Every sale on your store passes through a payment gateway, and the one you choose affects your costs, your cash flow and how many people complete checkout. Here is a plain comparison of the options UK stores use most, and how to choose.
What a gateway does
A payment gateway takes the customer's card or wallet details securely, checks them with the bank, and passes the money to you. Some providers bundle the gateway with the merchant account (the bank facility that receives card payments) into one service; others keep them separate.
The main options
Stripe. A developer-friendly all-in-one provider. Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, bank transfer and more from one integration. Transparent pay-as-you-go pricing, fast setup, excellent tools for subscriptions and custom checkouts. The default for WooCommerce and custom-built stores.
Shopify Payments. Shopify's built-in gateway, powered by Stripe. If you are on Shopify, using it avoids Shopify's extra transaction fee that applies when you use a third-party gateway, which usually makes it the cheapest option on that platform. Includes Shop Pay, Shopify's accelerated checkout.
PayPal. Familiar to almost every online shopper, and some people will only buy with it because they do not want to type card details. Usually offered alongside a card gateway rather than instead of one. Fees are similar to cards for standard transactions.
Worldpay. A long-established UK merchant services provider. Suits established businesses with higher volumes that want negotiated rates, a dedicated merchant account and phone support. More setup and paperwork than Stripe.
Opayo (formerly Sage Pay). Another established UK gateway, often paired with a separate merchant account. Well known in UK retail, integrates with most platforms, monthly fee plus per-transaction pricing.
Klarna and Clearpay. Buy-now-pay-later services offered alongside your main gateway. The customer pays in instalments; you get paid in full, less a higher fee. Effective on higher-priced items and younger audiences.
How to compare them
Look past the headline percentage.
- Total cost per transaction. Percentage plus fixed fee, and the higher rates for international, corporate and American Express cards.
- Monthly and setup fees. Stripe and Shopify Payments have none; some merchant account providers do.
- Payout speed. Daily, weekly, or after a rolling delay. This affects your cash flow.
- Payment methods. Wallets, bank transfer, buy-now-pay-later, currencies.
- Platform fit. Some combinations trigger extra platform fees; Shopify is the obvious case.
- Disputes and fraud tools. How chargebacks are handled and what fraud screening is included.
- Support. Email only, or a phone number that answers.
What we usually recommend
For a new or growing UK store: Shopify Payments if on Shopify, Stripe otherwise, plus PayPal as a second option, with Apple Pay and Google Pay switched on. Add Klarna or Clearpay if your average order value justifies it. Review negotiated merchant account pricing once you are processing significant monthly volume.
For B2B stores: add bank transfer and account terms. Trade customers rarely want to pay by card for every order. See our guide to B2B trade portals.
Why the choice affects conversion
Missing payment methods are a top reason for cart abandonment. Express wallets remove typing on mobile, PayPal reassures the cautious, and instalments make expensive items feel affordable. The right mix is a sales decision as much as a finance one.
Accounting
Whatever you choose, payouts arrive net of fees and in batches, which makes bank reconciliation awkward unless your accounts or ERP system understands the gateway. Our guides on Xero and Shopify integration and Shopify to Odoo integration cover how to get this right.
We set up and integrate all of the gateways above as part of store builds. Read about our eCommerce service or request a quote.
Key takeaways
- For most UK stores, Stripe or Shopify Payments plus PayPal covers the majority of customers.
- Compare total cost per transaction, payout speed and the payment methods offered, not just the headline rate.
- Express wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) and buy-now-pay-later options lift conversion, especially on mobile.
- Trade and high-value customers often want bank transfer or invoice payment as well.
Frequently asked questions
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