Exactly Review UK: Global Payments, Fees and Honest Verdict

Exactly is a global payment gateway and merchant account provider trading under the name Exactly, operated by Opay Holding Limited (company number 11921832). It is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an Electronic Money Institution (FCA reference 901022) under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011, giving it permission to issue e-money and provide payment services in its own right - a stronger regulatory position than a standard payment agent. Exactly is built for online businesses that need to accept payments and pay out across borders: it supports 150+ currencies for processing and payouts in 7 major currencies, positioning it closer to a global processor than a typical UK-only card machine provider.

Key Facts: Exactly UK

Who Is Exactly For?

Exactly is aimed at online businesses rather than face-to-face retail - there's no card machine or EPOS product in its range. Its own site content is built around ecommerce, SaaS, mobile apps and marketplaces, and its 150+ currency processing and multi-currency mass payouts point specifically at businesses selling internationally or paying out to suppliers, affiliates or contractors in more than one currency. It's a genuine option to consider alongside providers like Stripe or Adyen if cross-border reach matters more to you than a UK-only setup.

It's a less obvious fit for a UK-only business that only takes payment in person or only needs simple sterling-only online payments - the multi-currency infrastructure is Exactly's main differentiator, and a simpler, UK-focused gateway may suit better if you don't need it.

Exactly Features

• Global payment processing across 150+ currencies
• Mass payments - bulk payouts in 7 major currencies, useful for marketplaces or affiliate programmes
• Recurring payments for subscription and membership billing
• One-click payments for a faster returning-customer checkout
• Payment Links for taking payment without a full checkout build
• Open Banking support as an alternative payment method
• Chargeback management tools for dispute handling
• Real-time reporting and analytics via its merchant dashboard

Exactly Fees and Pricing

Exactly does not publish standard transaction rates. Pricing is agreed directly with its sales team and, per its own site, tailored to the individual business - which is common for providers built around bespoke, higher-volume or multi-currency setups rather than an off-the-shelf small business rate card. Get any quote in writing, and ask specifically how currency conversion and payout fees are charged on top of the headline processing rate, since those can add up on an internationally-focused account.

Pros and Cons

• Pro: Genuinely strong multi-currency infrastructure (150+ currencies processed, payouts in 7 major currencies) - a real differentiator versus most UK-focused providers.
• Pro: Regulated as an Electronic Money Institution in its own right (FCA reference 901022), not just acting as an agent of another regulated firm.
• Pro: PCI DSS and 3-D Secure 2 certified, with AI-driven fraud/security checks built in.
• Con: No published pricing at all - every business has to go through a sales conversation before knowing real costs.
• Con: No card machine or EPOS product, so it's not a fit if you need in-person payment acceptance.
• Con: A newer, less widely known name than Stripe or Adyen in the same global-processor space, so less third-party review coverage exists to cross-check against.

Is Exactly Right for Your Business?

Exactly is worth shortlisting if your business genuinely needs multi-currency processing or payouts - selling internationally, running a marketplace, or paying suppliers and affiliates across borders - rather than a standard UK-only card payment setup. Roger Milne, founder of Compare Card Fees, confirms Exactly is one of the providers we work well with when helping UK businesses compare their options, and its services hold up well against the other global processors we cover.

Because pricing is entirely custom, the real test is getting a written quote and comparing it directly against your current provider's actual statement, not a headline rate. Compare Card Fees can help you do that at no cost.