The 7 Best Payment Gateway Providers in 2026

In short: A payment gateway is the service that securely passes card and wallet payments from your online store to the banks that approve them. The best payment gateway for you depends on where you sell, how your customers like to pay and the fees you can accept. Below we compare seven leading options for your ecommerce business in 2026.

Updated October 2026: We checked each provider's current fees on its own website, added an at-a-glance summary, a comparison table, a fee example and a section on PCI compliance, and noted that Worldpay is now part of Global Payments.

Which payment gateway is best, at a glance?

The best choice depends mostly on your platform and your markets. Use this quick guide, then read the detailed reviews below.

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is technology that moves payment details safely between your customer, your online store and the banks involved. It then tells your store whether the payment was approved or declined.

With a gateway, you can take payments online by credit and debit card, digital wallet and other electronic methods. Many providers now bundle the gateway, the payment processor and the merchant account into one service.

How does a payment gateway work?

A payment gateway encrypts the customer's payment details and routes them to the card network and the issuing bank for approval. The whole payments process usually takes a few seconds.

1. The customer pays. They enter their credit card information or choose a wallet at checkout.
2. The gateway encrypts the data. It sends the card data securely to the payment processor.
3. The processor contacts the card network. Visa or Mastercard, for example, passes the request to the customer's bank.
4. The issuing bank decides. The customer's bank checks funds and fraud signals, then approves or declines.
5. The result comes back. The gateway shows the customer a success or error message.
6. The money settles. Funds move to your merchant account, then to your business bank account on the provider's payout schedule.

What is the difference between a payment gateway, a payment processor and a merchant account?

The gateway collects and secures the payment data, the processor moves the transaction through the card networks, and the merchant account holds the funds before payout.

All-in-one providers such as Stripe, Square and PayPal cover all three roles. Enterprise providers such as Adyen and Worldpay also offer them together, with more custom pricing.

What is PCI compliance, and how does a payment gateway protect card data?

PCI compliance means meeting the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). It applies to any business that stores, processes or transmits cardholder data, whatever its size.

The standard is managed by the PCI Security Standards Council. American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard and Visa set up the Council.

A good payment gateway shrinks how much of that work falls on you. With a hosted payment page or embedded payment fields, credit card information goes straight to the provider. It never touches your own servers.

Stripe, for example, says that using its Checkout, Elements or mobile SDK qualifies a business for SAQ A, the lowest-burden self-assessment questionnaire. Stripe also says it is a PCI Level 1 Service Provider, but that using Stripe doesn't make you PCI compliant by default.

Simple steps that keep card data safe:

• Use hosted checkout or embedded fields so card numbers stay off your systems.
• Never collect card details by email, phone notes or spreadsheets.
• Complete the self-assessment questionnaire your provider or acquiring bank asks for.
• Turn on fraud tools such as 3-D Secure and risk scoring where your provider offers them.
• Limit staff access to your payment dashboard and use two-factor login.

How do you choose the right payment gateway?

Choose the payment gateway that fits your markets, your platform and your margins. Check these factors before you decide.

Security and compliance

Protecting your customers' payment details comes first. Choose a gateway that complies with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), and see the PCI compliance section above. The current version is PCI DSS 4.x, and its last new requirements became mandatory on March 31, 2025.

Easy checkout

A simple checkout reduces abandoned carts. Look for a gateway that fits smoothly into your website or app.

Payment methods

Customers like to pay in different ways. Make sure the gateway supports a range of payment methods, including cards, digital wallets and local payment methods in your markets.

Fees and pricing

Most gateways charge a percentage plus a fixed fee per transaction. Some add monthly fees or extra charges for international cards and currency conversion.

Integration

The gateway must work with your ecommerce platform, website or app. Check for ready-made plugins before you plan custom work.

Global reach

If you sell abroad, pick a gateway that takes several currencies and pays out in the currency of your bank account.

Customer support and scalability

Fast support helps you fix problems before they hurt sales. Your gateway should also handle more transactions as you grow.

Reporting and reputation

Good reports show how your customers pay. Read reviews from businesses like yours before you sign up.

How do the best payment gateways compare?

The table shows each provider's standard US online card fee as listed on its own website in October 2026. Rates differ by country, and larger businesses can often negotiate.

What are the best payment gateways for ecommerce?

Here are our seven picks for ecommerce businesses in 2026.

PayPal

PayPal is one of the best-known payment gateways. It lets businesses accept payments from customers around the world through a familiar checkout. You can also read The 7 Best Payment Gateways for Ecommerce Businesses.

In the US, PayPal Checkout costs 3.49% plus a $0.49 fixed fee. Standard card payments cost 2.99% plus a fixed fee, and advanced card payments cost 2.89% plus a fixed fee. International payments add 1.50%.

Pros:

• Customer trust: many shoppers already have a PayPal account.
• Easy integration: options range from simple buttons to full APIs.
• Several payment methods: PayPal balance, cards, Pay Later and Venmo in the US.

Cons:

• Fees: the wallet checkout rate is higher than many card-only rates.
• Account holds: PayPal can hold funds, which can hurt cash flow.
• Disputes: buyer protection claims can take time to resolve.

Stripe

Stripe is a popular payment gateway for businesses of all sizes. Developers like its tools and documentation. Stripe is a common choice for ecommerce companies, startups and subscription businesses.

In the US, Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ per successful domestic card payment. International cards add 1.5%, and currency conversion adds 1%. Stripe says it charges no setup or monthly fees.

Pros:

• Flexible: you can build a fully branded checkout through its API.
• Wide payment support: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and many local methods.
• Subscriptions: built-in tools for recurring billing.

Cons:

• Learning curve: custom builds need technical skills.
• Account holds: risk checks can sometimes freeze funds.
• Support: some users find it hard to reach a person.

Amazon Pay

Amazon Pay lets customers check out on your website with the details saved in their Amazon account. We cover Amazon as a sales channel in Shopify vs Amazon: Which Ecommerce Platform Should You Sell On?.

In the US, Amazon Pay charges 2.9% plus a $0.30 authorization fee for domestic web and mobile payments. Cross-border payments cost 3.9% plus $0.30.

Pros:

• Faster checkout: customers don't retype card or address details.
• Customer trust: shoppers recognize the Amazon brand.

Cons:

• Amazon account needed: customers without one can't use it.
• Less control: you have fewer checkout design options.
• Narrow fit: it works best alongside another gateway, not on its own.

Worldpay

Worldpay is one of the largest payment processors in the world. Global Payments completed its purchase of Worldpay from FIS and GTCR in January 2026.

Worldpay says merchants can accept payments in 170+ countries, in 135+ currencies and with 60+ payment methods through one integration. It does not publish standard online rates, so you need a quote.

Pros:

• Global reach: wide currency and country coverage.
• Security: fraud prevention, authentication and dispute tools.
• Scale: built for high transaction volumes.

Cons:

• No published pricing: costs are hard to compare up front.
• Complex setup: integration can need technical help.
• Contracts: longer contracts can limit flexibility.

Shopify Payments

Shopify Payments is the built-in gateway for stores on the Shopify ecommerce platform. It is available in 40 countries and regions, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and most EU countries.

When you use Shopify Payments, you pay only the card rate for your plan. Shopify adds third-party transaction fees if you use a different payment provider instead.

Pros:

• Simple setup: it works natively in the Shopify platform.
• One dashboard: manage products, orders and payments in one place.
• No extra transaction fee: unlike third-party gateways on Shopify.

Cons:

• Shopify only: you can't use it outside a Shopify store.
• Limited availability: it isn't offered in every country.
• Restricted products: high-risk goods may not be allowed.

Square

Square is known for easy payment tools that cover both online and in-person sales. It suits shops, cafés and brands that sell at events as well as online.

In the US, Square charges 2.9% + 30¢ for online payments and 2.6% + 15¢ in person. In the UK, online payments cost 1.4% + 25p with UK cards and 2.5% + 25p with non-UK cards.

Pros:

• Ease of use: you can start taking payments quickly.
• Versatility: one system for online, in-person and invoice payments.
• Integrations: connects to many point-of-sale and accounting tools.

Cons:

• Fees at scale: flat rates can cost more than negotiated pricing.
• Account holds: unusual activity can trigger frozen funds.
• Fewer markets: it is available in fewer countries than global gateways.

Adyen

Adyen is a payment platform for large businesses that sell in many countries. It supports a range of payment methods including cards, wallets, bank transfers and many local options, all through one integration.

Adyen charges a fixed processing fee of $0.13 per transaction, plus a fee for each payment method. For Visa and Mastercard, that is interchange++ plus 0.60%. There are no setup or monthly fees, but a minimum invoice may apply.

Pros:

• Global reach: local payment methods for many markets.
• Transparent cost structure: interchange++ shows what card schemes charge.
• Data: real-time reporting across channels.

Cons:

• Built for scale: minimum invoices make it less suited to small stores.
• Complex setup: integration usually needs developers.
• Harder to predict: interchange++ fees vary by card and region.

How do payment gateway fees work?

Most payment gateways charge a percentage of each sale plus a small fixed fee. Extra charges often apply to some transactions.

• Blended (flat) pricing: one rate for most cards, such as 2.9% + 30¢. Simple, but you may overpay on cheap debit cards.
• Interchange++ pricing: you pay the card scheme's actual cost plus a provider margin. It is cheaper at volume but harder to predict.
• International card fees: often 1% to 1.5% extra.
• Currency conversion fees: charged when the payment and payout currencies differ.
• Chargeback fees: charged when a customer disputes a payment.

Always calculate fees on your real order sizes. A fixed fee of 30¢ matters much more on a $10 order than on a $200 order. Here is the maths at the standard US online rate of 2.9% + 30¢ charged by Stripe and Square:

Low-priced items lose a much bigger share to the fixed fee. If your average order is small, compare fixed fees as closely as percentage rates.

What mistakes should you avoid when choosing a payment gateway?

The most common mistake is comparing headline rates only. Watch out for these too:

• Ignoring extra fees: international cards, currency conversion and chargebacks can add up.
• Forgetting payout timing: check how quickly funds reach your bank, and when holds can apply.
• Missing local payment methods: customers abroad may abandon a cards-only checkout.
• Handling card data yourself: it widens your PCI scope and your risk.
• Assuming the gateway handles tax: it doesn't, as the next section explains.

Does a payment gateway handle VAT or sales tax for you?

No. A payment gateway collects the money, but you stay responsible for charging, reporting and paying VAT or sales tax.

Some providers offer tax calculation add-ons. You still need to register where required, file returns and pay the tax. If you sell to EU consumers, see our guide to EU VAT OSS and IOSS for distance selling. If you sell in both regions, our VAT and US sales tax compliance guide covers the basics.

Taxually can take care of VAT registrations and returns, including OSS and IOSS, through CrossTax. LumaTax covers US and Canadian sales tax for enterprises and service providers; ecommerce sellers can join its waiting list. If you use Stripe, see Taxually for Stripe.

Which payment gateway should you choose?

There is no single best payment gateway. Start with your platform and your main markets, then compare fees on your real order sizes.

• On Shopify: start with Shopify Payments to avoid third-party transaction fees.
• Custom store or subscriptions: Stripe offers the most flexibility.
• Online and in person: Square keeps both in one system.
• Large and global: Adyen or Worldpay, with negotiated pricing.
• Extra trust at checkout: add PayPal or Amazon Pay next to your main gateway.

Do you run an ecommerce business and need help with your VAT compliance? Book a free call with one of our VAT experts to find solutions for your business, manage your VAT costs, and reach new customers.

Sources

• PCI Security Standards Council: overview
• Stripe Support: what is PCI compliance?
• PayPal: merchant fees (US, last updated October 1, 2026)
• Stripe: pricing
• Amazon Pay: fees
• Worldpay: online payments
• Global Payments: completion of Worldpay acquisition (January 2026)
• Shopify Help Center: supported countries for Shopify Payments
• Square Developer: payments pricing
• Adyen: pricing

How Taxually handles this

Taxually’s CrossTax handles VAT registration, VAT, OSS and IOSS returns and fiscal representation in the countries you sell into, and checks your sales data against 250+ validation rules before each filing. OneTax then pays every tax authority with one bulk payment in your chosen currency.

Related guides

• Amazon's Call-Off Stock Program to End
• VAT for Amazon Sellers in Europe 2026: Pan-EU FBA Guide
• 5 Unconventional Tips for Amazon Sellers Expanding Globally