Best Payment Gateway in 2024

What is a Payment Gateway?

Businesses can’t think of running a business online without a payment gateway. It is a platform that makes online payments happen. When you buy something on a website, the payment gateway securely takes your payment information and then approves or declines the payment. If the payment is approved, it transfers the money from your bank to the seller's bank. It's like a digital cashier that makes sure online payments are safe and go through smoothly.

Here is a breakdown on how payment gateway works:

• Customer Makes a Purchase: A customer decides to buy something from your website. They choose how they want to pay and enter their payment details.
• Payment Gateway Sends the Info: The payment gateway securely sends the customer's payment details to the bank. The bank checks if the customer has enough money to make the purchase.
• Bank Approves or Declines: The bank decides if the payment can go through or not and sends this decision back to the payment gateway.
• Notification Sent: The payment gateway tells both the customer and the business if the payment was approved or declined.
• Transaction Completed: If the payment is approved, the money is taken from the customer's account or credit card, and the business gets the money. The customer then receives a confirmation of their purchase.

Benefits Of Benefits of Using a Payment Gateway Software

Using payment gateway software can make running your online store much easier. Let's look at the benefits in a simple way:

1. Safety First: Payment gateways keep your customers' money safe. They use special codes to protect credit card and bank information, so nobody can steal it. This makes customers feel secure when buying from your website.
2. Easy to Use: Payment gateways make buying things online quick and easy. Customers can pay with just a few clicks, without leaving your site. This simple process makes people happy and more likely to buy from you again.
3. Builds Trust: When customers see that you use a trusted payment gateway, they know their money is safe. This trust makes them feel good about shopping on your website, which can lead to more sales and happy customers.
4. Saves Time: Payment gateways handle all the hard work of processing payments. This means you don’t have to do it manually. Everything happens automatically, saving you time and reducing mistakes.
5. Many Ways to Pay: A good payment gateway lets customers pay in different ways, like using credit cards, debit cards, or digital wallets (like PayPal). This gives them more choices and makes it easier for them to buy what they want.
6. Sell Everywhere: Payment gateways allow you to sell to people all over the world. They can pay in their own currency, making it easy for international customers to shop on your site.

How to choose the best payment gateway for your business?

You need to consider various factors to find the best payment gateway for your business. These are:

1. Fees and cost: One of the most important things to consider while looking for a payment gateway for your business is fees you will incur. There are typically three types of cost included- Set up fees, maintenance fees and transaction fees. So, look for the most cost-effective solution for your business. Check for any monthly fees, maintenance charges etc before finalising the gateway. Moreover, the transaction charges often range between 1-3% of the transaction amount.
2. Payment methods supported: Another factor to consider is the types of payment methods supported by the payment gateway. Look for most common payment methods like Credit and Debit Cards, ACH Payments, Digital Wallets, Cryptocurrency etc. Moreover, look for more regional payment methods like UPI and Net banking.
3. Fast settlements: Sometimes the payment gateway can hold the money you receive from your customers online before it settles in your bank account. So, check whether the gateway offers quick settlements or not. Faster settlements improve cash flow and financial management.
4. Easy Integration: Check how easily the payment gateway can be integrated with the other platforms. A well-integrated payment gateway can eliminate the need for manual data entry between your shopping cart, accounting software, CRM, or other platforms. This saves time, reduces errors, and improves overall efficiency. The integration process should be straightforward and not require extensive technical expertise.
5. Guest checkout: Guest checkout is an ecommerce feature that allows customers to make purchases without creating an account. It can simplify the buying process, by reducing the need to enter extra information like account names and passwords.
6. Security Features: Security is crucial when you are handling online payments. A secure payment gateway protects your customers’ sensitive information (like credit card details) from hackers and fraudsters. Make sure your payment gateway has strong security features that helps build trust with your customers and protects your business from potential legal issues.
7. Support: Last but not least, while looking for the best payment gateway is support. Lok if they provide pre-onboarding guidance to ensure a smooth setup, dedicated account managers for personalised attention, and reliable 24/7 support via phone, email, and chat. This ensures you have the resources to deal with any questions or issues that may arise,

What are the Key Features of a Payment Gateway?

Here are some of the top features of a Payment gateway:

• Various Payment Methods: One of the main features of a payment gateway is that it allows customers to pay in different ways, like using credit cards, debit cards, UPI, BNPL, digital wallets, or bank transfers. This makes it easier for people to choose how they want to pay.
• Multi-currency support: If your business has customers from around the world or you want to sell things internationally, you need a special payment gateway. This gateway should be able to handle different kinds of money from different countries. It should take payments in many currencies and then change them into your local money so the money can go into your bank account.
• Recurring payments: Suppose your business uses a subscription model or you are running a company that offers subscriptions. Then you need a payment gateway that can handle recurring payments. This means the gateway should remember your customers' information for future payments so that manage billing changes, and handle any payment issues with ease.
• Branding and Customization: A good payment gateway should let you customize the payment page to match your brand. This can make the checkout experience look more professional and appealing to your customers.
• User, Role, and Access Control: The payment gateway should allow you to create different user roles with specific access controls. This helps in managing who can see and do what within the system, enhancing security.
• Store Creation: Some payment gateways offer features to create and manage online stores. This can be useful if you need a complete e-commerce solution that includes both a store and a payment system.
• Coupons and Offers Engine Module: A payment gateway with a coupons and offers module allows you to create and manage discounts and special offers. This can attract more customers and encourage them to make purchases.

Top Payment Gateway Solutions

Here is a comparison table of the top payment gateway along with their key features and pricing plans.

Best Top Payment Gateway Solutions
Softwares	Best For	Transaction fees
Razorpay	Payment Gateway, Payment Links, Subscriptions, Invoices, RazorpayX (banking)	2% on all transactions
PayPal	Freelancers, international businesses, global payments	2-4% + Fixed Fee
Stripe	Developers, tech-savvy businesses, API integration	2% for domestic 3% for cards issued outside India 4.3% for international
Skrill	Online gamers, forex traders, international transfers	2.5% fee
PayU	E-commerce, emerging markets, Subscription Billing	2% for Visa, Mastercard, Net Banking, BNPL, Wallets (only domestic transactions) 3% for Diners, American Express, EMI, International transactions
Instamojo	Freelancers, Service providers, Online course sellers	2% of the transaction amount plus ₹3 per transaction
CCAvenue	Large enterprises, multi-currency, advanced features	2.00% Platform fees applicable on all transactions
Cashfree	Fast payouts, automated collection, Indian businesses	Starts at 1.95% of platform fees
Billdesk	Recurring Payments, Utility companies, service providers, recurring billing.	On request
Square	Retail businesses, service businesses, integrated POS	Charges 1.6% per transaction for In Person payments Charges 2.2% per transaction for online payments

How to Integrate a Payment Gateway to your Website?

Integrating a payment gateway into your website is easier than you might think. Start by signing up with a payment gateway provider like PayPal, Stripe, or Square. They will give you some code to add to your website. Use plugins or follow simple instructions to integrate this code. Set up your payment preferences, such as accepted payment methods and currencies. Test the payment process to ensure it works smoothly, then switch to "live" mode. 

There are also some other easy ways to integrate a payment gateway to your website such as by using API, Plugins etc. For detailed steps, check our blog on implementing payment gateways. 

Troubleshooting Common Issues Related to Payment Gateway

Encountering problems with your payment gateway can be frustrating, but many common issues have simple solutions. Here are two examples:

Transaction Failures: If the transactions are failing again and again,  check if your payment gateway settings are correct and ensure you have a stable internet connection. Sometimes, issues can occur if your customers are entering incorrect payment details. Make sure your checkout page has clear instructions and error messages to help customers enter the right information.

Integration Errors: If your payment gateway isn't working after integration, there might be a problem with the code you added to your website. Double-check the code provided by your payment gateway provider and ensure it's placed correctly on your site. Also, verify that your website platform supports the payment gateway you’re using.

For more detailed troubleshooting tips, we’ve created a comprehensive guide. We will share the link in our blog to help you resolve any issues you might face.

How much does a Payment Gateway Platform Cost?

The cost of a payment gateway platform varies based on several factors, including setup fees, transaction fees, and any monthly maintenance charges. Typically, setup fees can range from ₹1000 to ₹10,000, transaction fees from 1% to 3% per transaction, and monthly fees from ₹1000 to ₹5000. So, it’s essential to compare different providers to find the best fit for your business needs.