Best Payment Processors in Southeast Asia for SaaS, AI and Online Businesses (2026): Fees, Pros & Cons

The Southeast Asian (SEA) payment landscape in 2026 represents the world’s most successful mobile-first experiment. From cross-border QR interoperability to localized e-wallets, here is the definitive guide to the top gateways.

Alok Vats

Product

14 min read

Jun 26, 2026

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Southeast Asia has one of the world’s fastest-growing digital payment markets.

Cards remain important, but customers across the region also rely heavily on instant bank transfers, QR payments, virtual accounts, local e-wallets, and cash-based payment points.

The preferred payment method also changes from one country to another. Businesses may need to support QRIS in Indonesia, PayNow in Singapore, DuitNow in Malaysia, PromptPay in Thailand, GCash in the Philippines, and a wide range of local wallets and banking apps.

For companies selling locally, supporting these payment methods can have a direct effect on checkout conversion.

SaaS, AI, and digital product companies face another challenge. When selling internationally, they must also manage subscriptions, usage-based billing, credits, customer access, GST, VAT, sales tax, invoices, refunds, and compliance.

This has led more Southeast Asian founders to compare Merchant of Record platforms alongside traditional payment gateways.

This guide compares the leading payment processors and Merchant of Record platforms for Southeast Asian businesses in 2026.

The fees below are indicative. Actual pricing and availability vary by country, payment method, transaction volume, business model, and negotiated agreement.

1. Xendit #

Xendit is one of Southeast Asia’s leading payment infrastructure providers.

It has strong local operations across Indonesia and the Philippines, with support extending to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Hong Kong.

Through a single integration, businesses can accept cards, QR payments, virtual accounts, e-wallets, bank transfers, Buy Now Pay Later, and over-the-counter payments.

Best for: Technology startups, SaaS companies, marketplaces, and businesses that need flexible APIs and local Southeast Asian payment methods.

Indicative regional fees:

• Domestic cards: Around 3% + $0.30
• International cards: Around 4% + $0.30
• E-wallets: Around 2.7% + $0.15
• QR payments outside Indonesia: Around 1.4% + $0.30
• QRIS in Indonesia: Around 0.7%
• Virtual accounts: Around 0.5% + $0.20
• Subscription management: Around $0.30 per active plan each month

Country-specific rates may differ from the regional pricing above.

Pros:

• Strong Southeast Asian coverage: Supports businesses across several major markets in the region.
• Local payment methods: Offers QRIS, PromptPay, PayNow, virtual accounts, bank transfers, wallets, cards, and retail payments.
• Developer tools: Provides APIs, documentation, plugins, and hosted checkout options.
• Marketplace support: Helps platforms collect payments and send funds to vendors or service providers.
• Regional payouts: Supports local and cross-border payouts in selected markets.
• Subscription payments: Provides recurring payment tools for standard subscription businesses.

Cons:

• Pricing and product availability vary significantly between countries.
• Businesses may need local entities to access certain payment methods or domestic card rates.
• Not a Merchant of Record, so the business remains responsible for tax registration, filing, and compliance.

2. Kelviq #

Kelviq is a Merchant of Record built for Southeast Asian AI startups, SaaS companies, APIs, developer tools, and digital product businesses selling globally.

Unlike a standard payment gateway, Kelviq becomes the legal seller for each customer transaction. It handles customer payments, applicable GST, VAT, sales tax, invoices, refunds, and payment compliance, then sends the business a clean payout.

Kelviq is also designed for AI products and agents, where customers may be charged based on API calls, tokens, agent runs, workflows, seats, credits, or other forms of usage.

It brings payments, subscriptions, usage billing, credits, tax, and customer access together in one platform.

Best for: Southeast Asian AI startups, AI agents, SaaS companies, APIs, developer tools, and digital product sellers expanding globally.

Indicative fees: Flat 3.9% + $0.40 per transaction.

There are no monthly platform fees or separate ingestion fees for reporting API calls and product usage.

Onboarding and payout availability may depend on the company’s country, legal structure, and payout account.

Pros:

• Global tax handling: Kelviq calculates, collects, and remits applicable GST, VAT, and sales tax where required.
• Merchant of Record: Kelviq takes responsibility for the customer transaction instead of only processing the payment.
• Built for AI and agents: Supports tokens, API calls, agent runs, workflows, credits, top-ups, seats, subscriptions, and pay-as-you-go pricing.
• Usage-based billing: Charge customers based on actual usage, fixed plans, prepaid credits, or hybrid pricing.
• Credits and wallets: Create prepaid balances, credit bundles, top-ups, and rollover rules.
• Real-time access control: Check a customer’s plan, balance, credits, entitlements, or usage limit before an AI agent or workflow runs.
• Entitlements: Control which products, features, and usage limits each customer can access.
• Complete revenue system: Payments, subscriptions, tax, usage metering, invoices, refunds, and customer access are managed together.
• Reduced webhook work: Kelviq’s SDKs help teams manage usage reporting, feature access, and entitlements inside their products. Webhooks are also supported.
• Global selling: Southeast Asian founders can sell internationally without separately managing tax registrations in every market.
• Clean payouts: Kelviq handles the customer transaction and applicable transaction taxes before paying the remaining balance to the business.

Kelviq handles taxes connected to customer transactions as the Merchant of Record. Businesses remain responsible for their own company income tax, payroll tax, and other local business obligations.

Cons:

• Not built for e-commerce or physical products.

3. 2C2P #

2C2P is a regional payment platform built for businesses operating across multiple Asian markets.

It is commonly used by airlines, travel companies, financial institutions, large retailers, and international businesses that need broad payment coverage through one provider.

The platform supports cards, digital wallets, bank payments, QR payments, Buy Now Pay Later, and over-the-counter payments across Asia.

Best for: Large enterprises, airlines, travel businesses, regional retailers, and companies operating across several Southeast Asian countries.

Indicative fees: Custom pricing based on payment method, country, transaction volume, settlement requirements, and business model.

Pros:

• Broad regional coverage: Supports payment acceptance across several Southeast Asian markets.
• Large payment network: Offers cards, wallets, QR payments, bank transfers, and alternative payment methods.
• Offline payments: Provides access to a large network of over-the-counter payment locations.
• Hosted and direct integrations: Businesses can use a hosted payment page or build a custom checkout through its APIs.
• Multi-currency support: Suitable for companies processing transactions across several currencies.
• Enterprise infrastructure: Designed for large transaction volumes and complex payment operations.

Cons:

• Standard pricing is not publicly listed.
• Onboarding and compliance reviews may take longer than self-service platforms.
• The platform may be too complex for small businesses and early-stage startups.
• Integration may require dedicated technical resources.

4. Midtrans #

Midtrans is one of Indonesia’s leading payment gateways and is part of the GoTo Financial ecosystem.

Its connection with GoPay, Gojek, and Tokopedia gives it strong support for Indonesian payment methods, local wallets, banks, and customer payment behaviour.

Midtrans supports cards, GoPay, QRIS, ShopeePay, DANA, OVO, virtual accounts, bank transfers, and over-the-counter payments.

Best for: Indonesian e-commerce companies, retailers, marketplaces, platforms, and online businesses.

Indicative fees:

• QRIS: Around 0.7%
• GoPay: Around 2%
• ShopeePay: Around 2%
• DANA and OVO: Around 1.5%
• Cards: Around 2.9% + IDR 2,000
• Bank virtual accounts: Around IDR 4,000 per transaction

Different rates may apply to gaming companies, digital products, and other specific business categories.

Pros:

• Strong Indonesian coverage: Supports major Indonesian banks, wallets, and payment networks.
• QRIS: Customers can pay from a wide range of banking and e-wallet apps.
• GoPay integration: Provides a familiar payment experience for Gojek and GoPay users.
• Local wallets: Supports options such as DANA, OVO, and ShopeePay.
• Virtual accounts: Offers payment collection through major Indonesian banks.
• Mass payouts: Iris Payouts can help platforms pay vendors, contractors, drivers, and partners.
• No setup fee: Standard payment processing is generally charged only after a successful transaction.

Cons:

• Its strongest features are focused on Indonesia.
• It may not be the best option for businesses that need equal payment coverage across the entire region.
• Not a Merchant of Record, so the business remains responsible for tax and compliance.

5. Omise by Opn #

Omise, operated by Opn, provides payment processing for businesses in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and other supported Asian markets.

It focuses on secure online checkout, local payment methods, cards, bank payments, and e-wallets.

Its strongest coverage is in Thailand, where it supports cards, PromptPay, mobile banking, TrueMoney, ShopeePay, LINE Pay, and other regional methods.

Best for: Thai and Singaporean e-commerce businesses, online services, and brands that want a custom checkout experience.

Indicative Thailand fees:

• Cards and instalments: Around 3.65%
• PromptPay: Around 1.65%
• Direct Debit: Around THB 10
• Mobile banking: Around THB 10
• ShopeePay: Pricing varies by merchant agreement
• TrueMoney: Pricing varies by merchant agreement

Singapore and Malaysia pricing varies by payment method and account.

Pros:

• Strong Thailand coverage: Supports PromptPay, cards, mobile banking, and popular local wallets.
• PayNow support: Singaporean businesses can accept payments through PayNow.
• Custom checkout: Businesses can control more of the payment experience.
• No setup cost: Standard plans are based on successful transactions.
• Fraud screening: Fraud prevention is included with payment processing.
• Multi-currency cards: Eligible merchants can accept selected international currencies.

Cons:

• Coverage and available payment methods vary between countries.
• It offers fewer regional payment methods than some larger Southeast Asian platforms.
• Not designed for advanced global tax handling or AI usage billing.

6. Airwallex #

Airwallex combines online payment acceptance, global accounts, foreign exchange, international transfers, subscriptions, corporate cards, and expense management.

It is useful for Southeast Asian businesses receiving money from international customers or paying suppliers, contractors, and employees in other countries.

Airwallex also supports local payment methods in selected markets, including PayNow, GrabPay, FPX, DuitNow, Touch ’n Go, and other regional options.

Best for: International businesses, SaaS companies, agencies, exporters, e-commerce businesses, and companies managing cross-border payments.

Indicative fees:

• Card processing fees vary by market, transaction volume, and commercial agreement
• Local payment method fees vary by payment rail and country
• Subscription and recurring billing features may incur additional fees

Pricing differs across Singapore, Malaysia, and other supported markets. Foreign exchange rates can also vary by currency pair, transaction volume, and settlement method.

Pros:

• Multi-currency accounts: Receive and hold funds in more than 20 currencies.
• Local payment methods: Supports regional methods in markets such as Singapore and Malaysia.
• International payouts: Pay suppliers, employees, and contractors through local and international payment rails.
• Foreign exchange: Offers lower FX markups than many traditional banks.
• Corporate cards: Issue physical and virtual cards for subscriptions, advertising, and team expenses.
• Subscription management: Supports recurring and some usage-based payment models.
• Local acquiring: Can help international businesses improve card acceptance in supported countries.

Cons:

• Pricing and product availability vary significantly by country.
• Additional charges apply for subscription management and some payment methods.
• Stronger for cross-border finance and payment acceptance than tax compliance and entitlements.
• Not a Merchant of Record, so the business remains responsible for global tax obligations.

7. Fiuu #

Fiuu, previously known as Razer Merchant Services, is a major payment gateway and merchant-services provider in Southeast Asia.

It supports more than 110 payment methods across the region, including cards, direct debit, online banking, e-wallets, Buy Now Pay Later, cash payments, and other alternative methods.

Fiuu has a particularly strong presence in Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

Best for: Malaysian businesses, regional e-commerce companies, retailers, and businesses that need online and offline payment methods.

Indicative fees: Country-specific and generally based on the selected payment methods, transaction volume, settlement schedule, and business type.

Pros:

• Broad payment coverage: Supports more than 110 payment methods across Southeast Asia.
• Malaysian payment methods: Supports FPX, DuitNow, cards, wallets, and other local options.
• Online and offline payments: Offers online checkout as well as cash-based and physical acceptance points.
• Single integration: Businesses can access several local payment channels through one platform.
• Regional experience: Has operated in the Southeast Asian payment market since 2005.
• Payment links: Businesses can accept cards, online banking, wallets, and other methods without building a full checkout.
• Direct acquiring: Holds card-acquiring licences in selected regional markets.

Cons:

• Public pricing is limited, making it difficult to compare total costs before contacting sales.
• Setup and settlement terms may vary between countries and payment methods.
• The developer and dashboard experience may feel less simple than newer self-service providers.
• Not designed specifically for global SaaS tax, AI billing, or customer entitlements.

8. Paddle and Lemon Squeezy #

Paddle and Lemon Squeezy are Merchant of Record platforms built for software, SaaS, and digital products.

Instead of only processing payments, they become the legal seller for the customer transaction. They handle payment collection, applicable taxes, invoices, refunds, chargebacks, and related compliance work.

This model can be useful for Southeast Asian founders selling software to customers in the US, UK, Europe, and other international markets.

Best for: Independent developers, SaaS founders, digital product sellers, and software businesses selling internationally.

Indicative fees:

• Paddle: 5% + $0.50 per standard checkout transaction
• Lemon Squeezy: Transaction-based pricing, with the total cost depending on payment type, subscription status, and international conditions

Pros:

• Merchant of Record: Takes responsibility for the customer transaction.
• Global tax handling: Calculates, collects, files, and remits applicable VAT, GST, and sales tax.
• International selling: Helps software companies sell across several countries without separate tax registrations.
• Subscriptions: Supports standard recurring SaaS billing.
• Fraud and chargebacks: Manages payment fraud, disputes, and chargebacks.
• Single integration: Combines payments, tax compliance, and basic billing.

Cons:

• Transaction fees are higher than most local Southeast Asian payment gateways.
• Local payment-method support may be more limited than regional providers such as Xendit, Midtrans, or Fiuu.
• May be less flexible for real-time AI billing, credits, agent actions, and complex customer entitlements.

Southeast Asia Payment Processor Comparison #

Which Southeast Asian Payment Processor Should You Choose? #

The right provider depends on where your customers are located, what you sell, and how your business charges them.

For a technology startup or marketplace operating across several Southeast Asian countries: Xendit provides strong APIs, local payment methods, regional payouts, and platform tools.

For an AI agent, AI API, SaaS product, or usage-based software company selling globally: Consider Kelviq. It combines payments, global tax compliance, subscriptions, credits, usage billing, and real-time customer access in one platform.

For a large company operating across several Asian markets: 2C2P offers broad regional coverage, alternative payment methods, and enterprise infrastructure.

For an Indonesian e-commerce business: Midtrans provides deep support for QRIS, GoPay, local wallets, virtual accounts, and Indonesian banks.

For a Thai business that needs PromptPay and local wallets: Omise offers cards, PromptPay, mobile banking, and several regional payment methods.

For a company managing international currencies, suppliers, and payouts: Airwallex can simplify foreign exchange, global accounts, and international money movement.

For a Malaysian retailer or regional business that needs online and offline methods: Fiuu provides broad local payment coverage and more than 110 payment options.

For a founder selling a standard software product or digital download globally: Paddle or Lemon Squeezy provide established Merchant of Record options for payments and international tax compliance.

Local Payments Versus Global Software Sales #

A payment provider that works well for local e-commerce may not be the best option for a software company selling globally.

Businesses selling within Southeast Asia #

Companies serving local customers should prioritise:

• QRIS, PromptPay, PayNow, and DuitNow
• Local e-wallets
• Virtual accounts
• Domestic bank transfers
• Local card acceptance
• Buy Now Pay Later
• Over-the-counter payments
• Regional settlement options

Providers such as Xendit, Midtrans, Omise, 2C2P, and Fiuu are designed around these needs.

Software and AI companies selling globally #

AI, SaaS, and digital product companies may need:

• International card payments
• GST, VAT, and sales tax handling
• Subscriptions
• Usage-based billing
• Credits and prepaid balances
• Customer entitlements
• Invoices and refunds
• Real-time access control
• Clean international payouts

Merchant of Record platforms such as Kelviq, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy are designed to handle more of these responsibilities.

Billing for AI Products and Agents #

Traditional payment gateways are designed around checkout events. A customer selects a product, pays, and receives access.

AI products work differently.

An AI agent may run a workflow, call several APIs, consume tokens, use third-party tools, and create a direct cost for the business without the customer manually approving every action.

Before an agent runs, the product may need to check:

• Whether the customer has an active plan
• Whether the requested feature is included
• Whether enough credits are available
• Whether a spending limit has been reached
• Whether the action should be allowed or blocked
• Whether an automatic top-up should be triggered

After the action runs, the product needs to record usage, update the customer’s balance, calculate the charge, and show the activity in the customer’s billing history.

For AI companies, billing is not only something that happens at the end of the month. It is part of the product’s real-time infrastructure.

The Bottom Line #

There is no single payment processor that is best for every Southeast Asian business.

Companies selling locally should prioritise regional wallets, QR systems, bank transfers, virtual accounts, and domestic payment success rates.

Xendit is a strong regional option for startups and marketplaces. Midtrans is built for Indonesia, while Omise is useful for Thailand and Singapore. Fiuu offers broad coverage across online and offline payments, and 2C2P is designed for larger regional businesses.

Airwallex is useful for companies managing multiple currencies, international suppliers, and cross-border payouts.

For Southeast Asian AI, SaaS, API, and digital product companies selling globally, payment processing is only one part of the problem. These businesses must also manage international taxes, subscriptions, usage-based pricing, credits, invoices, refunds, and customer access.

Kelviq is designed for this use case. It gives Southeast Asian software companies a way to sell globally without building separate systems for payments, tax, billing, usage metering, credits, and entitlements.