare prices, check that the provider is authorised and that it accepts your type of business. Then compare these points:

Local gateways are often the simplest choice for a low-risk Hungarian webshop. International providers can suit businesses that sell across Europe, need several currencies or work in an industry local providers won’t take. Because we work with multiple acquiring partners, a decline from one provider doesn’t have to be the end of the road. We can look at others that may be a better fit.

High-Risk Merchant Accounts in Hungary

Some Hungarian businesses are classed as high risk because of their industry, their chargeback history or the way they sell, for example subscriptions, free trials, pre-orders or cross-border sales. Mainstream banks and payment providers often decline these businesses, or close accounts without much warning. A high-risk merchant account is set up with a provider that expects these risks and manages them with reserves, monitoring and fraud tools.

Industries that often need a high-risk set-up include:

• Forex and crypto-related businesses, which providers assess against licensing and AML requirements. See forex broker payment gateways and crypto merchant accounts.
• Adult content and dating platforms. See adult merchant accounts and dating merchant accounts.
• Nutraceuticals and supplements. See supplement merchant accounts and nutraceutical merchant accounts.
• SaaS, subscriptions and online courses. See SaaS payment processing, subscription payment processing and online course merchant accounts.
• Technical support and coaching. See tech support merchant accounts and coaching merchant accounts.
• Online gaming and betting with a licence from the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities (SZTFH). Since July 2023, the SZTFH has been able to block payments to unlicensed gambling sites, and Hungarian banks refuse card payments to them, so your licence is central to the application. See gambling merchant accounts.
• Travel, CBD and vape businesses. See travel merchant accounts, CBD merchant accounts and vape merchant accounts.

Providers look at your website, refund and delivery terms, chargeback and refund ratios, processing history and any licences your industry needs. Expect a rolling reserve or volume limits at the start, which providers may review as you build a track record. If you’ve been declined by a local provider, we may be able to help. See high-risk merchant accounts and European high-risk merchant accounts.

Integrations, Recurring Billing and Currencies

Depending on the provider, a merchant account for a Hungarian business can cover:

• Cards: Visa, Mastercard and, with some providers, other card brands.
• Wallets: Apple Pay and Google Pay at checkout.
• Bank payments: transfers and, with some providers, qvik or other instant bank payments.
• Recurring billing for memberships and subscriptions, with retries for failed payments and card updater services where available. See recurring merchant accounts.
• Multiple currencies for customers outside Hungary, with settlement in HUF, EUR or another currency the provider supports.

Integration options usually include plugins for common platforms, a hosted payment page and an API. We work with businesses using WooCommerce, Magento, Shopify and custom builds, as well as CRM payment processing for sales teams. For Shopify stores in high-risk industries, see high-risk payment gateway integration for Shopify.

Documents You Need for a Hungarian Merchant Account

Every provider verifies your business before approving an account. For a Hungarian company, have these ready:

• Company registration. A current company extract (cégkivonat) from the company register for your Kft., Zrt. or other entity, and your articles of association. A sole trader (egyéni vállalkozó) needs proof of registration instead.
• Tax number and VAT status from the National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV). The standard VAT rate in Hungary is 27%.
• Beneficial owners. Details of the people who own or control the company. Providers check these against the Hungarian beneficial ownership register.
• ID and proof of address for directors and each significant owner.
• Business bank account in the company’s name, with a bank statement or confirmation letter. Hungarian companies must hold a Hungarian bank account, though some providers settle to an EEA euro account as well.
• Processing statements for the last three to six months, if you already take cards. These help with pricing and show your chargeback history.
• Your website, with clear terms (ÁSZF), refund and delivery policies, privacy policy, prices with VAT and company contact details.
• Licences where your industry needs them, such as an SZTFH gambling licence or a financial services licence for forex.
• A business plan and volume forecast if you’re a new company with no processing history.

We help you put the application together so it’s complete before it goes to a provider. We usually reply to new enquiries within one business day. Provider underwriting typically takes a few days and varies by provider and industry.

Fraud Prevention, 3-D Secure and Chargebacks

The MNB reports that both the number and value of card fraud cases in Hungary rose in 2024. For merchants, fraud usually turns into chargebacks, and too many chargebacks put your account at risk.

• 3-D Secure 2. EU rules on strong customer authentication (SCA) under PSD2 require most online card payments to be authenticated by the customer’s bank. 3-D Secure also generally shifts liability for fraud-related chargebacks to the card issuer.
• Risk rules. Velocity limits, country and IP checks and device fingerprinting, where the provider offers them.
• Chargeback alerts. Services such as Ethoca and Verifi alert you to a dispute so you can refund before it becomes a chargeback. See what a chargeback alert service is.
• Clear billing. A recognisable billing descriptor and easy-to-reach customer support prevent many “I don’t recognise this payment” disputes.

See also handling chargebacks in high-risk industries.

What a Payment Gateway in Hungary Costs

There is no single rate. Your price depends on your industry, volumes, average transaction value, card mix and where your customers are. The MNB estimates that the smallest Hungarian merchants pay about 3.4% of their card turnover in acceptance costs, against its target of 1.5%, so shopping around matters. In the EU, interchange on consumer cards issued in the EEA is capped at 0.2% for debit and 0.3% for credit, but card scheme fees and the provider’s own margin come on top. Business cards and cards issued outside the EEA cost more.

• Interchange-plus pricing shows interchange, scheme fees and the provider’s markup separately, so you can see exactly what you pay.
• Blended pricing is one rate for most cards. It’s simpler, but harder to compare.
• Other fees can include set-up, monthly, gateway, chargeback, refund and HUF/EUR conversion fees.
• High-risk accounts usually have higher rates and a rolling reserve.

We give you a quote based on your business, with the full fee breakdown before you sign.

How to Get a Payment Gateway in Hungary

1. Tell us about your business. What you sell, where your customers are, your website and your expected monthly volume.
2. Get a quote. We match you with providers whose underwriting fits your business and show you the full fee breakdown.
3. Prepare your documents. We help you check your application and website before it goes to the provider. Some providers ask you to upload documents to them directly.
4. Provider review. The provider underwrites your application. Timing varies by provider and industry.
5. Integrate and go live. You receive gateway credentials, connect your checkout and start taking payments.

Merchant Accounts in Central Europe and Beyond

If you also trade in neighbouring markets, see our pages for the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Italy, Greece and the UK. For businesses selling across several countries, see international merchant accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Payment Gateways in Hungary

What is the best payment gateway for Hungary?

The best one is the gateway that accepts your industry, supports the payment methods your customers use, settles in the currency you need and has fees and terms you understand. Local gateways often suit low-risk Hungarian webshops. International providers can suit cross-border and high-risk businesses. Compare the full fee breakdown, settlement times, reserves and contract terms, not just the headline rate.

Which payment methods are most popular in Hungary?

Debit and credit cards, increasingly paid through Apple Pay and Google Pay. Bank transfers are common for bills and larger purchases, qvik instant payments are growing, and some online shoppers still choose cash on delivery.

Which payment providers offer local acquiring in Hungary?

Hungarian banks and some EU acquirers process Hungarian cards locally and settle in forints. Local acquiring can improve approval rates on domestic cards. Ask each provider whether it acquires locally or cross-border before you sign.

Can I settle in forints?

Many providers settle in HUF to a Hungarian bank account. Some settle only in EUR or other major currencies, so check the conversion fees if your costs are in forints.

Can a foreign-owned company get a payment gateway in Hungary?

Often, yes. Providers look at where the company is registered, where its owners and customers are and where it banks. A Hungarian Kft. with foreign owners is common. We can’t support merchants based in India.

Can high-risk businesses accept card payments in Hungary?

Yes, through providers that work with high-risk industries. Expect more checks, higher rates and possibly a rolling reserve. Licensed activities such as gambling need the right SZTFH licence first.

Do I need 3-D Secure?

For most online card payments from EEA customers, yes. Strong customer authentication rules under PSD2 require it, with some exemptions that the provider applies.

Does my shop have to accept card payments?

If you use an online cash register, Hungarian law has required you to offer an electronic payment option, such as cards, since 1 January 2021.

I’ve been declined before. Can you still help?

Declined elsewhere? We may be able to help. Tell us why you were declined, and we’ll look at providers whose underwriting may suit your business better.

Is QuadraPay a payment service provider?

No. QuadraPay is a merchant services partner. We help businesses find and set up merchant accounts and payment gateways with licensed acquiring and processing partners, who process the payments.

Get a Quote for Your Hungarian Business

Whether you run a webshop in Budapest, a SaaS business in Debrecen or a high-risk brand selling across Europe, tell us how your customers pay. We’ll match you with payment partners that may suit your business and give you every fee in writing before you sign. Request a quote or email info@quadrapay.com.