My top picks for the best payment gateways are Authorize.net for versatility, PayPal for its integration capabilities, and Square for a free all-in-one setup. They all offer seamless integration and a wide range of supported payment methods.
Many payment gateways are independent, but many modern payment processors include free or affordable built-in payment gateway solutions with merchant accounts. To provide you with the best options, I evaluated dozens of providers based on key payment gateway features, value for money, and ease of use.
The best payment gateways are:
- Authorize.net: Best overall and most versatile
- Payflow by PayPal: Best add-on for ecommerce
- Square: Best free in-person and mobile setup
- Shopify Payments: Best for Shopify merchants
- Stripe: Best for integrations and customizations
- Helcim: Best and cheapest for growing businesses
- 2Checkout (Verifone): Best for international sales
I also included a list of runners-up for their unique features.
- Chase Payment Solutions: Best for free and fast funding
- Amazon Pay: Best for voice commerce
- PaymentCloud: Best for CBD (cannabidiol), tobacco, and other high-risk merchants
Best payment gateways compared
Our Rating (out of 5) | Monthly Account Fee | Payment Gateway Fee | Merchant Account options | Card-not-Present Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.7 | $25 | (Included in account fee) | Standalone, most popular merchant accounts | 10 cents per transaction and 10 cents batch fee |
 | 4.48 | $0 | $0-$25 | Exclusive to PayPal but can work as an add-on | 2.59% - 2.99% + 49 cents |
 | 4.46 | From $0 | $0 | Exclusive to Square | 2.9% + 30 cents |
 | 4.44 | Ecommerce plan ($5-$399) | $0 | Exclusive to Shopify | 2.4%-5% + 30 cents |
 | 4.41 | $0 | $0 | Exclusive to Stripe | 2.9% + 30 cents to 3.4% + 30 cents |
 | 4.36 | $0 | $0 | Exclusive to Helcim | Interchange plus 0.15% + 15 cents - 0.5% + 25 cents |
 | 4.34 | $0 | $0 | Exclusive to 2checkout | 3.5% + 35 cents |
Payment gateways 101: What you need to know
The payment gateway is a customer-facing, transaction-processing platform that collects payment information and transaction data from customers. It mainly refers to online checkouts, but mobile-based payments (wallet and POS apps) also use the same technology.
Payment gateways are often confused with payment processors because most providers have their own. However, some payment gateways are independent and work with many payment processors.
Primary functions of a payment gateway
Before I go into the provider details, let’s establish the role of a payment gateway in the transaction process. This will help you focus your comparisons on key features.
Here’s what a payment gateway does:
- Data capture: Receives the customer’s card information via a checkout form
- Data verification/authentication: Validates the transaction with a set of verification tools
- Data encryption: Scrambles the customer’s transaction data into unreadable code
- Data transfer: Sends the data to the payment processor for processing.
Note that other features, such as transaction fees, chargeback, PCI compliance, and funding speed, depend on the payment processor.
Learn more about payment gateways and how they differ from payment processors.
Why you can trust Fit Small Business
I have eight years of experience reviewing payment systems and a background in finance and payment technology. To create this guide, I compared the pricing and features of 17 popular payment gateways, then scored each one on 21 data points, prioritizing affordability, features, and ease of use. See my full methodology below.
Authorize.net: Best (and most versatile) payment gateway
Pros
- Most reliable/easy to use
- Option for standalone or with merchant account
- Works with high-risk merchants
- Easily connects with most small business software
Cons
- Has a monthly fee
- Card readers are limited and expensive
- Imposes a chargeback fee
- Lacks native one-click payment tools
Overview
Who should use it:
Small and new businesses — whether you already have a merchant account or not, and want a payment gateway that you can keep using even if you switch merchant account providers
Why I like Authorize.net:
Authorize.net is a Visa-owned company and one of the most popular payment gateways that seamlessly integrates with most of the industry’s payment processors, merchant service providers, and point-of-sale (POS) systems. It supports almost all types of payment methods, including PayPal, has advanced card verification tools, and offers competitive online rates for small and growing merchants.
What I like most about Authorize.net is its unmatched integration flexibility. You can opt for the gateway-only plan, pairing it with your own merchant account, or choose the all-in-one package, which simplifies setup with flat-rate processing and a virtual terminal. This versatility suits both DIY-minded merchants and those looking for turnkey solutions.
That said, I find Authorize.net’s interface somewhat dated, and the monthly fees also don’t help. Options like Helcim or Square may be more appealing if you want a fee-free, modern platform. But if integration flexibility and long-term reliability matter most, Authorize.net remains a solid choice.
- Monthly fee:
- All-in-one account: $25
- Payment gateway only: $25
- Card-not-present: 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction, or 10 cents per transaction and 10 cents batch fee
- Card-present processing fee: 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction, or 10 cents per transaction and 10 cents batch fee
- ACH/e-Check processing fee: 0.75% per transaction
- Chargeback fee: $25
- POS system: $0
- Virtual terminal: $0
- Card readers (for VPOS): From $135
Authorize.net is the most popular payment gateway that’s compatible with most payment processors (Source: Authorize.net)
- Robust payment toolkit: Authorize.net can process online, in-person, and virtual terminal payments, and mobile wallets like Apple Pay and even PayPal. It is PCI-compliant and has strong fraud protection. Plus, you can use it to manage subscriptions and recurring payments.
- Popular and easy to integrate: Authorize.net integrates into more than 140 certified solutions from sales to accounting, kiosks to shopping carts, and even other payment providers like PayPal.
- Pays within 24 hours: Most payment processors take a day or two to pay out, except 2Checkout, which pays out each week. Some, like Square, charge extra for same-day payouts.
- Mobile: Authorize.net’s POS app lets you ring up purchases with sales tax and simple notes and accept credit card payments. Users say — especially recently — that they’ve had problems with logins and glitching.
- VPOS for independent use: Virtual Point of Sale (VPOS) is a free tool that lets you accept in-person card payments by connecting a compatible reader to your computer. After installing the software, users simply log in and process transactions with an approved card reader.
Payflow by PayPal: Best add-on gateway for ecommerce
Pros
- Supports international payments
- Free invoicing and POS software
- Known and trusted platform by consumers
- Most affordable in-person flat rate fee
- No long-term contracts
Cons
- High add-on fees
- Complicated fees
- Monthly fee required for virtual terminal and ACH processing
- Lacks B2B payments processing
- Potential for frozen funds
Overview
Who should use it:
Merchants looking to add PayPal payment methods on ecommerce checkouts
Why I like PayPal:
PayPal is a global fintech leader (founded in 1998) that serves as both a well-established payment gateway and processor for businesses and consumers worldwide. A household name, PayPal is highly trusted by shoppers, so much so that adding a PayPal checkout option to your site can help reduce shopping cart abandonment.
Its standalone payment gateway, Payflow, can accept 25 currencies in more than 200 countries, so it’s also a good option for international businesses. But where PayPal truly stands out is its ability to work alongside other payment processors on your website as an add-on. This unique flexibility is why PayPal moved up our ranks behind Authorize.net.
PayPal is among the most popular platforms in this list, and like Square, is also one of the most reviewed. However, this popularity makes it a frequent target of fraudsters. Also, PayPal rates are somewhat pricey, so if you regularly accept cross-border payments, I suggest you also consider 2Checkout and Stripe, which can work with more currencies and countries.
- Monthly account fee: $0
- Monthly gateway fee: $0 to $25
- Monthly recurring billing: $10
- Monthly fraud protection: $10
- Payflow fraud protection per transaction: $0 to 10 cents
- Payflow transaction fee: 10 cents
- In-person processing fees: 2.29% + 9 cents
- Online card processing fees: From 2.59% to 2.99% + 49 cents
- Keyed-in processing: 3.49% + 49 cents
- Monthly virtual terminal: $0 to $30
- Cryptocurrency conversion fee: 1%
- Card reader: $79 ($29 for first reader)
- Chargeback fee: $0 to $20
Aside from the traditional online credit card method, PayPal’s hosted checkout comes built-in with additional checkout options such as PayPal checkout, Pay Later, and Venmo. (Source: PayPal)
- International payments processing: PayPal accepts 25 currencies through its payment gateway.
- Hosted checkout: PayPal is one of the most trusted online payment processors, providing hosted, pre-built, and highly customized checkout pages. It’s easy to set up and integrate, allowing you to start accepting payments in minutes.
- Social media selling: Create a “Buy Now” or “Pay Now” button with PayPal’s payment button generator. You can paste the link on Facebook, Twitter, and most online marketplaces.
- Chargeback protection: Basic chargeback protection is included with PayPal’s payment gateway, but you can also add advanced fraud protection and seller protection.
- Recurring billing payments: PayPal’s invoicing app allows you to automate recurring invoice management. You can create and send invoices and accept card payments, e-checks, and PayPal-exclusive payment methods.
Square: Best for Free Point of Sale
Pros
- No monthly processing fees
- Free specialized POS software
- Offers a CBD merchant program
- Free website builder
- Prebuilt integrations with many website builders and ecommerce platforms
- No long-term contracts
Cons
- Locked into Square Payments
- Limited customer service hours
- Frequent complaints of payment holds and frozen accounts
- Not compatible with most high-risk merchants
Overview
Who should use it:
Small and new businesses looking for a very affordable, easy-to-use, all-in-one POS + payments solution
Why I like Square:
Square, founded in 2009 and now part of Block, Inc., is one of the most recognizable names in payments, offering both a payment gateway and full-service processing for small businesses built into a free POS system.
What I appreciate most about Square is how much functionality it delivers for free, and as a payment gateway, it offers online payment tools at no extra cost. You can accept online payments through shareable links, “Buy Now” buttons, and a virtual terminal that rivals more sophisticated platforms like Stripe. Its mobile card reader can also be connected to your computer with a Square dock, so you can accept keyed-in, tap, and chip payments
That said, Square is not immune to reliability and support issues. While Square is the most popular provider on this list thanks to its ease of use, complaints about frozen funds and slow customer service are common. If stable access to funds is critical, a processor with stronger account support, such as Helcim, may be a better fit.
- Monthly fee: $0 to $165
- Card-present processing fee: 2.6% + 15 cents per transaction
- Keyed-in processing fee: 3.5% + 15 cents per transaction
- Online/Ecommerce rate: 2.9% + 30 cents
- Online invoicing: 3.3% + 30 cents
- ACH processing fee: 1% with $1 minimum
- Rapid Pay fee: 1.75%
- Chargeback fee: Waived up to $250
- Virtual terminal: $0
- Card readers: From $49
Square’s dynamic online checkout easily adapts to desktops and mobile screens (Source: Square)
- Priced for solopreneurs and startups: If you are only an occasional seller, such as a hobbyist, the free software and lack of monthly fees make it among the most affordable.
- Versatility: The ease of use and great mobile app mean you can use it in-store or on the go. It has a virtual terminal for phone orders, a free website/online store, and invoicing for freelancers and B2B. (Others on this list charge for one or both of these features.)
- Free POS with inventory management: While many payment gateways on this list offer POS systems, Square’s is among the most complete, with inventory, reports, and some customer management functions.
- Mobile app and card readers: Square tops our list of the best iPhone credit card readers. Users praise the ease of use and functions. Most complaints are about held funds or frozen accounts, rather than the app itself.
- CBD Merchant Program: Square supports certain types of CBD merchants, allowing some high-risk merchants access to Square’s POS and gateway payment processing tools
Shopify Payments: Best for Shopify ecommerce platform users
Pros
- 14-day free trial
- Accepts international payments
- Includes fast-checkout feature
- Accepts PayPal payments
Cons
- Ecommerce subscription can be pricey
- Advanced reporting only in higher plans
- Very limited offline mode capabilities
- Reports of frozen funds and accounts
Overview
Who should use it:
Ecommerce merchants using (or planning to use) the Shopify ecommerce platform
Why I like Shopify Payments:
With over 5 million online stores and an estimated 700 million customers, our list of online service providers won’t be complete without Shopify. Its built-in payment gateway gives merchants an all-in-one solution for processing transactions directly through their Shopify storefronts.
What I find most valuable about Shopify is how seamlessly payments tie into the broader platform. The gateway supports a wide range of payment methods, including PayPal, and comes with Shop Pay, an accelerated checkout that reduces friction and helps boost conversions. For merchants already invested in Shopify, the convenience of handling storefront, checkout, and payments in one place is hard to beat.
Shopify is a strong competitor to Square as a multichannel payment gateway service and is similarly well-reviewed. However, this means that, like Square, Shopify’s payment gateway is exclusive to Shopify Payments. Businesses seeking a standalone gateway or greater flexibility may be better served by alternatives such as Stripe or Authorize.net.
Learn more about Shopify’s multichannel features from our Shopify ecommerce and Shopify POS reviews.
- Monthly account fee: $5 to $399
- Monthly payment gateway fee: $0
- In-person transaction fees: 2.4% + 10 cents to 2.6% + 10 cents
- Online transaction fees: 2.5% + 30 cents to 2.9% + 30 cents
- Chargeback fee: $15 refundable
- POS software add-on: $0 to $89 per month
- Card readers: $49 to $349
See detailed pricing in our ultimate guide to Shopify.
Shopify’s online payment gateway is customizable and mobile-optimized. (Source: Shopify)
- Integrations: Shopify Payments can be integrated with several third-party checkout services, including cart modification, cross-selling and upselling, and pickup and delivery apps.
- Mobile app: With Shopify Payments, merchants can use Shopify’s mobile app (Shop for iOS and Android) that provides users access to shipping, accelerated checkout via Shop Pay, and package tracking.
- Multicurrency transactions: Using Shopify Payments on your website allows users to sell in multiple currencies and receive payments in their local currency. The checkout page can be configured to detect customer location and filter available local payment options.
- Easy sign-up: Each Shopify account comes with the Shopify Payments service and a merchant account. There is no application and approval process involved other than submitting your proof of business when you sign up for a Shopify online store.
Stripe: Best for integrations and programmability
Pros
- Extremely customizable
- Multitude of integrations, great API
- 24/7 support
- Top security and fraud management
- Quick, easy sign-up
- No long-term contracts, pay-as-you-go billing
Cons
- No native POS
- Service fee for invoicing and recurring billing payments
- Requires some technical expertise
- Mobile app requires code-based customization or third-party purchase
Overview
Who should use it:
Best for tech-savvy businesses looking to customize their online payment platform with developer-based tools
Why I like Stripe:
Stripe is a global payments platform trusted by businesses of every size — from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies. With more than 660 integrations, it’s one of the most versatile gateways available for online, international, and B2B transactions.
But what I like most about Stripe is its developer-friendly flexibility. Its APIs and SDKs are among the strongest in the market, allowing businesses to embed Stripe directly into custom software and mobile apps. This makes it especially appealing for companies that want to build highly tailored checkout experiences or integrate payments deeply into their workflows.
That said, Stripe isn’t without challenges. Merchants consistently praise its customization and advanced tools, but many also note that the technical requirements can be steep. Ease of use can suffer for non-technical users, so businesses without development resources may prefer a more plug-and-play option, such as Square or PayPal.
Learn how Stripe compares with our top payment gateway choice, Authorize.net.
- Monthly fee: $0
- In-person processing fee: 2.7% + 5 cents (card-present), 2.9% + 30 cents (touchless)
- Online processing fee: 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction
- Keyed-in processing fee: 3.4% + 30 cents
- Invoicing service fee: 0.4% with 25 free invoice processing per month or 0.5% per invoice, depending on plan
- Recurring billing service fee: 0.5% per month or 0.8% per invoice, depending on plan
- Discounts for volume sales, multi-products
- Chargeback fee: $15
- Virtual terminal: $0
- Card readers: $59
Stripe’s customizable checkout supports a variety of tools including address and language. (Source: Stripe)
- Billing and subscriptions: Stripe has a free invoice function for up to 25 payment requests per month. It also makes it easy to design a billing system for one-time or recurring payments. You can set up flat rates, multiple pricing, and usage rates (such as for electricity). It integrates with websites, mobile apps, and CRM systems.
- Integrations: Stripe was designed to be easily integrated and has over 660 partners and interfaces in accounting and finance, marketing and sales, operations, payments, and ecommerce. In addition, it has excellent SDK and API functions for creating your own integrations. In fact, Stripe processes over 250 million API requests per day.
- International sales: While we like 2Checkout best for international sales, Stripe is no slouch. With Stripe, you can accept payments in over 135 currencies. It charges extra for processing international credit cards in person, however.
Helcim: Best and cheapest for fast-growing businesses
Pros
- No monthly fee or long-term contracts
- Interchange-plus transaction fees
- Free credit card processing program
- Automated volume discounts
Cons
- Add-on fees for Amex transactions
- Not compatible with high-risk merchants
- Expensive mobile card reader
- Lacks same-day funding options
Overview
Who should use it:
Fast-growing businesses with large-volume sales looking to keep their transaction fees as low as possible
Why I like Helcim:
Helcim is a Canada-based payment processor and gateway known for transparent pricing and affordable rates, particularly for high-volume businesses. With no monthly fees, low chargeback costs, and a feature-rich platform, it’s one of the most budget-friendly options available.
What I like most about Helcim is how easy it makes cost savings. Its interchange-plus pricing is automatically applied, and volume-based discounts kick in without extra setup. On top of that, the gateway API supports real-time card authorization, recurring billing, and refunds management, making it flexible enough to work with websites, carts, or accounting systems.
The biggest drawbacks come down to hardware and funding speed. Helcim’s mobile card readers are more expensive than those of competitors like Square, and it doesn’t offer same-day deposits. For businesses that rely on affordable hardware or need instant access to funds, another provider may be a better fit.
Learn more about zero-cost online card processing.
- Monthly fee: $0
- In-person processing fee: Interchange plus 0.15% + 6 cents to 0.4% + 8 cents
- Online processing fee: Interchange plus 0.15% + 15 cents to 0.5% + 25 cents
- Chargeback fee: $0 to $15 (reversible)
- ACH payments: 0.5% + 25 cents, $5 per return
- Virtual terminal: Included
- Card readers: $99
- Fast funding: Next business day
Helcim’s online checkout page includes a free credit card processing option for merchants who also accept ACH payments.
(Source: Helcim)
- Interchange-plus pricing: Helcim charges a volume-based service fee on top of the actual interchange and card network costs. This pricing model makes it possible to get the lowest rates possible every month automatically, depending on your monthly sales, without having to constantly negotiate for fees.
- International payments: Helcim can process overseas credit card payments. There are no additional fees for currency conversion, as the transactions are subject to your customer’s card network rates.
- Data management: Helcim’s full payment gateway API allows you to securely manage your business data all in one place with over 80 API actions available, including accessing and updating product catalogs and retrieving credit card and bank information.
- Dispute management: Helcim comes with a dispute management dashboard that lists chargeback details, claim statuses, and a link for uploading supporting documents. You can also filter the view depending on dispute status, response due date, and more.
- Zero-cost processing program: “Fee Saver” is Helcim’s zero-cost or free credit card processing program. Merchants accepting ACH payments with Helcim can choose to enable Fee Saver for each transaction. When used, the system automatically detects the type of free credit card processing program available to use based on the card type/network and business location. Customers can choose to pay with ACH instead of a credit card to avoid the fees.
2Checkout (Verifone): Best for global sales
Pros
- No monthly fees
- 45 payment methods
- Global merchant of record
- Over 120 ecommerce integrations
Cons
- Weekly payout
- Expensive flat-rate fees
- Lacks mobile payment
- Chargeback fees determined by a formula
Overview
Who should use it:
Online businesses with primarily international customers looking to save on transaction and conversion fees
Why I like 2Checkout:
2Checkout, now part of Verifone, is a globally focused payment gateway supporting merchants in over 200 countries and more than 100 currencies. It’s designed to simplify international sales by acting as the merchant of record, handling not only payments but also tax management and compliance.
What I like most about 2Checkout is its versatility for global businesses. With over 120 ecommerce integrations, it fits easily into existing online stores and supports a wide range of payment methods. For merchants expanding internationally, this combination of reach and compliance makes it a strong contender.
However, there is clear room for improvement for this payment gateway. It lacks a true mobile payment option and relies on expensive flat-rate fees, which can cut into margins, especially for higher-volume businesses. Merchants that need mobile POS support or more cost-efficient pricing may find Stripe or Helcim better suited to their needs.
Learn more ways to accept credit card payments online.
- Monthly fee: $0
- Processing fee: 3.5% + 35 cents to 6% + 60 cents
- Online transaction fee: 3.5% + 35 cents
- Chargeback fee: Varies
- Hardware sold by third parties
2Checkout’s payment gateway supports 100 currencies in over 200 countries around the globe. (Source: 2Checkout)
- Shopper myAccount: 2Checkout has a unique tool, myAccount, for your customers. It lets them see all the items they’ve purchased using 2Checkout (i.e., from your store and others that use this payment gateway). They can make changes to personal information and payment methods and contact support.
- International sales: You can process sales for over 200 countries and 45 different payment methods in 100 currencies. This includes recurring billing and individual sales. The highest plan has global VAT and sales tax collecting and handling—something you won’t find with the other payment gateways in this guide.
- Award-winning coding: 2Checkout has won multiple awards for its platform and programming, including awards from review sites like G2. It was also a finalist in the 2021 CODiE Awards and 2021 Cloud Awards.
- Add-on tools: Like Square, 2Checkout offers several add-ons to upgrade your plan. However, these are more focused on payment processing than POS. You can get tools for increasing conversion rates and A/B testing, complex subscription management, renewal recovery (like updating expired cards), networking with over 50,000 affiliates, and dedicated customer support.
Notable Runners-up:
The following payment gateway providers did not make the list but offer standout, noteworthy features:
PaymentCloud: Best payment gateway for high-risk merchants
Not every payment gateway will work with high-risk merchants and those that do often have higher rates and more problematic services. PaymentCloud offers great service and a true focus on this subset of the retail world. It does not disclose rates, which is common for high-risk processors, as the specific fees will vary for each business and the level of risk involved. However, the provider offers competitive setups, especially for its client type.
PaymentCloud earned an overall score of 4.15 out of 5 based on our evaluation criteria and (apart from Authorize.net) stands out for its good reputation of working with high-risk industries. In fact, it continues to rank No. 1 on our list of the best high-risk merchant accounts. PaymentCloud does not charge setup, annual, or cancellation fees, which is a plus.
Chase Payment Solutions: Best payment gateway for fast and free funding
Chase Payment Solutions® is a direct processor that offers merchant services to SMBs. While it is possible to enroll in Chase Payment Solutions® with a different business banking service, you get the best value (and fastest payouts) when you also enroll in Chase Business Checking. As such, it’s a great choice for new businesses needing a checking account, a business credit card, and more. Like Authorize.net Chase has a large number of integrations and partnerships.
Chase earned an overall score of 4.16 out of 5. Feature-wise it’s up to par with most payment gateway functionalities of those that have made our list. Chase has local bank partnerships to support international payments like 2Checkout. It even has better in-person payment processing capabilities than Stripe. However, I had to dock major points for chargeback fees and ease of setup. I also took into account the recent data breach which caused Chase more points in our evaluation.
Amazon Pay: Best payment gateway for add-on voice commerce
I found Amazon Pay to be one of the easiest and most popular ecommerce credit card processing options. It’s an excellent add-on if you want voice commerce options for your customers, with its order with Alexa function making it stand out from competitors. Like PayPal, Amazon Pay accepts international payments, and its streamlined checkout can reduce cart abandonment while improving the customer checkout experience.
Amazon Pay scored 4.26 out of 5 for this update. Unlike most small business payment systems, it does not have a POS or mobile payment option and takes 20 to 30 days to approve merchant applications. If you need something for online sales now, consider Stripe, Square, and Authorize.net.
Methodology: How I evaluated the best payment gateways
To complete this guide, I examined an extensive list of merchant services, payment processors, and payment gateways that we’ve researched over the years and narrowed them down to those that provide small businesses with reliable and popular gateways at reasonable prices. Then, I compared and tested each provider based on the quality of features, reputation, and ease of use.
I chose Authorize.net as the best payment gateway. As the only pure payment gateway in my list, Authorize.net is also often mentioned in conjunction with the best credit card readers, virtual terminals, and other software, as it is compatible with most merchant account services and payment processors. It continues to take the top spot for this guide.
Click through the tabs below for our full evaluation criteria:
20% of Overall Score
Most providers avoid rigid contracts, but some still charge monthly fees for lower rates. I scored highest for transparent, contract-free pricing and fast setup. Providers with long agreements or cancellation penalties lost points for limiting flexibility.
30% of Overall Score
Most gateways cover mobile and ecommerce, but cross-border and Level 2/3 data are less common. I rewarded platforms with advanced checkout and recurring billing that expand reach. Added fees or restrictions on high-risk businesses lowered scores.
30% of Overall Score
Strong security and fraud protection are table stakes, but the best gateways pair these with round-the-clock service and flexible checkout options. I rewarded platforms that integrate easily across processors and include reporting at no extra cost. Providers that restrict access or charge for essentials lost ground.
20% of Overall Score
This catch-all value score considers pricing, transparency, ease of use, popularity, and integrations. I relied on my experience when researching, testing, and using these products and the feedback of long-term customers through user reviews on third-party site
How to choose the best payment gateway in 4 steps
To find the most suitable payment gateway provider for your business, follow these steps:
Step 1: Decide if you want a built-in or independent payment gateway
Your first decision is whether to use a built-in gateway that comes bundled with your merchant account or an independent provider that works separately. A built-in gateway is often the simplest option for small businesses or those just starting out. It reduces setup time, integrates seamlessly, and comes with fewer technical requirements.
On the other hand, independent gateways are best for merchants who want more flexibility, better control over features, and the option to switch processors without changing their entire payment system. Choosing the right approach upfront helps ensure your payment setup matches both your current needs and your long-term growth plans.
Read our guide on merchant accounts to find out which one is best for your business, or explore our guide on the best merchant services.
Step 2: Identify merchant service providers that work best with your business model
Businesses will need a merchant account to start accepting payments from a payment gateway. And since no business is created equal, not all merchant services and payment providers available can benefit all business types. To help you choose the best online payment processing system with a payment gateway, check out our recommendations for online payments, international payments, high-risk, B2Bs, and nonprofits.
Step 3: Compare available payment gateway tools against your business needs
Once you have your list of potential merchant service providers, start listing features that your business needs from a payment gateway. Do you need to accept alternative payment modes? Do you require invoicing? Compare your requirements against what your potential providers support and narrow down your list further based on the best match.
When choosing, look out for:
- Payment method options: Credit and debit cards, HSA and FSA cards, gift cards, ACH, e-checks, wire transfers
- Payment types: Via invoicing, recurring billing, stored-card payments, multicurrency, level 2 and 3 data processing
- Payment security features: Tokenization, encryption, fraud detection tools, PCI security
Most payment processors offer a varied combination of payment types and payment methods so it’s up to you to identify which provider will complement the way you want to accept payments.
Step 4: Compare monthly and transaction fees
Now that your remaining potential providers all meet your payment gateway requirements, it’s time to look into the fees. By default, merchant and payment service providers charge monthly and transaction fees. Some even charge an additional monthly cost for certain services—including the use of their payment gateway.
Monthly account fees and transaction fees vary depending on the payment processor’s pricing structure:
- Payment gateway with no monthly fees: Often used by startups and small businesses on a budget. There are no monthly fees and no long-term contracts, but the transaction costs are based on a flat rate. The average card-present flat rate is around 2.6% while the average online flat transaction rate is at 2.9%.
- Subscription-based payment gateway: This type of pricing structure is used mostly by high-volume or fast-growing businesses. There are monthly fees that start at $4.99 to as high as $199 but the transaction costs are based on interchange plus rates that are much cheaper so businesses with large volumes of sales end up with huge savings. Find out more about interchange fees.
It’s important to point out that the lowest listed pricing may not always be the most affordable for your business. Use payment processing calculators to help get you an estimate of monthly costs for each provider, as these take into account your business sales volume. Use our payment gateway fee calculator above or visit our recommendation for the cheapest credit card processors.
Once you have made your choice, you can start signing up for a merchant account. If you need help, download our free merchant account application guide to help you get started.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
These are some of the questions I frequently encounter about payment gateway providers for small businesses.
Start by looking at how well a gateway performs its core functions, capturing customer payment data, verifying and authenticating the transaction, encrypting sensitive information, and securely transferring it to the processor. From there, compare providers based on fees, supported payment methods, ease of integration, and security tools. The best gateway is the one that balances reliable performance with the specific features your business needs.
A payment gateway encrypts and transfers customer payment data to a processor. The processor verifies the transaction and manages fund transfers between banks. So while often bundled together, they serve distinct roles.
Not in every case. ACH transfers and other direct bank payments can be processed without a gateway, though many providers include it to unify all payment types on one platform. For card payments, gateways are necessary for ecommerce, mobile POS systems, and digital wallets, but traditional countertop card terminals route transactions through processors directly and don’t rely on gateway technology.
Platforms like Stripe, Helcim, and Authorize.Net are known for strong recurring billing capabilities, including automated billing cycles and dunning management.
Yes, leading providers use advanced encryption and fraud detection tools to protect sensitive data, and they adhere to industry security protocols. It’s important to note, however, that PCI-DSS compliance is the responsibility of the payment processor, not the gateway itself. Still, most gateways partner with PCI-compliant processors to ensure secure end-to-end transactions.
Bottom line
Very few merchants, even hobbyists or solopreneurs, can get by without taking credit card payments. Fortunately, there is a wide range of payment gateways that work well with small businesses. Those that made our list are among the best for price, service, and POS or virtual terminals that help make it easy to take credit card payments.
Authorize.net earned top billing in this guide for its popularity, versatility, and integrations. It offers a full-service payment processing plan or can work as a gateway with the merchant provider of your choice. It charges a monthly fee, but if you need a reliable payment gateway, it’s worth considering. Sign up for an Authorize.net subscription today.