Ordo Pricing Analysis for UK Startups [2025]

Payment processing in the UK isn’t always as clear-cut as it should be. Many businesses sign up with a provider only to realise later that fees are more complicated than expected. Small charges on each transaction can quietly build up. Refunds and settlement delays can make things even more frustrating.

If you’re trying to understand what you’ll actually pay with Ordo, you’re not alone. Open banking providers often promise lower costs, but getting a full picture of their pricing structure takes some digging.

In this blog, we’ll walk through:

What Does Ordo Offer?

Ordo is a UK-based payments provider. It uses open banking to let customers send payments directly from their bank accounts to businesses. That means no cards, no extra apps, and fewer steps in the process.

Here’s a quick look at what Ordo currently offers:

1. Pay by Bank

This is the core feature. At checkout, customers pick Ordo as the payment option, log in to their bank, approve the payment, and that’s it. The money is transferred directly. It can be quicker than card payments, and there’s less to manage on the business side.

2. Request to Pay

Instead of using a full checkout system, businesses can send a secure payment link by email, SMS, or invoice. The customer taps the link and pays using their bank. This is handy for services or invoices where payments aren’t made on a website.

3. Variable Recurring Payments (VRP)

Ordo supports VRP, which lets businesses collect future payments from a customer after they’ve approved a one-time setup. This is useful for subscriptions or regular billing. The key difference from direct debits is that the control stays with the customer, who can set limits or stop payments anytime.

Full Breakdown of Ordo Pricing in 2025

1. Transaction Fees

At the time of writing, Ordo charges 20p + VAT per transaction.

This fee applies regardless of the amount. Whether your customer pays £10 or £1,000, the fee is the same. This structure can benefit businesses that deal with higher-value payments, as you’re not paying a percentage on each sale.

Example:

• A £500 payment via card (charged at 2%) = £10 fee
• A £500 payment via Ordo = 20p + VAT

For lower-value items, however, the difference might be smaller. If you process lots of micro-payments under £5, this flat fee might not be as competitive.

2. Setup Fees and Contracts

Ordo does not charge a setup fee. There’s also no long-term contract, which gives businesses flexibility to try the service without being locked in.

You can start using it without committing to fixed monthly costs or minimum transaction volumes. This can be helpful for small businesses or anyone testing open banking payments for the first time.

3. Monthly Fees

There are currently no ongoing platform or subscription fees listed publicly. You only pay for the transactions you process.

That said, if you’re expecting to process a high volume of transactions each month, Ordo may offer custom pricing. You’d need to contact them directly to discuss this.

4. Refunds and Reversals

Refunds with Ordo are handled as separate transactions, so the same flat fee applies again. There’s no additional admin fee on top, but you will still pay 20p + VAT to send the money back.

This is worth factoring into your refund policy if you offer a lot of returns.

5. VAT Consideration

All prices are exclusive of VAT, so the actual fee per transaction is 24p including VAT. Make sure this is reflected in your cost calculations.

Additional Costs and Considerations

While the flat-fee model in Ordo Pricing is straightforward, there are a few other factors worth looking into before deciding whether it fits your business.

Some of these are not direct charges from Ordo, but they may still affect the total cost of using the service depending on how your business operates.

1. VAT on Each Transaction

All transaction fees are subject to VAT. That means each payment will cost 24p in total (20p base fee + 4p VAT). It’s a small difference, but worth factoring in if you’re dealing with hundreds or thousands of transactions monthly.

Businesses that reclaim VAT won’t see this as a direct loss, but if you’re calculating margins closely, it’s good to include this in your per-transaction cost.

2. Refund Handling

If you issue a refund, it’s treated as a new transaction. This means you’ll pay the same flat fee again — 20p + VAT. While there’s no additional admin charge on top of that, it still adds to your processing costs if you offer free returns or frequent reimbursements.

Tip: Businesses with higher refund volumes may want to track how much this adds up over time and compare it with other methods like card processors that sometimes waive refund fees.

3. Currency and Cross-Border Transactions

Ordo currently operates in the UK market and works with UK bank accounts. If your business handles cross-border transactions or deals in multiple currencies, this may not be the right fit. There’s no built-in currency conversion or support for international banks as of now.

If you’re expecting to expand beyond the UK or already operate across borders, you might need a separate solution alongside Ordo for non-GBP payments.

4. Integration Costs (If Any)

Ordo provides developer tools and API access, but the actual cost of integrating it into your system may depend on your setup.

• If you have an internal dev team, the cost may be minimal.
• If not, you might need outside help to set it up correctly.
• For smaller businesses using platforms like Xero or QuickBooks, Ordo offers plug-in compatibility, which may reduce technical friction.

In short, the pricing on paper is low, but any external development work should be factored in when assessing the full cost.

5. Bank Charges (Rare, But Possible)

Most UK banks support open banking payments without fees to the sender or recipient. That said, it’s a good idea to double-check with your business banking provider, especially if you’re a sole trader using a personal account or operating through a digital bank.

While rare, occasional charges for inbound payments or platform connections can happen depending on your bank’s terms.

Affordable Alternatives for UK Startups

For startups working with limited budgets, controlling transaction costs can make a real difference. Every percentage saved on payment fees means more money available for product development, customer service, or simply staying afloat in the early stages.

If you’re looking for an alternative to fixed-rate providers like Ordo, Finexer is worth serious consideration.

Finexer is designed with small and growing UK businesses in mind. Unlike flat-fee models, its pricing adjusts based on your usage, which means you’re not locked into paying the same fee whether you process five payments or five hundred. Startups with lower transaction volumes often benefit from more flexible pricing, especially when every expense matters.

Here’s why Finexer stands out for early-stage businesses:

• Low transaction fees that scale as you grow
• No setup or platform fees, so you can test without committing upfront
• 99% UK bank coverage, ensuring most of your customers are supported
• Quick setup, which helps get payments up and running 3x faster than the market
• Transparent pricing — what you see is what you get, with no hidden charges

Finexer also offers tailored pricing if your business starts to scale, so you don’t have to switch platforms once your transaction volume grows. That continuity can save you time, resources, and development effort down the line.

If you’re just getting started or want more predictable payment costs as you grow, Finexer’s pricing model may be more suitable than fixed-fee structures.

Is Ordo Pricing Right for You?

Whether or not Ordo Pricing is the right fit depends on how your business operates, what kind of payments you handle, and how important pricing flexibility is to you.

If you prefer a flat, predictable cost for every payment, Ordo’s simple model is easy to follow. It can be a good match for businesses that want to avoid percentage-based fees and don’t need cross-border or multi-currency support.

That said, for startups or businesses looking for more flexible pricing, providers like Finexer may be a better fit. Especially if you’re just starting out and need lower fees, more room to scale, or broader bank coverage within the UK.

We recommend taking a close look at your transaction volume, refund policy, and budget before committing long term.