Top 10 Payment Gateways in The USA – How to Choose the Best One for Your Store

Did you know that over 80% of online shoppers abandon their carts if their preferred payment method isn’t available? That’s why having the right payment gateway is important for your business.

Payment gateways act as a bridge between your store and the customer. They’ll help you accept payments like credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets. Also, they ensure the transaction is safe and smooth for everyone involved.

So, which payment gateway will best align with your store? To help you out, in this article, we’ll share the top 10 payment gateways in the US and help you understand what features to look for when choosing the right one.

Let’s get started!

What are Payment Gateways?

A payment gateway helps businesses accept payments online or through apps. It acts as a bridge between the customer and the business. It also ensures the payment process is smooth and secure.

When someone buys something online, the payment gateway securely takes their card or payment details. It checks if you’ve enough money and confirms the transaction with the bank. Once it’s approved, the transaction will be successful, and the customer will get a confirmation.

The payment gateway makes it easier for businesses to sell products and services online. It gives customers a hassle-free checkout experience and allows them to accept payments from anywhere in the world.

Different Types of Payment Gateways

There are four different types of payment gateways:

1. Hosted Gateway: It redirects to an external site for secure payments. It’s easy to set up but has limited control.
2. Self-Hosted Gateway: It collects payments on-site. It has a seamless checkout but needs more support.
3. API Gateway: It has fully customizable on-site payments via API. The merchant handles security.
4. Bank Integration: It has a basic redirection to the bank’s site. It’s simple but lacks scalability.

What are The Top 10 Payment Gateways in The USA

The following are our top ten picks of the best payment gateways in the USA.

1. PayPal Payment Gateway

PayPal is one of the USA’s oldest and most popular payment gateways. It’s one of the best gateway options for merchants. It boasts a whopping 400 million users, and the PayPal payment gateway certainly lives up to its hype. But what makes it so unique?

Using PayPal for your business allows you to use a variety of options that can assist you in running a successful and profitable store. 

With the PayPal payment gateway, store owners can offer their consumers the option to buy now and pay later, increasing sales and improving customer experience.

PayPal also offers recurring payments, professional invoices, and automated payment processes for your business. This payment gateway supports over 100 currencies, making it the best choice for international transactions in the US. 

Pricing:

• Setup and Monthly Fees: $0
• Transaction charges: 3.49% + Fixed Fee (Fixed fee varies with different currencies)
• PayPal QR code fee: 2.29% + Fixed Fee  (Fixed fee varies with different currencies)
• Instant Fund Withdrawal: 1.50% of the amount of the transaction
• $25/month for customizable pay forms and additional features

Pros:

• Fast Withdrawals 
• 24/7 Customer Support
• Excellent security
• Supports various international transactions
• Fast and easy integration

Cons: 

• High transaction charges

2. Stripe Payment Gateway

Stripe is an API-based payment gateway that gives merchants complete control over payment methods. Stripe allows businesses to quickly scale themselves by providing high customization.

This makes it a preferred option for SMEs and startups that want to provide their customers with a safe and seamless payment experience.

Stripe’s payment gateway provides world-class security and fraud prevention features. It accepts and processes payments in over 135 currencies. Stripe provides unified checkout, a custom UI toolkit, a mobile interface, recurring payments, 24/7 support, and more.

It’s also one of the most secure and PCI-compliant payment gateways in the United States.

Pricing: 

• Setup and Monthly Fees: $0
• Cards and Digital Wallets: 2.9% + 30 cents
• International Cards:  3.9% + fixed fee
• Instant fund withdrawal: 1% of the amount of the transaction

Pros:

• Available in 42 countries
• Excellent security
• API based
• Highly customizable
• Easy integration with eCommerce platforms
• Fast fund withdrawals

Cons:

• No call support
• Need a development team to utilize Stripe’s customization potential fully

3. Authorize.net – Online Payment Gateway

Authorize.Net is a payment gateway service provider that allows merchants to accept credit card and electronic check payments securely online. It provides a secure gateway for processing transactions, helps protect merchants from fraud, and offers various tools and services for managing payments.

It’s a reliable and trusted online payment solutions provider for businesses of all sizes, from small eCommerce stores to large enterprises.

Authorize.net accepts all major credit cards from around the world, making it one of the finest payment gateways in the United States. It includes an account updater and an electronic check processor, making payment processing easier and more versatile.

Pricing:

• Monthly charges: $25
• Transaction charges: 10 cents charge per transaction and 10 cents daily batch fee (with merchant account)
• 9% + 30 Cents per transaction (without merchant account)

Pros:

• Has BNPL options
• Supports recurring bills
• Account updater
• Advanced fraud protection
• Smart Reports

Cons:

• Monthly charges
• Difficult to use UI

4. Amazon Pay – Popular Payment Gateway

Amazon Pay is a secure, reliable payment processing solution for eCommerce businesses.

It helps businesses to process payments and manage customer data in one place. It not only allows customers to pay Amazon merchants, but it also allows Amazon users to pay securely on external websites and apps.

Pricing:

• Transaction charges in the US: 2.9% + $0.3 (web and mobile), Through Alexa: 4% + $0.3
• Transaction charges outside the US: 3.9% + $0.3 (web and mobile), Through Alexa: 5% + $0.3

Pros: 

• Great customer support
• Supports purchase through voice (Alexa)
• Streamlines the checkout process
• Guarantees A to Z customer protection
• Advanced fraud detection from Amazon
• Improved conversions

Cons:

• Only Amazon users can make payments
• In some cases, the withdrawal of funds might take long

5. Braintree – Flexible Payment Gateway

Now owned by PayPal, Braintree specializes in mobile and web payment systems for eCommerce merchants. Braintree is similar to Stripe when it comes to offering customized payment experiences. However, it stands out from Stripe and other payment gateways due to its ability to accept payments from different options. 

Stripe doesn’t accept payments from methods like PayPal and Venmo. On the contrary, Braintree accepts payments using these methods and other methods supported by Stripe (Google Pay, Apple Pay, etc.). This makes Braintree an exceptional payment gateway that supports various payment methods.

Braintree is an excellent choice for small and medium-sized businesses looking for a comprehensive payment gateway solution with no hidden costs. Another unique thing about Braintree is that it accepts Bitcoin payments. Companies that sell abroad will value their capacity to accept payments in numerous currencies.

Pricing:

• Setup and Monthly Fees: $0
• Transaction charges (cards and digital wallets): 2.59% + 49 cents
• 3.59% plus 49 cents for Venmo
• 0.75% for ACH. Maximum fee of $5. 

Pros: 

• Accepts a variety of payment methods, including Bitcoin
• 24/7 support (Phone and email)
• Simple Checkout
• Level 1 PCI Compliance
• BNPL options 

Cons:

• Account setup time is too long

6. PaySimple – Simple Payment Gateway

PaySimple is a payment gateway that enables businesses to accept payments online, in person, and via mobile devices. It allows businesses to accept all major credit cards, debit cards, ACH transfers, and eChecks. It also provides advanced fraud protection, detailed reports, and secure customer data storage. 

With PaySimple, businesses can manage their customer relationships and payments from a single dashboard, streamline their payment process, and provide customers with a secure and convenient way to pay.

Pricing:

• Monthly charges: $79.95/month
• Credit Card Transactions: $2.54 per transaction
• ACH/eCheck: $0.65 + 0.20%

Pros: 

• Excellent customer management options
• Automated billing
• Accepts various payment methods

Cons: 

• Monthly charges
• Accepts only US Dollars

7. Stax – Secure and Convenient Payment Gateway

Stax Payment Gateway is an online payment processing system that provides businesses with a secure and convenient way to accept debit and credit card payments through their website or mobile app. The gateway is user-friendly, offering a range of features. It allows businesses to manage their payments securely and efficiently. 

The gateway is integrated with popular e-commerce platforms, allowing businesses to start accepting payments quickly. It also includes fraud prevention tools, such as address verification, card security code checking, and fraud monitoring.

Additionally, Stax Payment Gateway complies with PCI DSS standards, ensuring that payments are securely processed and customer data is kept safe.

Pricing: 

• Monthly Charges: 
• Growth: $99/month.

• Pro: $159/month.
• Ultimate: $199/month
• Transaction fee: Interchange 

Pros: 

• Flat subscription model
• Integrates easily with a wide range of eCommerce platforms 
• Offers an array of features and tools to help merchants manage their transactions

Cons: 

• High fixed monthly costs
• No price transparency 

8. 2Checkout – Modular Payment Gateway

2CheckOut is a payment gateway with a modular layout. You may invest in features your company needs. It takes payments in over 200 countries and supports over 80 currencies.

It’s more expensive than its competitors, but it’s preferred due to ease of integration. It’s cheaper than its competitors, but its conversion rates are 2-5% higher than the typical bank rate.

Pricing:

• Monthly charges: $0
• 2Checkout has 3 plans- 2sell, 2subscribe, 2monetize.

• 2Sell plan transaction charges: 3.5% + $0.35 per transaction.
• 2Subscribe plan transaction charges: 4.5% + $0.45 per transaction.
• 2Monetize plan transaction charges: 6.0% + $0.6 per transaction.

Pros:

• It supports 100 currencies and accepts payments from 200 territories.
• 29+ languages supported in checkout
• Advanced fraud detection and management
• Allows subscription billing
• Account updater

Cons: 

• Expensive
• Prohibits certain products to sell

9. SecurePay – Secure Payment Gateway

As the name suggests, the payment gateway services are secure. SecurePay is a PCI-compliant payment solution that securely processes, transmits, and stores payment card data. SecurePay is a viable option for SMEs and startups by offering all payment choices with simple registration and integration stages with current shopping carts. 

SecurePay prioritizes security, dependability, and innovation, making it a reliable solution for merchants. It also has recurring billing, 24/7 support, API support, and advanced fraud protection systems.

Pros:

• Recurring billing
• Secured gateway
• Supports multiple payment options
• Offers free trial
• Online and offline payments

Cons:

• No price transparency 

10. Helcim – Most Accessible Payment Gateway

Helcim is a payment gateway with no commitments, monthly fees, or hidden fees. They accept various payment methods like cards and digital payment options. Helcim offers both in-person and online payment options, allowing you to collect payments whenever and wherever you want.

Helcim follows interchange-plus pricing for its transactions, and the charges go down as your sales increase. Its pricing structure is likewise reasonably priced. This makes Helcim a go-to payment gateway solution for SMEs and startups. 

Pricing:

Transaction charge: 

• Monthly sales of $0 to $25,000: 0.30% + 8 cents in person; 0.50% + $0.25 
• Monthly sales of $25,001 to $50,000: 0.25% + 7 cents in person; 0.45% + $0.20
• Monthly sales of $50,001 to $100,000: 0.20% + 7 cents in person; 0.40% + $0.20 
• Monthly sales of $100,001 to $250,000: 0.18% + 6 cents in person; 0.35% + $0.15 
• Monthly sales of $250,001 to $1,000,000: 0.15% + 6 cents in person; 0.30% + $0.15 
• Monthly sales of $1,000,001 to $5,000,000: 0.12% + 5 cents in person; 0.25% + $0.10
• Monthly sales of over $5,000,001: 0.10% + 5 cents in person; 0.20% + $0.10

• For ACH payments: 0.5% plus $0.25

These charges are applicable if your monthly sales are under $25000 in card transactions. 

Pros:

• Easy integration. No coding is required to get the features you want.
• Great value for money
• Secure payments
• Transparent pricing
• Discounts as your sales increase

Cons:

• No chat support
• You need to have monthly sales of at least $25000 to reap Helcim’s benefits.

How to Choose The Best Payment Gateway for Your Store?

Now that we have listed the top 10 payment gateways in the US, let’s pick the right one for you. Choosing a payment gateway based on popularity can be disastrous as those options might not align with your business needs. You need to consider several factors before choosing a payment gateway for your business. 

Apart from your business goals, you would want to consider the following factors before choosing a payment gateway for your store:

• Scalability: Scalability is an essential factor for any business. Your payment gateway should provide flexible options to support your growth. Payment gateways like Stripe provide high customization features that help you scale your business as you grow. 
• Security: Secured payment systems are a must when running an online business. Ideally, you should look for a high level of PCI compliance, encryption technology, and an advanced fraud detection system to ensure your customers’ financial information remains secure.  Almost every payment gateway service prioritizes providing users with security and advanced fraud detection features. However, if you want to take a step further, SecurePay is one of the most reliable security options.
• Number of countries: If your business targets US customers, you don’t need to worry about this factor. But if you are catering to international markets, go for a gateway available in those countries. Paypal is a great option when it comes to being present in various countries. 
• Number of currencies: Similar to the previous factor, your payment gateway should accept multiple international currencies if you are catering to international markets. 
• Your budget: Some payment gateways are expensive. If you are tight on a budget, you should focus on the necessary features for your store. If you are looking for a cheap payment gateway without compromising many features, Helcim is your best bet. Helcim provides volume discounting, which can help cut costs as your sales increase.
• Number of payment methods: The ideal payment gateway should accept multiple payment methods. The more payment methods your business accepts, the better your conversion rates are. Braintree is an excellent choice when it comes to accepting various payment methods. It even accepts Bitcoin as a payment method. 
• Omnichannel retail: As a store owner, you would like to sell your offerings through various channels. This can be through the web, mobile, chatbots, physical retail stores, etc. Square makes it easier for you to integrate your online and physical retail channels. 

Best Practices for Using Payment Gateways in The USA

Customers want a secure and smooth payment experience when using US payment gateways. Always look for websites or apps that support your preferred payment methods, like credit cards, debit cards, or digital wallets such as PayPal or Apple Pay.

Security is a top priority, so ensure the site uses trusted payment gateways with features like encryption and fraud protection.

A good payment experience should be fast and simple, especially on mobile devices, since many customers shop on their phones. Clear information about return, refund, and cancellation policies at checkout helps build confidence in purchasing.

Also, having multiple payment options makes choosing the best method for you easier. As a customer, you should feel reassured that your payment information is safe and the process is straightforward. A seamless, hassle-free checkout experience reflects positively on the business and encourages repeat purchases.

FAQs

1. What are the four types of payment gateways?
   The four types of payment gateways are hosted payment gateways, a self-hosted payment gateway, an API-hosted payment gateway, and a local bank integration gateway.
   
2. Is UPI a payment gateway?
   Yes, UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is a payment gateway. It’s a digital service that helps online transactions through the UPI infrastructure.
   
3. How do you choose the best payment gateway for your business?
   Choose a payment gateway based on cost, security, ease of use, and support, and see if it works well for your business and customers.

Final Thoughts

The best payment gateway for your store depends on what features your business needs. It is critical to assess all the factors associated with your business and choose a payment gateway that fits your needs. 

We recommend using multiple payment gateways in your store to capitalize on the different features of different payment gateways. 

Some gateway options mentioned in this article will require expert developers to utilize the platform’s capabilities fully.

If you need an in-house development team who can work on customizing your payment process, you can always outsource your development activities to a team of experts who will do the work for you. 

If you liked reading this article, you might want to consider going through the following.

• B2B Payment Gateway Insights on Online Payment Processing
• 20 Essential Tips to Safeguard Your Store
• Stakeholder Mapping For B2B E-Commerce

Are you excited to integrate the best payment gateway into your business? You can always reach out to HumCommerce for help!