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We Found the 6 Best Payment Providers for Shopify

Running a successful Shopify business is all about getting the details right—whether it’s finding the right product mix, optimizing your website for conversions, or making sure you’re working with the best payment processor.

That last point is essential. Fees, customer service, and features all need to be part of the equation when you’re choosing a Shopify payment provider.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry—at Upscribe, we’ve helped hundreds of Shopify businesses find success through subscriptions. And today, we’ll be giving you a list of the six best payment providers for your Shopify store.

Let’s dive in!

What Is a Payment Provider for Shopify?

At a basic level, a Shopify payment provider is a service that lets you accept online payments from your customers. It’s like a bridge connecting your online store to your customers’ wallets—allowing them to pay for goods securely.

Beyond that, there are a couple of other important features of a good payment processor, including:

  • Fraud protection
  • User-friendly checkout
  • Complaints and chargebacks
  • Customer service

In the same way, using a subscription commerce engine like Upscribe can help you make more sales, a good payment processor will also help to reduce abandoned carts and encourage greater customer loyalty by offering a seamless experience.

Benefits of Using Good Payment Providers for Shopify

Security

Trust is one of the most important factors customers consider before purchasing.

On Shopify, payment providers are committed to providing the highest level of security for all transactions. They use advanced encryption techniques, offer fraud protection, and adhere to industry standards. This ensures that not only is your customers’ sensitive data kept safe, but it also helps to build their confidence and trust in your online store.

Payment Options

Payment providers understand that e-commerce customers come in all shapes and preferences. Giving customers various payment options (by choosing a great payment provider) is essential for increasing sales and keeping customers happy.

From credit and debit cards to alternative payment methods like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, variety is key. You can offer a mix of payment options to give customers more choice and convenience.

Localized Pricing

Payment providers can help you navigate the complexity of localized pricing effortlessly— especially if you plan on expanding your business globally.

They allow you to display prices in different currencies based on your customers’ locations, ensuring that your international clientele sees prices in their familiar currency. This enhances the shopping experience and eliminates any currency conversion guesswork.

Criteria To Consider When Choosing a Payment Provider for Shopify

Fees and Transaction Costs

Payment processors make their money through fees. These can come in a range of forms—monthly fees, transaction fees, standing charges, processing fees, and so on.

Before choosing a payment processor, you need to get into the details of their own fee structures. Make sure you understand exactly what you’ll be paying for and how much it will cost your business.

Payment processing fees can impact everything from your profit margin to your pricing structure, so don’t skip this step.

Payment Methods

Which payment methods does the processor offer? Many payment processors support more than just debit and credit cards. Make sure your chosen provider supports all the methods you need, such as PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, etc.

Worldwide Availability

If you plan to expand your customer base globally, choosing a payment provider with worldwide availability is crucial. This allows you to reach and serve customers from different regions, increasing your store’s reach and revenue potential.

Supports Multiple Currencies and Languages

To offer a seamless shopping experience to customers worldwide, opt for a payment provider that supports multiple currencies and languages. This lets shoppers see prices and complete transactions in their preferred currency and language, boosting conversion rates.

Fraud Detection Features

Protecting your business and customers from fraudulent transactions is a top priority. A payment provider with robust fraud detection and prevention features helps safeguard your online store, reducing the risk of chargebacks and fraud-related losses.

Ease of Integration with Shopify

A smooth integration process is essential for a hassle-free shopping experience. Choose a payment provider that seamlessly integrates with Shopify, eliminating technical complexities and ensuring that customers can easily make payments without disruptions.

This is something we’re especially cognizant of here at Upscribe. We’ve worked hard to make our setup process as smooth and hands-off as possible—plus we’re always available to help to support you if you run into difficulties.

Customer Support

Speaking of support… reliable customer support can be a lifesaver when you encounter issues or have questions about payment processing. Choose a payment provider with responsive customer support to ensure you have assistance readily available, making your online store operations smoother.

6 Best Payment Provider for Shopify

In case you’re in a rush, here’s an overview of the payment providers we’ll be covering:

  1. Paypal
  2. Stripe
  3. Opayo
  4. Verifone
  5. Amazon Pay
  6. WorldPay

Now, let’s dive into the details.

1. Paypal

PayPal is a household name in the world of online payments—and it’s one of the best payment providers for your Shopify store. It’s renowned for its simplicity and security, making it a top choice for many e-commerce businesses.

With PayPal, you can offer your customers a trusted and familiar payment method they will likely use for various online transactions. This sense of security can help build trust and confidence among your customers.

PayPal also excels in offering multiple payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets, ensuring that your customers have a wide array of choices. Plus, it supports transactions in various currencies, allowing you to tap into global markets.

Key Features

  • Pay with Paypal: Pay with PayPal is an express checkout feature that stores customer payment information and allows them to quickly checkout with a few clicks. This reduces friction at checkout and leads to higher conversion rates.
  • PayPal CreditPayPal Credit is a buy-now-pay-later checkout option that allows customers to break up their payments into multiple installments over a fixed period of time. This helps customers make large purchases more easily and encourages them to buy from you again.
  • Fraud Protection: PayPal provides advanced fraud protection features that protect your business from fraudulent transactions and chargebacks. By using this service, you can rest assured that your customers will have secure checkout experiences.

Fees

If you utilize Shopify Payments for credit card transactions in your store, you’ll incur credit card fees ranging from 2.4% to 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction (depending on your plan).

It’s important to note that when using Shopify Payments alongside PayPal Express as your payment gateways, you’ll only be charged fees for the gateway your customer chooses during checkout, avoiding double billing.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Buyer protection
  • Wide acceptance
  • Multiple payment methods
  • Trusted payment provider
  • Quick checkout

Cons

  • Transaction fees on each sale
  • May place holds on your funds
  • Limited customization

2. Stripe

Stripe Connect is a powerful, user-friendly payment gateway that allows you to accept payments from customers in 135+ currencies.

Stripe Connect (Stripe’s platform and marketplace product) is designed to give Shopify sellers full control of their payments. It features easy onboarding, customizable checkout, and powerful analytics.

All backend processes (like know your customer checks and anti-money laundering procedures) are handled by Stripe, so you never have to worry about compliance.

Key Features

  • Stripe RadarStipe Radar offers merchants fraud detection and risk management tools powered by ML. They block fewer legitimate customers than traditional tools while catching more fraud.
  • Reports and InsightsView all charges, spanning various payment methods, regions, and currencies, within the Stripe Dashboard or extract the data directly from the API for comprehensive reporting and insights.
  • Stripe Identity: Stripe Identity offers a powerful ID verification platform that helps businesses protect against identity fraud and money laundering and allows them to sell certain regulated items.

Fees

Stripe offers two pricing options for payment processing:

All-in-One Option:

  • $25 per month
  • 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction

Payment Gateway Only:

  • $25 per month
  • 10¢ per transaction
  • 10¢ per day

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Global reach
  • Customizable
  • Quick payouts
  • Secured

Cons

  • Transaction fees can add up
  • Requires technical knowledge
  • Limited support

3. Opayo

Opayo (formerly Sage Pay) is one of the UK’s most trusted payment providers.

Opayo offers a native integration with Shopify and a range of payment services—albeit basic ones. The platform offers shopper accounts for easy checkout, free fraud checks, and customizable checkout widgets.

Opayo is dedicated to transparency, ensuring no hidden costs, and its round-the-clock support ensures that businesses have the assistance they need.

Key Features

  • Online Payments: Opayo facilitates seamless and secure online payments, making it easier for businesses to accept payments on their websites.
  • Card Terminals: Opayo offers a range of versatile card terminals, allowing businesses to accept Chip & PIN card payments in-store or on-site easily.
  • Telephone Payments: With Opayo, you can securely process mail orders and telephone payments using their intuitive web-based virtual terminal interface.

Fees

Opayo offers two pricing options.

Fixed costs £25 per month, plus 0.99%+ per transaction (with your first 350 transactions free). Pay as You Go charges a one-time joining fee of £99, a 1.99+% transaction fee, and a £0.12 gateway click fee (meaning you pay whenever a customer clicks to pay).

The range of fees can make it a bit difficult to figure out which (if any) plan is best for you, but the monthly fee is often a better choice for high-volume merchants.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Trusted UK provider
  • Wide range of payment solutions
  • 24/7 customer support
  • No hidden costs

Cons

  • UK and Ireland only
  • Pricing can be confusing

4. Verifone

Verifone is a well-known payment provider for Shopify.

The provider offers great customization, with tons of options for different payment methods and a wide range of currencies accepted.

Key Features

  • Virtual TerminalAccept payments via phone or email while ensuring adherence to PCI DSS requirements for secure card data storage.
  • Fraud Protection: Ensure payments are free from security threats by providing a fraud protection system that advances with market dynamics, safeguarding your transactions.
  • IntegrationsIntegrating online shopping carts will facilitate smooth payment processing, streamline operations, and offer your customers a hassle-free online checkout experience.

Fees

Contact sales for a quote.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Flexible framework
  • Fraud protection
  • Personalized customer experience

Cons

  • No pricing specified

5. Amazon Pay

Amazon isn’t just an e-commerce giant—it also has its own payment processing system called Amazon Pay. With a large customer base and a trusted brand name, this service is quickly gaining traction as an online payment option.

Amazon Pay comes with a number of features, including express checkout, fraud protection, and customer support. The pricing is also very competitive compared to other payment processing platforms.

Key Features

  • Optimize Checkout:  With Amazon Pay, you can optimize your checkout process and provide Amazon customers the convenience of purchasing without the need to create new accounts or enter credit card information.
  • Alternative Payment Methods: Provide customers with a diverse selection of convenient checkout choices to optimize the conversion rate.
  • Amazon Pay Demo: Provide a simulated checkout experience, demonstrating the process without processing real payments and ensuring user data privacy in a Sandbox environment.

Fees

Amazon Pay will cost you 2.99% + $0.30 per transaction.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Trusted brand
  • Easy checkout
  • Increased conversions
  • Integration

Cons

  • Limited market
  • Transaction fees can vary based on your pricing plan
  • Concerns about customer data security

6. WorldPay

Worldplay is a great payment provider for Shopify, particularly for businesses looking to expand their reach and enhance their customers’ experiences.

Worldpay allows for easy integration with Shopify and supports all the features of a good payment provider—fraud screening, a range of payment methods, and detailed reporting.

Key Features

  • Quick Setup: Worldpay supports quick setup with Shopify, allowing you to start taking payments in minutes.
  • Fraud Protection: Worldpay also has fraud screening tools that can help protect your business from fraudulent transactions.
  • Variety of Payment Options: Accept all major currencies and 300+ payment methods.

Fees

Worldplay offers different fee charges depending on the card type and transaction types.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Serves over 100 countries
  • Seamless integration
  • Customizable
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons

  • Lack of upfront pricing

Conclusion

A reliable payment provider not only ensures secure and efficient transactions but also helps build trust and streamline the checkout process, crucial for a flourishing e-commerce business.

Want to offer subscriptions through your Shopify store?

Upscripe integrates seamlessly with your Shopify store and accepts subscription payments using whatever payment provider you want to choose. Benefit from best-in-class subscription growth tools and deep analytics to grow your subscription business to new heights.

Schedule a demo today!