The top 10 most popular online payment gateways for your website, compared
When it comes to the customer’s checkout experience any business owner would want it to be as smooth and comfortable as possible. The variations of payment methods and payment features, currencies and countries, and even certain design options depending on the payment gateway.
There are not only the outside usability and look that a merchant chooses with an online payment gateway. The payment gateway is also responsible for the successful transaction flow, its security, and final validation.
Within lots of presented offers on the market, a merchant should choose wisely. In this article, we will go through the factors that should influence this choice, and after we will compare the most popular online payment gateways for eCommerce businesses.
But if you still feel like digging into the concept of payment gateway, we advise you to read the article that explains it all “The ABC of Payment Gateways”.
What is important when choosing a payment gateway
Obtaining the right payment gateway for a website is equal to reliable functionality, high security, design compatibility, suitable fees, and general customer satisfaction. We have listed 5 factors to definitely rely on when selecting the local or international payment gateway.
Security
There are two main points regarding the security measures. The first one is mandatory. While checking out the customer shares extremely sensitive data which are billing and shipping information. The prior goal of any payment gateway is to encrypt the given data and only after send through the next steps of the transaction process. For the sake of the customer’s security, all the payment gateways are obligated to have a Secure Sockets Layer certificate or SSL. Which is an international security technology that allows encrypted communication.
But there is also a second layer of security measurements that are not included in all the payment gateway services. It is a fraud prevention system. This one protects the business from massive chargebacks, fraudulent actions, and insecure transactions. Anti-fraud solutions usually imply complex AI algorithms that operate within the bank networks and are able to detect a fraudulent transaction in less than half a second.
Cost
Payment gateways don’t come for free, and still, it is important to understand the variety of fees in comparison to all the benefits that come in the same service package. There is usually a transaction fee, possible set up and monthly charges, together with a probable chargeback fee.
It is more efficient to look at the fees concerning the particular business with its specific needs and transaction frequency. For instance, any high-risk business requires more investments into banking services, as it potentially generates a higher amount of chargebacks.
Payment methods
Depending on the business vertical, distribution location, and the customer’s profile, a merchant might want to accept various payment methods on his or her website.
To accept methods of debit and credit card any payment gateway is good enough. But to extend further and operate with electronic wallets, mobile payments, and cryptocurrency the payment gateway must have this feature included in the offer.
Compatibility with the project
Compatibility is responsible for the integration of the payment gateway with the merchant’s website. The integration refers both to the technical aspect and visual presentation.
Solid payment gateways integrate well into the existing website and bring along a smooth checkout. Many providers also propose fully customized gateways that can match the particular brand design.
Transaction location
Transaction location has nothing to do with an actual geographical situation. It refers to the platform on which purchasing is happening. Simply put the payment can take place on the website of the merchant, or the customer can be redirected to pay on the website of the payment gateway.
In the first case, the checkout experience is processed more organically, at the same website as the shopping. In the second option, the redirection might seem to intrude, but some respected online gateways use this option anyway.
Selecting a payment gateway
Now that we have explained the basic elements that are important for each payment gateway, let’s move on to the 10 most popular online payment gateways for the merchant’s website.
Stripe
Stripe is one of the most popular payment gateways on the market. It offers merchants a seamless and customized checkout, a subscription model for the business, and a fraud prevention system. Along with the usual Visa and MasterCard, these payment gateway services support a lot of various payment methods such as mobile payments, local wallets, and electronic wallets.
The only thing that Stripe is missing is detailed personalized support. Due to the size of the company and amount of clients, the given support does not include the specification approach.
PayPal
PayPal is a very well-known service, not only among merchants but among customers as well. With the PayPal payment gateway, the merchant chooses from around 200 countries and 26 currencies. Besides regular credit and debit cards service accepts payments with PayPal. Also, the payment gateway has an integration with major eCommerce platforms such as WooCommerce, Squarespace, and Shopify.
PayPal though does not offer the on-site checkout and redirects customers to its own website for completing the purchase. Also, the service does not support recurring payments, which means that PayPal is not suitable for subscription business models.
Braintree
Braintree is a payment gateway created by PayPal and it substitutes its creator quite well. The platform enables on-site checkout and permits a subscription model. Operating in 45 countries with 130 currencies, there is a possibility to accept regional payment methods.
Besides that, the service offers an advanced fraud protection system based on the PayPal one. And also there is an option to open a merchant account with Braintree.
Authorize.net
Authorize.net operates in the USA, UK, Canada, EU, and Australia. This payment gateway is totally customizable, with a solid fraud prevention system, reliable client support, and subscription options. The checkout is located on the merchant’s website.
Also, Authorize.net has solutions for both online and offline businesses. But watch closely for charges. Two major systems are proposed by the platform, both include a monthly fee.
Square
Square is the perfect solution for taking care of both stores at the same time: an online one and an offline one. Square allows merchants to synchronize item availability between the internet shop and retail. The fees though depend on the actual package that is set up for the merchant.
Service supports credit and debit cards together with Apple Pay and Google Pay, but the payment gateway does not accept cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin.
2Checkout
2Checkout is one of those payment gateways that put in priority the customer’s experience. The gateway can be designed according to the business needs and there is a special mode for the merchant to test the checkout flow from the customer’s point of view.
The platform provides its own anti-fraud product and allows merchants to collect recurring payments.
Amazon Pay
Amazon Pay is another trusted service with a big name. The payment gateway shares all the benefits from the Amazon shopping service: it has advanced fraud protection, on-site checkout and personal design are present as well. Multiple payment methods are available, together with the Amazon wallet.
Amazon Pay is ready to use in 18 countries, but it operates just with 12 currencies. The company is providing merchants with a detailed manual and email support.
WePay
WePay is another option that works well for online stores and offline places. For businesses online, WePay services include seamless checkout, fraud prevention measurements, recurring payments, and crowdfunding campaigns.
The payment gateway is enabled for merchants only in the USA, Canada, and the UK. The available currencies are only the currencies of the following locations.
Adyen
Adyen supplies merchants with fully integrated payment gateways. It includes design features, localized transactions on the website, and recurring payments. Platform obtains the fraud prevention system and risk management tools.
Adyen supports lots of payment methods with 150 currencies in 27 countries. But besides that, it is not possible to demand specified support for a particular business.
Maxpay
Maxpay is a payment gateway with complete integration to a merchant’s website. Together with the on-site checkout and fully customizable design, it accepts local payment methods, electronic wallets, and all the currencies on top of that. Maxpay offers a highly secure fraud prevention system along with a risk management and chargebacks track.
The support team provides detailed and personalized assistance. The personal manager is assigned to each client and leads the case through setting up and maintenance of the payment gateway. If you would like to discover personal benefits that go together with the Maxpay account, please contact the sales department.
Top 10 Online Payment Gateways Compared
| Currencies | Countries | Transaction fee | Transaction location | Support | |
| Stripe | 135 | 40 | 2.9% + $0.30 | on-site | not personalized |
| PayPal | 26 | 200 | 2.9% + $0.30 | redirect | not personalized |
| Braintree | 130 | 45 | 2.9% + $0.30 | on-site | not personalized |
| Authorize.net | USD, CAD, CHF, DKK, EUR, GBP, NOK, PLN, SEK, USD, AUD, NZD, USD | USA, UK, Canada, EU, Australia | 2.9% + $0.30 $0.10 | on-site | advanced |
| Square | currencies of the countries only | USA, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia | 2.9% + $0.302.6% + $0.103.5% + $0.15 | on-site | not personalized |
| 2Checkout | 87 | 200 | 2.9% + $0.30 | on-site | advanced |
| Amazon Pay | 12 | 18 | 2.9% + $0.30 | on-site | not personalized |
| WePay | currencies of the countries only | USA, Canada, UK | 2.9% + $0.25 | on-site | not personalized |
| Adyen | 150 | 27 | 2.9% + $0.30 | on-site | not personalized |
| Maxpay | all | EU, UK, USA | 2.9% + $0.30 | on-site | advanced |