Payments with Satispay: How They Work, What They Cost and Limits
Payments with Satispay happen through a proprietary wallet: the customer scans a QR code or pays from the app, and money moves between Satispay accounts or through a charge on the linked bank account, with no physical card involved. With around 6.5 million users and 450,000 merchants in Italy, it is one of the most widespread app-based payment systems in proximity retail. In this guide we explain how Satispay works for customers and merchants, how much it costs and what limits it has compared to accepting traditional cards, and when it is worth combining it with a POS with IC++ pricing like RoxPay's.
How a payment with Satispay works
Satispay's operation is tied to the app and the QR code. The customer downloads the app, links a bank account or a debit card, and in-store scans the QR code displayed by the merchant or is identified through their personal code. The amount is charged to the customer and credited to the merchant almost immediately, with the payout deposit to the merchant's account taking place according to the Satispay Business methods.
Unlike traditional schemes, there is no card passing through a terminal: the payment goes entirely through Satispay's infrastructure, which acts as an electronic money institution. This makes the experience fast and free of POS hardware, but it also implies that only those who have installed the app can pay this way.
How much payments with Satispay cost
For the customer, payments with Satispay are free in daily operations, with some minor exceptions such as instant top-up (€1) or paying slips. For the merchant the cost is in the commission: from September 2026, following the strengthening of the electronic money obligation, Satispay applies zero fees on payments under €10 and 0.95% on payments equal to or above €10. There are no monthly fees or activation costs.
This structure is designed for the low tickets of proximity retail. The fundamental constraint remains: the 0.95% applies only to app payments, not to cards. To also accept Visa, Mastercard and AmEx you need a POS, and on that front an IC++ pricing like RoxPay's: €0.15 + 0.35%-0.85% (IC++) is more convenient than flat rates: read more in the [Satispay fee comparison](/en/resources/satispay-fees-roxpay-comparison).
Satispay and the electronic money obligation
The push toward Satispay payments also came from regulation: the Carburanti-ter decree, converted into law in 2026, strengthened the obligation for merchants to accept electronic money instruments, explicitly including digital wallets and payment apps in addition to cards. Satispay responded by bringing fees back to zero under €10, positioning itself as a low-cost compliance tool for small shops.
It should be remembered that the obligation to accept electronic payments also concerns cards: a business that only accepts Satispay is still not fully compliant if it does not also have a POS for cards. On this aspect the Italian regulation and its updates are covered in the guide to the legal obligation to have a POS.
Satispay or POS with cards: when to use which
The choice is not necessarily exclusive. Satispay is ideal for capturing customers who use the app and for zeroing fees on micro amounts, while a POS is essential for accepting cards and wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. The most efficient combination for a shop is often to accept both: Satispay for low tickets and an IC++ pricing POS for cards.
If the goal is to reduce the overall cost of acceptance, the comparison must be made on real volume: the IC++ fee calculation and the guide to the POS without fees help understand how much you really pay on each channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I accept cards alongside Satispay with a single partner?
Yes: RoxPay accepts all cards, contactless and wallets online and in store at IC++ rates, while Satispay remains a separate wallet. One RoxPay contract covers ecommerce, POS and recurring payments.
How much does RoxPay charge per transaction?
RoxPay charges from EUR 0.15 plus 0.35% to 0.85% (IC++), with no monthly fee and no activation cost. The merchant statement separates interbank, scheme and processing costs for every line, as required by EU IFR 25/2023.
Does Satispay meet the legal obligation to accept electronic payments?
No: the regulation requires POS availability for cards; Satispay is an app and does not replace the terminal. The RoxPay POS is compliant and also accepts contactless and wallets, removing the risk of fines.
How do I choose between Satispay and a RoxPay POS?
Run the numbers on your real transaction data: the RoxPay team runs a free simulation of your full revenue (cards plus wallets) and shows the line-by-line saving before you sign anything.
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Discover why Italian businesses chose RoxPay over Satispay. Compare the real costs at /en/contact.
✓ No monthly fixed costs · ✓ Activation in 24 hours · ✓ Dedicated technical support
