As e-commerce grows, payment gateways play a larger role in conversion, customer trust, and operating costs. Nearly 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned before checkout, and limited payment options, added fees, or a difficult payment flow can contribute to that loss.
This article compares leading payment gateways by pricing, geographic reach, supported methods, security, and integration requirements, making it easier to identify the right option for your business.
Key takeaways:
- Key evaluation criteria include transaction fees, supported payment methods, security capabilities, and global reach.
- Advertised transaction rates rarely show the full cost. Cross-border charges, currency conversion, disputes, and payout fees can significantly change the final amount.
- Hosted pages and plugins reduce implementation effort. A custom API setup offers greater flexibility but requires stronger technical and security processes.
What to look for in a payment gateway
Every payment gateway comparison should start with the business behind the checkout. Transaction volume, target markets, preferred payment methods, and technical resources all affect which provider will work best.
Use this seven-criteria framework to compare options before committing:
1. Transaction fees: Review the full pricing structure rather than the advertised rate. Costs may vary by card type, customer location, currency, payment method, and monthly volume. A provider with a slightly higher standard fee may still cost less overall if it offers favourable international rates or includes fraud tools without an extra charge.
2. Supported payment methods: Check whether the gateway supports the methods customers are most likely to use, including cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, buy-now-pay-later options, and local payment methods. A limited range can create unnecessary friction at checkout.
3. Security: PCI DSS compliance should be the starting point. It is also worth checking for 3D Secure 2, tokenisation, fraud monitoring, and dispute-management tools. These features reduce exposure to sensitive card data and support safer transactions.
4. Global reach: For international sales, confirm which currencies and countries the gateway supports natively, what local payment methods are included, and whether cross-border transactions incur additional fees. Gaps in coverage can create friction at checkout and reduce conversion.
5. Integration complexity: Hosted checkouts (like PayPal Standard or Amazon Pay) can go live in hours with minimal code. API-first gateways (such as Stripe) offer full customization but require developer resources. Assess your technical capacity before choosing – over-engineering a simple checkout adds risk without benefit.
6. Settlement speed: Payouts may arrive on the same day or take several business days. Compare the standard schedule, reserve policy, weekend processing, and any extra fees for faster access to funds. Longer settlement times can put pressure on cash flow, especially for seasonal or fast-growing businesses.
7. Customer support: Verify whether the provider offers 24/7 support, dedicated account managers for your tier, and documented escalation paths for disputes and account holds. User reviews consistently flag support quality as the biggest differentiator between gateways with similar features.
Need more recommendations? Read our article How to Choose a Payment Gateway Partner and to Minimize Risk and Maximize Value
Payment gateway fees: What you actually pay
Payment gateway pricing often looks simple at first: a percentage of every transaction plus a fixed fee. However, in practice, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Most merchants discover additional costs after launch. Here’s what to account for across three categories.
Per-transaction fees
Most gateways charge for every successful payment. The fee usually combines a percentage of the transaction value and a fixed amount per payment. The exact rate may depend on:
- Online or in-person processing
- Card country of issue
- Card type and payment method
- Transaction currency
- Monthly processing volume
International cards commonly carry an extra charge and currency conversion may add another percentage on top of that. Some providers reduce fees as transaction volume grows, while larger businesses may also receive custom pricing.
To compare the real cost, use your expected number of payments, average order value, customer locations, and currencies. A low advertised rate doesn’t always mean a lower monthly cost.
Monthly and platform fees
Payment gateways may offer a plan with no monthly subscription or charge a recurring fee for platform access and advanced features. Higher-tier plans can include lower transaction rates, detailed reporting, recurring billing, fraud tools, or priority support. They may offer good value at higher volumes, although smaller businesses can find the added cost unnecessary.
Check what the standard plan includes and which capabilities require an upgrade. Extra charges may apply to:
- Recurring billing
- Invoicing
- Marketplace payouts
- Advanced fraud prevention
- Additional merchant accounts
- Premium support
- Specialised reporting
Hidden and indirect costs
Fees outside the standard pricing plan can add up quickly. Pay particular attention to:
- Chargebacks: Disputed payments usually come with a fixed charge, which may not be returned even if the business wins the case.
- Currency conversion: An exchange-rate markup can apply when customers pay in a currency different from the one used for settlement.
- Cross-border transactions: International cards and overseas sales often cost more.
- Refunds: Customers may receive the full amount back, but the original processing charge is not always returned to the merchant.
- Faster payouts: Same-day or instant access to funds usually comes at an extra cost.
- Rolling reserves: A share of revenue can be held temporarily to cover possible disputes or returns.
- Settlement delays: Slow access to money can put pressure on cash flow even when no direct charge applies.
Top 10 payment gateways compared
Here’s a side-by-side look at the most popular payment gateways, comparing their fees, supported methods, and ideal use cases so you can quickly spot the best fit for your business.
Stripe
Stripe is a developer-friendly payment platform used by SaaS companies, marketplaces, and online retailers that need a flexible checkout experience.
Fees:
- Standard US pricing is 2.9% + $0.30 per successful domestic online card transaction and 2.7% + $0.05 for in-person payments.
- Manually entered cards cost 3.4% + $0.30.
- International cards add 1.5%, plus an extra 1% for currency conversion.
- Stripe charges $15 for lost disputes.
Supported methods:
- Major payment options and digital wallets, including Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Buy-now-pay-later options such as Clearpay and Klarna.
Geographic reach: Operates in 45+ countries and supports 135+ currencies.
Integration approach: API-first, with Stripe Elements for embedded checkout UI. Requires developer resources but offers the deepest customization of any major gateway.
Ideal for: Tech-savvy companies, SaaS providers, and platforms handling recurring billing or marketplace payouts at scale.
PayPal
PayPal is one of the most recognized payment brands globally, built around consumer trust and fast setup rather than deep customization.
Fees:
- Pricing varies by country, payment method, and checkout product.
- Merchants generally pay a percentage of the transaction plus a fixed amount, with extra charges possible for cross-border payments, currency conversion, disputes, or advanced features.
- In the US, standard PayPal Checkout rates include 3.49% + $0.49 for standard PayPal Checkout and 2.89% + $0.29 for advanced card processing.
Supported methods:
- PayPal balance
- Bank transfers
- Major cards (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express)
Geographic reach: 200+ countries, around 435 million active accounts.
Integration approach: Hosted checkout via redirect buttons for the simplest setup; more tailored on-site flows on higher tiers.
Ideal for: Small businesses and startups prioritizing fast setup and consumer trust over customization.
Adyen
Adyen brings online, in-app, and in-store payments into one platform. It also includes risk tools and payment processing, making it a strong choice for large businesses operating across several markets.
Fees:
- Interchange++ pricing for card transactions.
- $0.13 processing charge per payment.
- Acquiring costs starting at 0.60% for selected card types.
- Minimum monthly invoice based on industry and merchant profile.
- Exact minimum invoice amount provided on request.
Supported methods:
- Widely used credit and debit cards
- Digital wallets and BACS Direct Debit
- More than 250 global and local payment methods available through one platform
Geographic reach: Strongest in Europe; growing in Americas and APAC via local acquiring licenses.
Integration approach: APIs, mobile SDKs, and connectors for platforms such as Adobe Commerce and Salesforce Commerce Cloud. A custom setup needs dedicated engineering resources.
Ideal for: Enterprises processing significant volume annually wanting transparent, volume-based pricing across channels.
Braintree
Braintree is a PayPal company that combines card processing with native PayPal and Venmo support.
Fees:
- US cards and third-party digital wallets cost 2.89% + $0.29 per transaction.
- Venmo costs 3.49% + $0.49 and is available in the US only.
- Chargebacks carry a $15 fee.
- Custom flat rates, interchange-plus pricing, and volume discounts are available for established businesses.
Supported methods:
- Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo, iDEAL, Bancontact and SEPA Direct Debit
- Other regional options, depending