Overview

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in London, Judopay is a UK acquiring provider focused on mobile payments, now part of the Australian SME bank judo Bank. Known for its "one API, all channels" approach, Judopay's mobile SDK covers in-App payments, web payments and in-store card reader collection, providing payment infrastructure for SMBs across the UK and Europe.

Judopay's omnichannel approach lets merchants avoid integrating separate payment systems for online and offline; a single integration unifies acquiring, reconciliation and risk management. Compared with global platforms such as Stripe, Judopay focuses more on the UK market and mobile scenarios, making it a common choice for UK SMB mobile collection. See online payment integration guide.

Key Strengths

  • One API Across All Channels: A single SDK supports 3 scenarios - App, web and in-store terminal - reducing multi-system integration costs.
  • Mobile-First Experience: The SDK is deeply optimized for mobile payment flows, supporting Apple Pay, Google Pay and other mobile wallets across 2 platforms (iOS and Android) to lift conversion.
  • UK Local Acquiring: Local acquiring and settlement for UK and European SMBs across 2 markets with clear compliance, suiting UK market businesses.
  • Unified Reconciliation & Risk: Online and offline transactions across 2 channels reconcile in one place with built-in fraud tools, reducing operational complexity. See payment risk strategies.
  • judo Bank Synergy: Backed by judo Bank's SME financial ecosystem, extending toward funding and account services across 2 business lines.

Product Ecosystem

Mobile Payment SDK

Judopay's core product is a mobile payment SDK for iOS and Android, letting developers integrate bank cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay inside apps quickly.

Web Payments & Hosted Payment Pages

Web payment capability and hosted payment pages for e-commerce, letting merchants complete card acquiring through a simple flow without handling sensitive card data.

In-Store Card Readers

Companion mobile card readers support in-person collection, reconciling with online transactions for retail, hospitality and other omnichannel merchants.

Limitations

  • Limited Market Coverage: Mainly serves the UK market with limited international acquiring and global payment methods, unsuitable for global collection.
  • Smaller Developer Ecosystem: Brand awareness and community scale are lower than Stripe and similar platforms, with fewer third-party plugins and tutorials.
  • Opaque Pricing: Rates require sales negotiation and public pricing is limited, so cost evaluation needs a sales call.

Use Cases

  • UK Mobile Collection (★★★★★): The mobile SDK suits in-App payments and mobile e-commerce targeting UK consumers.
  • Omnichannel Retail （★★★★☆）: One API covering online plus in-store suits retail, hospitality and other omnichannel merchants.
  • Subscriptions & Recurring Billing （★★★★☆）: Supports recurring billing for membership businesses. See subscription billing best practices.
  • Global Acquiring （★★★☆☆）: International coverage is limited; global businesses should choose Stripe and similar platforms.

Pricing

Service Reference Rate Notes
Standard Card Transaction ~1.5%-2% + fixed fee UK local cards
Mobile Card Reader Hardware fee + transaction fee In-store scenarios
Monthly Fee Custom By plan and volume
Recurring Billing Same as above No extra subscription fee

Note: Reference rates only; actual quotes prevail. For more comparisons see payment gateway rate comparison.

FAQ

  • What is Judopay? Judopay is a mobile payment acquiring provider founded in 2014 and headquartered in London, UK, now part of judo Bank, covering App, web and in-store terminals through one API for UK and European SMBs; see Cross-Border Payment Platform Comparison.

  • Judopay vs Stripe - which to choose? If your business focuses on the UK market and needs mobile and in-store omnichannel collection, Judopay fits well; for global payment method coverage and a developer ecosystem, Stripe is usually superior. See cross-border payment platform comparison.

  • Does Judopay support in-store collection? Yes. Judopay provides mobile card readers that reconcile with online transactions, suiting retail, hospitality and other omnichannel merchants; see Cross-Border Payment Trends.

  • Is Judopay suitable for Chinese merchants? Businesses selling to UK consumers can use Judopay, but it mainly covers the UK market; e-commerce targeting China should use Alipay or WeChat Pay.