With the rise of online payment methods, companies came up with more advanced and efficient payment gateways, making the entire process of money transactions smoother.
Today, there isn’t a single business – either POS and eCommerce, that doesn’t accept online payments from their customers. Payment gateways have not only changed the ways of online marketing but also became a fruitful solution for most of the POS retailers.
A payment gateway is an e-commerce service that authorizes payments for e-businesses and online retailers. It is kind of like the middleman between your customer and you or your merchant account. It is the equivalent of a physical POS (point-of-sale) terminal located in most retail outlets. They normally have a merchant login where you can manage your account, run reports, submit refunds, and even send invoices.
How does a Payment Gateway work?
A payment gateway validates an online money transaction by transferring information between a payment portal (including an eWallet app, or a payment website) and the frontend payment processor of an acquiring bank.
A payment gateway aims at securing all the sensitive information of the consumer by encrypting data (via SSL Encryption) throughout the entire process. The work procedures of a payment gateway are explained through the following simple steps –
Step 1: The customer places an order and clicks the Submit/Checkout button.
Step 2: The eCommerce store then redirects the customer to the payment gateway, wherein he/she will have to enter his/her details about the desired payment option, such as card number, bank, or other information. Next, the customer is taken to the 3D secure page, where he/she will be asked to authorize their transaction.
Step 3: After the payment is approved, the bank checks whether there is a sufficient balance in the customer’s account.
Step 4: The merchant receives a message from the payment gateway accordingly. If the bank sends a ‘No’ reply, an error message is sent to the customer. If the response from the bank portal came in as a ‘Yes’, then the merchant seeks to receive the transaction amount from the bank.
Step 5: The bank then settles the money with the payment gateway, which further ends it with the merchant.
What to consider when choosing a Payment Gateway?
Choosing the right payment gateway for your business is essential to increase your brand loyalty and hence, your customer base. The more trustworthy and transparent your payment procedures will be, the lesser will be the cart abandonment numbers. Here are some tips to help you select the best on –
- Security: Ensure that your payment gateway has a minimum of 3D security protocols and complies with the PCI DSS (PCI Data Security Standard).
- Smooth website integration: Make sure that your payment gateway integrates with your website smoothly. This would also ensure a seamless payment process throughout.
- Payout time: Your payment gateway must not take too much time to settle the transaction money with the bank.
- Multicurrency support: If you are managing customers across the globe, then having multiple currency payment gateways is a must!
- 24/7 customer support: Issues or site breakdowns are common, but you need to solve them as soon as possible to avoid any loss of transactions or customer dissatisfaction. With a 24/7 customer support system, you reach out to them as and when required.
- Supported business models: Make sure your business model meets the standards followed by the payment gateway. There are two kinds of payment gateways – purely eCommerce and high-risk processors. Some high-risk industries include gambling, traveling, adult entertainment, etc.
Here is the payment gateway list of the top 25 most widely used and trustworthy payment gateway providers.
PayPal
PayPal is operational across 200 markets on a global scale, founded in 1998, PayPal Holdings, Inc. is an American company. At present, it has over 237 million account holders. One can perform transactions using more than 100 currencies, withdraw funds in 56 currencies and hold balances in 25. The cost of each payment received through PayPal is 2.9% plus US$0.30 per transaction.
Paypal Supported Countries
- UK
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Norway
- Italy
- USA
- Canada
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Mexico
Amazon Pay
Amazon Pay is an Amazon-owned online payment processing service that was launched in 2007 in Washington, United States. As of now, it extends its services across eight countries. Amazon Pay is designed exclusively for online retailers, thus ensuring a smooth online marketing experience for their buyers. The transaction cost of Amazon Pay are: Online (Domestic): 2.9% + $0.30 and Online (Foreign Currency): 3.9% + $0.30.
AmazonPay Supported Countries
- Austria
- Belgium
- Spain
- Germany
- France
- Japan
- UK
- USA
- Italy
- Netherlands
Adyen
Adyen is a well-known, open-source online payment service provider that meets the highest security standards. It is a Dutch payment company in the Netherlands. With Ayden, you can accept payments from anywhere around the world, and it comes with popular payment methods. Moreover, it also offers an in-depth, insightful analysis of your data. All transactions are charged interchange plus a $0.12 processing fee.
Adyen Supported Countries
- Austria
- Australia
- Belgium
- Canada
- Netherlands
- Finland
Payfast
Payfast is an online payment processing company located in Cape Town, South Africa. They are currently available only for businesses and websites in South Africa. Payfast has over 30,000 South African receiving accounts. Payment options include Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin and Instant EFT bank transfers. An instant EFT costs 2.0% and credit & cheque cards payment cost 3.5% plus 2.0% per transaction.
Payflow
PayFlow is a PayPal payment gateway designed to integrate seamlessly with eCommerce shopping carts and checkouts. It allows online merchants to accept PayPal and PayPal credit for their customers without disrupting the user experience. There are no monthly fees, and PayFlow charges $0.10 per transaction. Payflow costs just $0.10 per transaction.
PayFlow Supported Countries
- US
- Canada
- Australia
- Newzealand
- UK
Skrill
Skrill is a UK-based payment solution that is quite profitable and is designed for both individuals and businesses. Using Skrill, you can accept payments from around the world. Skrill has a dedicated mobile application, making transitions easier. Skrill to Skrill transaction fee for all customers is 2.99% per transaction and the regular Skrill fee for sending money is 1.45%.
Skrill Supported Countries
- Austria
- Australia
- Finland
- Germany
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Malaysia
- Belgium
Stripe
Stripe was initially designed as a solution to recurring billing, Stripe also processes online money transitions. It comes with a group of open API for easy integration with your business infrastructure. Payment Gateway Stripe is using in most of the eCommerce business. It is an American financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States. Stripe charges 2.9% plus $0.30 per successful card charge online.
Stripe Supported Countries
- Australia
- Austria
- Brazil
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- Germany
- Ireland
- Newzealand
- Singapore
- UK
- USA
PayU
PayU is a payment processing service that offers an integrated solution, allowing users to receive local payments. A global e-commerce merchant can accept international payments using PayU. It provides 250+ local payment methods and has multicurrency support. It is headquartered in Hoofddorp, Netherlands. PayU service fee is 2% + GST on every transaction for various modes of payments.
PayU Supported Countries
- Colombia
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Chile
- Peru
- Panama
WorldNet
WorldNet is based in Dublin, Ireland that produces EMV enabled products and provides Omni-channel payment processing. They are one of the first European companies to develop mobile payment apps that allow credit and debit card payments on smartphones and tablets.
2CheckOut
2CheckOut is a fully-featured US-based payment gateway that enables eCommerce merchants to accept online payments from buyers across the globe. With this payment solution, you won’t need to worry about payment delays or security issues. It is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. 2Checkout offers three pricing rates: 2Sell – 3.5% + 30¢ per successful sale, 2Subscribe – 4.5% + 40¢ per successful sale and 2Monetize – 6.0% + 50¢ per successful sale
2Checkout Supported Countries
- China
- Indonesia
- USA
- Canada
- Panama
- France
- Ireland
- Australia
Authorize.Net
Authorize.Net offers a flexible payment solution and is most suitable for retailers as it works in sync with their order management practices. For check payments, this PG provides a fully-integrated and electronic check payment solution. Authorize.net is a United States-based payment gateway service provider, that allows merchants to accept credit card and electronic check payments. Authorize.net charges users 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction.
Authorize.net Supported Countries
- Canada
- Europe
- Australia
- US
- UK
PSiGate
PSiGate provides the essential tools to facilitate the processing of secure electronic transactions and makes your e-commerce business accessible to clients worldwide. PSiGate can provide merchant accounts and gateway services for North American clients. In addition, they provide several free tools that are part of each account. PSiGate is a full-service Canadian provider of electronic payment processing services. PSiGate price plans start at $19.95 per month.
PSiGate Supported Countries
- Europe
- Canada
Payza
Payza is one of the simplest and fastest online payment solutions in the world and is designed both for professional and private usage. At present, Payza even accepts a variety of cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin and Altcoin. It is an online payment platform headquartered in the UK. Payza charges users 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction.
Payza Supported Countries
- UK
- Newyork
- Sweden
SecurionPay
If you are looking forward to improving your conversations and sales, SecurionPay would be the recommended payment solution for your business. It comes with simple payment forms and provides an option to remember the details of the user and his/her card details for quicker payment processes. SecurionPay is an online and mobile-based payment gateway in Switzerland. SecurionPay pricing starts at $0.25 as a one-time payment.
SecurionPay Supported Countries
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Portugal
- Austria
- France
- Germany
- Netherland
- Switzerland
- UK
WePay
WePay is a US-based payment gateway used by companies like Meetup, Freshbooks, GoFundMe, and Constant Contact. The company was created primarily with developers of large scale platforms like crowdfunding businesses. They also help create a seamless and easy to use checkout experience for sites that are more complex than traditional online stores. WePay charges 2.9% + $0.30 for each transaction.
WePay Supported Countries
- US
- UK
- Australia
- United Arab Emirates
BlueSnap
BlueSnap enables smooth and easy payments for eCommerce stores, websites, and mobile development and has a dedicated payment processor designed for retailers and merchants. This US-based online money transfer solution supports 100 currencies, 110 payment types, and 29 different languages. BlueSnap Charges a flat processing rate of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for US merchants.
BlueSnap Supported Countries
- US
- Canada
- France
- Ireland
- Germany
- Argentina
- Mexico
- Poland
- UK
Ingenico
Ingenico helps business owners accept payments online, on mobile devices, over the phone, and by mail. Ingenico is a France-based company. Over 50,000 merchants use Ingenico and the company has coverage in 120 countries around the world. Accepts credit and debit cards from around the world, as well as PayPal, Bitcoin, and Open Invoice.
Ingenico Supported Countries
- Belgium
- Germany
- Austria
- France
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
BitPay
Bitpay is a bitcoin payment service provider headquartered in Atlanta, United States. With BitPay, you can accept Bitcoin for your online transactions and is trusted by hundreds of businesses worldwide, including Microsoft, Shopify, Neteller, and more. It offers a whole new online payment solution, and with its global presence, you can instantly reach new markets. BitPay charges a 1% processing fee to BitPay merchants.
Bitpay Supported Countries
- Argentina
- Belgium
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Finland
- Iceland
- Mexico
- Philippines
- UK
- US
LinkPoint
LinkPoint will enable you to accept credit cards in real-time on your website. They provide a cheap and simple solution for accepting credit cards for phone and mail orders. The LinkPoint gateway supports most major shopping cart software. In case you are using one of these shopping cart applications, most of the work has already been done for you.
SagePay
SagePay offers a unique face-to-face payment solution, including mobile, contactless, or wireless. Apart from payment tools, this UK-based company also assists in invoice payments and provides easy-to-use phone payment tools. Sagepay transactions are charged at 1.99% for credit cards and 40p for debit.
SagePay Supported Countries
- UK
- Ireland
Braintree
Braintree offers easy and seamless integration solutions and has a worldwide presence across 40 countries. Braintree provides businesses with the ability to accept payments online, based in Chicago. It supports 130+ currencies, and users can enjoy benefits like fraud protection and instant settlements. Braintree charges a standard 2.9% + $0.30 fee for every transaction.
Braintree Supported Countries
- US
- Belgium
- France
- Ireland
- Malaysia
- Canada
- Spain
- UK
- Australia
- NewZealand
Worldpay
WorldPay is ideal for U.K. businesses and is part of the Royal Bank of Scotland. It’s an excellent payment processor and the fees you paid in a startup can be quickly recovered. As a reputable name in online payment processing, your customers would feel comfortable using Worldpay. Worldpay pricing starts at $9.95 per month.
Worldpay Supported Countries
- US
- Spain
- Hongkong
- Switzerland
- UK
- Australia
- Newzealand
- Turkey
- Canada
CardinalCommerce
Using CardinalCommerce, eCommerce businesses, and financial institutions can exercise complete control over their customer authentication strategies. This helps to enhance the customer experience and boost sales. Also known as Universal Wallet, CardinalCommerce offers access to numerous digital wallets through a single integration, including Amazon Payments, PayPal, Visa Checkout, and MasterCard MasterPass. CardinalCommerce is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Visa and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
Omise
Omise is the best payment service provider across Asia. Omise is a payment gateway for Thailand, Japan, and Singapore; providing both online and offline payment solutions to merchants. They believe that online payment is fundamental for developing a successful business. The total fee for a transaction would be 39.06 THB (36.50 + 2.56).
Omise Supported Countries
- Japan
- Thailand
- Singapore
iPay88
iPay88 is an Internet Payment Switching Gateway through credit card, Internet Banking, (E-Wallet), developed by Mobile88.Com. iPay88 leading regional Payment Gateway Provider in South East Asia. The standard fee is RM954.
ipay88 Supported Countries
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Philippines
- Singapore
PayLeap
PayLeap simplifies the electronic payment process by combining payment systems into one platform. They offer a fast and reliable installation process in order to maximize the efficiency of your company. Merchants using PayLeap can process electronic payments in real-time in any method utilized by most businesses. PayLeap is a secure payment platform available for merchants from the US and Canada. The cost of PayLeap is $19.99 per month.
PayLeap Supported Countries
- US
DOKU
DOKU is a local electronic payment solution to offer new payment options to its customers. Customers will be able to choose to pay using the options; DOKU e-Wallet, Internet Banking, Bank Transfer, Convenience Stores. DOKU is Indonesia’s largest and fastest-growing provider of electronic payment and risk management.
Doku Supported Countries
- Japan
- Indonesia
Paymentwall
Paymentwall is available in over 200 countries and headquartered in California, US. It is used by 90,000 businesses from around the world and accepts more than 120 payment options in 75 different currencies. Shoppers can make payments on their desktop, mobile device, and Smart TV. Payment wall offers analytics, advanced reporting, and fraud prevention. The monthly service fee of Paymentwall is $100 charged for every business account.
Paymentwall Supported Countries
- US
- UK
- Australia
- China
- Brazil
- Russia
VTC Pay
VTC Pay provides online payment methods safe and convenient on the application of electronic wallets. The mission of VTC Pay is to develop cashless payment methods in Vietnam, to give an impulse to domestic eCommerce. VTC Pay Vietnam based online payment gateway.
VTC Pay Supported Countries
- Vietnam
ENETs
ENETs Debit is an Internet-based payment method that enables you to make a payment from your bank account using your PIN and ID. NETs group is a leading payments services group that enable digital payments for merchants and consumers. It is a Singapore based company.
ENETs Supported Countries
- Singapore
- China
Dragonpay
Dragonpay is an online payment option that provides greater security and convenience than traditional credit cards. Dragonpay is the Pioneer and Leader in Alternative Payments for the Philippine E-Commerce Market. It provides alternative online payment solutions to businesses of all sizes. Dragonpay charges 5% of the transaction amount.
Dragonpay Supported Countries
- Philippines
Wirecard
Wirecard has been a leader in outsourcing and white-labeled cashless payment solutions since 1999. Wirecard has its main headquarters located in Munich, Germany. They have over 22,000 customers and works with over 200 international payment networks.
Wirecard Supported Countries
- Germany
- Newzealand
- Australia
- South Africa
- Turkey
Allpago
Allpago is the new way of accepting payments in Latin America, providing all the relevant local payment methods in a single platform.
Allpago Supported Countries
- Argentina
- Colombia
- Mexico
- Brazil
- Uruguay
Braspag
Braspag is an e-commerce company that offers payment solutions that enable the possible conversion for customers. The company also develops solutions for anti-fraud, checkout, tokenization, hosted payment page, payment processing, and reconciliation. Braspag’s Pagador is a Brazilian first-rate payment gateway solution.
Xsolla
Xsolla is a payment processing company used primarily for the video game industry. Their headquarters are located in California, but they also have staff in Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv and Seoul.
Xsolla Supported Countries
- Russia
- US
MercadoPago
MercadoPago is the leading online payment solution in Latin America. MercadoPago is designed to facilitate transactions both on and off MercadoLibre’s marketplace by providing a mechanism that allows its users to securely, easily, and promptly send, receive, and finance payments online.
Mercadopago Supported Countries
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Mexico
- Peru
Banwire
Banwire is an Integral system of payments 100% Mexican, which allows e-commerce operations and mobile point of sale terminal at low cost and with cash payment options in various convenience stores.
BanWire Supported Countries
- Mexico
Square
Square, is Utah based company that was the first to turn cell phones and tablets into point of sale registers. The small square has a phone jack that plugs into iOS and Android devices and allows merchants to accept credit and debit card payments. Square’s processing fees are 2.65% per card-present transaction, 2.9% + 30 cents per paid Square Invoice.
Square Supported Countries
- US
- Canada
- Japan
- Australia
- UK
Moreover, you will need a credit card processor that will actually look after the transaction details. No worries, your bank will handle this or will recommend partner companies. They normally charge a fee which usually includes a setup fee, a monthly minimum, and then a percentage for each transaction. You will need a merchant account to take Visa, Mastercard, etc and a separate merchant account to take American Express.
Final Words
In a nutshell, in today’s world of online marketing, customers demand faster and more flexible online payment options. Also, your buyers must be able to pay you anytime and from anywhere and on any operating system or device. Moreover, one-click payments, cross-sales, and recurring payments are the recent trends in the online payment sector, which would facilitate faster transactions, and hence boost your conversions.
