Choosing a WooCommerce payment gateway is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when setting up an online store.
Do you go for Stripe or PayPal with their fees and limitations? Do you go for an alternative with a narrower scope or more limited audience?
Or do you use all of them?
If you’re asking yourself these questions, we got you covered.
In this article we’ll explore 9 of the best payment processors for WooCommerce.
We have tried and tested every payment gateway on this page.
We review them as if we were going to use them ourselves and try to keep things as fair as possible.
We’ll discuss:
- The key features
- Fees
- Payment options
- Pros and cons
By the end, you should have a clear idea of what payment gateway you want to use!
How We Choose WooCommerce Payment Gateways
When we choose WordPress plugins, we have one overriding question in our minds.
Would we use the plugin on our own website?
If the answer is yes, we’ll use it in a post. If the answer is no, we don’t.
We also use criteria specific to the purpose of the plugin.
For WooCommerce payment gateways, that means asking ourselves:
- Transaction fees: Are fees fair and proportionate? Is there an option to avoid them by subscribing?
- Monthly fees: If we’re reviewing a premium plugin, is it priced competitively? Does it offer value for money? Are there enough options for different types of businesses?
- Supported regions and currencies: Is the payment gateway available in your region? Does it support the currencies your customers use?
- Payment methods: Does the gateway support multiple payment methods? Are they ones your customers trust?
- Ease of use: Does the payment gateway integrate well with WooCommerce? Does it require a lot of validation and setup? Is it easy to use on a daily basis?
- Security: Does the gateway redirect customers to its own platform or does it use your website? Does it use SSL? Is it PCI compliant?
It’s also worth quickly mentioning the main payment gateway types:
- Direct: Self-hosted gateways managed within your store. Easy to use but requires more security.
- Redirect: Where customers are redirected via a popup or redirect link to the payment gateway, like PayPal.
Here’s all you need to know about payment gateway types.
Curious to see how payment gateways stack up? Read on!
9 Best WooCommerce Payment Gateways
In this list we discuss the 9 best payment gateways you can use with WooCommerce.
- Stripe: A top choice for WooCommerce.
- PayPal: Popular payment gateway that makes life easier for everyone.
- Square: Ideal if you also run a physical store.
- Authorize.net: Secure, reliable payment gateway endorsed by Visa.
- Amazon Pay: Amazon payment gateway offering industry-leading security and anti-fraud measures.
- Apple Pay: For Apple users that want smooth payments and secure transactions.
- Alipay: Tap the huge Chinese market using their most trusted payment gateway.
- Skrill: Combination payment gateway and digital wallet.
- RazorPay: Popular option if you’re planning to serve the Indian market.
We know there are many more options, but we think these are the best.
We explain why below.
Stripe vs. PayPal
As Stripe and PayPal are the most universally used, let’s compare them head to head:
| Stripe | PayPal | |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fees | 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction | 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction |
| Availability | 42+ Countries | 200+ Countries |
| Payment Methods | 27 | 16+ |
| Strengths | – Integrates directly or via plugin – Easy to set up and use – Accepts the most currencies – Customers don’t need an account – Volume discounts on fees for larger stores | – Secure external payment gateway – Exceptionally easy to use – Accepted in over 200 countries – Most people have a PayPal account – No need to enter card details |
| Weaknesses | – Fees – Extra charges | – Fees – Corporate feel |
Which is best out of Stripe and PayPal? Which payment gateway should you use?
Rather than pick a winner, if we were building another online store, we would actually use both!
Combine them with the Astra WordPress theme and the Cycle Shop template and you could build a complete eCommerce solution in under an hour!
Don’t forget other payment gateways though, they may be even better for your needs!
1. Stripe
Stripe is one of the most recognized names in eCommerce. Millions of businesses across the globe rely on it for payment processing.
Stripe integrates effortlessly with WooCommerce, allowing you to manage payments directly from your WordPress dashboard. No need to juggle multiple platforms or use extra plugins.
It lets you offer a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and popular digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Whatever payment method customers use, Stripe will probably accept it.
Transaction Fees
- 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- International charges
- Lots of individual fees depending on the services you use
Main Features
- 27 payment methods accepted
- Embeddable checkout
- PCI compliant
- WooCommerce plugin available
- Financial reporting
Payment Methods
Stripe supports over a dozen payment methods, including credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, AliPay, Google Pay, and others.
Pros
- Available in 42 countries
- Supports over 135 currencies
- Developer-friendly documentation and features
- Excellent reputation for customer support
- Costs are in-line with the industry standard
Cons
- High transaction fees
- Extra fees for almost everything
Takeaway
Stripe is an all-around excellent choice, especially for those who sell internationally. We recommend it more than any other payment gateway.
Learn how to set up a Stripe Payment gateway in WooCommerce:
2. PayPal
PayPal is a massively popular platform used across the globe and has millions of active accounts.
The shopping experience is simple. Instead of account or credit card numbers, customers simply have to log in via a PayPal popup and confirm the purchase.
As long as the customer has a PayPal account, they pay through the platform and the platform pays you.
There are no security considerations for store owners and the process is about as simple as it gets for everyone involved.
Transaction Fees
- 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Extra charge of 1.5% for international transactions
- Other charges depending on the services you use
Main Features
- Email professional-looking invoices to customers
- Customizable API
- PayPal usually credits you within minutes
- Accept payments in person from any computer with PayPal terminal
- WooCommerce plugins to add features like Express Checkout
Payment Methods
PayPal supports payments from your bank account, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express, and from PayPal Cash. There are over 16 methods in all.
Pros
- Available in over 200 countries
- Accepts 20 currencies
- Universally familiar to most people
- Easy to set up and use
- Available in most countries around the world
Cons
- Not very developer-friendly
- Fees for everything
- Bigger company with less of a personal touch
Takeaway
PayPal is the default option for most eCommerce stores. It’s a solid choice if you’re looking to set up your WooCommerce shop quickly and works well alongside Stripe.
Learn how to set up a PayPal Payment gateway in WooCommerce:
3. Square
Square is a versatile payment gateway primarily catering mainly to in-person stores. The Square for WooCommerce plugin allows you to have the same flexibility in online stores too.
If your WooCommerce store complements a physical store, this solution will be ideal as it automatically syncs payments and inventory.
Square seamlessly integrates with WooCommerce Subscriptions and supports popular digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Transaction Fees
- 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Paid monthly plans with extra features and discounted fees
Main Features
- WooCommerce support with plugin
- Accept payments in person or online
- Automatically syncs with Square devices
- Support for delivery and in-store pickup
- Support for coupons, invoices, appointments and Instagram
Payment Methods
Square supports debit and credit cards, Square gift cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, invoices, cash, check and other payment types.
Pros
- Available in US, Canada, Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom
- Multiple supported currencies
- Combines in-person and online payments
- Supports invoicing and subscriptions
- Well-designed and easy to use
Cons
- Not available in many countries
- Designed more for in-person sales than online eCommerce
Takeaway
We think Square is a decent option if you have a mix of in-person and online transactions. For online only, it doesn’t really compete with Stripe or PayPal.
4. Authorize.net
Authorize.net is a subsidiary of Visa. It’s not as widely used as Stripe or PayPal but handles more than 400,000 active merchants and over 1 billion transactions every year.
The Authorize.net plugin for WooCommerce is quite powerful. It enables you to accept credit cards in multiple currencies from multiple locations.
Customers can save credit cards and bank accounts in their WooCommerce accounts for fast and secure checkout. All without having to leave the website.
Transaction Fees
- 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- $25 Monthly fee
Main Features
- Advanced fraud detection and prevention
- Supports recurring payments
- Accept virtually any kind of payment
- Simple checkout options
- 24/7 support
Payment Methods
Authorize.net accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, JCB, PayPal, Visa SRC, Apple Pay, Chase Pay, E-check and many other payment types.
Pros
- Backed by Visa
- 11 supported currencies
- Extensive reporting features
- Lower rates for higher volumes
- POS and in-person options
Cons
- Limited availability in some countries
- Monthly fee plus transaction fees
Takeaway
Authorize.net is an option for serious businesses rather than small stores or startups. Plus, the idea of a monthly fee plus transaction fees may not sit well with everyone.
5. Amazon Pay
We like Amazon Pay because customers can use their existing Amazon account to make payments on your site for your products and services.
You can easily integrate Amazon Pay into your WooCommerce using a free plugin.
It can greatly enhance the shopper experience and make your eCommerce store compatible with Alexa. This will allow customers to shop using their voice, which is very cool!
Transaction Fees
- No transaction fees
- No monthly costs
Main Features
- Accept Amazon payments on your site
- Mobile-optimized
- Support for nonprofits, small and large businesses
- Customers can pay with their Amazon account
- Integrated with Alexa for voice-activated ordering
Payment Methods
Amazon Pay has a variety of payment methods available, including immediate charge, deferred payments, split payments, recurring payments, and more.
Pros
- Available in more than 170 countries around the world.
- 12 supported currencies
- Easy to set up and use
- Most people already have an Amazon account
- No monthly fees or transaction charges
Cons
- Amazon may also be your competitor
- Amazon retains more customer information than using your own payment method
Takeaway
Amazon Pay is an excellent choice if your customers already have Amazon accounts. This cuts down on consumer indecision and may increase sales.
6. Apple Pay
Apple Pay is a payment gateway from Apple. It is designed specifically for iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and other iOS devices.
Every payment requires the customer to confirm their password, FaceID, or Touch ID, which makes it very secure and can help reduce fraud.
Like other Apple products, Apple Pay is very well designed and easy to use. This makes it ideal for those that want an attractive checkout.
Transaction Fees
- No fees other than what card companies charge
Main Features
- Easily allow payments both online and in-person
- Supports most newer Apple devices
- Accepts most credit and debit cards
- Pay later and other options available
- Integration with WooCommerce via Stripe
Payment Methods
Most credit and debit cards are accepted. You can also accept in-person cash with Apple Cash (US only).
Pros
- Available in over 40 countries
- Trusted brand with a great reputation
- No additional monthly or setup fees
- Well-designed and easy to use
- Extremely easy for Apple users
Cons
- Not available in all countries
- Mostly intended for Apple users
Takeaway
Apple Pay is a solid choice for companies that want to add convenience to customers using Apple devices.
Learn how to set up Apple Pay with WooCommerce:
7. Alipay
Alipay is an online payment gateway developed by Alibaba. It is currently used by more than 1.3 billion users, primarily in China.
The AliPay WooCommerce plugin will let you quickly set up this payment gateway on your eCommerce store. It works well and opens the door to a huge new market.
It’s easy to use and works like most other WooCommerce plugins. You’ll need an Alibaba account and be able to transfer funds from China to your region, but otherwise it’s a breeze to use.
Transaction Fees
- 0.55% per transaction
- The plugin costs $6.59 per month
Main Features
- WooCommerce plugin is simple to set up
- Accept payments directly from Alipay accounts and credit/debit cards
- Effective privacy and payment security
- Mobile support
- Escrow system makes sure that all payments are legitimate
Payment Methods
AliPay supports direct payments and credit and debit cards.
Pros
- Accessible worldwide but primarily used in China
- 14 currencies supported
- Works with WooCommerce
- Access the Chinese market
- Secure escrow system
Cons
- Mostly for selling to Chinese consumers
- Most learning materials and support are in Chinese
Takeaway
Alipay is a useful way to access Chinese consumers. While it’s not particularly useful elsewhere, it’s a great opportunity if that’s your target market.
8. Skrill
Skrill combines a payment gateway with an online wallet to allow business owners to accept money from multiple different methods, including crypto.
It has been around for years and has built a reputation of reliability few other options can compete with. It doesn’t have the same profile as Stripe but it’s just as good.
For store owners, Skrill offers a hosted payment gateway that handles all transactions. Place the payment button on your checkout page and Skrill takes care of the rest.
Transaction Fees
- 1% fee for card payments, 0% for bank payments
Main Features
- Online wallet and payment gateway combined
- No monthly fees
- Hosted payments for extra security
- Supports crypto
- Has its own Mastercard
Payment Methods
Direct payments, credit and debit cards, crypto, Skrill wallet and dozens of local payment methods depending on region.
Pros
- 16 Currencies supported
- Available in 200+ countries
- Lots of regional payment methods
- Skrill handles security so you don’t have to
- Prepaid Skrill Mastercard
Cons
- Not as well-known as Stripe or PayPal
Takeaway
Skrill is the classic underdog. It’s very capable, secure, easy to use and accepts lots of payment methods. It really deserves a higher profile than it has.
9. RazorPay
RazorPay is available internationally but is very popular in India. It’s a well-designed payment gateway with a lot of options, ideal for one of the world’s fastest growing economies.
The gateway is well designed, accepts most payment methods, has lots of options for developers and for customers.
As a store owner, you can integrate it easily, the fees are simple and the Flash Checkout option could really help conversions.
Transaction Fees
- Flat 2% fee for all transactions
Main Features
- Widely accepted internationally but especially India
- Well-designed and simple to manage
- PCI DSS Level 1
- Supports recurring payments
- Works well on mobile
Payment Methods
RazorPay supports over 100 payment methods, including credit and debit cards, PayLater, mobile wallets, cardless payments and more.
Pros
- Accepts 92 currencies
- Supports 100+ payment methods
- No setup or recurring fees
- Intuitive management dashboard
- Simple pricing
Cons
- Some features limited to India only
Takeaway
RazorPay is a well-designed payment gateway that delivers everything we look for. It’s just a shame it caters mainly to the Indian market.
Why Payment Gateways Are So Important to WooCommerce
There’s more to a payment gateway than just convenience. They can offer serious benefits to online stores.
Here are 5 benefits of using a payment gateway:
- Enhanced security: Payment gateways handle sensitive financial information like credit card details. They use robust encryption and fraud detection tools to safeguard customer data and ensure secure transactions. This builds trust with customers as they are more likely to complete purchases on a secure platform.
- Increased convenience: Accept credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, and mobile payments. This caters to a wider customer base and provides a frictionless checkout experience.
- Streamlined operations: Payment gateways automate the entire payment processing flow, eliminating manual tasks and reducing errors. This frees you up to focus on other aspects of running your store.
- Global reach: Often accept international payments, allowing you to expand your customer base and tap into new markets.
- Fraud protection: Advanced fraud detection systems analyze transactions for suspicious activity. This helps to minimize fraudulent purchases and protects you from financial loss.
There aren’t many eCommerce stores with the resources to do all those things. That’s why payment gateways are so useful and often worth paying for!
Which Payment Gateway Will You Choose?
Hopefully this post helps you decide which WooCommerce payment gateway would suit your store best.
Each option has different benefits and features, but they all work well with WooCommerce.
The only difference is that some work better than others in certain situations.
Our top recommendations are:
- Stripe – A great all-around choice, especially for users that don’t mind doing a little customization.
- PayPal – Perfect for quickly accepting payments.
- Apple Pay and Amazon Pay – Great if your customer base uses Apple or Amazon.
If you can’t choose the best one, combine two or more to provide more options. As we said at the top, if we were building a new store, we would use a combination of Stripe and PayPal.
What about you? Do you use any of these payment gateways? Have any others to recommend? Tell us about it in the comments!
WooCommerce Payment Gateway FAQs
Just in case you still have questions about WooCommerce payments…
What Is the Best Payment Gateway for WooCommerce?
Stripe is the best payment gateway for WooCommerce. It’s very easy to set up and has very affordable rates. It has a long track history, it’s reliable and you can also work with several other payment methods such as Apple and Google Pay. It won’t be for everyone though, which is why we wrote this post.
Can I Use Multiple Payment Gateways with WooCommerce?
Yes, you can use multiple payment gateways with WooCommerce. In fact, we recommend it. Not everyone uses PayPal. Not everyone wants to use their credit card during checkout. By offering different payment gateways options you’ll increase the likelihood of that type of customer making a purchase. That’s a step well worth taking!
Does WooCommerce Have a Default Payment Gateway?
WooCommerce has a default payment gateway solution but it’s not included in the core plugin. You’ll have to enable it through an extension called WooCommerce Payments.
WooCommerce Payments is a free plugin, accepts more than 135 currencies and allows you to enable payment methods such as Sofort, iDeal, P24 and more.
Test drive the Stripe for Woo plugin the easy way.
Sujay Pawar is the co-founder and CEO of Brainstorm Force. He brings a one-of-a-kind fusion of tech brilliance, business savvy and marketing mojo to the table. Sujay has consistently spearheaded the development of innovative products like Astra, CartFlows, ZipWP and many others that have become market leaders in their respective niches.
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Thank you for the detailed article; this is a fresh dose of knowledge for me. I think a comparison chart of all these payment gateways would be an excellent addition to the article, where we can compare all those options in a single view.
I am running an organic food online store in New Zealand for the last three years and using Stripe as a payment gateway. I love Stripe because of its clean design and ease of use. Setting up Stripe is that easy; I complete setup without a developer.
I was looking for the best payment Gateway for my e-store but was unsure which factors should be considered while finalizing payment gateways. Previously, I was thinking Transaction Fees and Operational Costs are the same factors. You guys saved my life.
Cheers, Timmy!
Nice list. Which is the most used payment gateway with WooCommerce? just curious and like to know more 😊
It varies depending on the location, but we suppose it would be PayPal and Stripe.
Thanks for the article! I’m exploring options because i’m interested in using WooCommerce. For me, a friend recommended Redde Payments because they swear by them. The other provider I was interested in is Square though. However, Square seems to have like a LOT of bad reviews from holds and unexpected closures. Has anyone experienced this? I’m leaning towards Redde because of what I heard but I want to make sure I rule out Square if that’s been a consistent problem. Thanks for any advice!
Hello Mitchel, we would recommend going with Stripe or other payment gateways. Here’s a Checkout Plugins that might help greatly.
Great, that’s what I was looking for. May I ask about recommended hosting? Previously, I used SiteGround for hosting, but the price is very high now, can you give me an alternative? I hear Asphostportal has a good reputation for that. Can you recommend them?
Glad you found it useful! Here’s our recommendations page.
Hi there,
I am looking for a payment gateway that can “save” credit cards for certain customers, so that they can just call in and we will have their credit card info securely saved. Is there a payment processor that can do this with our WooCommerce stores? (we have two physical locations and an online store)
Thanks for your help!
Hello there,
Yes, there are some payment gateways that allow customer vaulting with Stripe Connect, PayPal, and Authorize.net with PDS. You can connect with their support or review their docs to achieve this requirement.