In the first quarter of 2025 alone, as many as 2.4 billion cashless transactions were made using payment cards. Their total value amounted to PLN 187.9 billion1. The data shows that the use of debit and credit cards has become an integral part of everyday shopping.

Implementing cashless payment methods should therefore be standard in any business that wants to meet consumer needs. For entrepreneurs, this means not only convenience and transaction security but also the opportunity to reach a wider circle of consumers.

In this article, you will learn:

  • how much is the commission for card payments;
  • whether having a payment terminal involves other costs;
  • how you can reduce the commission on card payments.

Key information in a nutshell:

  • the commission rate depends on many factors, including the type of payment card, interchange fees, payment provider margin, etc.;
  • besides the commission, the payment operator may charge fees for terminal rental or purchase, installation, or integration with the sales system;
  • modern payment systems increase customer convenience, streamline operational processes, allow better sales data analysis, and reduce cash handling costs.

Card payment commission rates. What do they depend on and how much are they?

The commission rate for card payments usually depends on many contributing factors, including:

  • type of payment card: debit, credit;
  • interchange fee: a fee paid by the acquiring agent to the issuing bank. According to EU Regulation 2015/7512, the maximum interchange fee is 0.2% for debit cards and 0.3% for credit cards;
  • payment scheme fee: e.g. Visa, Mastercard;
  • margin for the acquiring agent or payment provider;
  • currency conversion or foreign transaction handling in the case of cards issued by a foreign bank.

The commission rate may vary depending on the settlement model offered by the payment provider. The most common model is a percentage fee per transaction plus a fixed fee, e.g. 1.29% + PLN 0.30. This model is widely used by online payment operators, including Przelewy24.

Card payment commission at Przelewy24

According to the Przelewy24 commission table for card payments using VISA, Mastercard, and JCB (processed with 3D Secure), the applicable rate is 1.29% + PLN 0.30. Using card-based solutions, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, is subject to the same rates.

The commission for collecting payments using other methods such as OneClick or recurring payments is set individually.

For Diners Club cards, a commission of 3.2% + PLN 0.30 is charged, while the conditions for American Express cards and foreign currency transactions are determined individually.

Discover the benefits of payment solutions from Przelewy24

Other fees related to accepting card payments

Typical fees besides commission that may be incurred when accepting card payments include:

  • monthly fee for renting a payment terminal or the cost of purchasing it,
  • installation and configuration fee for the terminal,
  • fee for integrating the payment terminal with the online sales platform,
  • fee for withdrawing funds from the payment account.

Other card payment-related fees in Przelewy24

Przelewy24 does not charge a registration fee, subscription fee, or integration fee. The activation fee is PLN 59 and is refundable if at least 10 transactions are made within the first two months.

Additionally, the tables show that the first four PLN withdrawals to a bank account in a given month are free — each subsequent one incurs a fee of PLN 0.993.

Polska Bezgotówkowa x Przelewy24 Program

Under the Polska Bezgotówkowa program, Przelewy24 offers the possibility to benefit from 0% commission on Visa and Mastercard payments for 12 months or until a turnover of PLN 50,000 is reached. Launching online payments is free.

This option allows entrepreneurs to reduce the costs of implementing a cashless payment system. The condition for participating in the program is that the entrepreneur must not have accepted any online payments in the past 12 months. It is also aimed at companies that have never participated in the program in the field of e-commerce.

Current trends and market statistics on card payments

For years, the number of payment cards issued and transactions made has been steadily increasing, both in terms of volume and value4. At the end of March 2025, 46.5 million payment cards were issued on the market, up by 58.4k compared to the end of 2024. The number of acceptors — entrepreneurs who entered into agreements with acquiring agents (such as PayPro S.A.) to accept payments via electronic payment instruments — is also growing. As reported in a document published by the NBP, at the end of March 2025, there were 640.9k acceptors in Poland — 14.3k more (2.3%) compared to the end of 2024.

Entrepreneurs are well aware of how helpful modern electronic payment systems are for doing business. They not only improve customer experience, but also streamline operational processes, enhance sales data analytics, and reduce cash handling costs. Yes, handling cash also incurs costs. Money counting, securing, transporting to the bank, accounting — all this generates expenses for the merchant.

Przelewy24 offers over a dozen payment methods. Do you know them all?

FAQ — frequently asked questions about card payment commission

Can the commission rate be negotiated with the acquiring agent?

Yes, negotiations are possible, especially with a higher transaction volume. They usually pertain to the operator's margin.

How to minimize commission costs?

You can reduce commission costs by negotiating with the acquiring agent, choosing a provider offering favorable terms, or participating in support programs such as Polska Bezgotówkowa. Always check if the agreement does not contain hidden fees.

What are the estimated commission costs for a business with a turnover of PLN 20,000 vs. PLN 50,000 per month?

Here are the estimated card payment commission costs for a business with a monthly turnover of PLN 20,000 and PLN 50,000 (assuming card payments make up 80% of turnover), using Przelewy24 services:

For PLN 20,000 monthly turnover:

  • turnover from card payments: PLN 20,000 × 80% = PLN 16,000;
  • number of transactions: assuming an average transaction of PLN 100, 16,000 ÷ 100 = 160 transactions;
  • commission on transaction value: PLN 16,000 × 1.29% = PLN 206.40;
  • fixed fee: 160 transactions × PLN 0.30 = PLN 48.00;
  • total commission: PLN 206.40 + PLN 48.00 = PLN 254.40.

For PLN 50,000 monthly turnover:

  • turnover from card payments: PLN 50,000 × 80% = PLN 40,000;
  • number of transactions: assuming an average transaction of PLN 100, 40,000 ÷ 100 = 400 transactions;
  • commission on transaction value: PLN 40,000 × 1.29% = PLN 516.00;
  • fixed fee: 400 transactions × PLN 0.30 = PLN 120.00;
  • total commission: PLN 516.00 + PLN 120.00 = PLN 636.00.

Sources:

  • Payment Card Information Q1 2025, National Bank of Poland, online source: https://nbp.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-Q1-informacja-o-kartach-platniczych.pdf, accessed: October 13, 2025
  • Regulation (EU) 2015/751 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on interchange fees for card-based payment transactions, online source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PL/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32015R0751, accessed: October 13, 2025
  • Commission and Fee Table, online source: https://www.przelewy24.pl/oferta/tabela-prowizji-i-oplat, accessed: October 13, 2025
  • Payment Cards (data from acquiring agents): number of acceptors, number of POS locations, number of accepting devices, and number and value of cashless transactions per quarter since 2003, online source: https://nbp.pl/system-platniczy/dane-i-analizy/karty-platnicze/, accessed: October 13, 2025