PayZen
PayZen is a French online payment platform by Lyra Network (Lyra Group) supporting 150+ payment methods for e-commerce, B2B, and public-sector merchants, distributed directly and white-labeled by 30+ French banks via PCI DSS Level 1 certified infrastructure.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersLabège, France
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What PayZen does
PayZen is a French online payment platform and brand of Lyra Network, a subsidiary of Lyra Group (founded 2001 in Toulouse, France). The platform was conceived in 2009 as Lyra's flagship e-commerce and remote-payment solution and is sold both directly to merchants and white-labeled by more than 30 major French banks under names including Sogecommerce, Systempay, and Scellius. PayZen serves e-commerce merchants, B2B companies, public-sector and local-government organizations, call centers, remote/virtual sellers, and nonprofits, supporting 150+ payment methods across cards, wallets, SEPA instant transfers, SEPA direct debit, and BNPL.
The underlying technology is a cloud-based PCI DSS Level 1 certified processing stack with a REST API (v4.0), JavaScript payment embedding, native mobile SDKs for iOS/Android, and 50+ free CMS modules. Core product lines include Online Payment (embedded, redirect, one-click, subscription), Mobile Payment, Payment Link, SEPA Instant Bank Transfer (via PSD2 PISP/AISP licensing), SEPA Direct Debit with electronic mandate, a Virtual Terminal for phone orders, a hosted Data Collection Form, a Back Office dashboard, and a Risk Management Module with 120+ configurable fraud criteria and integrations with Cybersource and Konduto. A dedicated Public Sector module and integrations with municipal software editors (JVS Mairistem, Berger Levrault, Horanet) target French local-government payment collection.
PayZen earns primarily through per-transaction fees (volume-tiered pricing bands from under €250K to over €10M annual processing volume) plus a one-time service activation fee (FAS). Distribution is multi-channel: direct self-serve website onboarding with sub-48-hour activation, an iOS/Android seller app, bank white-label, web-agency referral partners, CMS plugin distribution, and an API-first channel for enterprise developers. Headcount is 101–250, with the platform claiming 100,000+ connected websites and Lyra Group processing billions of euros annually across 11 subsidiaries on 3 continents (Europe, Latin America, Asia). Note: a separately-incorporated US-based fintech also named PayZen (operating in healthcare payments) raised a $232M Series B in August 2024 from NEA; that capital and business do not belong to the French PayZen entity analyzed here.
PayZen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PayZen
- Legal name
- Lyra Network
- Website
- https://payzen.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- PayZen is a French online payment platform by Lyra Network (Lyra Group) supporting 150+ payment methods for e-commerce, B2B, and public-sector merchants, distributed directly and white-labeled by 30+ French banks via PCI DSS Level 1 certified infrastructure.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PayZen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Payment Processing / Payment Gateway
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Merchant Payment Gateways (API/Hosted Checkout) (FSAMACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Payment Gateways & API Connectivity (FSAGABAB), Smart Routing, Cascading & Payment Optimization (FSAMACAJ), Payouts, Disbursements & Mass Payments Infrastructure (FSAGABAN), Bank-to-Bank Transfers & Pay-by-Bank (Consumer & Merchant) (FSAMAFAC)
Keywords
Where PayZen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Labège
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
PayZen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Transaction Fees: PayZen charges per transaction (per card transaction). Pricing tiers exist based on annual payment volume, with lower rates for higher volumes. Transaction fees are the primary revenue stream.
- Service Activation Fees: One-time service activation fee (FAS - Frais d'Activation du Service) for new merchant setup.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Volume-based transaction pricing tiers |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels5 records
PayZen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PayZen is a French online payment platform, conceived in 2009 and operated by Lyra Group, that enables merchants, public sector organizations, and B2B companies to accept and manage payments online, on mobile, and remotely. The platform supports 150+ payment methods including cards, wallets, SEPA direct debit, instant SEPA bank transfers, BNPL, and international methods, delivered through embedded checkout, hosted redirect, mobile SDK, payment links, virtual terminal, and API integrations. It is PCI DSS Level 1 certified since 2009, 3DS2-compliant, and licensed as a PISP/AISP under PSD2, with the platform also offered via white-label by major French banks under names such as Sogecommerce, Systempay, and Scellius.
Product overview
PayZen is a French online payment platform (conceived in 2009) and brand of Lyra Network, offering a modular payment platform-plus-solutions architecture. The core PayZen Platform serves as the unified infrastructure supporting multiple payment products: Online Payment (e-commerce with embedded, redirect, and mobile checkout), Mobile Payment, Payment Link, Instant Bank Transfer (PISP/AISP instant SEPA), SEPA Direct Debit, Virtual Terminal, and Data Collection Form. These products share a common merchant Back Office and support 150+ payment methods across cards, wallets, bank transfers, and BNPL. Add-on modules include the Risk Management Module (fraud detection) and Public Sector Solution. The platform is available directly and via banking white-label partnerships (Sogecommerce, Systempay, Scellius). Related Lyra products include Lyra Collect (Shopify-specific) and Lyra Nomad (unified payment piloting).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PayZen Online Payment (Paiement en ligne) Core e-commerce payment module supporting embedded JavaScript checkout, redirect to a hosted payment page, and mobile app integration. Includes one-click payment, tokenization, subscription billing, installment payments, pre-authorization, and multi-currency dynamic currency conversion. Targeted at online retailers and e-commerce merchants requiring secure card and alternative payment acceptance on their website.
- PayZen Mobile Payment (Paiement mobile) Mobile-optimized payment solution offering a responsive web checkout and a merchant-facing mobile application for iOS and Android that enables generating and sending payment links or QR codes for in-person or remote payments. Targeted at merchants needing to accept payments on smartphones and tablets.
- PayZen Payment Link (Paiement par lien) Payment link generation and delivery system that allows merchants to send secure payment requests via email, SMS, WhatsApp, and other messaging apps, or to generate QR codes for in-person payments. Supports multi-language and multi-currency links, customizable expiration dates, and bulk import via CSV. Targeted at merchants operating without a website or needing remote payment collection.
- PayZen Instant Bank Transfer (Virement instantané) SEPA instant and standard bank transfer payment method enabling merchants to receive funds in 10 seconds (instant) or J+1 (standard), with a per-transaction ceiling of €250,000. PayZen acts as a licensed Payment Initiation Service Provider (PISP) and Account Information Service Provider (AISP) across 33 SEPA countries. Targeted at merchants wanting to offer bank transfer payments with instant settlement.
- PayZen SEPA Direct Debit (Paiement par prélèvement) Online SEPA Direct Debit (SDD) solution for one-time and recurring payments, featuring electronic mandate signature, SMS/mail OTP authentication, 36-month mandate archiving, and support for both B2B and B2C SEPA schemes across 33 SEPA countries. Targeted at B2B companies, subscription businesses, and any merchant needing recurring or invoice payment collection.
- PayZen Virtual Terminal (Terminal de paiement virtuel) Browser-based virtual payment terminal within the PayZen back office that enables phone order operators to manually enter card or SEPA details for immediate, deferred, or installment payments without requiring a physical POS device. Targeted at call centers, telephone sales operations, and merchants taking orders by phone.
- PayZen Data Collection Form (Formulaire de collecte) Hosted web form builder allowing merchants to create customizable data collection pages (for invoices, donations, subscriptions) that redirect to a payment step, enabling remote payment collection without a merchant website. Targeted at merchants without an e-commerce site needing to accept invoice, donation, or subscription payments.
- PayZen Mobile App (App mobile / Lien de paiement)
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% of support tickets resolved within one day
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use PayZen
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PayZen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration24 records
AI capability2 records
Feature9 records
PayZen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lyra Group (Parent Company)corePayZen is the e-commerce payment platform of Lyra Group, created in 2009. Lyra develops and maintains the platform, which is also offered by banks under white-label arrangements (Sogecommerce, Systempay, Scellius).
- WooCommercecoreFree payment module for WooCommerce (WordPress) with easy installation and configuration. One of 50+ CMS integrations available.
- PrestaShopcoreFree payment module for PrestaShop e-commerce platform with seamless integration and configuration.
- MagentocoreFree payment module for Magento e-commerce platform with full feature support.
- ShopifycorePayment module available for Shopify via Lyra Collect solution. Note: Module requires Lyra Collect, not direct PayZen integration.
- Grizzly DevminorWeb agency partner since 1997 specializing in WordPress CMS and software development. Recommends and integrates PayZen for client e-commerce projects.
- ISDIminorSoftware editor partner specializing in custom cloud software, e-commerce, and website development.
- HostecominorE-commerce agency offering PrestaShop, WooCommerce, and OpenCart solutions with integrated PayZen payment processing.
- GenilinkminorWeb agency providing e-commerce design, maintenance, and IT solutions including PayZen integration.
- JVS MairistemcoreMunicipal management software editor for French local government. Integrates PayZen for public sector payment collection.
- Berger LevraultcorePublic sector software publisher integrating PayZen for payment collection in municipal and institutional management solutions.
- French Banking NetworkcorePayZen technology white-labeled by major French banks including CIC, Crédit Agricole, Crédit Mutuel, Société Générale, BNP, Boursorama, Banque Postale, LCL, and 30+ other banks. Banks offer the platform as Sogecommerce, Systempay, Scellius, and other names.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PayZen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stripe: Global payment gateway and processing platform serving internet businesses with API-first card acceptance, wallets, and broad payment method coverage. Directly competes with PayZen for French and European merchants, particularly those building custom e-commerce or SaaS checkout flows.
- Adyen: Global unified payments processor offering card acquiring, online and in-person checkout, and 150+ payment methods through a single integration. Targets the same enterprise and mid-market merchants in Europe as PayZen, but with global acquiring reach.
- Mollie: European payment gateway built for SMBs and mid-market merchants with simple multi-method checkout and strong CMS integrations. Competes head-to-head with PayZen in France, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, especially in WooCommerce and PrestaShop segments.
- Checkout.com: Global payment processor with strong European and UK presence, offering card acquiring, APMs and FX through a single API. Targets enterprise and high-growth digital merchants that PayZen also serves in France and across Europe.
- HiPay: French-headquartered payment gateway serving European merchants and online retailers with cards, wallets and local APMs. Closest pure-play domestic competitor to PayZen with similar SMB and mid-market focus and CMS-led distribution.
- PayPlug: French SMB-focused online payment gateway (now owned by Stripe) serving e-commerce merchants with simple card acceptance and plug-and-play integrations. Direct competitor in the French SMB and PrestaShop/WooCommerce segments PayZen targets.
Broad incumbents
- Worldline: European payment giant (formerly part of Atos/Ingenico) covering merchant acquiring, POS, online gateways and financial services across the continent. Competes with PayZen across French enterprise, SMB and public-sector acquiring, though with a much broader product portfolio.
Emerging players
- GoCardless: UK-based specialist in bank-to-bank (direct debit and instant) payments for subscription and recurring billing across Europe. Closest pure-play competitor to PayZen's SEPA Direct Debit and instant bank transfer products.
- SlimPay: French SEPA direct-debit specialist focused on recurring payments and subscriptions for European merchants and B2B. Competes directly with PayZen's SEPA mandate and recurring billing capabilities in France and the broader SEPA zone.
Others
- Lyra Collect: Sister solution inside Lyra Group providing Shopify-specific payment acceptance, distinct from the standard PayZen Shopify module. Comparable as a sibling platform within the same parent ecosystem, addressing adjacent Shopify merchant needs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PayZen social profiles
Digital presencePayZen compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
PayZen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PayZen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
PayZen subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
PayZen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PayZen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PayZen
What does PayZen do?
PayZen is a French online payment platform, conceived in 2009 and operated by Lyra Group, that enables merchants, public sector organizations, and B2B companies to accept and manage payments online, on mobile, and remotely. The platform supports 150+ payment methods including cards, wallets, SEPA direct debit, instant SEPA bank transfers, BNPL, and international methods, delivered through embedded checkout, hosted redirect, mobile SDK, payment links, virtual terminal, and API integrations. It is PCI DSS Level 1 certified since 2009, 3DS2-compliant, and licensed as a PISP/AISP under PSD2, with the platform also offered via white-label by major French banks under names such as Sogecommerce, Systempay, and Scellius.
Is PayZen a public or private company?
PayZen is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was PayZen founded?
PayZen was founded in 2009. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is PayZen based?
PayZen is headquartered in Labège, France, in the Europe region.
How does PayZen make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Transaction Fees are the primary driver. The others are service Activation Fees.
Who are PayZen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stripe, Adyen, Mollie, Checkout.com, HiPay and PayPlug. Worldline is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are GoCardless and SlimPay. Lyra Collect is listed as an others.
Does PayZen have an API?
Yes. PayZen provides a REST API (v4.0) that enables developers to automate payment actions, manage transactions, process SEPA direct debits, create payment links, and integrate with merchant back-office systems. Code examples are available in PHP, JAVA, Python, REACT, VUE, Symfony, and C++. A JavaScript SDK is available for embedded payment on websites, and a mobile SDK (iOS/Android) integrates payment into merchant applications. The platform supports WebServices for bulk operations including payment link generation and mandate import. Developer documentation is at payzen.io/fr-FR/rest/V4.0/api.
What industry is PayZen in?
PayZen's product category is Online Payment Processing / Payment Gateway. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMACAA, Merchant Payment Gateways (API/Hosted Checkout), with a secondary code of FSAGABAB, Payment Gateways & API Connectivity. Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6199.