Barclays ePDQ Is Closing – What It Means for Your Business
The payments industry in the UK is facing another shake-up: Barclays has announced the closure of its ePDQ payment gateway, a system that thousands of businesses have relied on for years to process online transactions.
This news comes alongside changes to Barclays Smartpay, leaving many merchants wondering how to continue taking secure payments without disruption. The key questions now being asked are:
-
What’s the best alternative to Barclays ePDQ?
-
How can I replace my ePDQ payment gateway quickly?
-
Who are the strongest competitors to Barclays in this space?
The good news is that there are modern, innovative solutions designed not just to replace ePDQ, but to deliver better security, lower costs, and more flexibility. And at the top of that list is SOTpay.
Why Businesses Need to Act Now
With Barclays Smartpay shutting down and ePDQ being phased out, businesses face three major risks if they delay migration:
-
Payment Disruption – Customers may be unable to pay, leading to lost revenue.
-
Increased Costs – Legacy systems carry higher fees, fraud risks, and compliance headaches.
-
Missed Opportunities – Competitors who upgrade early will benefit from smoother, more secure checkouts.
That’s why now is the time to migrate from ePDQ in the UK and future-proof your payments with a smarter platform.
SOTpay: The Smarter Alternative to Barclays ePDQ
SOTpay has emerged as a leading competitor to Barclays in the UK payments industry — not just because it fills the gap left by ePDQ, but because it delivers next-generation features that ePDQ never offered.
Here’s why it’s the obvious choice for UK businesses looking to replace ePDQ.
1. Rock-Solid Security With Lower Processing Costs
One of the biggest challenges with outdated gateways like ePDQ is vulnerability to card-not-present fraud and costly chargebacks. SOTpay eliminates these risks entirely.
-
✅ PCI DSS Level 1, PSD2, and SCA compliant
-
✅ 100% protection against fraud-related chargebacks
-
✅ Lower payment processing fees thanks to smarter routing and fewer surcharges
➡️ Result: reduced overheads, more secure transactions, and stronger margins.
2. Agnostic Payment Orchestration – Freedom to Choose
Where Barclays often tied businesses into their own acquiring services, SOTpay is agnostic, giving merchants the freedom to work with multiple banks, acquirers, and gateways.
-
✅ Omni-channel coverage: phone, webchat, email, SMS, WhatsApp, and social media
-
✅ Smart orchestration: route transactions via card or Open Banking for the best approval rates and lowest fees
-
✅ Scalable hub: easily adapt as your business grows or new technologies emerge
➡️ Result: a future-proof payments hub that fits your ecosystem, not the other way around.
3. Customer-Friendly Checkout That Drives Sales
Today’s customers demand choice and speed. SOTpay provides a frictionless checkout that boosts conversions.
-
✅ Accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, Open Banking, and all major cards
-
✅ Works on any device with no hardware or redirects
-
✅ One-tap digital wallet checkout reduces abandoned baskets
➡️ Result: more completed transactions, fewer lost sales, and happier customers.
Replacing Barclays ePDQ – The Migration Process
Migrating from Barclays ePDQ doesn’t have to be painful. With SOTpay, the transition is fast, simple, and supported every step of the way.
-
Assessment – Review your current setup and identify the best routing options.
-
Integration – Plug SOTpay into your existing systems without heavy IT work.
-
Activation – Start accepting secure, chargeback-free payments immediately.
For businesses concerned about disruption, SOTpay offers dedicated onboarding support, ensuring payments continue seamlessly while you upgrade.
Competitors to Barclays – Why SOTpay Leads
There are several competitors to Barclays ePDQ, including Worldpay, Adyen, and Stripe. While these platforms are well known, they often carry the same pitfalls: higher fees, limited routing flexibility, or weaker fraud protection.
SOTpay stands apart by combining:
-
Fraud-free transactions
-
Multi-acquirer routing freedom
-
Omnichannel coverage
-
Lower processing costs
-
Simple, customer-first checkout
That’s why more and more UK businesses are choosing SOTpay as their trusted ePDQ replacement.
Conclusion: Barclays ePDQ Is Closing – Upgrade With Confidence
Barclays ePDQ and Smartpay may be shutting down, but this is your chance to upgrade, not just replace. With SOTpay, you gain stronger security, lower costs, and a platform that grows with your business.
Don’t wait until your payment service is switched off. Now is the time to migrate from ePDQ in the UK and give your business the advantage of future-ready payments.
👉 Book Your Free SOTpay Demo or call +44 (0) 1709 911 661 to see how SOTpay can transform your payments.
✅ Barclays ePDQ closing – no risk of disruption
✅ Alternative to Barclays ePDQ – secure, low-cost, future-proof
✅ Barclays Smartpay shutdown – switch now to avoid gaps
✅ Replace ePDQ payment gateway – fast migration, minimal effort
✅ Migrate from ePDQ UK – dedicated support and seamless integration
✅ Competitor to Barclays – SOTpay leads the pack
