Stripe vs Bizum vs bank transfer: which payment method to choose
By Marai ·
If you run a service business in Spain, at some point you have wondered which payment method to offer your clients. Stripe, Bizum, and bank transfer are the three most common options, and each has very different advantages and drawbacks depending on your type of business, average transaction amount, and the level of automation you need.
This article compares the three methods from the perspective of a service business that charges for appointments, sessions, or treatments.
Stripe: the automated payment gateway
What it is
Stripe is an online payment processing platform that lets you charge by credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and — in Spain — also Bizum (via its banking integration). It is the payment infrastructure used by companies of all sizes, from freelancers to large platforms.
Advantages for service businesses
Full automation. The client books an appointment, pays at that moment, and the charge is processed without you doing a thing. No need to send manual payment links, verify that money has arrived, or reconcile your accounts manually. Everything is recorded automatically.
Deposits and partial charges. You can configure the client to pay a deposit at booking (for example, 30 % of the service price) and the rest on arrival. This is especially useful for reducing no-shows in high-value services.
PCI DSS compliance. The client’s card data never passes through your server or your management software. Stripe handles all payment security. You do not need to worry about storing sensitive data.
Multiple payment methods. From a single integration, the client can pay by card, digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay), or Bizum (depending on bank configuration). You do not need to integrate each method separately.
Receipts and invoicing. Stripe automatically generates a receipt for every charge. Combined with management software that generates invoices, you have the complete chain: charge, receipt, invoice.
Drawbacks
Per-transaction fees. Stripe charges a fee for every processed payment. For European cards, the standard fee is 1.4 % + €0.25 per transaction. For small amounts (under €10), the fixed €0.25 fee has a proportionally larger impact.
Settlement is not instant. The money does not reach your bank account immediately. The standard payout period in Spain is 2–7 business days, depending on your Stripe configuration. With Stripe Instant Payouts (at an additional fee), you can receive the money in minutes.
Requires initial setup. You need to create a Stripe account, verify your identity, and connect it to your management software. It is not complicated, but it takes some time the first time around.
Bizum: the Spanish favourite
What it is
Bizum is a mobile payment service built into Spanish banking apps. It allows you to send and receive money between individuals and, in recent years, also pay businesses.
Advantages for service businesses
Mass adoption. Bizum is the most popular mobile payment method in Spain. The majority of your clients already have it activated in their banking app. They do not need to create new accounts or enter card details.
Instant settlement. The money arrives in your bank account almost immediately. There are no payout periods like with Stripe.
Familiarity. Clients are comfortable with Bizum because they use it every day to split bills, pay for dinners, or share expenses. The barrier to entry is minimal.
Drawbacks
No native automation. Person-to-person Bizum does not integrate with appointment management software. The flow is manual: you share your phone number or a Bizum link, the client pays, and you verify that the payment has arrived. There is no automatic link between the payment and the booking.
Amount limits. Person-to-person Bizum has a daily limit (typically €1,000) and per-transaction limits (between €0.50 and €1,000). For high-value services, this may not be enough.
Bizum for Business is a different product. If you want to integrate Bizum in an automated way (client pays when booking and the system processes it automatically), you need Bizum for Business, which requires an agreement with your bank and a more complex technical integration. The simpler alternative is to use Stripe, which supports Bizum as a payment method through the banking infrastructure.
No automatic deposits. Person-to-person Bizum does not allow you to automatically charge deposits. You would have to ask the client to send a Bizum for the deposit amount and record it manually.
When it makes sense
Bizum works well as a complementary payment method: for in-person payments at the end of an appointment, for low-price services where a deposit is not worth the effort, or for clients who expressly prefer not to use a card.
Bank transfer: the traditional method
What it is
The classic bank transfer: the client sends money from their bank account to yours using your IBAN. They can do it from their banking app, from the web, or at a branch counter.
Advantages
No fees (usually). SEPA transfers within the euro zone are usually free for both sender and recipient. It is the cheapest method in terms of direct costs.
Suitable for large amounts. Without Bizum’s limits or Stripe’s percentage fees, bank transfer is the preferred method for high-value services (over €500) or for business payments (when the client is a company paying against an invoice).
Familiarity with business clients. If your clients are companies (consulting, corporate training), bank transfer is the standard payment method against an invoice.
Drawbacks
Slowness. A standard SEPA transfer takes 1–2 business days. An instant transfer (if both banks support it) is nearly immediate, but not all clients know how to make one or have it activated.
Zero automation. There is no way to automatically link an incoming transfer to a booking in your calendar. You have to manually verify that the money has arrived, identify which client it came from (sometimes the payment reference is unclear), and mark the booking as paid.
Manual reconciliation. At the end of the month, matching transfer payments to completed appointments is manual work that grows with volume. If you have 10 appointments a month, it is manageable. If you have 100, it is a problem.
No automatic deposits. As with Bizum, managing deposits by bank transfer is completely manual.
Direct comparison
Costs
- Stripe: 1.4 % + €0.25 per transaction (European card). No monthly Stripe fee.
- Bizum: free for person-to-person. Bizum for Business has a variable fee depending on the bank.
- Bank transfer: usually free (SEPA). Instant transfers may carry a fee at some banks.
For a €50 service, the Stripe fee is approximately €0.95. For a €20 service, around €0.53. The question is whether the savings on manual processing justify that fee (almost always yes).
Automation
- Stripe: total. Payment, receipt, link to booking — all automatic.
- Bizum: none (person-to-person) or partial (Bizum for Business).
- Bank transfer: none. Everything is manual.
Settlement speed
- Stripe: instant processing; funds in account in 2–7 days (or minutes with Instant Payouts).
- Bizum: near-instant.
- Bank transfer: 1–2 business days (standard SEPA).
Client experience
- Stripe: the client pays at booking, without leaving the portal. Integrated experience.
- Bizum: the client has to open another app (their bank), find the number/link, and send the payment. An extra step.
- Bank transfer: the client needs your IBAN, opens their bank, makes the transfer, and waits for confirmation. More steps, more friction.
Recommendation by business type
High-turnover business with low-to-mid prices (hair salon, barbershop, beauty centre)
Stripe as the main method for deposits and online payments. Bizum and cash as a complement for in-person payments. With 20+ appointments a day, Stripe’s automation more than justifies the fee.
Health practice or specialist clinic (psychology, podiatry, physiotherapy)
Stripe with full payment at booking. Services have a relatively high average price and a no-show is particularly costly. Upfront payment filters out uncommitted patients. Bizum as an alternative for patients who do not want to use a card.
Coaching, consulting, and training
Stripe is essential if you have international clients. If you only work in Spain, Stripe + Bizum covers all client profiles. Bank transfer for high-value projects invoiced to companies.
Spa and wellness centres
Stripe for online bookings and packages. Amounts tend to be high, deposits are common, and the online booking experience is a differentiator. Bizum and cash at reception for in-person payments.
How it works in Marai
Marai integrates Stripe as the online payments gateway, giving you access to card, Bizum (via banking infrastructure), and digital wallets from a single configuration. Payments are automatically linked to the booking, receipts are generated, and invoicing can be automated with sequential numbering.
Cash and bank transfers are recorded manually so that your accounting remains complete regardless of the payment method used.
Full details of the Stripe integration are on the online payments page. Marai plans include online payments from the Starter plan (€29/month).
Conclusion
There is no perfect payment method for every business. But for service businesses that manage appointments, the most efficient combination in Spain is: Stripe as the main method (automation, deposits, invoicing) with Bizum and cash as a complement for in-person payments and bank transfer for high-value amounts or business clients.
The key is not the method itself, but the automation: every minute you spend reconciling payments manually is a minute you are not spending on clients.
Marai brings all of this together in a single platform. You can start for free and activate payments when you are ready.