6 Best WooCommerce Payment Gateways for WordPress

Picking the right payment solution can really impact your bottom line – affecting everything from conversion rates to transaction fees. 💵

What many people don’t realize is that the best payment gateway isn’t always the most popular one.

Through testing different solutions and monitoring their performance across stores, I’ve identified which gateways consistently deliver better results for different types of businesses.

In this guide, I’ll share the best WooCommerce payment gateways. These insights come from hands-on experience helping stores process millions, and not just skimming feature lists.

Overview of the Best WooCommerce Payment Gateways

In a hurry? Here’s a quick overview of the best WooCommerce payment gateways compared:

#	Gateways	Best For	Transaction Fee
🥇	Stripe	Businesses that want a feature-rich, on-site checkout experience with lots of control	2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
🥈	PayPal	Businesses that want a trusted brand name that many customers already use, prioritizing ease of use for existing PayPal users	2.99% + a fixed fee (depending on location)
🥉	Square	WooCommerce stores with physical locations	2.9% + 30¢ for online sales
4	Authorize.Net	Selling subscriptions with WooCommerce	2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
5	WooPayments	Beginners on a budget	2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
6	Afterpay	Accepting payments in installments.	4-6% per transaction

How I Test And Review WooCommerce Payment Gateways

If you are running a WooCommerce store, then you will need a way to securely accept payments. That’s where payment gateways come in.

A payment gateway is a service that processes credit card and digital payments on your site. It acts as a bridge between your customer’s payment method and your bank account.

💡 Wondering how this works? You may want to look at our ultimate WordPress payment processing guide.

That said, not all payment gateways have the same policies, processing rates, and features, so it’s important to choose carefully. Don’t worry, though—I’ve done the research for you.

When I recommend a WooCommerce payment gateway, I don’t just look at flashy features. I have tested how each solution performs in real-world scenarios to ensure it is reliable, secure, and beginner-friendly.

Here are the criteria that I focused on when testing each payment gateway:

🧰 Ease of Use: I checked how easy it is to set up and use each gateway, from connecting it to WooCommerce to customizing the checkout experience.

🌍 Global Availability: I looked at whether the gateway supports multiple countries and currencies. This will be a critical feature if you plan to sell internationally.

💰 Transaction Fees: I compared all the costs involved, including per-transaction fees, monthly charges, and any hidden costs, so you know what you’re signing up for.

⚡ Processing Time: Getting paid fast matters. I tested how quickly the gateways transfer funds to your account after a customer completes their purchase.

🔒 Security: I only recommend gateways that meet strong security standards, including PCI compliance, encryption, and built-in fraud protection.

🎧 Customer Support: If something breaks, I want to know you will have help. That’s why I checked the support options and tested how responsive and helpful their team is.

🔌 WooCommerce Compatibility: Some gateways just work better with WooCommerce than others. I tested how smoothly each one integrates, including plugin compatibility, updates, and overall performance.

Having said that, let’s take a look at the best WooCommerce payment gateways.

1. Stripe

Stripe is the best WooCommerce payment gateway on the market. Several of WPBeginner’s partner brands have been using it across their eCommerce stores, and it continues to impress them with its security, reliability, and ease of use.

Whether we’re launching a new store or scaling an existing one, Stripe is always my first choice, and I recommend it to most of our clients and readers as well.

One of the reasons Stripe stands out is how simple it is to integrate with WooCommerce.

You don’t need to be a developer or worry about complicated setups. The official WooCommerce Stripe addon makes it easy to connect your store and start accepting payments in just a few clicks.

That said, I also like the free Stripe Payment Gateway for WooCommerce plugin, which offers features like an onboarding wizard, express checkout via Google and Apple Pay, and more.

When it comes to transaction fees, Stripe charges the standard 2.9% + 30¢ per successful U.S. transaction.

While there are additional fees for international cards and currency conversions, I’ve found the pricing transparent and fair, considering the quality features and support you get in return.

Stripe is also an excellent option for selling to a global audience. It’s available in 46+ countries and supports payments in 135+ currencies, making it flexible for online stores that want to grow beyond their local market.

Most importantly, Stripe is built with security at its core. It’s PCI-compliant, uses advanced fraud detection tools, and constantly updates its platform to meet the latest standards.

Overall, if you’re looking for a powerful, secure, and beginner-friendly way to accept payments on your WooCommerce store, Stripe is the clear winner.

To get started, see our tutorial on how to accept Stripe payments in WordPress.

Pros of Stripe

• In addition to credit and debit cards, Stripe supports alternative payment methods like Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH bank transfers, and even local payment systems depending on your customer’s location.
• When testing the tool, I found that it offers a great checkout experience. Your customers stay on your website during checkout, and it works smoothly on mobile and desktop.
• Stripe supports recurring payments and can be used with any subscription or WordPress membership plugin.
• It has an intuitive dashboard with a clean design.
• Stripe is known for its super-fast processing speeds and excellent uptime. That means you will get paid quickly, usually within 1-2 business days.
• I appreciate its detailed analytics feature. You can easily view data on your sales performance, track customer payment behaviors, and monitor payouts to your bank account.

Cons of Stripe

• The only thing I dislike about Stripe is that it’s available in fewer countries than options like PayPal.

Why I recommend Stripe: If you are looking for a powerful, secure, and beginner-friendly payment gateway that easily integrates with WooCommerce, then I recommend Stripe.

2. PayPal

PayPal is one of the oldest and most trusted payment services in the world, and it’s also one of the most popular options for online stores. It’s a great option if you want to provide a convenient choice for pre-existing PayPal users.

WooCommerce even comes with an extension for PayPal, which makes the setup process simple and seamless for beginners. I’ve tested it thoroughly across multiple sites, and it just works right out of the box.

Our partner brands also use PayPal in their online stores because many of their customers come from around the world.

In my experience, offering PayPal as a checkout option can significantly increase conversions, simply because it’s a globally recognized and trusted platform.

When it comes to reach, PayPal is available in over 200 countries and regions and supports 25+ currencies. That kind of global coverage is hard to beat if you’re planning to sell internationally.

It even includes language and currency localization, which helps your international customers feel more comfortable and confident when checking out.

In terms of cost, PayPal charges 2.99% + a fixed fee per transaction in the U.S., with slightly different rates for international or currency conversion transactions.

On the security front, it uses advanced encryption to protect all transaction data and is PCI-compliant. It also includes buyer and seller protection policies, which give your customers even more confidence in their purchase.

PayPal is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a reliable, secure, and globally accepted payment gateway for WooCommerce.

For even more information, check out our comparison of Stripe vs. PayPal: which is better.

Pros of PayPal

• PayPal protects customer data using advanced encryption technologies, including SSL. It also offers 24/7 monitoring to prevent unauthorized transactions.
• It accepts credit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal balances.
• The platform has a mobile app for viewing and managing transactions.
• PayPal also supports recurring payments and subscriptions.
• I also like its two-factor authentication (2FA) feature that adds extra security to your account.

Cons of PayPal

• The PayPal extension for WooCommerce requires a PayPal business account.
• I don’t like that it does not offer an on-site checkout experience.

Why I recommend PayPal: PayPal is a solid choice if you are looking for a globally available and trusted payment processor for your WooCommerce store.

3. Square

If you run a WooCommerce store with a physical location, then Square is one of the best payment gateways you can use.

I’ve recommended it to store owners who have both online shops and brick-and-mortar stores, and it’s worked really well for managing all their payments in one place.

What makes Square unique is that it doesn’t just handle online payments, it also gives you a complete Point of Sale (POS) system.

That means you can process in-person payments using the same platform that powers your WooCommerce store. This is ideal if you want to keep inventory and transactions in sync across your online and physical locations.

WooCommerce offers an official Square extension, which I found to be super easy to install and connect.

Once set up, your inventory syncs automatically between your store and your Square POS system, without needing to manually update stock levels.

Square supports all major credit and debit cards, and it also works with popular mobile payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

If you are accepting payments in person, you’ll be glad to know that Square also supports EMV chip cards and contactless payments, which more customers are expecting nowadays in physical stores.

This makes it a great option for both online and in-person transactions. To get started, see our tutorial on how to integrate Square payments in WordPress.

Pros of Square

• As for fees, Square charges 2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction, which is right in line with other leading gateways. In-person rates are usually lower, starting at 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction.
• My research revealed that the tool is available in several countries, such as Canada, the USA, the UK, Japan, and more.
• I like that it offers month-to-month services, meaning you are not locked into a long-term contract.
• Additionally, it supports recurring payments when used alongside the WooCommerce Subscriptions extension.
• It gives detailed sales reports, customer insights, and trends that can help you make smarter business decisions.

Cons of Square

• If you are selling internationally, Square requires you to create separate accounts for each country, each with its own currency.

Why I recommend Square: To accept payments for your online and physical store using a single payment processor, I recommend Square.

4. Authorize.net

Authorize.net is a reliable payment gateway that’s been around for decades. It has built a solid reputation for supporting businesses of all sizes, from small startups to enterprise-level eCommerce brands.

I have recommended Authorize.net to many store owners who want more control over payments, better fraud protection, and a seamless checkout experience.

The Authorize.net for WooCommerce extension makes it easy to integrate, and your customers can pay with credit or debit cards directly in your store.

The payment is processed securely in the background through the platform’s servers, which helps increase trust and reduce cart abandonment.

In my opinion, one of the biggest perks of Authorize.net is its support for WooCommerce Subscriptions, making it a great option if you’re selling recurring memberships, subscription boxes, or online courses.

Customers can even save their payment details securely and reuse them for faster checkouts.

Overall, Authorize.net is versatile, user-friendly, and built for scalability, which is why so many growing businesses rely on it.

Pros of Authorize.net

• It has great fraud detection tools, including AVS (Address Verification Service) and the option to enable CAPTCHA.
• Authorize.net supports mobile payments.
• It generates and emails invoices directly from your Authorize.net account.
• Authorize.net handles PCI compliance and uses tokenization, which means your customers’ card data is never stored directly on your site.
• I like that the tool’s dashboard gives you access to transaction history, performance analytics, and financial reports.

Cons of Authorize.net

• I don’t like that Authorize.net charges a monthly fee for its services, which starts at $25 per month.
• It can be a bit complex to set up for beginners.

Why I recommend Authorize.net: If you plan to sell subscriptions or online courses with WooCommerce, then Authorize.net is a great option.

5. WooPayments

WooPayments is a payment solution provided by the people behind WooCommerce. It offers a smooth WordPress checkout experience that is often more streamlined than other, non-integrated payment gateways.

I’ve seen many new store owners use WooPayments because it’s already built to work smoothly with WooCommerce, and no extra setup or third-party accounts are required.

You can manage your payments, refunds, and deposits right from your WordPress dashboard, which keeps things simple and beginner-friendly.

In terms of transaction fees, WooPayments charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for U.S.-issued cards, which is on par with other top payment processors.

International cards have a slightly higher fee, usually +1%, which is something to keep in mind if you’re selling globally.

Speaking of global sales, WooPayments is currently available in 38 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and much of the EU.

The team behind WooCommerce continues to expand its availability, so more countries are being added regularly.

If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly, no-cost way to start processing payments, WooPayments is a solid starting point

Pros of WooPayments

• I like that the plugin supports over 135 currencies. It also integrates with local payment options like iDEAL, Bancontact, and more.
• Using the WooCommerce Mobile App, you can accept contactless in-person payments directly on your iPhone.
• It comes with security features like 3D Secure, Card Account Updater, and Adaptive Acceptance.
• You can choose a payout schedule that suits your business needs — daily, weekly, monthly, or even on-demand.

Cons of WooPayments

• Although WooPayments covers the basics well, it lacks some of the advanced features that platforms like Stripe offer.
• It is not ideal for a large WooCommerce store.

Why I recommend WooPayments: If you are just starting your WooCommerce store and looking for a simple solution, then I recommend WooPayments.

6. Afterpay

If you want to increase conversions and average order value for higher-priced items, then Afterpay is a great addition to your WooCommerce store.

It allows customers to buy now and pay later in four interest-free installments, which has become a popular payment method, especially among younger shoppers.

I’ve recommended Afterpay to several store owners who sell fashion, electronics, wellness products, and home goods. Simply by giving customers more flexible payment options at checkout, they’ve seen an uplift in sales.

With the official Afterpay for WooCommerce extension, integration is seamless.

The option appears directly on your product and checkout pages, making it easy for customers to choose the ‘Pay in 4’ plan without leaving your site.

Afterpay is currently available in several key markets, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

So if you’re targeting shoppers in those regions, adding Afterpay to your WooCommerce checkout can help reduce friction and make larger purchases more accessible.

Pros of Afterpay

• Afterpay offers extended payment plans ranging from 6 to 12 months, which can be super convenient for larger purchases.
• It can integrate with both online and physical retail stores, allowing customers to use the service wherever they shop.
• I appreciate that Afterpay allows customers to reschedule payments.
• Customers can use the Afterpay Card via Apple Pay or Google Pay, enabling contactless payments.

Cons of Afterpay

• In terms of fees, Afterpay charges merchants a transaction fee starting at around 4-6% plus a small fixed fee per order. This makes it more expensive than other options.
• It won’t be an ideal payment option if you are not selling premium products.

Why I recommend Afterpay: If you want to accept installment payments on your WooCommerce store, then Afterpay is a great solution.

Which Is the Best WooCommerce Payment Gateway?

The best WooCommerce payment gateway is the one that offers the lowest transaction fees, is available in your target region, and offers a better user experience for your customers.

Considering these factors, I would recommend Stripe as the best payment gateway for WooCommerce. It provides a good checkout experience and a competitive transaction rate.

It is also available in many countries and supports 135 currencies. This helps you optimize your customer journey all across the globe, to boost conversion rates and profits.

However, if you are looking for a globally recognized and trusted solution, then PayPal is the better choice. It is secure, reliable, and beginner-friendly.

On the other hand, I would recommend Square if you have a physical and online store and want a single POS system for it.

Similarly, WooPayments is a great option for beginners on a budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions that are frequently asked by our readers about WooCommerce payment gateways.

Can I use multiple payment gateways in my WooCommerce store?

Yes, you can use multiple payment gateways in your online store. WooCommerce makes it easy to offer different payment options so your customers can choose the one they are most comfortable with.

For example, you can accept credit cards with Stripe, let customers pay using PayPal, offer buy now, pay later options like Afterpay, and even accept bank transfers or cash on delivery.

You can enable and manage all of these right from your WooCommerce settings without any special coding. For step-by-step instructions, see our tutorial on how to allow users to choose a payment method in WordPress.

How do I test a payment gateway before going live?

Most WooCommerce payment gateways offer a test mode that lets you simulate transactions without processing real money. This is a safe way to make sure your checkout process is working correctly before your store goes live.

You can test everything from placing orders and verifying payment confirmations to checking email notifications and order statuses.

For example, Stripe provides an easy-to-use test environment where you can use special test card numbers to place orders.

In WooCommerce, all you need to do is enable test mode under the Stripe settings and use the test API keys from your Stripe dashboard.

This way, you can confidently check if everything functions as expected without any actual charges being made. For more information, see our guide on how to test Stripe payments in WordPress.

What is the difference between on-site and off-site payment gateways?

The main difference between on-site and off-site payment gateways is where the payment is completed during checkout.

With on-site payment gateways, the entire transaction happens directly on your website. This means the customer enters their payment details right on your checkout page, and the payment is processed without ever leaving your site.

Gateways like Stripe, WooPayments, and Authorize.Net are good examples of this.

On the other hand, off-site payment gateways redirect customers to a third-party platform (like PayPal or Afterpay) to complete the payment. Once the transaction is done, the customer is brought back to your store.

Related Guides for WooCommerce Payment Gateways

Looking to go beyond just accepting payments? These guides cover everything from improving checkout experiences to boosting conversions and managing payment-related tasks in your WooCommerce store:

• How to Optimize the Customer Journey for WooCommerce Stores
• How to Set Up Installment Payments in WooCommerce
• Ways to Recover WooCommerce Abandoned Cart Sales
• How to Limit Purchase Quantity in WordPress (Step by Step)
• How to Add Trust Badges to Checkout Pages in WordPress (& Boost Sales)
• Ways to Increase WooCommerce Sales (Actionable Tips)
• How to Reduce Stripe Transaction Fees in WordPress (Expert Tips)
• How to Create Invoices for Clients Using WordPress

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