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One of the first things you’ll need to decide is which payment options you’re going to use for your online store. The gateway you select directly affects your potential customers’ buying experience, and 10% of them will abandon your site if they don’t see enough options. Moreover, 19% will do so if they don’t think your payment method is trustworthy.
The good news is that there are many payment gateways for WooCommerce. If you know which WooCommerce payment option best suits your store, you can boost conversions while keeping the transaction fees minimal.
At CoSpark, we live and breathe WooCommerce. And drawing on our experience, we’ll explain the factors you should look for when selecting a payment method, along with a list of the best payment gateways for your WooCommerce store.
Let’s dive in.
How Does a Payment Gateway Work?
Think of a payment gateway as a middleman facilitating a transaction between a payment portal and an acquiring bank. Typically, the gateway connects several acquiring banks and payment methods under a single system.
Your WooCommerce payment gateway involves:
- Authorization and Encryption
When a customer enters their payment details, your WooCommerce payment gateway encrypts this data and sends a request for authorization to the customer’s bank or card provider. This step confirms if funds are available and if the payment is valid. - Settlement and Confirmation
If the payment is valid, the bank or credit card provider transfers the funds from the customer’s bank to your store’s account. Once the transaction is settled (credited in your account), the customer gets a payment confirmation, and the order is completed.
All the WooCommerce payment options, whether it’s a credit card transaction or a digital wallet like Apple Pay, work similarly. Choosing a secure gateway helps lower the risk of fraud and theft, building trust with your customers.
How to Choose the Right Payment Gateway for WooCommerce
WooCommerce holds a massive array of plugins, including those for payment processing. But not all these WooCommerce payment options are made equal. You’ll need to sort through them and select a few that’ll serve you best.
When doing that, you should consider these factors:
- Transaction Fees
Unlike SaaS platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce doesn’t charge a transaction fee. But you’ll need to pay what the payment gateway charges for each transaction.This transaction fee typically has two components:- A percentage of the transaction, usually between 2 and 5%.
- A small flat fee for each transaction, usually around $0.30.
Every payment gateway has different fees. However, the transaction fee from the same gateway may vary depending on the type of transaction, whether it’s a credit card, debit card, or digital wallet.
The best WooCommerce payment gateway is usually the most convenient and affordable. If you sell low-priced products (<$100), choose a gateway with the lowest possible transaction fees. But high transaction fees shouldn’t be a problem if you sell high-priced products (>$500).
- Supported Countries and Currencies
Be sure the gateway works in the countries and currencies where your target audience is. Financial regulations prevent some of the best WooCommerce payment gateways from operating in certain countries.Also, select a payment gateway with multi-currency support, especially if you plan to expand internationally. But do check how much the platform charges for currency conversion. Some gateways may charge high fees for transferring between different currencies. - Integration with WooCommerce
The best part about WooCommerce and WordPress is that they accept almost all types of payment solutions, including cryptocurrencies. However, it’s best to check if there are compatible plugins for the said gateway. Direct integration cuts down technical work and makes it easier to optimize your checkout. - Mobile-friendliness and Digital Wallet Support
Digital wallets have become a mainstay in online transactions. More than5.2 billion people now use digital wallets, accounting for over60% of global e-commerce transactions.Your payment gateway should be mobile-friendly and support digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. If not, you risk losing a large chunk of your customer base just because your payment system lacked the necessary support. - Your Target Market
While digital wallets are on the rise, they’re popular among millennials and Gen Z. If your target audience belongs to older demographics, you should focus on easy credit and debit card processing options. Likewise, you might want to tap into specialized solutions like cryptocurrencies, if that’s what your customers are likely to pay with. - Recurring Payments & Subscriptions
If your business offers subscription-based products or services, select a payment gateway that supports recurring payments. With this feature, you can automate billing without overwhelming your customers or missing out on reminders. It saves your time, helps grow a steady revenue, and prevents payment failures. - Fraud Prevention & Security
Security trumps every other factor when selecting a payment gateway for your WooCommerce store. If your gateway isn’t secure, it’s a ticking time bomb for both you and your customers.Data breaches not only ruin your brand reputation, they’re also costly. The global average cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.9 million, a 10% increase from the previous year.Without a secure payment gateway, your store is more prone to a data breach. Look for a solution with PCI DSS and other standards for security and customer data management. - Payout Times
How quickly do you get your funds? Stripe, PayPal, and WooCommerce Payments typically take one to three days to settle payments. Delayed payouts can affect your cash flow, so check with the payment provider about the frequency and conditions related to payouts.
Some of The Best WooCommerce Payment Gateways
Now that you know what to look for when selecting a payment gateway for a WooCommerce store, let’s take a quick look at some of the best options out there.
- WooPayments
WooPayments is a built-in processor that stores can use to accept payments. It also lets you monitor charges, handle disputes, and keep tabs on recurring revenue right on your store’s dashboard.Pros
- Easy to set up
- Supports recurring payments
- No monthly or annual fees
- Available in over 100 countries
Cons
- Lacks the ability to import historical data from other payment gateways
- May need additional plugins for customization
- Stripe
Stripe is easy to use, developer-friendly, and has strong API support. It’s arguably one of the best payment gateways for WooCommerce.For one, it lets you embed payment forms directly in your store. Secondly, with Stripe, you can accept debit and credit cards in over 130 currencies and from virtually every country.Getting Stripe integrated into your store is straightforward if you qualify as a merchant. All you need to do is install the Stripe Plugin and follow the setup instructions.Stripe’s key features include:- Customizable design
- Embedded checkout
- Reporting & analytics
- Multi-currency support
- POS integration
- Digital wallet integration
- Mobile payments
Pros
- Good reputation for customer support
- Developer-friendly documentation and features
- Reasonable transaction fees, compared to the industry standard
Cons
- Can be complex for beginners
- Charges per transaction based on location, type, and currency
- The minimal cost is 2.9% + 30¢ for domestic cards and wallets
- PayPal Pro
PayPal Pro is the advanced payment processing service from PayPal, which can be easily integrated into your WooCommerce store. You can use the WooCommerce Plugin and your PayPal account to start accepting payments.Pros
- Globally accepted payment method
- Supports a wide range of currencies
- Comes with PayPal Pay Later option
- Supports direct credit and debit card payments
Cons
- Charges a percentage of each transaction
- Redirects users off-site (unless using PayPal Pro)
- Not ideal for subscription-based services unless using PayPal Pro
- Authorize.net
Authorize.net is another popular WooCommerce payment gateway. It’s a subsidiary of Visa Inc., the payments processing giant. You can download theextensionand integrate it into your store, but it requires an annual payment of $79.Pros
- Easy to set up
- High level of security
- Supports automatic subscriptions or refunds
Cons
- Only available to stores based in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Europe, and Australia
- Not as beginner-friendly; requires more setup and possibly working with a merchant account provider
- May involve setup fees depending on the provider
- Amazon Pay
Amazon Pay is the payment gateway provided by the leading e-commerce company Amazon. It’s a fast, secure, and familiar way to attract and convert existing Amazon users from across the world. This is a big advantage considering Amazon has tens of millions of customers. You can use the plugin to integrate this gateway into your store.Pros
- Supports multiple currencies and is available in over 170 countries
- Seamless checkout, as customers already have an Amazon account
- No monthly fees or setup charges
- Amazon brand recognition encourages better trust
- Reduces cart abandonment
Cons
- Amazon itself may be a rival to your online store
- Customers need an Amazon account to make a payment
- You can’t customize the Amazon Pay button much
- Doesn’t natively support WooCommerce Subscriptions without workarounds
- Apple Pay
Apple Pay is a mobile wallet service that lets customers in supported regions pay quickly using their iPhones or Apple devices. WooCommerce can connect with Apple Pay through compatible gateways like Stripe,Square, and other extensions. It’s automatically enabled in WooPayments.Pros
- Apple doesn’t charge any additional fees
- It’s great for quick, mobile-friendly payments
- Apple’s security is well-known and trusted
Cons
- Limited to Apple device users
- Limited country support
- Braintree (Now PayPal Enterprise Payments)
Braintree was founded in 2007, and now it’s rebranded as PayPal Enterprise Payments, after being acquired by PayPal. It supports several payment options in WooCommerce and other online stores.Pros
- Validated Level 1 PCI DSS-compliant solution
- Supports multiple currencies and countries
- Compatible with digital wallets (PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Flexible customization options
Cons
- Setup may require more technical skills
- Longer approval process for some accounts
- Skrill
Skrill is a digital wallet and online payment gateway widely used in Europe and emerging markets. It enables customers to pay using their Skrill account balance, debit/credit cards, or local payment methods. You can integrate Skrill to offer secure and global payment options with fraud protection.Pros
- Offers low-cost transactions in some regions compared to PayPal
- Easy digital wallet transfers
- Charges only 2.5% + $0.29 per transaction for credit cards/debit cards
Cons
- Not as widely popular as PayPal
- Customer support can be slow
- Verifone (formerly 2Checkout)
Verifone, previously called 2Checkout, is a lesser-known but solid WooCommerce payment option. It supports multiple currencies and payment methods and charges the same per-transaction fee worldwide.Pros
- Charges the same transaction fee worldwide
- No setup fees
- Accepts payments in 200+ countries and over 100 currencies
- Supports recurring billing
Cons
- 3.5% + $0.35 per successful sale, which could be higher than options like Skrill
- Payout times can be longer than some gateways
- Square
Square is an independent payments processor owned by Block, Inc. You can use it to accept payments on your WooCommerce store without any annual payment required. Square charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.Pros
- One-click checkout
- Fast deposits
- No additional setup or monthly fees
Cons
- Not available in all countries
- High fees for large businesses
- Weak customer support
The best WooCommerce Payment Gateways Offer Security
Security is the first and foremost concern for store owners and customers, and the best WooCommerce payment gateways never compromise on this.
Typically, these payment systems rely on three security measures:
- PCI Compliance
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard is a mandatory compliance for all payment gateways as they handle sensitive information. This compliance protects your customers from theft and your store from potential data breaches. - SSL encryption
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption protects data transmitted during checkout. It’s one of the standard security measures all WooCommerce stores need. SSL creates a secure link between your store and customers, making it hard for hackers to read any data sent during checkout - Tokenization
Tokenization is another security measure that converts sensitive data like credit card numbers into unique tokens during the transaction. This adds another layer of security, preventing your WooCommerce store from fraud or data breaches.
Additionally, partnering with a robust managed hosting provider like Cloudways adds more security to your website. They typically offer automated backups, firewall protection, and regular security patching, which keeps your store safe from any threats.
A Quick Comparison of Stripe, Square, and WooPayments
All these WooCommerce payment gateways are popular, but nothing beats the top-three choices, including Stripe, Square, and WooPayments. Here’s a quick tabular comparison to help you see which one is more suited for your store.
| Feature | Stripe | Square | WooPayments |
| Available | Worldwide | Mainly the US, UK, Canada, and Australia | Currently 38 countries |
| Setup | Free | Free | Free |
| Transaction Fees | ~2.9% + $0.30 | ~2.9% + $0.30 | ~2.9% + $0.30 |
| Digital Wallets | Yes (Apple Pay, Google Pay) | Yes (Apple Pay, Google Pay) | Yes (Apple Pay, Google Pay) |
| Recurring Payments | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WooCommerce Integration | Direct plugin | Third-party Extension | Built-in |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes | No |
| Payout Time | 2–7 days | 1–2 days | 2–7 days |
| Best For | Online stores, global | Storefronts, local | Beginners |
How to Set Up Payment Gateways in WooCommerce
Setting up your WooCommerce payment gateway is easy enough.
The process typically goes like this:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Click WooCommerce → Settings → Payments
- Select the gateway you want to integrate
- Click ‘Manage’ or ‘Set up’
- Enter your account details and follow the onscreen instructions
- Add API keys or credentials from your payment provider
- Test the WooCommerce payment plugin before going live
- Switch to live mode after successful testing
We’ve covered this process in detail already in one of our posts. Usually, Stripe, PayPal, Square, and WooPayments are the most popular choices. These gateways are easy to integrate into your store. However, you should work with a WooCommerce-certified developer to be on the safer side, especially if you lack technical skills.
Choose the Best WooCommerce Payment Gateway for Your Store
The best WooCommerce payment gateway doesn’t need to be a popular one. It should fit your requirements for transaction fees, customization, security, and scaling. It must also be something your target audience feels comfortable using. Keep these factors in mind, and it won’t be hard to find the right fit for your store.
As far as integration is concerned, work with WooCommerce specialists like CoSpark. Our team can help you build a fully customized store from scratch or migrate an existing one to WooCommerce from another platform. Reach out to see how we can help.
FAQs
Which payment gateway is best for WooCommerce?
It depends on your requirements and budget. While Stripe is well-known for its flexibility and developer-friendly API, PayPal is more widely accepted for international payments. Think about transaction fees, country support, payment methods, and security when deciding.
Does WooCommerce have its own payment gateway?
Yes, it’s called WooPayments, and it’s one of the best options for beginners. If you’re store is new and local, you can go ahead with this gateway.
How do I set up payment gateways in WooCommerce?
The setup is more or less the same. You need to find the appropriate plugin, fill out the details, test, and go live. For details, you can reach out to our experts.
Is WooPayments better than Stripe?
WooPayments is easy for beginners and works right in your dashboard. Stripe, on the other hand, offers more advanced features. Which is better depends on your goals.
What is cheaper? Stripe or Square?
Both gateways charge 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for standard cards. However, you might want to look into add-ons like chargebacks and currency conversions, to see which one is cheaper.
