Every business is shifting online, and with that, the payments are going cashless more with each passing day. New and fast payment methods are becoming people’s preference over anything else, especially when they use an eCommerce website. And to help simplify and quicken the payment process, a payment gateway system helps expedite the payments.
At present date, we don’t think twice before putting in our card details for making any e-transaction. And let me tell you, businesses did not earn this trust overnight. They need help to earn this trust among their customers. This was made possible with an eCommerce payment gateway. They have made e-transactions easy, fast, and secure for businesses and customers.
Earlier, each eCommerce service provider used to build its payment gateways, but it had limited payment modes. No sooner, general payment gateways were built to help make eCommerce transactions reliable and quick. Moreover, choosing a payment gateway that caters to your business takes time and effort. And to choose the best payment gateway providers, let us first understand what exactly it is, how it works, and what you should consider before choosing one.
Article content
What is a Payment Gateway?
Payment gateway services are merchant services that process the payments made digitally and for brick-and-mortar stores. It is a technology merchants use to process their customers’ credit card and debit card payments. The payment gateways are user-side interfaces that collect payment information. Moreover, payment gateways now include phone-based payments through QR codes and NFC.
For the brick and Mortar stores, it is the point of sale (POS) that accepts card details through the card or the phone. While for the eCommerce business, They are the payment portals where the user enters their payment credentials. They are a symbolic cash register in e-transactions. Nowadays, many payment gateways are also accepting cryptocurrency.
5 things you should consider before choosing the best Payment Gateway
When choosing an eCommerce payment gateway for your business, you need to consider the factors that are liable to your business and customers. Especially for eCommerce businesses, the factors like security are considered first for a complete experience. The following are vital factors you need to consider while choosing a payment gateway.
Payment modes used by customers
Considering your business model and the payment modes your customers usually prefer, you need to decide which online payment gateway suits your business the best. This will prevent you from running into any more extensive problems. The payment gateway you choose must align with your customers’ payment methods.
Secure Encryption
According to a report, security is a crucial aspect of the online experience for 55% of customers. Here, security is everything. When choosing a secure payment gateway for website, look for a PCI-compliant company. PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, a system of standards that upholds the security provisions for e-transactions.
Payment gateway integration with your existing technology
If you are already an established company, then make sure that the payment gateway you choose must integrate with your present technology. You want to avoid ending up with a slow payment process.
Reputation
A popular payment gateway such as PayPal or Amazon Pay would reduce the bounce rate at the checkout stage since they are well-known. Thus, they built a trust factor through brand recognition.
Payment Flexibility
Firstly, your customer base will be versatile and varied. Their payment preference will be different based on various factors. Hence, it would be best if you made sure the online payment gateway is flexible enough for multiple credit cards, mobile options like Android or Apple Pay, and more.
Best Payment Gateways for your business
The following are some of the best and most well-known payment gateways that you can choose from for your business.
Paypal
One of the most popular payment gateway, Paypal, was established in 2002. It is the first name that pops out when talking about e-transactions. Undoubtedly, its fraud protection security is one of the key reasons for making it a go-to for every business. Indeed, it is more favorable for the customers than the vendors. It is available across 203 countries, plus it accepts multi-currency payments. It is the best option for large enterprises and startups – a complete payment solution.
The following are some key features of PayPal:
- Allows cart integration with almost all eCommerce site builders like WooCommerce, Shopify, and more.
- It offers various payment options
- Accepts all sorts of credit cards- Amex, MasterCard, visa, and more.
You can create or choose from two types of business accounts for PayPal, i.e., a standard business account and payments pro.
The following are the features of the standard and the payments pro PayPal:
| Standard Business Account | Paypal Payments pro |
|---|---|
| Easy set-up | Customization + Personalize checkout experience |
| No fees | Processing fee of 2.9% + $.0 for each transaction |
| 26 currencies in a single account | Open for US, UK, and Canada only |
| Great for an international customer base | It avails virtual terminal and PayPal credit |
Stripe
Stripe is a US-based payment service provider. It is widely popular as well. But one thing that makes it less likable than PayPal is its complicated onboarding experience. However, it is one of the best options for a SaaS business and mobile e-commerce payments.
Moreover, it offers WooCommerce integration for an eCommerce business. Stripe is also available in 21 countries. The following are some of the critical features of stripe:
- Avails automatic payment handling and direct deposit to your account without any redirects.
- Zero set-up fees
- Allows on-site transactions
- Accepts credit cards and crypto-currencies too
- Built-in APIs
- Recurring payments for customers
Authorize.net
Similar to PayPal, Authorize.net avails an advanced fraud detection suite for users for safe payments and to prevent chargebacks from frauds. More importantly, it has a top-tier integration set for wooCommerce.
It is an API function that allows you to customize transactions according to user habits. To conclude, it is an all-in-one payment solution for users and provides a merchant account. Further, it avails you to process various payment methods.
Fees:
- Initial set-up fee: $49
- On-going monthly fee: $25
- Transaction fee: 2.9% + $0.30 each
Amazon Pay
It is an excellent choice for SMEs and offers the same checkout process as Amazon. Since it is API-driven, it allows you to customize your transaction process. However, Amazon Pay is only available in limited countries, including the US, UK, Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Hungary, Luxemburg, and Denmark.
The following are some additional features of Amazon Pay:
- No monthly fees
- Consistent inline checkout
2Checkout
It is one of the best options for a business dealing internationally. As the name goes, 2Checkout offers both checkout optionsâ standard and inline. The standard option is for in-person payments. While the inline refers to the online payment method for your customers. It is suitable for companies dealing in digital services like web hosting, design business, or e-commerce.
The following are some additional features of 2Checkout:
- It accepts all major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, and Diners Club.
- No monthly or set-up fees
Square
It was founded by the co-founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, in 2009. The payment provider is a top choice for in-person payments, particularly in brick-and-mortar stores. However, it easily integrates with e-commerce platforms like Wix, WordPress, and Openchart.
Square is a payment gateway provider that works great for a business that has both an online and offline business presence. The following are the transactional charges for using Square:
- 2.75% fees for swiped transactions
- 3.5% + $0.15 for manually-entered transactions
Skrill
Skrill avails of chargeback and fraud protection with easy integration. It offers an official extension to integrate with WooCommerce. It is available in more than 40 countries. You can make payments through Visa, Diners Club, JCB, and Mastercard for free. However, there are 1.9% checkout transfer fees.
The following are some key features of Skrill:
- Easy integration with third-party shopping carts
- Supporting in-app payments
PayU
PayU is an Indian payment gateway solution, and it has successfully filled the gaps the complex service providers. With its PayuBiz APIs and SDKs, you can easily connect the payment solution to any website, app, or associated third-party system. Further, it allows easy and fast payments for repeat customers by skipping to key in all details. The payment completes in a single tap.
The following are some of the features of PayU:
- Processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Tokenization helps store customers’ card details safely
- Top brands like Netflix, Airbnb & Bookmyshow use PayU
Conclusion
Payment gateways are undoubtedly a vital component of a business. Whether you have a brick-and-mortar store or an eCommerce platform, payment gateways are essential for you. Users seek security and convenience, and speed. Above all, your clientele and business will define your payment gateway needs more than anything.
