Detailed Guide to Brite Payments Alternatives in the UK

If you’ve explored open banking payment options for your business, chances are you’ve come across Brite Payments. Known for its instant account-to-account (A2A) transfers and frictionless checkout experience, Brite has made a name for itself across European markets.

But while Brite performs well in speed and simplicity, it may not be the right fit for every business—especially if you’re based in the UK or looking for broader capabilities. From missing UK Faster Payments support to limited data features and integration constraints, businesses with more complex needs often look for alternatives that better align with local regulations and growth plans.

In this guide, we’ll break down the key limitations of Brite Payments and explore five strong, UK-based open banking providers that offer more flexibility, better coverage, and stronger integration tools. Whether you’re scaling a fintech platform, running an accounting firm, or launching a new product, this comparison will help you find the right payment partner for 2025.

We will guide you through:

Evaluating Brite Payments

Brite Payments is a Swedish-based open banking provider focused on delivering instant account-to-account (A2A) payments. Its key strength lies in simplifying online transactions across Europe by removing cards, digital wallets, and signups from the payment process. With real-time processing and a clean checkout experience, Brite has become a popular choice in fast-moving industries like iGaming, e-commerce, and financial services.

However, when it comes to meeting the needs of UK-based businesses, especially those seeking local compliance, faster integration, or richer data capabilities, there are some clear limitations to consider.

Key Strengths of Brite Payments

• Instant Bank Transfers
  Real-time A2A payments without the need for cards, improving cash flow and reducing payment delays.
• Simple Customer Journey
  No app downloads or account creation. Customers authenticate via their bank, making the checkout experience fast and familiar.
• Built-In Security via Open Banking
  All payments are authorised using secure protocols, reducing fraud and chargeback risks.
• KYC and Payout Support (via Brite Play)
  Combines payment processing with user verification to streamline account registration and onboarding.

Important Considerations for UK Businesses

• EU-Centric Coverage
  Brite operates in 27 European markets but currently lacks native support for the UK’s Faster Payments scheme.
• Limited Payment Flexibility
  Brite does not support card payments, digital wallets, QR codes, or payment links, which are often expected in UK checkout flows.
• No FCA Authorisation
  As of now, Brite is not FCA-regulated for the UK market, which may raise compliance concerns for regulated industries.
• Developer-Heavy Integration
  API integration requires technical expertise and may slow down implementation for lean teams or startups.
• Lack of Data Services
  Unlike providers that offer access to enriched banking data, Brite is strictly payment-focused with no financial insight or analytics tools.

Best Brite Payments Alternatives for UK Businesses

Provider	UK Bank Coverage	Real-Time A2A Payments	Financial Data Access	White-Label Support	FCA Authorised	Best For
Finexer	99% of UK Banks	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Startups, accounting, fintech applications
TrueLayer	95% of bank accounts in major EU markets	Yes	Yes	Branded	Yes	Fintech, lending, user verification
GoCardless	Strong UK/EU coverage	Limited (Instant Bank Pay)	Limited	Yes	Yes	Subscriptions, SaaS, invoicing
Volt	~95%+ of UK and European bank accounts	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Marketplaces, gaming, custom applications
Bud	90%+ of UK accounts	Not Available	Advanced	Yes	Yes	Lending, budgeting, personalised UX

1. Finexer

Finexer is a UK-based open banking platform designed for businesses that need speed, compliance, and control from day one. Unlike Brite, which operates under EU regulation and lacks support for UK Faster Payments, Finexer is fully FCA-authorised and built specifically for the UK market.

What makes Finexer unique is its ability to combine real-time account-to-account payments with full access to financial data and compliance tools.

Finexer also offers white-label infrastructure, startup-friendly pricing, and one of the fastest deployment timelines in the market. Whether you’re launching your first product or scaling up, Finexer gives you the flexibility and reliability needed to grow.

Key Benefits of Finexer

• Built for the UK Market
  Full support for UK Faster Payments and FCA-authorised infrastructure.
• Instant Access to 99% of UK Banks
  One API unlocks real-time payments and data coverage across nearly all retail banks in the UK.
• White-Label and Brand Control
  Easily embed payments under your own brand with full design and UX flexibility.
• Startup-Friendly Pricing
  Pay only for what you use with no hidden fees, lock-in contracts, or minimum volumes.
• 3x Faster Go-Live
  Fast and tested integration process helps you launch in days, not weeks.
• Compliance and Data in One Place
  Access account information, identity checks, and transaction data through a single platform.

Best For

• UK-based startups and scaleups
• Fintechs and platforms needing custom payment experiences
• Accounting firms and lending platforms that require both payments and onboarding tools

2.TrueLayer

TrueLayer is a London-based open banking provider that combines real-time payments with powerful financial data APIs. It is trusted by some of the UK’s leading fintech companies and is fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Unlike Brite, which focuses mainly on payments, TrueLayer enables businesses to build more complete workflows by giving access to bank account data, transaction history, and user identity. This makes it a strong choice for platforms that require both instant payments and smarter decision-making tools.

TrueLayer’s infrastructure is built for developers, with detailed documentation and flexible API options. It is ideal for businesses that want to customise the payment experience while also collecting verified financial data during onboarding or lending processes.

Key Benefits of TrueLayer

• Instant Account-to-Account Payments
  Customers can pay directly from their bank account in real time using open banking rails.
• Access to Verified Financial Data
  Retrieve account details, balances, and transaction history to enhance KYC, affordability checks, and personalisation.
• Supports Variable Recurring Payments (VRPs)
  Enable secure recurring transactions without storing card details.
• Regulated and UK Ready
  Authorised and regulated by the FCA with strong coverage across UK and European banks.
• Developer-Focused Tools
  High-quality SDKs and integration guides help teams move quickly and efficiently.

Best For

• Fintech companies needing both payments and user data
• Lending platforms and credit risk tools
• Product teams with in-house developers building custom onboarding or finance journeys

3.GoCardless

GoCardless is a UK-based payment provider best known for its powerful recurring billing features. While it started with Direct Debit, the platform now also supports one-off payments through open banking using its Instant Bank Pay feature. This combination makes GoCardless a strong choice for businesses that manage subscriptions or invoice-based billing.

Unlike Brite, which is limited to one-time A2A transactions, GoCardless gives you tools to automate collection, reduce payment failures, and manage recurring cash flow. It also integrates directly with popular tools like Xero, QuickBooks, and Chargebee.

GoCardless is FCA-authorised and connects to thousands of UK and EU banks. Although it is not built for real-time payouts or financial data access, it offers low operational complexity for businesses that prioritise stability over full customisation.

Key Benefits of GoCardless

• Reliable Recurring Payments
  Automate Direct Debit collection for subscriptions, memberships, and retainers.
• Instant Bank Pay
  Collect one-off A2A payments instantly via open banking without cards or manual input.
• Pre-Built Integrations
  Plug into leading accounting and billing platforms like Xero, Sage, Zuora, and Chargebee.
• Strong Compliance and Bank Coverage
  Regulated by the FCA and widely used across the UK and Europe.
• Customer Protection Tools
  Offers chargeback and fraud protection for qualifying transactions.

Best For

• SaaS businesses and subscription platforms
• Accountants and service providers managing client invoicing
• UK businesses seeking automated, low-touch payment collection

4.Volt

Volt is a UK-based open banking provider designed to meet the needs of businesses that require real-time payments and high transaction reliability. With its intelligent payment routing system, Volt dynamically selects the most efficient bank connection for each transaction. This not only helps reduce failed payments but also improves the overall payment experience for end users.

Built with a developer-first mindset, Volt is ideal for platforms with in-house technical teams. Its API-first infrastructure allows complete flexibility when integrating payments into your product, giving you control over the payment flow, branding, and reporting.

While it doesn’t offer no-code tools or out-of-the-box UI components, Volt makes up for this with speed, precision, and performance. It’s fully FCA-authorised and connects to a wide network of banks across the UK and EU.

Key Features

• Real-Time A2A Payments
  Volt enables instant account-to-account transactions using secure open banking protocols, ensuring funds move quickly and safely.
• Intelligent Routing Engine
  Volt’s smart infrastructure analyses the customer’s bank and location to route payments through the most efficient path, reducing friction and failure rates.
• Developer-Focused Tools
  Built for tech-led teams, Volt provides flexible APIs, advanced documentation, and real-time monitoring tools to support full customisation.
• Enterprise-Grade Infrastructure
  Designed for scalability and performance, Volt is well suited for high-volume businesses such as marketplaces, iGaming platforms, and payment aggregators.
• FCA-Authorised in the UK
  Volt operates with full regulatory approval and offers strong local coverage across major UK banks.

Best For

Businesses that need real-time performance and advanced technical control, such as:

• Marketplaces
• Fintech platforms
• Regulated payment platforms and enterprise applications

5.Bud

Bud is a UK-based open banking platform that focuses on turning raw financial data into actionable insights. Rather than specialising in just payments, Bud helps businesses personalise services, automate financial decision-making, and improve risk profiling through enriched banking data.

With consent-based access to user transaction data, Bud categorises spending, identifies income patterns, and builds a full picture of a user’s financial behaviour. This makes it especially valuable for lenders, credit scoring tools, and personal finance platforms that rely on more than just payment processing.

Bud also supports optional payment features via open banking, though its core value lies in its advanced data intelligence capabilities. For businesses looking to deliver tailored financial experiences, Bud offers the tools to power smarter interactions across the customer journey.

Key Features

• Advanced Financial Data Insights
  Bud uses machine learning to interpret transaction data, allowing for income verification, affordability checks, and personalised offers.
• Real-Time Data Access
  Connects directly to UK banks via open banking APIs, giving instant access to customer-approved banking data.
• Flexible Use Cases
  Supports onboarding, lending, customer segmentation, and financial wellness tools.
• Regulated and UK-Ready
  FCA-authorised and built with compliance at the core, offering secure access to major UK banks.
• Developer-Friendly APIs
  Provides clear documentation and sandbox environments to help teams test and build efficiently.

Best For

• Credit scoring and underwriting platforms
• Fintechs offering personal finance or budgeting tools
• Businesses needing real-time customer insights for onboarding or risk models

Which Open Banking Provider Is Right for Your Business?

Brite Payments offers a fast and user-friendly solution for instant account-to-account transactions. But for UK-based businesses with more advanced needs — whether it’s regulatory alignment, faster onboarding, or deeper access to financial data — there are other providers worth considering.

If your business needs local compliance, complete UK bank coverage, and flexible integration options without the complexity or high fees, Finexer is built to deliver just that. From real-time A2A payments to full white-label capabilities and startup-friendly pricing, Finexer gives you the infrastructure to launch quickly and scale with confidence.

Whether you’re a startup, fintech platform, or growing accounting firm, Finexer helps you move faster, stay compliant, and control costs — all through a single UK-first platform.