Roqqett Blog

June 17, 2024
Author: Patrick McDill

Top 10 Payment Gateway Providers You Should Know About

Discover the top 10 payment gateway providers for your e-commerce business. Secure and streamline your transactions!

Quick Summary

  • Roqqett is fast, less expensive and easy to integrate
  • Stripe is known for its speedy checkout process, making it ideal for businesses looking to enhance the customer experience.
  • PayPal is a well-established provider that offers robust security features, widely trusted by consumers globally.
  • Shopify is best suited for businesses already using Shopify for their online stores, providing seamless integration.
  • Adyen is a top choice for multinational companies due to its extensive global reach and multi-currency support.
  • Braintree stands out for businesses selling luxury items, offering tailored solutions and premium features.

shopper

With the rise of e-commerce, business owners quickly realized the need for service providers to make online purchases more streamlined and secure. Because online retailers don’t have the ability to physically swipe a credit card or debit card, they run much more risk for fraud and other payment issues. These top ten payment gateway providers only begin to scratch the surface of available service providers out there. However, it’s a great place for business owners to start when looking for a payment gateway provider to utilize for their e-commerce business. Regardless of which option you go with, you should always work with a third-party company to ensure you’re not overpaying for any of your payment processing services. Schedule a free consultation with one of our merchant account experts today!

1. Stripe

Stripe is one of the top 10 payment gateway providers for seamless online transactions. Trusted by over 3.1 million websites worldwide, Stripe's payment system is renowned for its reliability and efficiency. Its headquarters are in California, United States, with an additional office in Dublin, Ireland. Millions of customers around the world use Stripe because it has one of the largest sets of tools available to carry out payment processing and data analysis.

Stripe’s optimised checkout flow focuses on the user experience to limit sales friction. Its checkout options are customisable and allow you to take payments from an extensive range of methods and currencies.

Key Features

  • Accept payments from all major card issuers
  • Accept payment in 135+ currencies
  • Extensive wallet payment support
  • Extensive local payments support
  • Fully customisable checkout experience
  • Build your own checkout from scratch using Stripe.js
  • Advanced security features
  • Financial reports
  • Extensive integration with third-party platforms

Pricing

Why Choose Stripe?

Stripe offers a range of APIs, giving you complete control and easy integration into your online store. This flexibility, combined with its extensive support for local payments, makes it a top choice for businesses looking to streamline their payment processes.

2. PayPal

Most people are familiar with PayPal. It’s one of the largest online payment platforms in the world. So it’s no surprise that they’ve developed Payflow, a payment gateway for accepting money online. They offer payment gateway services at a single low rate with no cancellation fees, so vendors won’t get locked into a contract that may not serve them down the line.

Key Features

One substantial advantage of PayPal is that users can accept hundreds of different currencies, including cryptocurrencies. In addition, the system is easy to use for both buyers and sellers. It can be integrated with nearly every online shop and payment processor.

Pros and Cons

Reasons to Buy

  • Easy to set up and use
  • Many buyers have PayPal accounts
  • Customization options

Reasons to Avoid

  • You'll need a PayPal account
  • You may need to talk to sales team
  • Relatively high transaction rate at 2.99% (+flat fee)
  • Phone/chat support

Global Reach

PayPal is available in over 200 countries/regions and supports 25 currencies, meaning that it’s a truly global option for businesses looking for an international payment gateway provider.

PayPal is one of the most widely used online payment platforms. Founded in 1998 as Cofinity, it lets you make and receive payments all over the world.

3. Shopify

Shopify is the go-to platform for starting, running, and expanding your online business. With around 800,000 online stores worldwide and offices across the globe, Shopify has facilitated over $63 billion in sales. Shopify makes it easy to launch and manage your online store while also providing tools for customer support and integration with additional channels like Amazon and eBay.

Pricing

Shopify offers several pricing plans to suit different business needs:

They also offer a “Starter” plan at £5/month which lets you sell through social media and messaging apps, or a simple online store.

Strengths

  • Integration with Shopify’s eCommerce storefront platform
  • Flat-rate pricing makes costs predictable
  • No third-party transaction fees for Shopify merchants

Weaknesses

  • High transaction fees
  • Some small businesses report accounts have been frozen and funds withheld
  • Additional apps required for full Shopify store functionality at extra cost
Shopify Payments is an excellent option if you plan to set up a Shopify store. As soon as you create a Shopify store, you’re already set up to accept payments. They use Stripe technology, but it’s all integrated into Shopify’s dashboard under Shopify’s name, so it’s more merchant-friendly.

4. Adyen

Adyen is quickly making a name for itself as one of the most significant payment gateway providers in the world. With regional headquarters in California, it’s available not only in Europe and the US but also LATAM, APAC, and Africa. One thing that attracts business owners is the no setup or monthly fees, making it one of the most affordable options. Still, they offer valuable services like customer support, sales data reporting, and AI-based fraud protection.

Global Reach

Adyen offers a global payment processing solution with coverage for over 30 different currencies from all around the world. This makes it a great option for businesses looking to expand into new regions and territories. You can use Adyen to take a broad range of payment methods, from card payments to Apple Pay in over 150 currencies.

Advanced Features

Adyen provides advanced features that are best suited to large businesses. The platform allows you to combine payment processing from a range of payment methods with useful data analytics. However, Adyen’s pricing structure is relatively complex as it depends on the payment method.

Downsides

  • Designed for bigger merchants since there is a minimum invoice amount of €100 ($120).
  • Pricing for European fees is given in Euros, although you can accept GBP.
  • Typically settles funds to your bank account twice a week, which is slower than some other services.
Adyen is one of the top payment gateway providers: scalable, global, supports 250+ methods. Consider for complex payment needs.

5. Braintree

Although owned by PayPal, Braintree is a completely different provider. Braintree allows businesses to accept payments in more than a hundred currencies while offering valuable features such as 24/7 customer service and outstanding fraud detection. Braintree is trusted by big brands like Uber, Airbnb, and Skyscanner. They heavily promote their conversion-boosting UX and their fraud prevention systems, making it a particularly great offering for businesses selling high-value goods and services.

Braintree provides individual merchant accounts that enable you to process transactions. With over 45 countries/regions covered, it can be an excellent option for companies in the market for an international payment gateway. Braintree can seamlessly integrate with many big hitters in the e-commerce industry, such as NetSuite and Bolt. With discounts for rates with sales over $80,000, it’s a great payment gateway provider for larger businesses.

Braintree has a simple pricing structure with no hidden fees. The gateway also offers a free trial so you can test it out before committing to a plan. It does not offer instant payouts, which means you may have to wait a few days to access your funds. Its checkout is designed to be simple and secure with fewer clicks and a streamlined user experience (UX). In turn, this helps reduce cart abandonment and encourage repeat business.

Braintree is a top choice for businesses looking for a reliable and feature-rich payment gateway provider.

6. Revolut

Revolut is a neobank that offers a variety of solutions for businesses to take payments both in-person and online. Even though Revolut is not a bank, it provides some everyday banking services, including setting up direct debits, making payments, and bank transfers. If you already bank with Revolut, their payment gateway is a great option.

Payment Methods

With Revolut, your customers can pay in 25+ currencies using a variety of payment methods, including:

  • Credit/debit cards
  • Digital wallets
  • Revolut Pay (for Revolut account holders)
  • Tap to Pay on iPhone
  • QR code
  • Payment links

These varied options are great for modern consumers who want more flexibility.

Pricing

Revolut’s pricing is easy to find on their site and for good reason - they offer great rates! Below is a summary of their fees for taking payments online:

Key Features

  • Fast payment processing with online and in-person payment systems
  • Next-day settlement
  • No monthly fee, transaction fees from 0.8% + £0.02
Revolut’s payment gateway is best suited for existing Revolut business customers and businesses who regularly take low-value transactions.

7. GoCardless

GoCardless is one of the more unique options on the list because they don’t process card payments - they facilitate direct bank payments. Customers click on a link you send them, enter personal details, are directed to their banking app, and approve the transaction through there. It’s smooth, simple, and free of card processing fees.

Why GoCardless?

  • Subscription payments: Recurring payments built for subscriptions.
  • Invoice payments: Collect and reconcile invoice payments automatically.
  • Charities: Optimise supporter conversion and collect donations.
  • Lending: Make faster, lower-risk decisions on loans.
  • Business Finance: Offer the best business finance product.
GoCardless simplifies payment processes by specialising in Direct Debit services, making it easy for businesses to handle recurring payments. It caters to both small ventures and large corporations, offering automation for payment collection and reconciliation.

Pricing

Contact Information

  • Sales: +44 20 4579 7398
  • Support: +44 20 8338 9540

Regulatory Information

GoCardless Ltd. is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2017, registration number 597190, for the provision of payment services. GoCardless SAS, an affiliate of GoCardless Ltd., is authorised by the ACPR (French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority), Bank Code (CIB) 17118, for the provision of payment services.

8. Square

Square is a payment facilitator that offers online payments without the need for a dedicated merchant account. The standard online payment service is relatively basic, and you will need to pay £9 per month for more features most businesses will require, such as a custom domain and no Square ads. Their online payment service syncs effortlessly with its card readers and software platforms, as well as other POS systems, making it simple to accept virtually any payment method.

Key Features

What sets Square apart from most competitors is its extra features. Users can take advantage of customer relationship tools to build customer loyalty and employee management tools that help to track hours worked. It also offers inventory management solutions and advanced reporting to help you best manage your business.

Payment Methods

Square doesn’t offer as many payment methods as some providers on this list, but this isn’t necessarily a problem depending on your business. They take VISA, Mastercard, AMEX, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. You can even take payments in your app if you have one, not just on your website.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • No monthly fee
  • Clear per-transaction pricing
  • Affordable hardware
  • Buy now, pay later options for both in-person and online transactions
  • Numerous integrations and add-ons available

Cons:

  • Customer loyalty program costs extra
  • No phone support
  • Limited customer support hours
Square is best for businesses that want to take advantage of customer loyalty tools, which help create repeat business.

9. Worldpay

Worldpay is an all-in-one payment processor that helps you process credit card payments directly from your app or website. It’s one of the most widely used international payment gateways in the UK and offers support for over 40 countries and 120 currencies, which makes it easy to accept payments from customers located all over the globe.

Worldpay offers intelligent payment processing solutions tailored for small businesses and merchants. Whether you're a small-scale operation or a high-volume retailer, Worldpay provides strategic partnerships and online payment systems to businesses worldwide. Their standard online payment gateway comes at a monthly subscription fee of 19 euros, which includes 350 transactions. Additionally, there are no extra charges for setup. Simplify your payment process and grow your business with Worldpay!

Worldpay has been part of Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) Global since 2019 and is used by over 250,000 UK small and medium enterprises.

Weaknesses

  • High transaction fees compared to some other providers.
  • Some small businesses report accounts have been frozen and funds withheld.
  • Lacks some features, like subscription tools.

Pricing

Our Rating

3.75/5

Worldpay is one of the most widely used payment gateways on the planet. They are a trusted brand with one of the most flexible offerings available.

10. Opayo

Opayo, formerly known as Sage Pay, is one of the UK’s most trusted and widely used payment service providers. The company was acquired in 2020 by Elavon, a payment processor and subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp. Opayo prioritises data security, encrypting all transaction information, storing data on highly secure systems and transmitting data to the banking network via private links. The platform can be used for merchants and customers, but it is mainly used by merchants, particularly for online payments.

Pricing

Opayo offers three tiers of service - Flex, Plus, and Corporate - depending on your business requirements. Pricing ranges from £0-25 per month, with transaction fees from 0.99-1.99% and a gateway click-fee of 0-12p. However, Opayo does not offer pricing transparency on its website, making it difficult to compare with other providers.

Features

Opayo provides a comprehensive suite of features:

  • Fast and secure online payments
  • Accept card payments in-store using standalone and integrated card terminals
  • Process phone and mail orders with its web-based virtual terminal
  • Cloud-based analytics portal with insights into your customer data

Customer Support

Opayo offers free 24/7 UK-based customer service over the phone, via email, and through social media. This is fantastic for offering customers an additional way to pay with pay by phone and allows for real-time reporting on each transaction made in the virtual terminal.

Opayo is especially invaluable for efficiency purposes, not least because it means you can see your costs and income in real-time.

Opayo offers a seamless and secure payment solution for businesses of all sizes. With advanced fraud protection and easy integration, Opayo ensures your transactions are safe and efficient. Ready to take your business to the next level?

Conclusion

These top ten payment gateway providers only begin to scratch the surface of available service providers out there. However, it’s a great place for business owners to start when looking for a payment gateway provider to utilize for their e-commerce business.

Regardless of which option you go with, you should always work with a third-party company to ensure you’re not overpaying for any of your payment processing services.

Schedule a free consultation with one of our merchant account experts today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is a technology that captures and transfers payment data from the customer to the acquirer. It acts as an interface between a merchant's website and the payment processing bank.

Why do I need a payment gateway for my e-commerce business?

A payment gateway is essential for processing online transactions securely and efficiently. It ensures that customer payment information is encrypted and helps prevent fraud.

Are there any hidden fees with payment gateways?

While many payment gateways have transparent pricing, some may have hidden fees such as setup fees, monthly fees, or transaction fees. It's important to review the pricing details carefully before choosing a provider.

How do I choose the right payment gateway for my business?

Consider factors like transaction fees, security features, ease of integration, customer support, and the types of payment methods supported. It's also helpful to read reviews and consult with experts.

Can I use multiple payment gateways for my online store?

Yes, many businesses use multiple payment gateways to provide customers with a variety of payment options and to ensure redundancy in case one gateway experiences issues.

Is it safe to use payment gateways?

Reputable payment gateways use advanced encryption and security protocols to protect sensitive payment information. Always choose a gateway that complies with industry standards like PCI-DSS.

Explore the Roqqett Range

Roqqett
Pay

Roqqett Mercury

Boost revenue and get instant settlements before shipping any orders with Roqqett Pay.

Roqqett
Checkout

Roqqett Gemini

Boost loyalty and sales with a complete express checkout journey for your customers.

Get Roqqett

Apple AppStore CTA
Google Play Store CTA

Friction-free and Roqqett fast payments

Faster payments - increase revenue

Lower transaction fees - keep more of the money you make

Reduced fraud  - no card fraud and no chargebacks

Easier reconciliation

All with Instant Gross Settlement