Monetico, CAWL or Axepta: Which Payment Solution for an Odoo Shop?

We build and maintain an Odoo module for each of the three. We have no commercial preference between them: this comparison is based on what our modules do today, and on the questions our clients ask before choosing.

Three banks, three platforms

All three work the same way: the customer pays on a page hosted by the platform, with 3D Secure 2, and the bank tells Odoo the result automatically. The differences lie in the technical platform, the payment methods offered and the options of the contract.

• Monetico (Crédit Mutuel, CIC) comes in two versions that should not be confused. Monetico Paiement is the historical solution, the one most small businesses have. Monetico Retail is a more recent platform with more options. Check which one is on your contract first; our Monetico guide explains how to tell them apart.
• CAWL (Crédit Agricole, LCL) relies on Worldline, a major European payment company, and offers a very wide range of payment methods, from instalments to meal vouchers. Each method must be opened on the contract before it is enabled in Odoo. Details in our CAWL article.
• Axepta (BNP Paribas) has moved to a version 2, more modern, which replaces the old one. If you still run V1, BNP Paribas will ask you to migrate; our Axepta V2 article describes the switch.

What each one allows in Odoo

These cards describe what our modules do. Every option still depends on your contract: a payment method only appears in Odoo if the bank has opened it too.

All three share the essentials: a hosted payment page, so no card data in Odoo; 3D Secure 2; the order confirmed even if the customer never comes back to the shop; the payment reconciled with the invoice. They also work for quotation payment links and for invoices in the customer portal.

Which one for your business

You already bank with one of them

Start with its solution. The fee is negotiated with your account manager, together with the rest of your relationship, and the funds land on your business account. Changing banks for a payment solution rarely makes sense, unless a specific need is not covered.

You sell subscriptions

You need a saved card to charge renewals without sending the customer back to the payment page. Monetico, with its recurring payments module, and CAWL, with saved cards, allow it in Odoo. Our article on Monetico recurring payments shows how it works.

You want to offer instalments

All three have an answer, but not the same one. Monetico splits the card payment into 2, 3 or 4 instalments. CAWL relies on credit providers (Sofinco, Oney, Klarna), and Axepta on Floa Pay: the merchant is paid and the provider carries the risk of non-payment, under the terms of the contract. A dedicated solution is also possible next to your bank, such as Alma or a direct contract with FLOA.

You sell to Belgium or the Netherlands

Belgian shoppers expect Bancontact, Dutch shoppers expect iDEAL. CAWL offers both, Axepta offers Bancontact and Wero. With a Monetico contract, these methods are not covered by our module: keep it in mind if exports matter to your revenue.

You accept meal vouchers or holiday vouchers

Restaurants, caterers, leisure: among our three modules, only CAWL offers meal vouchers, Chèque-Vacances Connect and gift cards, with a card payment for the remaining balance.

You have large baskets

Instanea, offered by Axepta, is an instant SEPA transfer from the customer's account: the money arrives within seconds and there is no chargeback. It is worth considering for B2B sales and large amounts.

You charge at shipping

All three let you authorise the payment at order time and collect it later from Odoo. If you often ship in several parcels, partial capture matters: Monetico and Axepta handle it, while CAWL captures the full amount.

Can you use more than one?

Yes. Odoo accepts several payment providers at the same time: you can keep card payments with your bank and add an instalment solution, or a local method for a given country. Each provider adds its own fees and a payment journal to reconcile, so it is better to stick to what you really use.

Switching is just as possible: the new solution is added as another provider, you test it, then you disable the old one. Past payments stay linked to the old provider and to their orders.

What matters more than the brand

A good payment solution poorly integrated will cause more trouble than an average one well integrated. Whatever your bank, check that the module confirms orders automatically, recovers payments whose confirmation got lost, handles refunds from Odoo and will be maintained for every Odoo version. We covered these criteria in who should build your Odoo payment module.

FAQ

Which one is the cheapest?

None by default: fees are negotiated with the bank and depend on your volume, your average basket and the options you choose. Compare quotes at equal volume, looking also at fixed fees per transaction and the cost of options such as instalments.

Do you need to bank with them?

Usually, the e-commerce contract is tied to a business account with the bank that offers it. Conditions vary: ask your account manager.

What about Stripe, Mollie or PayPal?

They are built into Odoo and quick to set up. Bank solutions need a module, but they are negotiated with your bank and settle on your account. It is not the same choice, and nothing stops you from combining both.

Do all three work on Odoo Online?

No. They are third-party modules, which Odoo Online does not accept. They install on Odoo.sh or on your own server.

Can you set the solution up for us?

Yes, for all three. We install the module, enter your credentials, test every payment method of your contract on a copy of your database, then go live with you.