In the fast-paced world of ecommerce, choosing the right payment gateway can make all the difference in providing a seamless and secure shopping experience for customers. For Shopify store owners, selecting an efficient and reliable payment gateway is crucial, not just for the checkout process, but also for boosting conversion rates and minimizing cart abandonment.

In this article, we’ll explore the best payment gateways for Shopify in 2025, highlighting their features, fees, and how they integrate with Shopify’s platform. Additionally, we’ll discuss how ecommerce payment gateways work and the best practices for selecting the right one for your online store.

Overview of Ecommerce Payment Gateways

In the modern retail landscape, cashless transactions are essential for providing convenience to both merchants and customers. As the shift towards online shopping continues to grow, the importance of a seamless and secure payment process becomes increasingly evident. In fact, consumers today expect quick, easy, and safe ways to pay for their online purchases.

When a payment gateway works as it should, it enhances the overall customer experience. The smoother the transaction process, the lower the chances of shopping cart abandonment—a significant issue many ecommerce businesses face. On the flip side, a poor payment experience can result in frustrated customers and lost sales.

What is an Ecommerce Payment Gateway?

An ecommerce payment gateway is an intermediary technology layer between your ecommerce website and the payment processor. In simple terms, it’s the tool that enables your online store to accept payments securely. The gateway facilitates the transfer of payment information from your customer’s bank or credit card company to your bank and vice versa.

But it’s not just about transferring funds. Ecommerce payment gateways provide added security with encryption to protect sensitive information. They often come with additional features, such as analytics, fraud prevention, and the ability to support multiple payment methods, which can make managing your store easier.

The 9 Best Ecommerce Payment Gateways for Shopify

Let’s dive into the nine best payment gateways for Shopify in 2025. We’ll explore what makes each one unique, what they offer, and how their fees compare.

Shopify Payments

• Best for: Shopify store owners
• Features: Seamlessly integrated with Shopify, supports multiple currencies, provides fraud protection, and is extremely easy to set up.
• Fees: Shopify Payments charges transaction fees as low as 0.6%, plus currency conversion fees when applicable. Shopify Payments is often the best option for Shopify users because it allows you to process payments without the need for third-party integrations.

Shopify Payments is the default payment gateway for Shopify users, and it’s free to use, which makes it one of the most cost-effective options. Since it’s built specifically for Shopify, it also provides deeper integration with the platform, making it easy to manage and track transactions within your Shopify dashboard. Plus, there’s no need to worry about monthly fees or complex setups.

Stripe

• Best for: High-volume merchants
• Features: Offers an advanced suite of tools including recurring billing, multi-currency support, and powerful analytics tools. Stripe can be easily integrated with Shopify and supports 135+ currencies, making it ideal for international sellers.
• Fees: Stripe’s standard fees are 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction.

Stripe is a great choice for merchants looking for flexibility and scalability. Whether you’re selling locally or globally, Stripe allows you to accept payments in various currencies, and its built-in fraud protection keeps transactions secure. For merchants who require more advanced payment features like subscriptions or advanced reporting, Stripe stands out as a top pick.

PayPal

• Best for: Small businesses just starting out
• Features: Easy to set up, a well-recognized and trusted brand, supports 25 currencies and enables quick checkout.
• Fees: PayPal charges 2.59% plus a fixed fee depending on your location.

PayPal is one of the most recognized payment solutions across the globe, making it an excellent choice for small businesses or those just starting out. The ease of integration with Shopify, along with the instant setup, makes PayPal a convenient option. Plus, customers are often more inclined to complete purchases when they see PayPal as a payment option due to its reputation for security.

Square

• Best for: Small and mid-sized businesses
• Features: Free setup, inventory management, reporting, supports 27 currencies. Square also provides an integrated point-of-sale (POS) system for brick-and-mortar stores.
• Fees: 2.6% + 10 cents per transaction.

Square is a solid payment gateway for businesses that also have physical stores, as it integrates both online and offline sales seamlessly. It offers many features beyond payment processing, including inventory management and customer engagement tools. The free setup and flat-rate pricing make it appealing to smaller businesses.

Adyen

• Best for: Enterprise-sized businesses
• Features: Offers advanced mobile payment solutions, real-time analytics, and can support a wide variety of payment methods.
• Fees: Adyen’s pricing is more complex, with a fixed fee of €0.11 per transaction plus variable fees based on the payment method.

Adyen is best suited for large-scale enterprises due to its ability to manage high-volume transactions. With a strong focus on mobile payments and cutting-edge analytics tools, Adyen is an excellent choice for global businesses looking for scalability and deeper insights into their payment processes.

Worldpay

• Best for: Businesses dealing with global transactions
• Features: Operates in over 150 countries, supports 120+ currencies, and offers a comprehensive suite of tools for fraud prevention, chargeback protection, and multi-currency support.
• Fees: Worldpay’s pricing is quote-based.

Worldpay is a leading payment gateway for international businesses due to its global reach. If you’re targeting customers from multiple countries, Worldpay’s support for various currencies and local payment methods can help boost your international sales.

Authorize.net

• Best for: Merchants needing multiple payment options
• Features: Recurring billing, virtual terminals, and support for multiple payment methods (credit cards, e-checks, etc.).
• Fees: Charges from 10¢ + a $25 monthly fee for a basic plan.

Authorize.net is one of the oldest and most trusted payment processors in the industry. With its robust feature set and ability to accept various forms of payment, it’s ideal for businesses with diverse customer bases.

Braintree

• Best for: Businesses relying on PayPal
• Features: Supports flexible payment options including PayPal, credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
• Fees: 2.59% + 49 cents per transaction.

Braintree, a PayPal service, offers easy integration with Shopify and supports a wide range of payment methods, including PayPal. This makes it a top choice for businesses that want to leverage PayPal’s reputation while providing other payment options.

Skrill

• Best for: Merchants handling multiple currencies
• Features: Instant deposits, strong fraud prevention, supports over 40 currencies.
• Fees: Skrill charges a 3.99% foreign exchange fee.

Skrill is a strong choice for international merchants who need to handle various currencies. Its focus on security and its ability to process payments quickly make it a great alternative to PayPal, especially for businesses targeting global customers.

Types of Ecommerce Payment Gateways

When choosing a payment gateway, it’s essential to understand the different types available:

1. Hosted Payment Gateway: Customers are redirected to a third-party site to complete the payment process (e.g., PayPal).
2. Self-hosted Payment Gateway: Full control over the checkout process, where the payment page is hosted on your website (e.g., Authorize.net).
3. API-hosted Payment Gateway: Integrated experience directly on your site through APIs (e.g., Stripe).
4. Local Bank Integration Gateway: Redirects customers to their bank’s platform for payment.

Payment Gateway vs. Payment Method

When exploring the world of online transactions, it’s crucial to understand the distinction between a payment gateway and a payment method. These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different aspects of the ecommerce payment process.

Payment Gateway

A payment gateway is the technology or service that facilitates the actual transfer of payment information between the customer and the merchant’s bank or payment processor. It acts as a secure intermediary, encrypting sensitive data like credit card numbers or bank account details, and ensuring that the transaction is completed safely and accurately. 

Think of it as the “digital bridge” between your Shopify store and the financial institutions that process your payments. Examples of popular payment gateways include Shopify Payments, Stripe, PayPal, and Square. Without a payment gateway, customers wouldn’t be able to securely submit their payment details, and transactions would fail to process.

Payment Method

A payment method, on the other hand, refers to the specific way customers pay for their online purchases. It’s the method they choose to provide their funds when checking out. Payment methods can include a wide variety of options, such as credit and debit cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, bank transfers, and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options, or even cryptocurrency in some cases. 

The payment gateway supports various payment methods, providing customers with multiple choices for completing their transactions. For instance, a PayPal payment method could be processed via Stripe as a payment gateway, allowing customers to use their PayPal balance while benefiting from Stripe’s secure payment infrastructure.

How Ecommerce Payment Gateways Work

The process of how an ecommerce payment gateway functions is straightforward:

1. The customer enters their payment details on your checkout page.
2. The payment processor authorizes the transaction by checking the available balance.
3. The payment gateway confirms the authorization, passing the funds securely.
4. The financial institution transfers the funds, and the transaction is complete.
5. The payment gateway charges a fee for its services.

How to Choose an Ecommerce Payment Gateway

Selecting the right payment gateway involves considering several factors:

• Payment Processing Fees: Understand both transaction and monthly fees.
• Payment Methods and Compatibility: Ensure the gateway supports the payment options your customers prefer.
• Security Features: The gateway should comply with PCI DSS standards to ensure payment data security.
• International Payment Options: If you’re selling globally, choose a gateway that supports multi-currency transactions.
• Scalability and Support: Look for gateways that can grow with your business and offer solid customer support.

Conclusion

Choosing the right payment gateway for your Shopify store in 2025 is more important than ever. The payment process not only affects your bottom line but also shapes the customer experience. Whether you’re a small business just starting out or an enterprise expanding globally, there’s a payment gateway suited for your needs. By considering factors like fees, features, security, and compatibility, you can make a decision that supports your growth and enhances your customers’ shopping journey.

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