Top Shopify Payment Gateways by Country in 2025
Shopify payment gateways let customers pay through many methods — credit cards, digital wallets, and more — while merchants get secure, flexible, and localized options. This article (based on “Best Shopify Payment Gateways”) walks through major gateways, criteria for choosing, advantages, and trade-offs. (Folio3, 2025)
What are Shopify Payment Gateways?
- A payment gateway is the system that processes payments securely between customers and your store.
- Shopify supports built-in gateway (Shopify Payments) plus many third-party gateways depending on region.
- Gateways control fees, accepted payment methods, settlement times, and fraud/security features.
Top Payment Gateways for Shopify in 2025
| Gateway | Main Features | Pros | Cons / Things to Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Payments | Native to Shopify, supports credit/debit cards, digital wallets, local payment methods; no setup of external merchant account needed. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} |
• No third-party transaction fees for many orders • Smooth integration and dashboard visibility • Supports multiple payment methods and local currencies. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} |
• Not available in all countries • Fees vary by plan, may be higher in some regions • May have limitations for very custom checkout logic. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} |
| PayPal | Globally recognized, supports PayPal accounts + guest credit/debit card checkouts, fast setup. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3} |
• High trust among buyers • Easy to enable in many regions • One-click payment options often available. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} |
• Higher transaction fees • Additional fees for cross-border or currency conversions • Split brand experience (customers leave site). :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5} |
| Stripe | Powerful API, supports many currencies and payment methods, good for subscriptions and custom flows. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6} |
• Strong developer tools • Good risk/fraud tools • Great for international merchants. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7} |
• Costs can be higher for international cards or currency conversion • Some complexity in setup if many local payment methods needed. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8} |
| Adyen | Enterprise-grade, supports global markets, many payment methods, strong fraud controls. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9} |
• Very flexible and scalable • Good local payment method support • Strong processing reliability. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10} |
• Likely higher fees for smaller merchants • More setup required to support many locales. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11} |
How to Choose the Right Payment Gateway
- Supported countries & currencies: A gateway might offer great features but if it's not available in your region, or doesn't support the currency your customers use, it's less helpful. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
- Payment methods customers prefer: Cards, wallets, buy-now-pay-later, local bank transfers, etc. The more options, the lower abandonment. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
- Fees & hidden costs: Look at transaction fees, cross-border fees, currency conversion, chargeback fees, etc. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
- Security & compliance: PCI-DSS compliance, fraud detection tools, secure tokens, etc. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
- Settlement times & payout schedule: How fast money is available in your bank matters when cash flow is tight. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
- Checkout experience & UX: Native gateways (like Shopify Payments) tend to give smoother, more seamless checkout vs gateways that redirect customers. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
Trade-Offs & Risks
- In certain countries, Shopify Payments may not be allowed. That forces installing third-party gateways which may charge extra. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
- Using multiple gateways can complicate reconciliation, reporting and increase accounting overhead.
- Currency conversion fees and cross-border fees can erode margin if many sales come from outside your base region.
- Gateways that redirect away from your storefront may reduce trust or lead to abandonment.
Conclusion
The best payment gateway for a Shopify store balances region availability, customer preferences, cost, and user experience. Shopify Payments is often the easiest and most integrated option where available, but alternatives like Stripe, PayPal, or Adyen can be better in certain regions or business models. Always test, monitor fees, and optimize toward smoother checkout and lower abandonment.