Checkout.com Achieves 'Leader' Status in Forrester Wave Merchant Payment Providers Q1 2026 Assessment
Checkout.com, a digital payment platform based in London, has proudly announced that it has been named a 'Leader' in Forrester Research's latest report titled "The Forrester Wave™: Merchant Payment Providers, Q1 2026." This report serves as an essential resource for companies looking to choose the best partners for their payment solutions, evaluating major providers based on their value delivery and functionality.
What sets Checkout.com apart in this competitive landscape is its remarkable achievement of obtaining the highest score in the 'Merchant Experience' evaluation criterion, making it the only vendor to reach this level. According to Forrester, Checkout.com's strengths include its capability to maximize performance from an array of payment methods, reflecting a seamless payment experience for merchants.
Additionally, the company's progression in the U.S. market has been underlined by its recent acquisition of a Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank (MALPB) charter, a pivotal milestone that enhances its ability to scale operations and cater to American businesses effectively. This strategic move is not just a formality; it emphasizes Checkout.com's commitment to growth in North America and its dedication to facilitating better payment solutions for merchants.
As Checkout.com charts its path forward, its 2026 roadmap emphasizes important areas such as Agentic Commerce, direct acquiring in the U.S., and the launch of platform services tailored specifically for marketplaces and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs).
Recognizing the emerging trend of Agentic Commerce, where AI agents act on behalf of users to make purchases, Checkout.com is actively building an 'Interoperability Layer.' This new architecture aims to integrate various protocols, payment schemes, and AI platforms, ensuring a seamless transaction process, regardless of the underlying technology.
In a bid to strengthen its foothold in the American market, Checkout.com plans to kick off card processing within the year, progressively transitioning towards a direct acquiring model. This shift not only aligns with their strategic goals but also responds to market demands for enhanced processing capabilities.
Collaboration with ISVs and marketplaces is crucial for Checkout.com, as it develops new platform services aimed at boosting efficiency and productivity. The initial launch will take place in the U.S., marking a significant advancement in service offerings.
Checkout.com is at the forefront of establishing standards and interoperability for Agentic Commerce. The company is working towards compliance with Google's new Universal Commerce Protocol and is fully supporting frameworks from major players like Visa and Mastercard. This proactive approach is aimed at reducing friction in business operations by embedding AI across various levels of core operations. By leveraging AI, the company has already achieved an impressive 83% reduction in the time necessary for thorough policy reviews and has fully automated denial transaction allocation, which was previously a manual task.
Moreover, Checkout.com has reported a remarkable increase in development productivity, generating approximately 2.7 million lines of code monthly—all thanks to its dedicated use of AI technologies.
As Checkout.com continues to expand, it has grown its workforce by 15%, bringing the total number of employees to 2,000. New offices have been established in key cities including San Francisco, Atlanta, and São Paulo, showcasing the company’s ambition on a global scale.
In North America, the approval of the MALPB license in Georgia represents a critical step towards establishing a direct acquiring system in the U.S. Furthermore, in terms of card issuance, Checkout.com anticipates a remarkable run rate of $5 billion annually by Q4 2025, with plans for significant expansion in both the U.S. and UAE by 2026.
The company is also diversifying its payment methods. In 2025, the volume for alternative payment methods (APMs) such as e-wallets is expected to grow by 104% year-over-year, expanding its offerings to over 50 different payment options. Among these are major local payment methods like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Tabby, TWINT, and Swish.
Meron Colbeci, Chief Product Officer of Checkout.com, commented on the recent recognition, stating, “Being named a 'Leader' reflects our unwavering commitment over the past 24 months to deliver the best experiences and payment performances for our merchants. While we are honored by the analyst's recognition, it is the day-to-day conversations and feedback from our clients that truly drive us. We are committed to continuous improvement and innovation to deliver value.”
Checkout.com empowers thousands of businesses in the digital economy with cutting-edge payment solutions. Our network supports over 145 currencies, processing billions of transactions annually. With flexible and scalable technology, we help improve payment success rates, reduce processing costs, and mitigate fraud, ultimately enhancing profitability. Based in London, Checkout.com has presence in 19 global offices and works with top-tier companies such as Sony, Alibaba, Docusign, Uber Eats, GE Healthcare, Wise, Remitly, Sainsbury's, and Financial Times. Learn more at www.checkout.com/en-us/
What sets Checkout.com apart in this competitive landscape is its remarkable achievement of obtaining the highest score in the 'Merchant Experience' evaluation criterion, making it the only vendor to reach this level. According to Forrester, Checkout.com's strengths include its capability to maximize performance from an array of payment methods, reflecting a seamless payment experience for merchants.
Additionally, the company's progression in the U.S. market has been underlined by its recent acquisition of a Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank (MALPB) charter, a pivotal milestone that enhances its ability to scale operations and cater to American businesses effectively. This strategic move is not just a formality; it emphasizes Checkout.com's commitment to growth in North America and its dedication to facilitating better payment solutions for merchants.
As Checkout.com charts its path forward, its 2026 roadmap emphasizes important areas such as Agentic Commerce, direct acquiring in the U.S., and the launch of platform services tailored specifically for marketplaces and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs).
Investing in Agentic Commerce
Recognizing the emerging trend of Agentic Commerce, where AI agents act on behalf of users to make purchases, Checkout.com is actively building an 'Interoperability Layer.' This new architecture aims to integrate various protocols, payment schemes, and AI platforms, ensuring a seamless transaction process, regardless of the underlying technology.
Advancing Direct Acquiring in the U.S.
In a bid to strengthen its foothold in the American market, Checkout.com plans to kick off card processing within the year, progressively transitioning towards a direct acquiring model. This shift not only aligns with their strategic goals but also responds to market demands for enhanced processing capabilities.
Platform Services for Marketplaces/ISVs
Collaboration with ISVs and marketplaces is crucial for Checkout.com, as it develops new platform services aimed at boosting efficiency and productivity. The initial launch will take place in the U.S., marking a significant advancement in service offerings.
Setting Standards in Agentic Commerce
Checkout.com is at the forefront of establishing standards and interoperability for Agentic Commerce. The company is working towards compliance with Google's new Universal Commerce Protocol and is fully supporting frameworks from major players like Visa and Mastercard. This proactive approach is aimed at reducing friction in business operations by embedding AI across various levels of core operations. By leveraging AI, the company has already achieved an impressive 83% reduction in the time necessary for thorough policy reviews and has fully automated denial transaction allocation, which was previously a manual task.
Moreover, Checkout.com has reported a remarkable increase in development productivity, generating approximately 2.7 million lines of code monthly—all thanks to its dedicated use of AI technologies.
Organizational Expansion and Market Performance
As Checkout.com continues to expand, it has grown its workforce by 15%, bringing the total number of employees to 2,000. New offices have been established in key cities including San Francisco, Atlanta, and São Paulo, showcasing the company’s ambition on a global scale.
In North America, the approval of the MALPB license in Georgia represents a critical step towards establishing a direct acquiring system in the U.S. Furthermore, in terms of card issuance, Checkout.com anticipates a remarkable run rate of $5 billion annually by Q4 2025, with plans for significant expansion in both the U.S. and UAE by 2026.
The company is also diversifying its payment methods. In 2025, the volume for alternative payment methods (APMs) such as e-wallets is expected to grow by 104% year-over-year, expanding its offerings to over 50 different payment options. Among these are major local payment methods like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Tabby, TWINT, and Swish.
Insights from Meron Colbeci, CPO
Meron Colbeci, Chief Product Officer of Checkout.com, commented on the recent recognition, stating, “Being named a 'Leader' reflects our unwavering commitment over the past 24 months to deliver the best experiences and payment performances for our merchants. While we are honored by the analyst's recognition, it is the day-to-day conversations and feedback from our clients that truly drive us. We are committed to continuous improvement and innovation to deliver value.”
About Checkout.com
Checkout.com empowers thousands of businesses in the digital economy with cutting-edge payment solutions. Our network supports over 145 currencies, processing billions of transactions annually. With flexible and scalable technology, we help improve payment success rates, reduce processing costs, and mitigate fraud, ultimately enhancing profitability. Based in London, Checkout.com has presence in 19 global offices and works with top-tier companies such as Sony, Alibaba, Docusign, Uber Eats, GE Healthcare, Wise, Remitly, Sainsbury's, and Financial Times. Learn more at www.checkout.com/en-us/
Topics Consumer Products & Retail）
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