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Giropay and Sofort alternatives: what to offer instead in 2026
Giropay stopped processing payments on 30 June 2024, and Sofort ended as a standalone method on 30 September 2024. German and DACH merchants now replace them with Wero, open banking pay by bank, Klarna, SEPA direct debit and PayPal, plus eps for Austria and iDEAL for the Netherlands. The right mix depends on the countries you sell to and whether you need instant confirmation.
What happened to giropay and Sofort?
Giropay, run by paydirekt, was discontinued on 30 June 2024; from 1 July 2024 no provider could process it. Sofort stopped taking new merchants on 1 November 2023, left Italy, Poland and the UK on 1 January 2024 and ended on 30 September 2024, when Klarna moved bank payments into Klarna Pay Now.
Which alternatives can merchants offer?
Choose by country and by how fast you need confirmation.
| Alternative | Countries | Confirmation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wero | Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg; France and Netherlands rolling out | Real time | Bank account wallet on SEPA Instant; dispute process |
| Open banking pay by bank | EU and UK | Real time | Several providers, bank coverage varies |
| Klarna Pay Now | DACH and more | Real time | Successor to Sofort within Klarna |
| SEPA direct debit | SEPA area | Collected after pre-notification | Refundable for 8 weeks |
| eps | Austria | Real time with bank guarantee | Austrian banks only |
| iDEAL | Netherlands | Real time | Migrating to Wero by end of 2027 |
How do you replace giropay and Sofort through OrsunPay?
OrsunPay is a payment orchestration platform: you keep your own contracts with licensed providers (for example Stripe, Adyen or Worldpay), and OrsunPay is not a payment institution, acquirer or merchant of record and does not hold or transmit funds. Through OrsunPay you connect providers that offer Wero, pay by bank, Klarna, SEPA direct debit, eps or iDEAL, show them in one hosted checkout, and route by country. For OrsunPay pricing, see the pricing page at /pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still accept giropay?
No. Giropay has not been available since 1 July 2024.
What is the closest replacement for Sofort?
Open banking pay by bank or Klarna Pay Now, both bank payments with real-time confirmation.
Is Wero a replacement for giropay?
For German shoppers, yes: Wero has been live for German e-commerce since November 2025.
Explore OrsunPay
Talk to our teamSources
- PayPal Help Center: giropay deprecation (checked 2 November 2026)
- Mollie Support: SOFORT deprecation, 30 September 2024 (checked 2 November 2026)
- Mollie: what is Wero, fees and disputes (Austria) (checked 2 November 2026)