WooCommerce Payment Gateways

If you’re running a new eCommerce business on WordPress and need a payment system, WooCommerce has a lot of options that you may feel overwhelmed by. To make your task easier, we’ve crafted a list of the best payment gateways that work well with WooCommerce. This guide will walk you through the various aspects of selecting a payment gateway, so you can get back to your business. Additionally, you’ll learn about payment gateways and why they are necessary to accept payments on your WordPress site.

Let’s start!

First, let’s clarify what WooCommerce payment gateways are. A payment gateway is a platform that enables you to accept payments without having to go through heaps of legal and financial issues. Using a third-party platform for this task takes the hassle out of the equation, providing a convenient and safe way to process payments.

The gateway encrypts your customers’ details, such as their card numbers, expiry dates, and other personal information, making the transaction more secure. Popular payment gateways include Stripe, PayPal Pro, and Authorize.net.

There are two choices for providing a payment gateway on your website:

• having the form hosted directly on the store, which will prevent the customer from ever having to leave,
• provide a link for the customer to click and be redirected to the payment gateway’s website (e.g. PayPal).

It is generally preferable to have the form hosted on your website since it decreases the stress associated with making a purchase and reduces the number of steps the customer must take.

It is fairly straightforward to set up a payment gateway. All you need to do is create an account through one of the recommended services, link it to a business or personal bank account, and integrate it with your web page. Typically, there are plugins available to generate WooCommerce connections with services like Authorize.net or Stripe.

After it is established, you can start customer purchases. There will be a secure link that is opened when they make their payment; WooCommerce receives a “success” notification after approval, and the transaction is finished. After the purchase is complete, the amount will be transferred to your bank account in either a moment or within a couple of days, depending on the gateway. All of this should happen within a matter of seconds.

And if you are interested in some technical nuances, here they are.

When your customer pays using your WooCommerce shop, the payment gateway goes through a few significant steps. First, it sends the payment through the store server and then conveys the payment from the payment portal to the issuing bank, seeking approval.

Depending on the response from the bank, the request for authorization can be either declined or accepted. The response is transferred back to the payment gateway through the merchant server and it lets the customer keep going with the purchase. The entire process takes only a few seconds.

To incorporate a payment gateway into your WordPress site using a plugin, these are the steps to take:

1. Download or buy the appropriate payment gateway plugin.
2. Log in as an admin from the WordPress sidebar menu.
3. Then, click on ‘Upload’ and ‘Choose File’ from the given option.
4. Select ‘OK’ then ‘Install Now’.
5. Next, trigger the plugin you just installed.
6. Go into the ‘Settings’ of WooCommerce, followed by ‘Payment Methods’.
7. Adjust the WooCommerce payment gateway to fit your website and requirements.

Generally, many WooCommerce stores provide the same payment methods. It is important to stand out from the competition by providing other payment options for customers. Here are the most successful WooCommerce payment gateways to consider for your online store:

Stripe

Stripe is the go-to payment gateway for receiving card payments on websites. It is already integrated with WooCommerce, allowing debit and credit cards to be used. Furthermore, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Alipay can be used too. Stripe is supported in 45+ countries and can process 135+ types of currency – with no set-up fees or annual fees, customers are only charged 2.9% + $30 for transactions. This gives customers a seamless checkout experience whilst on the site, with mobile and desktop both supported. Recurring payments are also available via Stripe, making it possible to utilize any subscription or WordPress membership plugin.

Amazon Pay

Amazon Pay is a payment service available through Amazon. Utilizing this feature, customers can pay for your items with their Amazon account. The authentication step would require an email address and password, so it is essential to have an active Amazon account. The biggest plus point is that customers do not have to enter any payment information on a third-party website. Amazon handles the entire process and is the connecting link between the customer and the store.

Apple Pay

Apple Pay is an Apple-made payment system that is exclusively for iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and other useful iOS devices. Utilizing a customer’s personal password, Face ID, or Touch ID before a payment is made ensures a heightened level of secrecy and offers greater protection against fraud or identity theft. Apple Pay facilitates a smooth, visually appealing checkout process that is easy to use, just like most of Apple’s other items. Stripe’s WooCommerce integration even permits Apple Pay integration, so it could be used on mobile or desktop with a one-click checkout reducing the checkout time by almost 60%, which makes this system especially strong.

AliPay

If you work with overseas clients, Alipay could be a great addition to your WooCommerce payment solution. Being the main mode of payment used in China, it’s option is available to customers in over 200 countries and handles transactions of several currency types, including AUD, EUR, CAD, HKD, SGD, GBP, USD, and RNB/CNY. With security being a top priority, Alipay offers a 100% money-back guarantee in the event of fraud and a 90-day payment protection policy. In addition to its traditional checkout system, it also provides a platform to allow for automated payments on future transactions, making it ideal for someone with an extremely disparate international customer base looking to maximize their revenue.

Square

Square is a well-designed payment gateway that is popular for its white square devices and is easy to use, primarily targeted towards stores where customers are able to purchase products in person. It also has the capacity to be used for e-commerce or for online-only stores. There are a wide variety of features to support running a business, such as different shipping options, tracking, in-person pickup, and a plugin that enables customers to pay via Apple Pay and Google Pay with WooCommerce integration when in-person and online.

This provides great opportunities, such as the potential to accept payments from almost anywhere while on the move, such as during a business trip, conference, or when commuting. Square is a perfect choice for small enterprises that sell physical products.

PayPal Pro

Many are knowledgeable about PayPal, which is an old and extensively utilized payment portal. Its business solution is called PayPal Pro and is simple to set up and can be used all over the world, offering assistance to more than 200 countries. It is also exceptionally secure, containing anti-fraud features such as Automatic fraud screening and the Seller Protection Policy. Furthermore, PayPal Pro has a plugin that works with WooCommerce, allowing for quick and direct connection with your WooCommerce store. Checkouts can happen all in one page, so customers won’t be kicked off your page, doing away with the risk of abandoned carts.

Authorize.net

Authorize.net is a great WooCommerce payment gateway option that allows for easy integration and efficient payment processing. It lets customers pay with credit cards and e-checks, and since it keeps customers on your website to process the payment, they do not need to be redirected away, creating a feeling of safety and trust. All major credit cards such as Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover, JCB, and Diners Club are accepted, with the logos of the cards presented at checkout. This plugin also comes with an intuitive dashboard that simplifies payments, presenting them in a grid to make everything clearer for both customers and vendors.

Conclusion

The most ideal WooCommerce payment gateway for any specific store depends on the terms of the relevant market and targets. Factors such as charge rates, accessibility in a certain region, as well as the user experience for customers must be taken into consideration. Although all of these payment gateways work well with WooCommerce, some serve better in certain situations than others.

Taking all of this into account, Stripe is most likely the best option for payment on WooCommerce. It has a smooth checkout process and service fees that are competitive.

However, keep in mind that your customers in certain countries may not be able to purchase from you. PayPal, Authorize.Net, Apple Pay, and Amazon Pay are all viable options, although PayPal does not provide the best checkout experience, which is why customers might abandon their carts.