The payment gateway is the part of your WooCommerce store that actually takes the money. Pick the wrong one and you can lose sales at checkout, pay more in fees than you need to, or find out it doesn’t work in your country.
This guide was first published in 2016, and the payments world has changed a lot since then. Some of the original options no longer exist in the same form. In this updated version I’ll compare the gateways that matter today, explain what the fees really mean, and give you a simple way to choose.
What is a payment gateway?
A payment gateway is a service that securely sends your customer’s payment details to the bank or card network, gets approval and moves the money to your account. In WooCommerce, each gateway is a plugin or extension that adds a payment option at checkout.
WooCommerce itself is free, but every gateway charges something, usually a percentage of each sale plus a small fixed fee.
Quick comparison
Fees below are typical published rates for US card payments and change often, so always check the provider’s own pricing page for your country before deciding.
| Gateway | Typical card fee (US) | Monthly fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| WooPayments | Around 2.9% + $0.30 | None | Most stores in supported countries; managed inside WooCommerce |
| Stripe | Around 2.9% + $0.30 | None | Flexible card and wallet payments, subscriptions, many countries |
| PayPal Payments | Around 2.99% + fixed fee | None | Customers who trust and already use PayPal; 200+ markets |
| Square | Around 2.9% + $0.30 | None on the free plan | Shops that also sell in person |
| Amazon Pay | Around 2.9% + $0.30 | Check current pricing | Letting Amazon customers pay with saved details |
| Authorize.net | Around 2.9% + $0.30 | About $25 | Businesses that want a traditional merchant gateway |
| Razorpay | Varies by method | Check current pricing | Stores selling in India (UPI, cards, netbanking, wallets) |
The best WooCommerce payment gateways
1. WooPayments
WooPayments is WooCommerce’s own payment solution. You set it up and manage payouts, refunds and disputes from your WordPress dashboard.
- Available in 38 countries and accepts payments in 135+ currencies
- Supports cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, local methods such as iDEAL and Bancontact, and buy now, pay later where available
- No setup or monthly fees; you pay per transaction
- Some features, such as WooPay express checkout, are US only
Best choice if your country is supported and you want everything in one place.
2. Stripe
Stripe is one of the most popular gateways worldwide. The free WooCommerce Stripe extension adds cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and many local payment methods.
- Works in dozens of countries
- Excellent for subscriptions and recurring payments
- Strong fraud tools (Stripe Radar)
Best for growing stores that want flexibility and plan to sell internationally.
3. PayPal Payments
The WooCommerce PayPal Payments plugin lets customers pay with their PayPal account, cards, and PayPal’s pay-later options in supported markets.
- Available in 200+ markets
- Many shoppers trust PayPal, which can help first-time buyers
- Watch the extra fees for international payments and currency conversion
I’d usually offer PayPal alongside a card gateway rather than on its own.
4. Square
Square is ideal if you also sell in person, because online and in-store sales and stock sync in one system.
- Available in a limited number of countries (including the US, Canada, the UK and Australia)
- No monthly fee on the free plan
5. Amazon Pay
Amazon Pay lets customers check out with the address and card already saved in their Amazon account, which can speed up checkout.
- Customers need an Amazon account
- Available in a limited set of countries
6. Authorize.net
Authorize.net (owned by Visa) is a long-standing gateway popular with US businesses that already have a merchant account.
- Monthly fee on top of transaction fees
- Mature fraud tools and eCheck support
7. Razorpay (India)
If you sell in India, Razorpay is a strong choice. Its official WooCommerce plugin supports UPI, cards, netbanking and wallets, which Indian shoppers expect. Razorpay’s documentation also lists Malaysia, Singapore and the United States for the integration.
What happened to the gateways in the old list?
If you read the 2016 version of this guide, a few names have changed:
- 2Checkout is now part of Verifone (sold as “2Checkout, now Verifone”).
- Google Wallet is no longer a merchant gateway for websites. Customers can still pay with Google Pay through gateways like WooPayments and Stripe.
- Several smaller plugins sold on marketplaces in 2016 are no longer actively promoted. Always check when a plugin was last updated before installing it.
How to choose the right gateway
- Check your country. Some gateways, such as WooPayments and Square, only work in certain countries.
- Check your customers’ favourite methods. UPI in India, iDEAL in the Netherlands, PayPal for many international buyers.
- Compare the full cost, not just the headline fee: international cards, currency conversion, chargebacks and monthly fees.
- Think about subscriptions if you sell memberships or recurring products. Stripe and WooPayments handle these well with WooCommerce Subscriptions.
- Offer two options. A card gateway plus PayPal or a local method covers most shoppers.
- Test checkout in test mode before going live, including on a phone.
Keep your checkout secure
- Use HTTPS on your whole site.
- Use gateways that keep card details off your server (all of the above do this).
- Keep WordPress, WooCommerce and payment plugins updated.
- Turn on two-factor login for your admin accounts.
My guide to improving your WordPress website security covers the essentials.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best payment gateway for WooCommerce? For most stores in supported countries, WooPayments or Stripe, plus PayPal as a second option.
Is WooCommerce payment processing free? WooCommerce is free, but every gateway charges transaction fees, and some charge monthly fees.
Can I use more than one payment gateway? Yes. WooCommerce lets you enable several, and customers choose at checkout.
Which payment gateway is best for WooCommerce in India? Razorpay is a popular choice because it supports UPI, cards, netbanking and wallets.
Related guides on WebTechHelp
- How to make your e-commerce website user-friendly
- 5 custom e-commerce solutions to attract customers
- Techniques to convince e-commerce visitors to buy
Sources
- WooCommerce: WooPayments
- Hostinger: Best WooCommerce payment gateways
- Razorpay docs: WooCommerce plugin
- Verifone: Digital commerce expanded (2Checkout)