6 Best Payment Gateways for WordPress in 2024

Selecting an unsuitable payment gateway as you venture into e-commerce with WordPress can lead to compatibility issues with e-commerce plugins, fraud risks, slow transaction processing, and limited payment methods. These problems can cause frustration as well as drive your customers away. Imagine a customer ready to purchase, only to abandon their cart due to a clunky payment process. That’s lost revenue – a direct hit to your business.

The solution isn’t just any payment gateway, though. Choosing a payment gateway that’s part of a comprehensive credit card processor is critical. Why? Because standalone gateways like PayPal or Authorize.net might not cover all your needs. A credit card processor, however, provides a more holistic approach, ensuring smoother transactions and better integration with WordPress.

Through extensive research, I’ve discovered 6 credit card processors that stand out for WordPress sites. Leaders Merchant Services (LMS) tops the list, known for its low online transaction fees, seamless integration with e-commerce platforms, and custom rates. You can take a moment to check out LMS’s rates or continue reading to explore the other 5 noteworthy processors I’ve found.

What We Look For in the Best Payment Gateways for WordPress

In my search for the best payment gateways for WordPress, I focused on specific features and benefits that enhance online business operations.

• Easy e-commerce integration. Every service I looked at offers seamless integration with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and more.
• International payment support. Some of the services I explored provide international payment support, so you can accept payments in various currencies and reach your customers worldwide.
• Multiple payment methods. All the services I recommend accept different forms of payment, including credit and debit cards, ACH, bank transfers, cryptocurrency, and digital wallets like Apple Pay. This allows you to meet your customers’ different preferences.
• Competitive fees for online transactions. Each service I examined has competitive fees for small, medium-sized, and large online businesses.
• Effective security. All my recommendations boast effective security measures for protecting your and your customers’ data. These include PCI compliance, end-to-end encryption, tokenization, and advanced fraud detection and prevention.

1. Leaders Merchant Services: Best Gateway for Negotiating Prices

Leaders Merchant Services offers some of the most affordable rates on the market. Its Virtual Terminal Transactions plan includes a monthly fee of $9.00 and a per-transaction fee of ~2.9% + 30¢, both suitable for small to mid-sized businesses. Low fees aside, you can even negotiate a more appealing rate with LMS – they promise to either beat or meet the fees of your current credit card processor.

Leaders Merchant Services uses Authorize.net, one of the best payment gateways in the industry. By choosing LMS, you can get Authorize.net at a much lower cost than acquiring it separately (you’ll avoid Authorize.net’s 10¢ per-transaction and batch processing fee). It’s great for mail order/telephone order (MOTO) payments and international transactions, and its 128-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol secures online transactions on your WordPress website.

One of my favorite features from LMS is CartManager, a tool that allows you to seamlessly integrate a shopping cart into your WordPress site. This online shopping cart solution includes free real-time shipping, SSL security, a sales tax calculator, QuickBooks compatibility, and inventory tracking. CartManager is also compatible with various hosting platforms, including WordPress.com and Bluehost.

Features and Benefits

• Custom languages. With CartManager, you can display your shopping cart in any language supported by UTF-8 and HTML elements. This can help you reach a global audience, enhance customer experience, and potentially increase international sales​​.
• LMS funding. LMS offers loans to online businesses just starting or looking to expand. You pay back through commissions on your future sales​​.
• High approval rate. LMS boasts a high approval rate of 98%. So, regardless of your industry or financial history, there’s a very high chance LMS will accept your business.
• Same-day onboarding. After LMS approves your application, the next step is the onboarding process. This process can be completed in as little as 24 hours, allowing you to start processing payments as soon as possible.

Check out our expert Leaders Merchant Services review for more details.

2. Paysafe: Best WordPress Payment Gateway for International Payments

Paysafe’s collaboration with Authorize.net allows you to accept credit card transactions in multiple currencies, including US dollars, Euros, Japanese yen, and many more. Not just that, Paysafe accepts over 250 payment methods, including international solutions like Venmo and Skrill, as well as local payment methods like Alipay e-Wallet in China and Boleto Bancario in Brazil. These solutions make it possible for you to cater to a worldwide audience.

Aside from Authorize.net, Paysafe’s Payments API allows you to process customer payments using a single endpoint integration. Meanwhile, you can embed Paysafe’s flexible and fully customizable payment form into your WordPress website. It comes with data security and PCI compliance, allowing you to securely capture your customers’ sensitive data.

Paysafe has two pricing options for online businesses: tiered and interchange-plus. The tiered plans are more suitable for high-volume businesses using WordPress, as they include low per-transaction rates starting from 0.99% + 25¢ (debit cards) and monthly fees of $16.00. On the other hand, smaller businesses would prefer the interchange-plus plan at $7.95 with a competitive online fee of $16.00.

Features and Benefits

• Multiple payment channels. Paysafe caters to any business type by offering MOTO, digital invoicing, subscription-based billing, QR code payments, and pay-by-link.
• Paysafe Mobile Pay app. You can leverage Paysafe’s mobile app to process on-the-go transactions if you frequently host pop-up events. It lets you turn your mobile device into a POS terminal.
• Account updater. This feature lets you request and receive updates to your customers’ card numbers and expiry dates. It’s very beneficial, especially if you have customers on recurring payments.
• Comprehensive online dashboard. Merchant Back Office is Paysafe’s online dashboard for tracking and monitoring your payments. You can use it to view transactions, process refunds, generate reports, and take orders through a virtual terminal.

For more information, check out our expert Paysafe review.

3. Stax: Best WordPress Payment Gateway for High-Volume Businesses

Stax offers a simple subscription-style pricing model with zero percentage markup, a small flat transaction fee of 0% + 10¢ (online), and a minimum monthly fee of $99.00. So, you won’t have to worry about Stax taking a huge chunk of your profits every transaction. With this pricing model, businesses generating a minimum of $8,000 per month can save up to 40%.

In addition to Authorize.net, Stax offers a proprietary payment gateway, Stax API. Stax API supports digital invoicing and recurring payments, is level 1 PCI compliant, and accepts keyed, swiped, or tapped payments. You can also use it to embed a credit card field iframe into an existing payment form on your WordPress website. Stax API comes with your payment plan, but if you want to use the Authorize.net gateway, you’ll have to pay a $10 monthly fee.

Stax offers the flexibility to build a custom shopping cart on your WordPress site, allowing you to customize your online storefronts to match your brand. But if you’re short on time, Stax offers a pre-built shopping cart you can integrate into your site with just one click.

Features and Benefits

• Stax mobile app. The Stax mobile app transforms any phone or tablet into a versatile Point of Sale (POS) system, facilitating on-the-go payment processing for businesses that regularly participate in in-person events. You can also use the app to view your e-commerce store’s daily, weekly, and monthly sales.
• Surcharging. Stax enables your business to transfer processing fees to your customers, allowing you to maximize their profit margins​​.
• Top-notch security. Stax ensures your transactions are secure with level 1 PCI compliance, tokenization, fraud protection, and multi-factor authentication.
• Gift cards. With Stax, you can create digital gift cards and give them to your customers. Offering gift cards is a strategic way to increase customer engagement, boost sales, and collect valuable data on consumer spending habits.

Read our full Stax review for more on pricing.

4. Square Payments: Best for Startup Businesses on WordPress

Integrating Square’s proprietary payment gateway into your WordPress website is super easy, but if you need help setting up the API, Square can link you to a certified software agency. Square also supports multiple e-commerce plugins for WordPress, including WooCommerce, WP EasyCart, Ecwid, and many more.

Square’s pricing is very transparent and varies depending on your type of business. But processing rates can start from as low as 2.5% + 10¢ and may or may not include a monthly fee, which can be as low as $12.00.

You can sign up for your free account in less than 3 minutes and start receiving payments the same day. That said, some customer reviews mention unexpected account terminations, so complete your customer profile thoroughly to avoid any issues.

Features and Benefits

• Abandoned cart recovery. Square sends automated emails to customers who add items to their cart without purchasing. It’s a great way to reclaim potential lost sales and keep your products in your customers’ minds.
• Free online store. You can create a free online store with Square and seamlessly integrate it with WordPress — an easy and cost-effective way to start selling quickly.
• Buy buttons/QR codes. Square allows you to add buy buttons or QR codes to your WordPress site. This simplifies the purchasing process, making it more convenient for customers to buy directly from your site.
• Customer review integration. Square collaborates with Goodreviews, so you can easily collect Google reviews from your customers. After a purchase, Square sends emails inviting customers to review their purchases.

To learn more, check out our comprehensive Square review.

5. ProMerchant: Best Gateway for Retail and Restaurant Businesses

ProMerchant’s zero-cost processing plan is ideal for retail and restaurant businesses hosting their websites on WordPress. The plan transfers the processing costs to your customers, saving you significantly on transaction fees. You only have to pay a monthly fee of $7.95.

ProMerchant is also great for other business types. For instance, it joins forces with Authorize.net to offer a handful of e-commerce solutions, such as Checkfront for tour operators and Clock PMS for hotel restaurants that take orders online. Authorize.net also has a pre-built checkout feature you can add to your WordPress site without coding.

Apart from the zero-cost plan, ProMerchant also provides an interchange-plus option. Unfortunately, ProMerchant isn’t too transparent about its pricing and fees, and the zero-cost plan is only available to selected industries.

Features and Benefits

• High-Risk accounts. If you have a poor credit score, sell certain types of products or services, or have a history of excessive chargebacks, ProMerchant’s got your back. It provides high-risk accounts with the same benefits and features as its low-risk accounts, plus additional fraud mitigation tools.
• Fast approvals and setup. ProMerchant can approve your account within 2-24 hours, and you can start processing payments within 48-72 hours.
• Inventory management. Managing inventory effectively is vital for e-commerce success on WordPress. ProMerchant recognizes this by providing built-in tools to organize, track, and update your product listings.
• Monthly contracts. ProMerchant doesn’t lock you into long-term commitments. It offers flexible month-to-month contracts with no cancellation fees, which can benefit seasonal businesses like hotels or snow removal businesses.

Read our full review to learn more about ProMerchant.

6. Flagship Merchant Services: Fast Onboarding Process for WordPress Users

One of my favorite characteristics of Flagship is its fast onboarding process. With a minimum transaction fee of 1.98% + 0.21¢ (online) and monthly fee of $7.95, you can have your merchant account up and running within a few hours.

Flagship Merchant Services provides a payment gateway through Authorize.net, allowing you to process credit card transactions directly through your WordPress website. With Authorize.net’s CVV2 (Card Verification Value) and AVS (Address Verification Service), you can be sure that every transaction is secure and seamless. You can even restrict transactions by the IP address, number of consecutive charges, or how much a customer spends in a session.

As a Flagship merchant, you’ll have access to its API, allowing you to integrate a shopping cart into your WordPress website. If you sell a limited quantity of products or accept donations, you’ll also be able to add a “Donate” or “Buy Now” button to your site. That said, Flagship isn’t transparent with its pricing, and you might receive a much higher quote than the above—you’ll be better off negotiating for an interchange-plus plan to get the best deal.

Features and Benefits

• Same-day funding. For an extra fee, you can receive same-day deposits into your bank account – great if you need steady cash flow for payroll, inventory restocking, etc.
• Personal account manager. Flagship will assign you a personal account manager to answer all your questions and help navigate the initial setup and any challenges that come with setting up a merchant account.
• iAccess business management portal. Every merchant account comes with a business reporting tool (iAccess 3.0) for reviewing sales, generating statements, analyzing customer behavior, and more.
• Gift cards/loyalty program. Flagship provides you with branded gift cards that you can use to raise awareness for your business in multiple locations.

For more details, read our expert Flagship Merchant Services review.

Here Are the Best Payment Gateways for your WordPress Website

As a WordPress user, you’ll encounter different payment gateways for your business’s website. The best option is to pick a reliable credit card processor with a payment gateway.

If you’re looking for low fees, excellent e-commerce functionalities, and a top-notch payment gateway, Leaders Merchant Services (LMS) is my top recommendation. It has negotiable competitive rates, seamlessly integrates with Authorize.net, and collaborates with CartManager to offer your customers an intuitive shopping cart experience.

If you prefer a payment gateway that accepts multiple currencies and payment methods and offers a customizable payment form to add to your WordPress website, go with Paysafe. Its integration with Authorize.net allows you to process transactions in US Dollars, Euros, Japanese Yen, and many more. It also offers 250+ payment methods, including local and international solutions.

If you generate $8,000+ monthly and want to save up to 40% on your payment plan, consider Stax instead. It offers a subscription-based plan with zero markups and a small transaction fee. It also offers its own payment gateway, Stax API, and integrates with Authorize.net.

FAQ

Which payment gateway is compatible with WordPress?

While several payment gateways are compatible with WordPress, Leaders Merchant Services (LMS) offers the best option through its integration with Authorize.net. LMS also provides a powerful shopping cart tool you can add to your WordPress site, and its low fees are great for small to mid-sized businesses.

What is the best payment processor for WordPress?

Leaders Merchant Services (LMS) is the best payment processor for WordPress and the best overall. LMS offers competitive fees, e-commerce functionalities, a dedicated chargeback department, high approval rates, and the ability to negotiate the best rates for your business.

How do payment gateways affect the speed and performance of my WordPress site?

Payment gateways can affect site speed through additional scripts and external calls they make. These scripts and calls can increase load times, particularly if they are not optimized for performance. Consider using well-optimized and reputed payment gateways like Authorize.net from Paysafe to mitigate these effects.

Which is the best payment gateway for WooCommerce?

Leaders Merchant Services (LMS) provides the best gateway for WooCommerce through Authorize.net. By integrating with the popular CartManager shopping cart, LMS offers your WooCommerce store custom languages, real-time shipping calculation, an order management system, SSL security, and more.