HK
HK
1.
Shopify Payments
2.
PayPal
3.
Convert Plus
4.
Authorize.net
5.
Opayo
6.
Solana Pay
7.
Klarna
8.
Afterpay
9.
Adyen
10.
Tazapay
11.
Bankful
If you searched for “payment gateway” or “payment processor” on Shopify’s App Store, you’d be hit with a whopping 100+ payment solutions to choose from.
On the surface, they may look similar. In reality, each of those payment solutions has its own pros and cons. Sorting through all of them can quickly become overwhelming.
To make your decision easier, we’ve narrowed it down to 11 of the best Shopify payment gateways in 2026. This guide will walk you through their features, as well as their downsides, so you can choose the one that fits your business model.
A Shopify payment gateway is a payment provider that integrates with your Shopify store to securely process customer payments.
When someone places an order on your online store, the payment gateway collects their credit card or payment information, encrypts the information, and communicates with the relevant banks to authorise the transaction. If the payment is approved, the funds are processed and later paid out to your merchant account.
On Shopify, you can use the built-in Shopify Payments solution or connect a third-party provider such as Stripe, PayPal, or others, depending on whether you’re processing payments online, in-store via POS, or both.
Not all payment providers work the same way. Even if they follow a similar payment process, they differ in cost, checkout experience, payout timing, and regional support.
Before choosing one for your Shopify store, compare the following:
Some providers advertise low base rates, but that headline rate rarely reflects the full cost. They may apply higher fees to international or alternative payment methods, and additional fees such as:
Your gateway determines which credit card and payment options appear at checkout. In the US, most customers expect support for:
Not every gateway supports all of these by default. If you plan to offer BNPL or ACH, confirm that the provider supports them directly or via integration.
Payout schedules vary by provider. Some gateways release funds within two business days, while others operate on rolling schedules that may take longer.
For businesses managing inventory or paid advertising, payout timing can directly affect cash flow planning. In addition, some providers may delay payouts for new accounts or higher-risk transactions.
Some gateways allow customers to complete payment directly on your Shopify checkout page. Others redirect customers to an external site before returning them to your store.
Redirect-based checkouts, such as PayPal, can increase brand trust for certain buyers but may slightly disrupt the checkout flow. On-site processing generally provides a more seamless branded experience. The impact varies depending on your audience and product type.
Most major payment gateways offer direct Shopify integrations, but onboarding requirements differ. However, some providers require more technical setup or manual configuration. For example, gateways like Tazapay and Authorize.net may involve additional steps, such as business verification, documentation, or integration through APIs.
If you are launching quickly, setup time and approval requirements may influence your choice. Larger or higher-risk businesses should also review compliance requirements in advance.
If you plan to expand beyond the US, review whether the gateway supports:
Switching providers later can require operational changes, so it is worth considering future expansion when making your initial selection.
Shopify gives merchants a surprising amount of flexibility when it comes to accepting payments. Beyond its built-in solution, there are dozens of approved third-party payment gateways that you can choose from.
To simplify things for you, we’ve narrowed it down to 11 of the most relevant and widely used gateways, with each offering something slightly different.
Note: Shopify applies additional transaction fees on third-party payment providers. PayPal and manual payment methods are excluded if you use Shopify Payments. On Shopify Plus, these fees can be waived when Shopify Payments is active, but eligibility depends on your store setup and location.
Best For: Merchants who want a fully integrated, plug-and-play payment solution inside Shopify. |
If you want the simplest way to accept payments on Shopify, start with Shopify Payments. It’s built directly into your dashboard, which means no extra accounts, no separate logins and no third-party setup. Orders, refunds and reporting all live in one place.
Online card rates range from 2.5% to 2.9% + USD 0.30, depending on your plan. It supports major credit and debit cards, Shop Pay for accelerated checkout, Apple Pay, Google Pay and multi-currency selling for international customers.
Powered by Stripe behind the scenes, Shopify Payments is designed to work smoothly within the platform. Because everything sits inside your Shopify dashboard, setup is minimal, reporting stays unified, and the streamlined checkout experience can help support stronger conversion rates.
For many stores, that simplicity is exactly the point.
If you’re starting a new store, Shopify currently offers a 3-day free trial and USD 1/month for the first 3 months, giving you a great opportunity to set up with Shopify Payments and an integrated checkout experience right from the start.
Best For: Businesses that already use a merchant account and want gateway flexibility backed by the PayPal brand. |
PayPal isn’t just a checkout wallet. With Payflow Payment Gateway, it also offers a full gateway solution that connects your website to your existing merchant account and processor. It’s designed to work with almost any shopping cart, including Shopify.
Payflow Link comes with no setup or monthly fees and costs USD 0.10 per transaction. If you want full control over your checkout experience, Payflow Pro is available at USD 25 per month with deeper customisation. Both options support all major credit and debit cards, and you can add PayPal and PayPal Credit at checkout to help drive incremental sales.
Built-in PCI support, fraud tools and the PayPal Manager dashboard tie everything together. If you like the idea of running your own merchant account but still want the PayPal badge working in your favour, Payflow strikes that balance nicely.
Best For: Cross-border sellers that need broad currency support and local payment methods worldwide. |
Verifone’s Convert Plus, previously known as 2Checkout, is built with international selling in mind. If your store serves customers across borders, this gateway is designed to meet them where they are.
It supports major cards, PayPal, Alipay and a wide range of local payment methods across more than 200 countries and over 100 currencies. The hosted checkout experience is tailored for merchants who need flexibility across regions. Pricing for the 2Sell plan starts at 3.5% + USD 0.35 per successful sale.
Convert Plus is less focused on domestic convenience and more on international capability. Its broad currency and country support make it particularly relevant for stores selling across multiple regions rather than operating in a single market.
Best For: Established businesses that prefer a traditional gateway model with recurring billing and fraud controls. |
Authorize.net has been around for decades and is now owned by Visa. It’s a more traditional gateway option for merchants who prefer a structured, configurable payment setup rather than a flat-rate, all-in-one processor.
Its All-in-One plan includes a USD 25 monthly fee plus 2.9% + USD 0.30 per transaction. There’s also a gateway-only option for businesses that already have their own merchant account.
With features like recurring billing, advanced fraud detection and customer data management tools, Authorize.net appeals to established businesses that want more control and don’t mind a monthly gateway fee in exchange.
Best For: Merchants with strong UK or EU customer bases who want regionally recognised card processing. |
Opayo, formerly known as Sage Pay and now part of Elavon, has long been recognised in the UK and European markets for secure card processing. It’s listed in Shopify’s payment gateway directory as a supported provider, giving merchants another established option beyond the usual US-focused names.
The platform centres around secure online card payments, PCI DSS compliance and 3D Secure authentication. Onboarding, pricing and settlement are handled directly through Opayo or Elavon rather than Shopify.
Opayo may not be the first name US merchants think of, but in the UK and EU it carries real weight. If your revenue depends on those regions, that established footprint can be an advantage.
Best For: Stores looking to accept cryptocurrency alongside traditional payment methods. |
Solana Pay takes a different route entirely by running on blockchain technology instead of traditional card networks. Through Shopify’s approved app integration, merchants can accept cryptocurrency directly from customers’ digital wallets.
At checkout, customers connect a compatible Solana wallet or scan a QR code, and transactions are confirmed on-chain, often within seconds. Supported assets include digital currencies such as USDC on the Solana network.
It’s not designed to replace conventional gateways, but it does open the door to crypto-native customers. Solana Pay works best as an additional option alongside standard card and wallet methods.
Best For: Merchants selling higher-value products who want to offer installment or deferred payment options. |
Klarna has become one of the most recognisable names in Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL). Instead of asking customers to pay everything upfront, it allows them to split purchases into installments or delay payment.
When a customer selects Klarna, the installment plan is handled directly by Klarna. The company assumes credit risk and manages the repayment schedule, so merchants don’t have to oversee billing logistics themselves.
Klarna’s real appeal lies in flexibility, especially for higher-value purchases where spreading out payments makes a difference.
Best For: Brands targeting shoppers who prefer short-term, interest-free installment plans. |
Afterpay, owned by Block, Inc., is another BNPL provider and follows a straightforward formula: split the purchase into four interest-free installments paid over time. It can be enabled within Shopify Payments, where supported.
Customers make payments over several weeks, while Afterpay manages the installment schedule and assumes repayment risk. Merchants receive payment based on agreed terms without handling credit directly.
Afterpay isn’t intended to replace traditional card processing. Instead, it adds a structured instalment option at checkout. For certain audiences, especially those who prefer spreading payments over a few weeks, that flexibility can make purchases feel more manageable.
Best For: Brands targeting shoppers who prefer short-term, interest-free installment plans. |
Afterpay, owned by Block, Inc., is another BNPL provider and follows a straightforward formula: split the purchase into four interest-free installments paid over time. It can be enabled within Shopify Payments, where supported.
Customers make payments over several weeks, while Afterpay manages the installment schedule and assumes repayment risk. Merchants receive payment based on agreed terms without handling credit directly.
Afterpay isn’t intended to replace traditional card processing. Instead, it adds a structured instalment option at checkout. For certain audiences, especially those who prefer spreading payments over a few weeks, that flexibility can make purchases feel more manageable.
Best For: Merchants expanding internationally who need support for local payment methods and multi-currency transactions. |
Tazapay is designed with cross-border commerce at its core. Instead of requiring merchants to establish local entities in every country they sell to, it provides infrastructure to collect international payments through a single platform.
It supports major cards and numerous regional payment methods across more than 170 countries. The focus is on simplifying foreign exchange handling and local payment acceptance, particularly in emerging markets.
Tazapay shines for merchants who handle multiple currencies, local payment preferences, and cross-border complexity. If global expansion is on the roadmap, then Tazapay is where it starts to make sense.
Best For: Businesses that need flexible underwriting or operate in higher-risk categories. |
Bankful is a US-based payment gateway that integrates with Shopify through its official app. It supports card payments, ACH transactions and recurring billing, offering a more customised approach than many flat-rate processors.
One of its defining strengths is working with businesses in higher-risk categories that may struggle to gain approval elsewhere. Pricing is tailored based on industry type and risk profile rather than published as a one-size-fits-all rate.
Bankful addresses a segment of merchants who may face stricter approval standards elsewhere. Its more flexible underwriting approach makes it relevant for businesses that don’t neatly fit into standard processor risk models.
