Integrating a payment gateway into your WooCommerce store is a critical step to ensuring smooth and secure transactions for your customers. With so many options available, choosing the right payment gateway can be a bit difficult, especially if you’re new to eCommerce.
In this article, we will learn about everything from understanding what a WooCommerce payment gateway is, to selecting the best one for your needs, and even setting it up on your site.
What is a WooCommerce Payment Gateway?
WooCommerce Payment Gateway is a WordPress plugin that helps WooCommerce stores to accept online payments.
WooCommerce provides four main payment options for any store: Cash on Delivery (COD), Cheque, Direct Bank Transfer, and PayPal standard. The first three don’t involve online payments, while PayPal redirects customers to its site for payment.
To enable smooth online payments on your eCommerce store, you need a payment gateway. This works like the card machines at physical stores, securely transferring money from your customer’s account to yours.
WooCommerce has over 80 payment extensions available in its marketplace. You can easily add these extensions or download a WordPress payment plugin. Setting it up on your platform requires just a few configurations and settings, without any requirement of coding knowledge.
How to Choose the Best WooCommerce Payment Gateway?
There are multiple WooCommerce payment gateways available in the market and choosing the best one amongst them depends on your business needs. Here are some key pointers to consider when choosing one:
- WordPress Integration: Choose a plugin that works well with WooCommerce and WordPress to ensure smooth transactions and a seamless checkout experience.
- Pricing: Payment gateway charges different types of fees such as transaction fees, maintenance fees, platforms fees, chargeback fees etc. So, look for the types of charges a payment gateway incurs while searching for the best payment gateway for WooCommerce.
- Payment Methods: Ensure the gateway supports the payment methods your customers prefer. For instance, if your customers are from India, UPI supporting solution would be ideal.
- Recurring Payments: If you offer subscriptions, then choose a provider that supports automatic recurring payments and handles subscriptions on credit cards, cancellations, and re-activations.
- Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL): Consider a gateway that supports BNPL, offering benefits like faster purchases, higher conversions, and increased average order values.
- Checkout Experience: An easy and smooth checkout process helps reduce cart abandonment. Therefore, choose a gateway that helps increase conversions.
- Easy Onboarding: When you sign up with a provider, you’ll need to provide legal and tax documents for verification, along with verifying your merchant account for payouts. Ensure the onboarding process is straightforward.
- Responsive Design: The checkout page should be mobile-friendly and work well on all devices including phones and tablets.
Top 10 WooCommerce Payment Gateways
Some of the top 10 WooCommerce Payment Gateways include PayPal, Stripe, Square, Razorpay, Cashfree, and more. Let’s read about them in depth below:
1. Payflow (Formerly PayPal Payment Gateway)
PayFlow is a secure and convenient way to pay and get paid online. It allows you to link multiple credit and debit cards, making online shopping flexible and easy. PayPal payment gateway now referred to as Payflow, offers Buyer Protection, ensuring refunds for eligible purchases that don’t meet expectations.
Features of Payflow, PayPal Payment Gateway
- Secure Transactions: Payflow uses advanced encryption to protect your financial information.
- Flexible Payments: Allows you to link multiple cards and choose your preferred payment method at checkout.
- Easy Setup: Simple to set up and start using for both individuals and businesses.
Best For
Individuals looking for a safe, flexible, and widely accepted method for online payments.
2. Stripe
Stripe is an online payment processing platform that offers a simple way for companies to manage their finances, including billing and subscriptions. It is known for its robust security measures, ensuring that all transactions are safe and secure.
Features of Stripe
- Global Payments: Accept payments in multiple currencies from anywhere in the world.
- Subscription Management: Tools to manage recurring billing and subscriptions.
- Comprehensive Dashboard: Detailed analytics and reports to track business performance.
Best For
Stripe is best for companies that need to manage subscriptions, recurring billing, or have an international customer base.
3. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a flexible and open-source eCommerce platform built for WordPress, enabling users to create their online store. It offers a range of customization options, making it easy for anyone to design their store exactly how they want. With WooCommerce, you can sell both physical and digital products, manage inventory, and process payments seamlessly.
Features of WooCommerce
- Customizable Store Design: Allows users to choose from a variety of themes and extensions to create a unique online store.
- Product Management: Enables you to easily manage your products, including adding new items, setting prices, and tracking inventory.
- Shipping Options: Allows you to configure shipping rates, methods, and zones to deliver products worldwide.
Best For
Perfect for WordPress users who want to integrate eCommerce capabilities into their existing website.
4. Amazon Pay
Amazon Pay is a digital wallet and online payment service by Amazon. It allows users to make secure and fast payments on Amazon and other websites. Amazon Pay offers an easy way to manage transactions using your Amazon account. It provides a seamless checkout experience with saved payment details.
Features of Amazon Pay
- Seamless Integration: Works smoothly with Amazon and other partner sites.
- Rewards and Cashback: Allows users to earn rewards and cashback on transactions.
- Bill Payments: Pay utility bills, mobile recharges, and more through the platform.
Best For:
Online shoppers who frequently use Amazon and want to earn rewards and cashback on their purchases.
5. Square
Square payment is a versatile payment gateway that allows businesses to accept credit card payments both online and in person. It provides a range of tools, including invoicing, inventory management, and customer engagement, to help small businesses grow. It features transparent pricing with no hidden fees, ensuring that businesses know exactly what they are paying.
Features of Square
- Point of Sale (POS) System: Square’s POS system is easy to use and can be set up on a tablet or smartphone.
- Online Payments: Supports online transactions through a customizable online store or integration with e-commerce platforms.
- Invoicing: Businesses can send professional invoices and accept payments directly from the invoices.
Best For:
Square is best for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an all-in-one payment processing solution.
6. Nimbbl
Nimbbl is a payment gateway that provides a smooth and secure payment experience for businesses and customers. It offers a variety of payment options, including credit/debit cards, net banking, and digital wallets. The platform is designed to make integrating with existing websites and apps easy, making it convenient for businesses to start processing payments quickly.
Features of Nimbbl
- Multiple Payment Methods: Supports multiple payment options like credit/debit cards, net banking, digital wallets, etc.
- Easy Integration: Provides straightforward integration with websites and mobile applications via user-friendly APIs and plugins.
- High Security: Implements advanced security measures and encryption protocols to safeguard transaction data and prevent fraud.
Best For
Online stores that need a reliable and secure payment gateway. Apart from that, it is great for app developers who need seamless payment integration for their applications.
7. Razorpay
Razorpay for WooCommerce is a versatile payment gateway that helps businesses accept, process, and disburse payments with ease. It offers a range of payment options, including credit/debit cards, net banking, UPI, and digital wallets. Apart from that, it also helps in managing subscriptions, invoicing, and financial reporting, making it a comprehensive tool for businesses.
Features of Razorpay
- Customizable Checkout: Offers customizable checkout pages to match your brand’s look and feel.
- Automated Billing: Includes tools for managing recurring payments and subscription billing.
- Comprehensive Dashboard: Provides detailed dashboard for tracking payments, generating reports, and managing transactions.
Best For
Businesses that need recurring billing and subscription management.
8. PayU India
PayU is a popular payment gateway that helps businesses accept online payments securely and easily. It is known for its fast and reliable payment processing, which is important for both online merchants and their customers. The platform supports multiple currencies which makes it a great choice for businesses dealing with international customers.
Features of PayU
- Multiple Payment Methods: Supports payment options like credit cards, debit cards, net banking, and popular digital wallets.
- Easy Integration: Integrates smoothly with various e-commerce platforms and websites, making setup simple.
- Real-Time Reporting: Businesses can access detailed reports and analytics on transactions, helping them track their sales and payments effectively.
Best For:
Online merchants who require a secure way to process payments from customers around the world.
9. Cashfree
Cashfree is a payment gateway that simplifies transactions by offering a wide range of payment options, including credit/debit cards, net banking, and UPI. This makes it easy for customers to pay in their preferred way. With features like automatic reconciliation and real-time reporting, Cashfree helps businesses manage their finances efficiently.
Features of Cash free
- Quick Integration: Offers simple integration with websites and mobile apps, reducing setup time for businesses.
- Automated Reconciliation: Automatically matches payments with invoices to streamline accounting processes.
- Fraud Prevention: Includes advanced security features to protect against fraudulent transactions and data breaches.
Best For
Suitable for both small and large enterprises that want quick setup, multiple payment options, and efficient financial management tools.
10. Authorize.Net
Authorize.Net is a reliable payment gateway that helps businesses accept credit cards and electronic check payments online. It provides secure and easy transactions for e-commerce, mobile, and in-person payments. With Authorize.Net, businesses can streamline their payment processing and improve customer satisfaction.
Features of Authorize.Net
- Fraud Detection Suite: Offers advanced fraud detection tools to protect businesses from fraudulent transactions.
- Customer Information Manager: Allows businesses to store customer payment details securely for faster future transactions.
- Simple Checkout: Provides easy integration with customizable payment forms for a seamless checkout experience.
Best For:
Authorize.Net is best for small to medium-sized businesses looking for various payment methods and offers robust fraud protection.
How to Integrate Payment Gateway in WooCommerce?
For WooCommerce payment integration, you can follow the steps mentioned below:
Install WooCommerce
Make sure you have WooCommerce installed and activated on your WordPress website. If not, go to the WordPress dashboard, click on “Plugins,” then “Add New,” search for WooCommerce, and install it.
Choose a Payment Gateway
Decide which payment gateway you want to use. Popular options include PayPal, Stripe, and Razorpay. Each gateway has its own set of features, so pick one that best suits your needs.
Install the Payment Gateway Plugin
Go to the WordPress dashboard, click on Plugins>Add New, and search for the payment gateway plugin you want to use. Install and activate the plugin.
Configure the Payment Gateway
Once the plugin is activated, go to WooCommerce in the WordPress dashboard > click on Settings > and select the Payments tab. You can now see the list of payment gateways that you have installed.
Click on the payment gateway you want to configure and fill in the required details. For example, if you’re using Payflow, you’ll need to enter your Payflow email address. For the WooCommerce Stripe gateway, you’ll need to input your API keys, which you can get from your Stripe account.
Enable the Payment Gateway
After entering the required details, make sure to check the box to enable the payment gateway. Click on Save Changes to apply your settings.
Test the Payment Gateway
Now, you can test your payment gateway if it is working fine by making a small test purchase on your website. If the transaction goes through, your payment gateway has been successfully integrated.
Go Live
If everything works fine during the testing phase, your payment gateway is ready. You can finally make it live and customers can make payments at your WooCommerce store.
How to Set Up a WooCommerce Payment Gateway Plugin?
Setting up your WooCommerce custom payment gateway on a WordPress website is quite simple. Once you have your WordPress site ready and have chosen a payment provider, follow these steps:
- Install the WooCommerce Plugin: First, create an account with your payment provider. Download the WooCommerce payment plugin zip file and upload it to the plugin folder on your WordPress site.
- Configure Payment Settings: Go to the Admin panel, navigate to Settings, and click on the Payments tab. You will see the newly installed extension. Click on Enable.
- Enter Provider Details: Click on Manage and input the details provided by your payment gateway provider. Now, you are good to go.
FAQs Related to Payment Gateway for WooCommerce
How do I add a payment gateway to WooCommerce?
To add a payment gateway to WooCommerce, you need to go to the admin dashboard of your WordPress. Then go to WooCommerce and select Payments. After that, go to Check Payments to explore the list of payment methods and enable it. Next, after enabling the Check payments, click Set up to configure the required payment method.
What is the best payment gateway for WooCommerce in India?
Some of the best payment gateways for WooCommerce in India include Stripe, Cashfree, PayUMoney, Razorpay, Payflow by PayTM, and more.
Does WooCommerce have its own payment gateway?
Yes, WooCommerce has its own payment gateway which is called WooPayments.
Are WooCommerce payments available in India?
Yes, WooCommerce payments are available in India which include International Mastercard, International Visa card, UPI, Rupay, Amazon Pay, Phonepe, Google Pay, and more.
What is the best way to take payments on WooCommerce?
WooPayments provides you with the complete flexibility to take payments via credit/debit cards, and checkout options including WooPay.
Namrata is a skilled content writer with an expertise in writing marketing, tech, business-related topics, and more. She has been writing since 2021 and has written several write-ups. With her journey with Techjockey, she has worked on different genres of content like product descriptions, tech articles, alternate pages,... Read more