Switching Your SaaS Project from Stripe to Adyen: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover how to seamlessly transition your SaaS project from Stripe to Adyen for payments, utilizing Next.js. Explore expert tips and…

Girff

— 7 min read
Switching Your SaaS Project from Stripe to Adyen: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover how to seamlessly transition your SaaS project from Stripe to Adyen for payments, utilizing Next.js. Explore expert tips and insights on integrating Adyen’s API to optimize your payment processing capabilities.

To replace the Stripe API with Adyen in your SaaS project built on Next.js, you can follow these steps. Adyen provides a comprehensive API and Drop-in component to handle payments, making the transition straightforward. Below is a step-by-step guide based on the resources provided.

Steps to Replace Stripe with Adyen

1. Install the Adyen Node.js SDK

Install the official Adyen API library for Node.js, which will allow you to interact with Adyen’s APIs.

npm install @adyen/api-library

2. Set Up Environment Variables

Obtain your API key and merchant account from the Adyen Customer Area and store them in a .env.local file for secure access.

ADYEN_API_KEY=<YOUR_API_KEY> 
ADYEN_MERCHANT_ACCOUNT=<YOUR_MERCHANT_ACCOUNT> 
NEXT_PUBLIC_ADYEN_CLIENT_KEY=<YOUR_CLIENT_KEY> 
NEXT_PUBLIC_ADYEN_ENVIRONMENT=TEST  # Use "LIVE" for production

3. Create an API Endpoint for Session Creation

Adyen requires a session to initialize the Drop-in component. Create a new endpoint (pages/api/session.ts) to handle session creation

import { NextApiRequest, NextApiResponse } from 'next'; 
import { Client, Config, CheckoutAPI } from '@adyen/api-library';

const config = new Config({
 apiKey: process.env.ADYEN_API_KEY,
 environment: 'TEST', // Use 'LIVE' for production
});
const client = new Client({ config });
const checkout = new CheckoutAPI(client);export default async function handler(req: NextApiRequest, res: NextApiResponse) {
 const merchantAccount = process.env.ADYEN_MERCHANT_ACCOUNT ?? '';try {
   const response = await checkout.sessions({
     amount: { currency: 'EUR', value: 10000 }, // Amount in minor units (e.g., 100€ = 10000)
     reference: 'YOUR_ORDER_REFERENCE',
     returnUrl: 'http://localhost:3000/checkout-success',
     merchantAccount,
   });res.status(200).json(response);
 } catch (error) {
   console.error(error);
   res.status(500).json({ error: error.message });
 }
}

4. Integrate the Adyen Drop-in Component on the Frontend

Use Adyen’s Drop-in component to handle payment details securely. Install the necessary frontend library:

npm install @adyen/adyen-web

Add the Drop-in component to your checkout page (e.g., pages/checkout.tsx).

import React, { useEffect, useRef } from 'react'; 
import AdyenCheckout from '@adyen/adyen-web';

const CheckoutPage = () => {
 const paymentContainer = useRef(null);useEffect(() => {
   const fetchSession = async () => {
     const response = await fetch('/api/session');
     const session = await response.json();const checkout = await AdyenCheckout({
       environment: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_ADYEN_ENVIRONMENT,
       clientKey: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_ADYEN_CLIENT_KEY,
       session,
       onPaymentCompleted: (result) => {
         console.log('Payment completed:', result);
       },
       onError: (error) => {
         console.error('Payment error:', error);
       },
     });if (paymentContainer.current) {
       checkout.create('dropin').mount(paymentContainer.current);
     }
   };fetchSession();
 }, []);return <div ref={paymentContainer}></div>;
};export default CheckoutPage;

5. Handle Webhooks for Payment Confirmation

Adyen sends payment status updates via webhooks. Create another API endpoint (pages/api/webhooks.ts) to handle these notifications.

import { NextApiRequest, NextApiResponse } from 'next';

export default async function handler(req: NextApiRequest, res: NextApiResponse) {
 const notification = req.body;// Verify webhook signature here if neededif (notification.eventCode === 'AUTHORISATION' && notification.success === 'true') {
   console.log('Payment authorized:', notification.pspReference);
   // Update order status in your database
 }res.status(200).send('[accepted]');
}

6. Update Your Payment Flow

  • Replace Stripe-specific logic in your backend and frontend with the Adyen session creation and Drop-in integration.
  • Ensure that your order management system updates based on Adyen’s webhook notifications.

Key Considerations

  • Security: Ensure sensitive keys like ADYEN_API_KEY are stored securely and not exposed in frontend code.
  • Testing: Use Adyen’s test environment (environment: TEST) during development.
  • Compliance: Verify compliance with PCI DSS since Adyen handles payment details securely via its Drop-in component.
  • Customization: The Drop-in component can be customized to match your branding.

By following these steps, you can successfully transition from Stripe to Adyen for payment processing in your Next.js SaaS project. For further details, refer to [Magnus Wahlstrand’s guide] or the [Adyen Node.js SDK documentation].

What are the main differences between Stripe and Adyen APIs

Here is a detailed comparison of the main differences between Stripe and Adyen APIs, based on the provided information:

Stripe vs. Adyen: Key Differences

Summary of Key Points

  • Stripe is ideal for startups and small to medium-sized businesses due to its ease of integration, developer-friendly APIs, flat-rate pricing, and extensive customization options.
  • Adyen is better suited for large enterprises needing a unified solution for online and offline payments, global reach with diverse payment methods, and advanced fraud prevention.

Can I use the same frontend code with both Stripe and Adyen

Yes, you can use the same frontend code for both Stripe and Adyen to some extent, but there are key differences in how the two platforms handle payment flows and APIs that may require adjustments, especially in backend integration and certain frontend configurations. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Frontend Code Similarities

Both Stripe and Adyen support modern frontend integrations using JavaScript SDKs or Drop-in components. If your frontend is designed to interact with a backend API for session creation and token handling, much of the frontend logic can remain the same. For example:

  • Both platforms use client-side SDKs to securely collect payment details.
  • Both provide pre-built UI components (e.g., Stripe Elements and Adyen Drop-in) that simplify payment form creation.
  • Both platforms allow you to handle payment events (e.g., success, failure) in a similar manner.

Frontend Code Differences

While the general structure of your frontend code can be shared, there are specific differences that may require modifications:

Backend Adjustments

While much of the frontend code can remain similar, the backend logic will need significant changes because:

  1. Session Creation:
  • Stripe uses objects like PaymentIntent or SetupIntent.
  • Adyen requires creating a session object via its API.
  1. Webhook Handling:
  • Stripe relies on webhooks to confirm payment status (e.g., payment_intent.succeeded).
  • Adyen also uses webhooks but with different event types (e.g., AUTHORISATION).

Example: Frontend Code Comparison

Stripe Integration:

import { loadStripe } from '@stripe/stripe-js'; 
 
const stripePromise = loadStripe('your-publishable-key'); 
 
async function handlePayment() { 
  const stripe = await stripePromise; 
  const { error } = await stripe.redirectToCheckout({ sessionId: 'your-session-id' }); 
 
  if (error) { 
    console.error(error); 
  } 
}

Adyen Integration:

import AdyenCheckout from '@adyen/adyen-web'; 
 
async function handlePayment() { 
  const response = await fetch('/api/session'); // Backend creates Adyen session 
  const session = await response.json(); 
 
  const checkout = await AdyenCheckout({ 
    environment: 'test', 
    clientKey: 'your-client-key', 
    session, 
    onPaymentCompleted: (result) => console.log('Payment completed:', result), 
    onError: (error) => console.error('Payment error:', error), 
  }); 
 
  checkout.create('dropin').mount('#dropin-container'); 
}

Key Considerations

  1. Shared Frontend Logic: If your frontend is modularized to call backend APIs for session creation, switching between Stripe and Adyen will primarily involve swapping SDKs and adjusting initialization logic.
  2. Custom Checkout UI: If you use custom UI components instead of pre-built ones (like Stripe Elements or Adyen Drop-in), you can reuse most of your code by handling tokenization/encryption differently.
  3. Event Handling: Ensure that your event handlers are updated to match the specific callbacks provided by each platform.

Conclusion

You can reuse much of your frontend code if it's designed generically to interact with a backend API for payment processing. However, you'll need to adapt specific parts of the integration—such as SDK initialization, session handling, and event callbacks—to accommodate differences between Stripe and Adyen APIs.

What are the security implications of switching from Stripe to Adyen

Switching from Stripe to Adyen for payment processing in your SaaS project has several security implications. Both platforms are highly secure and compliant with industry standards, but they differ in their approaches to data protection, fraud prevention, and compliance responsibilities. Below is a detailed analysis of the security implications:

1. PCI DSS Compliance

  • Stripe: Stripe is a PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider, the highest level of compliance. It handles sensitive payment data through tokenization and encryption, minimizing merchants' PCI scope. Merchants do not have to store or process cardholder data directly, reducing compliance burdens.
  • Adyen: Adyen is also a PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider but offers additional flexibility with its end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and point-to-point encryption (P2PE) solutions. While Adyen reduces PCI scope significantly, merchants are still responsible for securing cardholder data before it reaches Adyen's systems.

Implication: Adyen may require more effort on your part to ensure PCI compliance at the integration points, whereas Stripe abstracts more of this responsibility.

2. Encryption and Tokenization

  • Stripe: Uses AES-256 encryption for payment data and tokenization to replace sensitive card information with non-sensitive tokens. This ensures that merchants never handle raw payment details.
  • Adyen: Implements advanced encryption methods like E2EE and P2PE, securing cardholder data from the point of entry to processing. Adyen also uses tokenization but emphasizes its ability to handle multi-channel payments securely.

Implication: Both platforms provide robust encryption, but Adyen's E2EE and P2PE solutions may offer enhanced security for omnichannel payments.

3. Fraud Prevention

  • Stripe: Offers Stripe Radar, an AI-driven fraud detection system that leverages global transaction data to identify suspicious activities. It includes tools like 3D Secure authentication and customizable fraud rules.
  • Adyen: Provides RevenueProtect, a machine-learning-based risk management system that detects fraud using custom risk rules, biometric authentication, and multi-factor authentication (MFA). It also supports advanced fraud detection for global transactions.

Implication: Both platforms offer strong fraud prevention tools, but Adyen's RevenueProtect may be better suited for enterprises with complex global operations.

4. Data Privacy and Compliance

  • Stripe: Complies with GDPR, CCPA, PSD2, and other regional regulations. It acts as both a data controller and processor, ensuring compliance with privacy laws while using aggregated transaction data to improve its services.
  • Adyen: Focuses on strict compliance with GDPR and other global privacy regulations. It provides tools for merchants to meet regional legal requirements but does not use aggregated data for service improvements in the same way Stripe does.

Implication: If privacy concerns around aggregated data usage are critical for your business, Adyen might align better with your needs.

5. Webhook Security

  • Stripe: Relies heavily on webhooks for payment updates (e.g., payment_intent.succeeded). Webhook endpoints must be secured using secret keys or signature verification.
  • Adyen: Also uses webhooks but requires merchants to validate notifications using HMAC signatures. This adds an extra layer of security.

Implication: Adyen's webhook validation process may provide stronger security against spoofing attacks compared to Stripe's standard implementation.

6. Multi-Channel Payment Security

  • Stripe: Primarily focuses on online payments but supports in-person payments via card readers.
  • Adyen: Offers seamless integration across online, in-app, and in-person payments with unified security measures like P2PE.

Implication: If your SaaS business involves omnichannel payments (e.g., online and physical stores), Adyen provides more comprehensive security across channels.

7. Chargeback Management

  • Stripe: Includes tools like Chargeback Protection to help merchants manage disputes effectively.
  • Adyen: Offers a similar feature through RevenueProtect but also provides advanced tools tailored for high-risk industries.

Implication: Both platforms are effective at managing chargebacks, but Adyen's tools may be better suited for enterprises handling high volumes of disputes.

Summary of Security Implications:

AspectStripeAdyenPCI DSS ComplianceAbstracts most responsibilities; minimal merchant effort requiredRequires securing data before it reaches AdyenEncryptionAES-256 encryption; tokenizationE2EE/P2PE encryption; tokenizationFraud PreventionStripe Radar (AI-driven)RevenueProtect (customizable risk rules)Data PrivacyAggregates transaction data for service improvementStrict GDPR compliance without aggregated data usageWebhook SecuritySignature-based webhook verificationHMAC signature validationMulti-Channel SecurityOnline-first focusUnified security across online and offline channelsChargeback ToolsStripe Radar + Chargeback ProtectionRevenueProtect tailored for enterprises

Conclusion:

Switching from Stripe to Adyen introduces some additional responsibilities for securing cardholder data before it reaches Adyen's systems. However, Adyen offers advanced encryption methods (E2EE/P2PE), superior omnichannel support, and customizable fraud prevention tools that can benefit larger enterprises or businesses operating globally. If your SaaS project prioritizes ease of integration and minimal compliance burden, Stripe may remain a better fit; if you need enterprise-grade security features or omnichannel capabilities, Adyen is worth considering.

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