By the Dropship Stair team. Last reviewed: November 2026.
Key takeaways
- Best payment gateways for Shopify are the ones that fit your buyers, your countries, and your cash flow, not just the ones with the lowest headline fee.
- Compare fee structure, payout speed, buyer trust, and how each gateway handles refunds and disputes.
- Offer the payment options your buyers expect, and keep checkout short, clear, and easy to trust.
- Check current pricing on each gateway site before you commit, because fees and terms change over time.
Best payment gateways for Shopify are the ones that fit your buyers, your countries, and your cash flow, not just the ones with the lowest headline fee. Compare fee structure, payout speed, buyer trust, and support, then check current pricing before you commit.
Many new sellers pick a gateway by default and never review it. They accept the first option their store offers, or the one a friend uses, without checking whether it fits their buyers, their countries, or their cash flow. That shortcut can cost real money over time. This guide compares seven essential picks in general terms, so you can choose with your buyers and your business in mind.
Best payment gateways for Shopify: what is a payment gateway?
Best payment gateways for Shopify are services that move money from your buyer to your store safely. When a buyer pays by card, wallet, or bank transfer, the gateway checks the payment, takes the money, and sends it to your account, minus its fees. Shopify has its own built-in option in many regions, and it also lets you connect third-party gateways that buyers in your market may trust more.
Your gateway also affects your cash flow. Some gateways pay out fast, while others hold funds for longer, especially for new stores or high-risk products. That timing matters when you must pay suppliers, ads, and refunds. Before you pick, ask how payouts work, how refunds are handled, and what happens when a buyer disputes a charge.
How should you compare payment gateways?
Compare gateways on four points: fee structure, payout speed, buyer trust, and support when things go wrong. Fee structure means how the gateway charges you: per sale, per month, or both, and whether it adds extra fees for refunds, disputes, or cross-border payments. Do not judge a gateway by one fee alone. A low per-sale fee with slow payouts and poor support can cost more than a slightly higher fee with fast payouts and clear help.
Buyer trust is the third point. Offer the payment options your buyers use most, whether that is cards, wallets, or local bank options in your market. Support is the fourth point. When a payment fails or a buyer disputes a charge, you need clear help fast. Read the support terms before you need them, not after. The table below compares the seven picks in this guide on those four points.
| Gateway pick | Fee structure | Payout speed | Buyer trust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Payments | Built-in, no extra gateway fee in most plans | Often fast, set schedule by region | High, familiar checkout for Shopify buyers |
| PayPal | Per sale, plus possible cross-border fees | Often fast, can hold new accounts | Very high, buyers know and trust it |
| Stripe | Per sale, plus possible extras by method | Often fast, set schedule by region | High, clean checkout, many card options |
| Apple Pay | Through your gateway, no separate fee to Apple | Follows your gateway payout schedule | High with Apple device owners |
| Google Pay | Through your gateway, no separate fee to Google | Follows your gateway payout schedule | High with Android and Google users |
| Klarna | Per sale, often higher for pay-later plans | Can be slower, plan terms vary | High for buyers who want to pay later |
| Authorize.net | Monthly fee plus per-sale fees | Often steady, depends on your bank | High, long-used by many US stores |
Read the table as a starting point, not a final price list. Fees, payout times, and terms change, and they vary by country, plan, and sales volume. Check the current pricing page for each gateway before you choose, and work out the cost on your real average order, not on a guess. A gateway that looks cheap on a small order can cost more on a large one, and the reverse is also true.
Is Shopify Payments the right first pick?
Shopify Payments is the built-in option, and for many stores it is the simplest first pick. It works inside Shopify, so setup is fast, checkout looks clean, and you manage payments in the same place you manage orders. In many regions it also removes the extra fee Shopify charges for third-party gateways, which can save money on every sale.
Even when Shopify Payments fits, many stores add a second option, such as PayPal, so buyers who prefer it can still pay. A second option can lift checkout completion, because buyers who trust one gateway more will use it when they see it. Test your checkout with both options on, and watch which one buyers pick. Our guide on Shopify checkout optimization shows how to test checkout changes without confusing buyers.
Should you offer PayPal and Stripe?
PayPal and Stripe are two of the most trusted names in online payments, and many stores offer one or both. PayPal is widely known, and many buyers keep a PayPal account ready, so offering it can help buyers who do not want to type card details into a new store. Stripe powers card payments for many stores and apps, and it offers a clean checkout with many card and wallet options.
Offering both can help, but it can also clutter checkout if you add too many options. Keep the checkout clean: show the main card option, PayPal, and the wallets your buyers use most, and hide the rest behind a clear link. A short checkout with trusted options will convert better than a long list of every gateway you could add. For a wider look at what buyers expect, read our Shopify store audit checklist and check your checkout against it.
Do wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay matter?
Wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay matter a lot on phones, because they let buyers pay with a tap instead of typing card details. A buyer on an iPhone who sees Apple Pay can finish an order in seconds. A buyer on Android who sees Google Pay can do the same. That speed helps, because every extra field in checkout is a chance for a buyer to leave.
These wallets usually run through your main gateway, so you do not pay a separate fee to Apple or Google for the wallet itself, but your gateway may charge its normal fee for the sale. Check with your gateway to confirm how wallet payments are billed and how fast they pay out. Then turn the wallets on for the devices your buyers use most.
When does buy now, pay later help?
Buy now, pay later options, such as Klarna, let buyers split a purchase into smaller payments over time. That can help with higher-priced products, where the full price feels like a big step for a first-time buyer. A buyer who might leave over price may stay when they see they can pay in parts.
The trade-off is cost and timing. Pay-later providers often charge the store a higher fee per sale than a simple card payment, and payouts can follow a different schedule. That means a sale that looks good on the surface may leave less profit after fees. Check the fee structure and payout terms for your country and your average order before you turn it on.
What about a traditional gateway like Authorize.net?
A traditional gateway like Authorize.net suits stores that want a steady, long-used payment setup, often with a bank they already use. It usually charges a monthly fee plus a fee per sale, so it can suit stores with steady volume, where the monthly fee is spread across many orders. For a very new store with few sales, that monthly fee can weigh more heavily.
Before you pick a traditional gateway, compare its total monthly cost with a built-in option on your real sales volume. Add the monthly fee, the per-sale fees, and any extra fees for refunds or disputes, then compare the totals. If the traditional gateway costs more for your volume, a simpler option may serve you better until sales grow. If you want a store built to sell from day one, see our pre-built Shopify store options and our Shopify store design services for help with checkout and design.
Frequently asked questions
Which payment gateway is best for a new Shopify store?
Shopify Payments is often the best first pick where it is available, because setup is simple and checkout stays clean. Add PayPal as a second option, because many buyers trust it. Check availability, fees, and payout terms for your country before you commit to any gateway.
Can I use more than one payment gateway on Shopify?
Yes, you can offer more than one gateway, and most stores do. A main card gateway plus PayPal and the wallets your buyers use covers most buyers. Keep the list short and clear, so checkout stays fast and buyers can pick their preferred option without confusion or delay.
How do payment gateway fees work?
Gateways usually charge a fee per sale, and some also charge a monthly fee or extra fees for refunds, disputes, or cross-border payments. Fees vary by gateway, country, and payment method, and they change over time. Check the current pricing page and work out the cost on your real orders.
Why do gateways hold my payouts?
Gateways may hold payouts for new stores, large or unusual sales, or products they see as higher risk, while they check for fraud or disputes. Holds ease as your store builds a track record. Keep records, ship on time, and answer disputes fast to build trust with your gateway.
Do payment gateways affect my checkout conversion rate?
Yes, gateways affect conversion, because buyers trust some options more than others and they leave when their preferred option is missing. Offer the card, wallet, and PayPal options your buyers expect, keep checkout short, and test it on phones. A trusted, simple checkout helps more buyers finish their orders.
Best payment gateways for Shopify are not one-size-fits-all. Start with the built-in option where it fits, add PayPal and the wallets your buyers use, and test buy now, pay later only when your prices and your buyers make it worth the cost. Check current pricing, payout times, and terms on each gateway site, then pick the mix that keeps checkout fast, trusted, and good for your cash flow.
Sources: the Dropship Stair guides linked in this article, and Shopify store setup and theme practice checked during research in November 2026.