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GoCardless
A powerful Direct Debit platform for collecting recurring payments, used by over 75,000 UK businesses, from startups to enterprises.
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Exclusive Rates From as Low as 0.26%
What is GoCardless?
GoCardless is a UK based fintech company specialising in Direct Debit payment collection. Founded in London in 2011, it has grown into one of the world’s most trusted recurring payment providers, serving over 75,000 businesses worldwide.
GoCardless allows businesses to collect payments directly from customer bank accounts. Unlike card payments, Direct Debit transactions are pull based, meaning you control the timing of the payment. It’s an ideal solution for recurring billing, from subscriptions and memberships to invoices and instalments.
The platform offers a simple dashboard, intelligent retry logic for failed payments, and integrations with over 350 platforms, including Xero, QuickBooks, Chargebee, and Salesforce. With full automation and instant bank account verification via Open Banking, GoCardless reduces admin time and improves cash flow predictability.
Key Features of GoCardless
Who Is GoCardless Best Suited To?
GoCardless is best suited to:
- SaaS companies with recurring billing models
- Gyms, clubs, and membership organisations
- Accountants and service providers invoicing monthly
- B2B firms offering instalments or monthly retainers
- Platforms looking to embed bank payments into their software
It’s less suitable for high volume retail or hospitality transactions where instant card payments are required.
Pricing & How It Compares
GoCardless offers simple, tiered pricing:
- UK transactions: 1% + 20p (capped at £4)
- International: 2% + fixed fee per transaction
- Advanced features: Available via GoCardless Pro (custom pricing)
Compared to card processors like Stripe or PayPal, GoCardless offers lower fees for recurring billing and far better predictability for cash flow. However, it lacks real-time settlement, Direct Debits typically take 3-5 working days to clear.
For recurring or high trust payments, GoCardless is often more efficient and cost effective. At Compare Card Fees, we help businesses evaluate when to use GoCardless alone or alongside card payment platforms for a hybrid strategy.
Pros and Cons of GoCardless
PROS
Low transaction costs, especially at scale
Ideal for recurring billing and subscriptions
Simple, automated payment collection
Wide integration ecosystem
Open Banking for fast account setup
Cons
Settlement delay (typically 3–5 days)
Not designed for instant or in-person transactions
Requires customer approval via mandate
FAQs about GoCardless
GoCardless is used to collect recurring payments via Direct Debit, especially for subscriptions, memberships, and invoices.
Standard UK payments settle in 3–5 working days. Faster settlement is available for Pro users.
Yes, it integrates with Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent, and more.
Yes. GoCardless is authorised by the FCA and complies with UK Direct Debit scheme rules and GDPR.
Customers approve a Direct Debit mandate online through a secure, branded interface using Open Banking.
Yes, you can collect payments in over 30 countries in local currencies.
For recurring payments, yes, transaction fees are lower, and failed payment recovery is automated.
Not yet. Direct Debit payments are not instant and take a few days to process.
Yes, we help you decide if GoCardless is the right fit, and how to combine it with card processors if needed.
Absolutely. It’s an efficient way to collect regular donations with low admin and cost.
Is GoCardless Right for Your Business?
If your business relies on recurring payments, GoCardless offers a smart, cost effective way to collect Direct Debits with minimal admin. It’s reliable, scalable, and integrates seamlessly into your existing systems.
While it’s not designed for point-of-sale or instant ecommerce payments, it’s the ideal tool for service based, subscription, and high trust billing models. Through Compare Card Fees, we can help tailor the perfect setup for your billing strategy.
Still exploring options? Compare UK payment providers here to find the best fit for your business.
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Trusted by 1000s of UK Businesses
We’ve helped companies of all sizes, from local retailers to national ecommerce brands reduce their card processing fees without the hassle. Our clients process over £1 billion in payments annually through the UK’s leading providers.
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