Payment Mode Comparison
| Mode | Best for | Strengths | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managed wallet (USDC) | operator workflows | easiest repeated paid-call flow, 2% platform fee | less explicit than raw x402 |
| Raw x402 (USDC) | protocol-level integrations | maximum control over payment proofs, 2% platform fee | more implementation work |
| SEPA Direct Debit | EU buyers needing bank settlement | euro IBAN settlement, no per-transaction Apiosk fee | monthly subscription, T+1/T+2 settlement |
| Free routes | public access or demos | no payment flow needed | no payment enforcement |
Managed wallet
Use when:- the operator is working from the dashboard
- repeated paid calls matter more than protocol-level control
- you want fast setup with less payment plumbing
Raw x402
Use when:- you want direct payer control
- you need to prove the 402 -> proof -> retry loop explicitly
- you are integrating outside the managed wallet tooling
SEPA Direct Debit
Use when:- the buyer is an EU business that needs euro-denominated bank settlement
- a recurring B2B payment relationship under an IBAN mandate is preferable to on-chain settlement
- you prefer a monthly subscription with no per-transaction platform fee
X-Payment-Rail: sepa to pin the rail explicitly. Per-call debits are batched in the gateway’s SEPA settlement ledger and reconciled by Mollie on the bank side.
Free routes
Use when:- the endpoint is intentionally public
- you are running a zero-friction demo route
- payment is not part of that operation