20 Best Payment Gateway Providers Reviewed for 2024

Shopify POS is a versatile point-of-sale system designed to integrate seamlessly with Shopify's ecommerce platform, empowering merchants to sell anywhere, anytime. It streamlines retail operations by syncing inventory, orders, and customer data across online and offline channels. With its user-friendly interface, Shopify POS facilitates smooth transactions, offers detailed analytics for informed decision-making, and supports various payment methods.

Shopify POS excels as an online payment processing system by offering robust, secure, and flexible solutions that cater to the diverse needs of businesses. It integrates seamlessly with Shopify's ecommerce platform, enabling merchants to manage both online and in-store sales through a single dashboard. This system supports a wide range of payment methods, ensuring customers can pay how they prefer, while providing advanced security features to protect sensitive information. 

Shopify POS offers a highly customizable smart grid that merchants can tailor to their specific operational needs, setting it apart from more rigid systems. This interface allows users to organize their most frequently used apps, products, and features for quick access during transactions. The ability to personalize the POS layout means that employees can process sales more efficiently.

Shopify POS natively integrates with a variety of tools, including Shopify Payments, Shopify Shipping, Shopify Email, QuickBooks, Xero, Klaviyo, Google Analytics, Oberlo, Printful, and Gift Cards & Loyalty Program by Smile.io.

QuickBooks Online is an accounting software designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. It can help you manage your finances, track expenses, create and send invoices, and process payments.

Why I picked QuickBooks Online: The software's payment processing system tracks transaction details to help you spot errors. This also supports you in accurate record keeping. You can connect your bank feeds to the platform, eliminating the need for manual data entry. The software also calculates sales tax automatically and allows you to charge clients and customers via invoice.

You can create professional, customizable invoices using the software, and send them either by email or by printing and mailing them. For regular clients, you can set up recurring invoices to alleviate your workload. The software's expense tracking feature lets you categorize and track your business expenses, helping you keep clean and up-to-date financial records for your business.

QuickBooks Online Standout Features and Integrations

Features include expense tracking, receipt management, invoicing, record keeping, automated sales tax calculations, recurring invoices, payroll management, tax filing, and reporting and analytics tools.

Integrations include over 450 business apps like Square, Stripe, Insightly CRM, Mailchimp, Shopify, eBay, BigCommerce, Magento, Squarespace, and Etsy.

Helcim is a payment solution tool that offers transparent and affordable options for small and medium businesses accepting credit card payments in-person or online. With its emphasis on low processing rates and complete transparency, Helcim stands out as the best tool for businesses seeking a reliable and affordable payment processing solution.

I chose Helcim as a payment gateway provider because of its commitment to affordability and transparency in payment processing. What makes Helcim different is its Interchange Plus pricing model, which can lead to significant savings for businesses by offering lower processing rates. Additionally, the Helcim Fee Saver program presents an opportunity for free credit card processing, which is a unique offering in the market.

Beyond just payment processing, Helcim provides a full suite of integrated services, including a comprehensive merchant platform that supports a wide range of functionalities such as invoicing, customer management, and inventory management. This all-in-one platform approach enables businesses to manage various aspects of their operations seamlessly within one ecosystem, enhancing efficiency and streamlining workflows.

Features include merchant accounts for accepting credit and debit card payments, a mobile app for iOS and Android for on-the-go payment acceptance, virtual terminals for processing transactions over the phone or via other non-direct methods, and payment gateways for integrating payments into business websites with features like hosted payment pages, QR codes, and recurring payment plans.

Integrations include Xero, Quickbooks, WooCommerce, Foxy.io, and Great Exposure.

Merchant One is a credit card processing tool that caters to various business sectors, including retail, restaurants, hospitality, and ecommerce, by providing efficient payment processing solutions. With a focus on next-day funding and robust point of sale systems, Merchant One positions itself as a competitive choice for businesses seeking prompt financial transactions and reliable POS capabilities.

Merchant One serves as an efficient online payment gateway provider by offering seamless integration capabilities with a wide array of ecommerce platforms and websites. This ease of integration is crucial for online businesses looking to provide a smooth and secure checkout experience for their customers. Merchant One's platform is designed to handle a diverse range of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, mobile payments, and electronic checks, ensuring that businesses can cater to the varied preferences of their customer base.

Moreover, Merchant One distinguishes itself with its high approval rates for businesses across various industries, including those deemed high-risk. This inclusiveness allows a broader spectrum of online merchants to access reliable payment processing services, essential for facilitating online sales and scaling operations. The provision of dedicated account managers offers personalized support, guiding businesses through the setup process, optimizing payment processing configurations, and addressing any issues promptly.

Integrations include Authorize.net, Payeezy Gateway, Payflow Pro, Paytrace Gateway, USAePay, Aloha, Micros, Maitre’D, 1ShoppingCart, BigCommerce, ecwid, Fishbowl, Magento, PrestaShop, Salesforce, and dozens more ecommerce platforms, shopping cart solutions, and sales enablement tools. 

Clover is a comprehensive point-of-sale (POS) system designed to cater to the needs of small businesses through a comprehensive ecosystem that includes a robust suite of hardware and software solutions designed to cater to a wide range of business needs, from small retail setups to bustling restaurants.

Why I picked Clover: I chose Clover because it delivers a comprehensive POS system that supports a variety of payment methods, including credit, debit, gift cards, and contactless payments. This capability is critical in today's market, where consumers expect convenience and flexibility in payment options.

The system allows you to take payments from card readers, POS devices, and online platforms. It even has a virtual terminal you can use whenever you are away from a physical device. This will help you quickly process payments from any device with internet access, like your phone or personal computer.

Clover Standout Features & Integrations

Standout features include inventory tracking, staff management, app integration, and customer loyalty programs, which cater to the diverse needs of businesses. I would also highlight its security features, which include end-to-end encryption and compliance with PCI guidelines, offering businesses and their customers peace of mind regarding the security of their transactions.

Integrations include various third-party applications to support business operations, like Mailchimp for marketing automation, DocuSign for electronic signatures, Shopify for e-commerce, Gusto for payroll and HR, and Xero for accounting. These integrations facilitate a range of functions from marketing to financial management for businesses using Clover's system.

Payment Depot stands out as a compelling option for ecommerce businesses looking for a reliable payment gateway provider. The platform's subscription-based pricing model is particularly attractive, offering a cost-effective solution for businesses with high transaction volumes. This model allows merchants to pay a flat monthly fee plus a small per-transaction charge over wholesale rates, significantly reducing the cost per transaction compared to traditional percentage-based fee structures.

One of the key advantages of Payment Depot for ecommerce is its inclusion of a free payment gateway, which facilitates online transactions without additional costs for gateway services. This feature, coupled with virtual terminal capabilities through partnerships like SwipeSimple, enables businesses to process online, mobile, and over-the-phone payments seamlessly.

Payment Depot's commitment to transparency and simplicity extends to its fee structure, with no hidden fees and a clear, upfront disclosure of costs. This approach helps ecommerce businesses better predict their monthly expenses and manage their budgets more effectively. Moreover, Payment Depot's user-friendly interface and intuitive reporting dashboard make it easy for merchants to navigate their accounts, analyze sales data, and gain insights into their business performance, contributing to an overall streamlined management process.

Payment Depot's support for a variety of payment methods, including mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, ensures that ecommerce businesses can cater to the preferences of a broad customer base. The platform's focus on providing comprehensive payment solutions, combined with dedicated customer support, positions Payment Depot as a highly competitive choice for ecommerce merchants seeking a reliable, cost-effective, and user-friendly payment gateway provider​.

Integrations include OpenCart, PrestaShop, 3dCart, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, Zen Cart, NCR, Authorize.Net, PayTrace, and others.

Square is a payment gateway provider that offers payment solutions to businesses of all sizes. The company's hardware and software products include a credit card processing system that allows businesses to accept payments using a smartphone or tablet, a point-of-sale system for managing inventory and customer data, and an online store builder.

However, its affordable fee structure makes it an ideal payment gateway solution for small business owners.

Why I picked Square: What stands out about Square is its simple setup, affordable pricing, and versatile features. Its point-of-sale system, online store, and invoicing tools are all designed to make payment processing easy and hassle-free for small business owners. The fact that there are no monthly fees and low transaction fees also makes it an attractive option for businesses with limited budgets.

The primary use case for Square is small business payment processing. Its standout features include the ability to accept payments in-person, online, and through invoices and integration with other Square tools like payroll and marketing. With its focus on serving the needs of small businesses, Square is an excellent choice for entrepreneurs and small business owners who want a simple yet cost-effective payment processing solution.

Square Standout Features and Integrations

Features include reporting or analytics, SSL security, payment fraud prevention, payment processing, Point of Sale (POS), receipt management, recurring or subscription billing, electronic signature, fraud detection, and debit or credit card processing.

Integrations include Acuity Scheduling, Ecwid, FreshBooks, Google Forms, Mailchimp, Paymo, Poptin, Weebly, WooCommerce, Zoho Invoice, and other software options.

Stripe is an online payment processing platform that provides tools and services that enable businesses of all sizes to quickly and securely accept payments online, including credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and bank transfers. Businesses use Stripe's flexible payment processing solutions in various industries, including ecommerce, subscription services, and on-demand marketplaces.

Why I picked Stripe: Stripe's intuitive user interface, developer-friendly API, and in-depth documentation make it easy for teams to get started with payment processing quickly. What sets Stripe apart is its ability to handle recurring transactions with ease, allowing businesses with subscription-based models to automate payment processing and reduce payment failures.

Stripe is ideal for startups and developers who want to incorporate payment processing into their web or mobile applications. Its standout features include a wide range of payment options, including credit and debit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, and support for more than 135 currencies. 

Stripe's developer-friendly API and comprehensive documentation make it easy for teams to get started with payment processing quickly. Additionally, Stripe's robust subscription management features, including automatic billing, make it easy for businesses with subscription-based revenue models to easily handle recurring transactions.

Stripe Standout Features and Integrations

Features include ACH payment processing, billing and invoicing, credit card payment management, fraud detection, in-person payments, 135+ currency support, and iOS and Android mobile apps.

Integrations include DocuSign, FreshBooks, Gmail, Google Pay, Mailchimp, Microsoft Excel, monday.com, Rippling, Shopify, Slack, WordPress, and other software options. You can also connect Stripe to a paid Zapier account to unlock additional integrations, if needed.

Braintree is a payment gateway service founded in 2007 and acquired by PayPal in 2013. It provides businesses with merchant services and a platform to accept online payments in over 130 currencies.

Why I picked Braintree: Braintree stands out with its advanced fraud protection features that help prevent chargebacks, making it a reliable and secure payment gateway provider. Its unique customization options also allow businesses to create a branded checkout experience that enhances customer trust and loyalty, making it ideal for ecommerce businesses.

It also offers developer-friendly API, allowing businesses to integrate the platform into their existing infrastructure quickly and efficiently. It also integrates with popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, making it easy for businesses to get up and running with their payment processing.

Braintree Standout Features and Integrations

Features include ACH payment processing, API, billing and invoicing, debit or credit card processing, in-person payments, mobile payments, multiple payment options, payment fraud prevention, and reporting and statistics.

Integrations include 3dcart, BigCommerce, Demandware, Magento, NetSuite, Primer, Salesforce, SAP, WooCommerce, Yodle, and other software options.

Payoneer enables businesses and professionals to send and receive payments globally, including via local bank transfers, e-wallets, and prepaid Mastercards. Payoneer is used by freelancers, online sellers, and businesses of all sizes to manage their cross-border payments easily and efficiently.

Why I picked Payoneer: One thing that's particularly cool about Payoneer is its global reach and ability to facilitate payments in multiple currencies. Unlike many other payment gateways with limited coverage, Payoneer supports payments in over 150 currencies across more than 200 countries and territories. This makes it an ideal solution for freelancers, online sellers, and businesses operating globally or with clients and partners in different parts of the world. 

Additionally, Payoneer offers competitive exchange rates and low fees, making it a cost-effective option for cross-border payments. It doesn't charge a monthly or setup fee, but if your account is inactive for 12 months, it charges a $29.95 annual fee. 

With Payoneer, you can send payments at no cost, and usually, the amount will reach the recipient's bank within 24 hours. You can also request payments from a client who can pay you through a Payoneer account, bank account, or credit card. Lastly, the platform also provides a mobile app, debit card, and security features.

Payoneer Standout Features and Integrations

Features include global payments, invoices, prepaid debit card, mobile app, tax administration, and security.

Integrations include Avaza, ChannelAdvisor, Deel, Exigo, Freightos, Hubstaff, MarketPowerPRO, Time Doctor, Xero, and Zentail.