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Best Payment Gateways UK: Compare Leading Providers
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Best Payment Gateways UK: Compare Leading Providers
Last updated 06/10/2026
Last reviewed: October 2026. Prices, products, integrations, and availability can change, so confirm current charges and commercial terms before applying or signing up.
Which Is the Best Payment Gateway in the UK?
There is no universally “best” payment gateway for UK businesses. Instead, the right choice depends on your ecommerce platform, checkout experience, transaction volume, domestic and international sales, recurring payments, technical resources, existing merchant account, acquirer, or payment provider, and whether you need online and in-person payments.
Some providers bundle the gateway, payment processing, and merchant services into one service, while others may charge them separately.
Best Payment Gateways UK: Quick Comparison
The table below compares key areas across eight payment gateway providers. This is not a ranking of each provider, and all “best for” classifications are based on comparative suitability rather than an unconditional recommendation.
Some bundle the gateway, processing, and merchant services while others support more traditional acquiring arrangements. Checkout options and integrations vary between products.
| Provider | Best for | Provider model | Gateway model | Ecommerce integrations | Payment methods | Recurring payments | International support | Pricing approach | Main strength | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barclaycard | Established businesses wanting gateway and acquiring support | Acquirer and gateway provider | Hosted payment pages, direct API, virtual terminal, and product-dependent integrations | Ecommerce integrations; confirm platform compatibility | Cards and digital wallets | Stored credentials, tokenisation, and account-updater support | International acceptance; Smartpay Advance processes 100+ currencies and settles in 14 currencies | Contact for quote | Gateway, acquiring, and implementation support | Gateway pricing and commercial terms are quote-based |
| Stripe | Custom checkout, subscriptions, and international ecommerce | Bundled payment service provider (PSP) | Hosted, embedded, and API-led | APIs, SDKs, and ecommerce integrations | Cards, wallets, bank payments, and local payment methods | Yes; Stripe Billing available at additional cost | 135+ currencies; international and currency-conversion charges apply | Published: 1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards; other cards and services differ | Checkout flexibility and developer tooling | Extra costs can apply for Billing, international cards, and currency conversion |
| Takepayments | Small businesses wanting supported ecommerce setup | Merchant-services provider with acquiring arrangements | Customisable gateway with ecommerce integrations | 50+ integrations including Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, WordPress, and OpenCart | Cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay | Yes; recurring and scheduled payments | International requirements should be confirmed with Takepayments | Contact for quote | Supported onboarding and integration assistance | Pricing and acquiring arrangements are quote-based |
| Worldpay | Established, higher-volume, and international ecommerce businesses | Acquirer, processor, and gateway provider | Hosted, embedded, plugin-based, and API-led | Shopify, WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce, OpenCart, and others | Cards, wallets, and product-dependent local payment methods | Yes; tokenisation and subscription tools available | 110+ currencies on Worldpay eCommerce; broader international capability through Worldpay online products | Published PAYG pricing: 1.5% + 20p Essential or 1.3% + 20p Full for Visa/Mastercard consumer cards; other cards differ | International capability and range of integration options | Pricing becomes more complex for bespoke or higher-volume arrangements |
| PayPal Point of Sale | Existing PayPal Point of Sale users exploring limited remote-payment or ecommerce connections | PSP and POS platform | Ecommerce integrations and product-dependent remote-payment tools | PayPal ecommerce connections and partner integrations | Depends on the connected PayPal service | Not a native POS feature; separate PayPal products may be required | Depends on the PayPal product used | Published: 2.5% for Payment Links, currently unavailable to new sellers | Connection with the wider PayPal ecosystem | Not a conventional standalone ecommerce gateway |
| SumUp | Simple online selling | Bundled payment platform | Hosted, embedded, plugin-based, and API-led | WooCommerce and PrestaShop; Wix available to existing integrations, with new onboarding currently paused | Cards and digital wallets | Tokenised recurring payments supported through integration | International requirements and supported checkout currencies should be confirmed | Published: 2.5% online, £0 monthly on standard online pricing | Online Store, Payment Links, and straightforward pricing | Recurring payments are more basic than full subscription-management platforms |
| Square | Businesses combining online and in-person selling | Bundled PSP and business-software platform | Hosted, API-led, and plugin-based | Square Online, WooCommerce, Wix, Magento, BigCommerce, and others | Cards and digital wallets | Yes; subscription payments, recurring Payment Links, and card-on-file payments | Non-UK cards accepted; additional international charges apply | Published: 1.4% + 25p for UK online card payments; other channels differ | Connected ecommerce, POS, invoicing, and reporting | International cards cost more, and paid software can increase total cost |
| Dojo | Businesses combining Dojo card machines with online payments | Acquirer and bundled payment-services provider | Hosted checkout, embedded components, plugins, APIs, mobile SDKs, and payment links | WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce, PrestaShop, OpenCart, and others | Cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay | Tokenisation and stored credentials supported; full subscription management not established | Major card schemes supported; confirm international and cross-border requirements in your quote | Contact for quote | Online and in-person payments under one provider | Shopify is currently unsupported, and new online customers need a Dojo card machine |
Payment Gateways by Business Requirement
The recommendations below focus on comparative suitability rather than claiming one provider as universally best.
Best for Simple Online Payment Setup
SumUp offers a straightforward approach to payment acceptance. Payment Links, its Online Store, published pricing, and no need for a separate merchant account make this a simple way to accept online payments. Its main drawbacks are limited checkout customisation and a relatively high 2.5% online transaction rate.
Square is another option for businesses wanting simple online payments alongside broader business software.
Best for Ecommerce Platform Integrations
Stripe may suit ecommerce sellers, with integrations for Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, and Wix. It also offers extensive documentation to help simplify the integration process. Checkout customisation can depend on the ecommerce platform and integration method used.
Worldpay may suit larger merchants needing support across more complex ecommerce environments.
Best for Custom and API-Led Integrations
For businesses with development resources, Stripe offers extensive APIs, SDKs, webhooks, testing tools, and embedded checkout components. This advanced functionality does come with a more technical setup, making it less suitable for less tech-savvy sellers or those seeking a largely no-code setup.
Square is an alternative where API-led online payments also need to connect with in-person operations.
Best for Subscriptions and Recurring Payments
Stripe offers Stripe Billing, which supports recurring billing, tokenisation, and failed-payment management. This comes with additional charges alongside standard payment processing fees.
Barclaycard Smartpay Fuse may be worth considering for larger businesses already using Barclaycard acquiring and requiring stored-payment or account-updater functionality.
Best for Subscriptions and Recurring Payments
Stripe offers Stripe Billing, which supports recurring billing, tokenisation, and failed-payment management. This comes with additional charges alongside standard payment processing fees.
Barclaycard Smartpay Fuse may be worth considering for larger businesses already using Barclaycard acquiring and requiring stored-payment or account-updater functionality.
Best for International Selling
Worldpay is suited to businesses conducting business overseas, offering multicurrency selling and a broad range of payment methods. It publishes pay-as-you-go ecommerce pricing, although higher-volume or more complex arrangements may require a tailored quote.
Stripe is an alternative for those seeking transparent international pricing, broad currency support, and local payment methods. Cross-border and currency-conversion charges may increase the total cost.
Best for Small and Low-Volume Businesses
SumUp suits businesses wanting simple pricing, no long-term contract, and minimal fixed costs. Its percentage-based pricing can become less competitive as turnover increases.
PayPal Point of Sale (Formerly Zettle) is another straightforward option for businesses already using PayPal services. However, as of October 2026, payment links are not available to new sellers.
Best for Small and Low-Volume Businesses
SumUp suits businesses wanting simple pricing, no long-term contract, and minimal fixed costs. Its percentage-based pricing can become less competitive as turnover increases.
PayPal Point of Sale (Formerly Zettle) is another straightforward option for businesses already using PayPal services. However, as of October 2026, payment links are not available to new sellers.
Best for Larger or Higher-Volume Businesses
Worldpay may suit larger businesses seeking negotiated pricing, international capabilities, account support, and payment infrastructure designed for higher volumes. For higher-volume or bespoke arrangements, request a quote and compare the complete cost against Worldpay’s published pay-as-you-go options.
Barclaycard is another option for established businesses wanting acquiring and gateway services within the same broader relationship.
Best for Omnichannel Businesses
Square is well suited to businesses selling across multiple channels, providing online payments, POS, invoicing, reporting, and refunds available within the same wider platform. Its ecommerce capabilities may not suit those looking for a more complex solution.
For hospitality businesses, Dojo provides in-person and online payment options through the same provider.
Best for Service Businesses
SumUp is suitable for service businesses that need Payment Links, invoicing, and simple remote-payment options without building a full ecommerce site.
Square offers a broader set of invoicing and business-management tools. Businesses with more advanced recurring-payment or subscription requirements may need a more specialised platform such as Stripe.
How We Compared Payment Gateway Providers
At Commercial Experts, we compare UK payment gateway providers using a consistent set of commercial, technical, and operational criteria, including:
- Checkout experience
- Integration options
- Setup and development effort
- Ecommerce platform compatibility
- Supported payment methods
- Recurring-payment capabilities
- International payments and currencies
- Fraud-prevention tools
- PCI compliance implications
- Pricing transparency
- Transaction and gateway charges
- Refund and chargeback costs
- Reliability evidence
- Customer support
- Reporting and reconciliation
- Settlement arrangements
- Scalability
- Omnichannel support
- Portability of payment data and stored-payment tokens
For evidence, we use a mix of official UK provider pricing pages, gateway and online-payment product pages, integration directories, developer documentation, terms and fee schedules, and published contract and support information. We also use relevant UK payment-industry guidance and existing Commercial Experts provider research where appropriate.
We have not conducted hands-on testing of any payment gateways, nor have we carried out any mystery shopping. Published facts are kept separate from our editorial recommendations. Any “Best for” classification reflects comparative suitability for a particular business requirement rather than an unconditional recommendation.
Payment Gateway, Payment Processor, and Merchant Account: What Is the Difference?
It can be easy to confuse payment gateways, payment processors, and merchant accounts, especially as providers may bundle payment processing and gateway services together, whereas others may charge separately.
Payment Gateway
A payment gateway securely captures and transmits payment information from the customer-facing checkout to the authorising and processing services. Depending on your provider, the gateway may use a hosted payment page, embedded checkout, ecommerce plugin, or API integration.
Payment Processor
The payment processor communicates transaction information between the relevant parties so the payment can be authorised and completed. Some providers may bundle the processor and gateway together, whereas others may charge separately.
Merchant Account
A merchant account is the acquiring arrangement through which card-payment funds are processed and settled before reaching your business bank account. Some businesses have a dedicated merchant account with an acquiring provider, while aggregated payment service providers group multiple businesses under a shared master merchant structure.
For more detail, see our guides on What Is a Merchant Account?, How to Take Online Payments, and Best Merchant Accounts.
Bundled Payment Service Providers
Some payment service providers combine the gateway, processing, acquiring, fraud tools, and settlement within one platform. This can simplify setup because you may not need separate contracts for each service. However, a bundled arrangement can also make it harder to change one component independently without affecting the wider payment setup.
Barclaycard Payment Gateway
Best suited to: Established SMEs and larger businesses that want a supported online gateway alongside traditional acquiring and are comfortable with complex API integrations.
Overview
Barclaycard is part of Barclays Bank, offering online payment gateways through its Smartpay range. Smartpay Fuse targets small, medium, and mid-sized corporate businesses, while Smartpay Advance is designed for larger organisations with more complex needs.
Barclaycard supports hosted payment pages, direct API integrations, ecommerce connections, virtual-terminal payments, MOTO transactions, mobile-optimised checkout, and digital wallets. Card details can also be stored for future payments, with an account-updater service available for recurring-payment credentials.
Smartpay Advance offers extra features including tokenisation, more than 100 processing currencies, and settlement into 14 currencies.
Pricing and Contract
Barclaycard does not publish standard pricing for any Fuse products. You must request a quote to establish gateway charges, processing rates, setup costs, fraud tools, settlement arrangements, contract terms, and cancellation conditions.
Some fraud services, including Barclaycard Transact, may cost extra, so confirm all included features in your quote.
Key Strengths
- Hosted checkout and direct API options.
- Virtual terminal and MOTO support.
- Stored credentials and tokenisation.
- International and multi-currency capabilities.
- Fraud-screening and authentication tools.
- Integration and implementation support.
Main Limitations
- Gateway pricing is quote-based.
Some fraud tools cost extra. - Commercial and settlement terms depend on the agreement.
- May be more complex than needed for a basic online store.
Verdict
Shortlist Barclaycard if you want a supported gateway with traditional acquiring and room to scale into more complex integrations.
Stripe Payment Gateway
Best suited to: Ecommerce and subscription businesses, and those selling abroad seeking flexible checkout options, strong developer tools, and published pay-as-you-go pricing.
Overview
Stripe bundles a payment platform and PSP, removing the need for a separate merchant account. Its online payment offerings include Stripe Checkout, Payment Links, embedded payment components, APIs, SDKs, and ecommerce integrations. This gives you a choice between hosted checkout and more customised implementations.
Stripe also supports digital wallets, mobile checkout, recurring payments through
Stripe Billing, tokenised payment details, failed-payment management, 3D Secure, and Radar fraud tools.
If you sell overseas, Stripe supports 135+ currencies and a wide range of local payment methods.
Pricing and Contract
Stripe’s standard UK pricing has no setup or monthly payment-processing fee. Costs include:
Standard UK cards: 1.5% + 20p
Premium UK cards: 2.8% + 20p
EEA cards: 2.5% + 20p
Other international cards: 3.15% + 20p
Currency conversion adds 2% where required.
Stripe Billing costs 0.7% of Billing volume on its pay-as-you-go plan, with monthly plans also available. Dispute fees are £20. Custom pricing is available for larger or more complex payment volumes.
These figures are correct as of October 2026.
Key Strengths
- Hosted, embedded, and API-led checkout options.
- Extensive developer documentation and tools.
- Subscription and recurring-payment capabilities.
- Broad international and local payment method support.
- Published standard pricing.
Main Limitations
- Advanced integrations can require development resources.
- Billing, international payments, and currency conversion add extra costs.
- May offer more functionality than a basic UK-only business requires.
Verdict
Shortlist Stripe if you need flexible ecommerce integration, subscriptions, international payments, or developer-led checkout control.
Takepayments Payment Gateway
Best suited to: Small UK businesses that want a supported online-payment setup, ecommerce integrations, and access to online and in-person payment services.
Overview
Takepayments provides online payment services alongside its wider merchant-services offering. Its payment gateway integrates with more than 50 shopping carts, including Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, WordPress, and OpenCart, and accepts major cards alongside Apple Pay and Google Pay.
With Takepayments, you can customise your gateway to match your website’s design, with implementation support provided. Other options include payment links and a virtual terminal.
The gateway also supports recurring and scheduled transactions, with real-time transaction reporting available through the merchant account.
Pricing and Contract
Takepayments does not publicly display its pricing, requiring a quote to establish the total cost.
If you sign up through Takepayments, you must enter an agreement with an acquiring bank that is nominated by Takepayments rather than selected independently by you.
Although Takepayments advertises next-working-day settlement for eligible services, ecommerce pay pages, payment links, and virtual-terminal transactions may have different settlement timescales. Ensure that these timelines are clearly outlined in your quote before signing an agreement.
Key Strengths
- Integrations with 50+ shopping carts.
- Apple Pay and Google Pay support.
- Customisable website checkout.
- Recurring and scheduled payments.
- Payment links and virtual terminal.
- Seven-day customer support.
Main Limitations
- Gateway pricing is quote-based.
- Separate acquiring agreements may apply.
- Online settlement times can differ from card-machine settlement.
- Less developer-led than API-first platforms.
Verdict
Shortlist Takepayments if you want supported setup and multiple online-payment options without managing the integration alone.
Worldpay Payment Gateway
Best suited to: Established and growing businesses that need a scalable ecommerce gateway, international payment support, and a choice of hosted, embedded, plugin, and API-led integration options.
Overview
Worldpay combines traditional merchant acquiring and payment processing. Its current online payment options include hosted checkout, embedded payment components, ecommerce plugins, API integration, digital wallets, Payment Links+, and a virtual terminal.
Worldpay also supports tokenisation, recurring payments, and subscriptions, with integration options for Shopify, WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce, and OpenCart. Worldpay eCommerce supports payments in more than 100 currencies alongside product-dependent local payment methods.
Pricing and Contract
Worldpay currently offers pay-as-you-go ecommerce pricing with no monthly commitment or setup fees.
Its Essential package charges 1.5% + 20p for Visa and Mastercard consumer cards, while the Full package charges 1.3% + 20p.
Commercial cards and American Express cost 2.9% + 20p on both packages.
Bespoke pricing is also available for higher transaction volumes.
Worldpay also promotes next-business-day settlement for its ecommerce service. Other charges may apply; ensure that all additional fees are clearly outlined in your quote.
These figures are correct as of October 2026.
Key Strengths
- Hosted, embedded, plugin, and API checkout options.
- Tokenisation and recurring-payment support.
- International and multi-currency capabilities.
- Apple Pay and Google Pay support.
- FraudSight and 3DS Flex security tools.
- Virtual terminal and Payment Links+.
Main Limitations
- Pricing can become more complex outside published
- PAYG packages.
Bespoke commercial terms require a quote. - May offer more functionality than a very small online business needs.
Verdict
Shortlist Worldpay if you need scalable ecommerce, international payments, recurring billing, or multiple integration routes.
PayPal Point of Sale Online Payments (Formerly Zettle)
Best suited to: Existing Zettle or PayPal Point of Sale users who want simple links or ecommerce connections alongside their in-person payments.
Overview
PayPal Point of Sale (previously Zettle) is positioned more as an in-person POS system with online payment acceptance capabilities, rather than a standalone payment gateway.
Some legacy remote-payment tools remain available to existing users. As of October 2026, Payment Links are currently unavailable to new sellers, while Zettle Invoice is restricted to eligible businesses that signed up before 8 May 2023.
Pricing and Contract
PayPal Point of Sale has no monthly or startup fee and no long-term contract for its standard POS service. Pricing is currently listed as:
Payment links: 2.5% (currently unavailable to new sellers)
Zettle invoice: 2.5% (not available to those signing up after 8 May 2023)
Standard card transactions: 1.75%
Funds can be made available in your PayPal Business account, with transfer options to a linked bank account subject to PayPal’s applicable terms and availability.
These figures are correct as of October 2026.
Key Strengths
- Connection with the wider PayPal ecosystem.
- Ecommerce integrations alongside POS.
- Published transaction pricing.
- No recurring POS subscription fee or long-term contract.
Main Limitations
- Not a conventional standalone ecommerce gateway.
- Payment Links are unavailable to new sellers.
- Zettle Invoice has legacy-account restrictions.
- Limited native online functionality compared with specialist gateways.
- Recurring subscriptions are not presented as a native PayPal POS feature.
Verdict
Consider PayPal Point of Sale if you already use Zettle or PayPal for in-person sales and need straightforward connected online options.
SumUp Online Payment Gateway
Best suited to: Small businesses that want straightforward online selling, payment links, and simple website checkout alongside SumUp’s in-person payment tools.
Overview
SumUp is a bundled payment platform rather than a traditional standalone gateway. Its UK online-payment products include Payment Links, a free Online Store, online invoices, Hosted Checkout, an embedded Payment Widget, ecommerce plugins, APIs, and mobile checkout tools.
SumUp provides the payment infrastructure as part of its platform without the need for a separate merchant account. This can simplify online and in-person payment acceptance because separate acquiring and gateway agreements are not required.
Its developer tools also support tokenisation and recurring payments, although its recurring-payment functionality is more limited than a dedicated subscription-management platform.
Pricing and Contract
SumUp currently charges 2.5% per online transaction across products such as Payment Links, its Online Store, and other digital payment tools. The standard online service has £0 monthly cost and no setup fee. No binding contract is required.
If you rely on SDK or API integrations, you can contact its sales team about custom pricing.
Settlement and account arrangements depend on the SumUp setup used, so confirm these timings in writing before signing up or agreeing to any bespoke terms.
Key Strengths
- Published online pricing.
- Payment Links and free Online Store.
- Hosted and embedded checkout options.
- Plugins, APIs, and mobile SDKs.
- Tokenisation and recurring-payment support.
- Combined online and in-person payments.
Main Limitations
- Less advanced than specialist developer-led gateways.
- Recurring payments are relatively basic.
- Flat-rate pricing may become less attractive at higher volumes.
- Checkout customisation is more limited than API-first platforms.
Verdict
Shortlist SumUp if you want simple online selling with transparent pricing and minimal setup.
Square Online Payment Gateway
Best suited to: Small and mid-sized businesses that want online payments, invoicing, ecommerce, and in-person POS tools within one platform.
Overview
Square is a bundled payment platform and business-software provider, so you do not need to enter into a separate merchant account agreement. Its UK online-payment services include Square Online, Online Checkout, payment links, invoices, a virtual terminal, ecommerce APIs, and integrations with platforms including WooCommerce, Wix, Magento, and BigCommerce.
Square can connect online and physical stores through shared inventory management and reporting.
Square also supports recurring and subscription payments, card-on-file transactions, and digital wallets through its wider payments platform.
Pricing and Contract
Square charges 1.4% + 25p for UK cards taken through Square Online, its ecommerce API, and eligible Online Checkout payments. Non-UK cards cost 2.5% + 25p.
Payments taken through Online Payment Links, Square Invoices, the Virtual Terminal, or manually keyed into the POS app cost 2.5%.
Square also lists a 1.5% international transaction fee where the card is issued in a different country from the merchant’s Square account, so check how this applies to your specific payment method and transaction type.
Square does not charge account activation, early-termination, chargeback, inactivity, or PCI-compliance fees.
These figures are correct as of October 2026.
Key Strengths
- Ecommerce and in-person payments under one platform.
- Published online pricing.
- Payment links, invoicing, and virtual terminal.
- Ecommerce APIs and third-party integrations.
- Recurring and card-on-file payment options.
- No long-term contract or early-termination fee.
Main Limitations
- Flat-rate pricing may be less competitive at higher volumes.
- Paid software can increase overall cost.
- Less internationally focused than some specialist gateways.
- Using multiple Square products can make switching individual payment or software components more involved.
Verdict
Shortlist Square if you want ecommerce, invoicing, POS, and reporting to work together under one provider.
Dojo Online Payments
Best suited to: Customer-facing businesses that want to connect in-person, online, and ecommerce sales with remote-payment tools.
Overview
Dojo provides acquiring and payment services, not just a standalone payment gateway. Its product range includes card-machine services, ecommerce plugins, embedded checkout components, APIs, mobile SDKs, payment links, and virtual-terminal payments.
Ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce, PrestaShop, and OpenCart directly integrate with Dojo. Developer tools include customised embedded checkout, webhooks, sandbox testing, tokenisation, and stored credentials for future payments.
Dojo accepts major cards and digital wallets online and provides fraud controls including address verification and behavioural analysis.
Pricing and Contract
Dojo does not publish one standard online transaction rate, with custom pricing based on your annual card turnover and business requirements.
Payment Links carry no monthly fee, although remote-payment transaction charges apply according to your agreed plan. Confirm any applicable gateway charges, contract terms, cancellation conditions, settlement arrangements, and ancillary fees in your proposal.
New customers wanting Dojo online payments currently need a Dojo card machine, linking the ecommerce proposition closely to its wider acquiring service.
Key Strengths
- Ecommerce plugins and API integration.
- Embedded and hosted payment options.
- Payment Links and virtual terminal.
- Tokenisation and stored credentials.
- Online and in-person payments under one provider.
- Published developer documentation and testing tools.
Main Limitations
- Online pricing is quote-based.
- Shopify is currently unsupported.
- New online customers need a Dojo card machine.
- Less suitable for businesses wanting a completely independent ecommerce gateway.
Verdict
Shortlist Dojo if you already want its acquiring and card-machine services and need online payments alongside them.
Types of Payment Gateway and Integration
Payment gateways come in numerous forms, and your choice impacts how much control you have over checkout, the development work required, the customer experience, and your PCI compliance responsibilities.
Choosing the right payment gateway model for your business depends on your desired simplicity, customisation, and technical control.
Hosted and Redirected Checkout
With hosted or redirected checkout, customers complete payment through a checkout page managed by the payment provider. This model is straightforward to implement, reduces the required infrastructure, and can also reduce your PCI compliance scope, because your provider handles sensitive payment information.
It does come at the cost of less control over the payment interface, although some providers may still offer some level of customisation.
Embedded Checkout and Hosted Fields
Embedded checkout keeps payment fields within your website rather than sending customers to a separate payment page. Provider-hosted components or iframes can collect sensitive card information without that data passing through your own server.
This allows you to customise your checkout experience, but it does require more integration work. Customisation and PCI implications depend on how the embedded components are implemented.
Ecommerce Plugins
Ecommerce plugins are prebuilt integrations that connect a payment service to an ecommerce platform, eliminating the need for custom integrations. Availability can vary depending on your ecommerce platform, such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and BigCommerce.
Check whether a plugin is official or third-party, who maintains it, whether additional charges apply, and what happens when either the ecommerce platform or payment provider updates its software.
Direct and API Integration
Direct API integrations offer a highly customisable checkout experience and can support more bespoke payment requirements. Developers may work with APIs, software development kits, webhooks, and testing environments.
This increased customisation places greater responsibility on your business for development, testing, maintenance, and security. Direct API integration is better suited to businesses with the technical resources to develop and maintain it.
Payment Links
Payment links offer a provider-hosted payment page that can be shared through email, text, invoices, or social media. They allow businesses to take remote payments without developing a complete ecommerce website.
Setup is relatively simple, but compare branding, reporting, and transaction charges with those applying to the provider’s standard online checkout.
Virtual Terminals
A virtual terminal lets your business enter payment information through a secure online interface, commonly for telephone payments and other card-not-present transactions. It can be useful for businesses taking payments remotely without an ecommerce checkout.
Compare card-not-present pricing, PCI responsibilities, fraud exposure, and any additional monthly or transaction charges before choosing this approach.
How Much Does a UK Payment Gateway Cost?
UK payment gateway costs depend on how the provider structures its service. Some providers may bundle gateway access, payment processing, and acquiring or merchant services, while others may charge separately for acquiring, processing, and gateway access.
Payment Gateway Fees to Compare
Look beyond the headline transaction rate, as this only makes up part of your total cost. When comparing providers, look for:
- Setup and integration fee
- Monthly gateway fees
- Gateway transaction charges
- Payment-processing rates
- Fixed authorisation charges
- Minimum monthly charges
- Ecommerce plugin or platform charges
- Virtual-terminal fees
- Recurring-billing charges
- International card and cross-border charges
- Currency-conversion fees
Refund fees - Chargeback and dispute fees
- Additional fraud-tool charges
- Faster-settlement fees
- Contract and early-termination charges
Some providers may bundle these together in a single package, while others may charge them separately.
Bundled Versus Separate Gateway Pricing
A bundled PSP combines multiple functions, which can make the overall pricing structure easier to understand. This simplicity does not always translate into an automatically cheaper headline rate.
Likewise, paying a separate monthly gateway fee does not necessarily make a traditional arrangement more expensive. A lower processing rate or negotiated pricing could offset the fixed cost at higher transaction volumes.
When selecting a provider, remember to compare the total cost for the same transaction profile.
Why the Cheapest Payment Gateway Depends on Your Business
Your effective cost can quickly change depending on your:
- Monthly online turnover
- Number of transactions
- Average transaction value
- Card mix (UK, EEA, international, consumer, and commercial cards may incur different charges)
- Required currencies
- Refund and chargeback volumes
- Recurring payments
- Optional fraud tools
- Monthly or minimum charges
A useful way to compare providers is the effective rate formula:
Effective online payment rate = total online payment costs ÷ total online card turnover × 100
When using this formula, use costs and turnover from the same period to maintain consistency and calculate a more accurate effective rate.
For a more detailed cost framework, see our Card Processing Fees guide.
How to Choose the Right Payment Gateway
Choosing a payment gateway starts with understanding how your business takes payments both now and in the future. Below is a step-by-step guide to choosing the right one for your business.
1. Define Your Online-Payment Requirements
Record your monthly online turnover, transaction count, average transaction value, customer locations, card and payment-method mix, refund rate, recurring-payment requirements, and expected growth. Use the same figures across all providers to make the comparison as accurate as possible.
2. Check Your Ecommerce Platform
Identify the integration plugins and third-party connectors your ecommerce platform already relies on. Check that your gateway is compatible and confirm restrictions, additional transaction fees, who maintains the integration, and who is responsible for technical support if something stops working.
3. Choose the Appropriate Checkout Model
Compare hosted and redirected checkout, embedded fields, ecommerce plugins, API integration, payment links, and virtual terminals. The right option depends on how much checkout control you need and whether you have the technical resources to build and maintain the integration.
4. Compare the Complete Cost
Look beyond the headline processing rate. Also account for fixed transaction charges, gateway fees, monthly fees, international and currency-conversion charges, refunds, chargebacks, fraud tools, and contract costs.
5. Check Payment Methods and Currencies
Confirm support for the payment methods your customers use, including credit and debit cards, digital wallets, local payment methods, and bank payments. If you sell overseas, check supported transaction and settlement currencies, along with international-card acceptance.
6. Assess Recurring-Payment Requirements
If you are a subscription-based business, compare subscription billing, tokenisation, card-on-file payments, variable amounts, failed-payment management, account-updater services, and cancellation and refund handling.
7. Review Security and Fraud Controls
Check your PCI responsibilities, 3D Secure support, Strong Customer Authentication requirements, fraud screening, custom rules, address and security-code checks, dispute evidence, and whether advanced fraud tools cost extra.
8. Assess Support and Technical Resources
Consider whether you’ll handle implementation internally or use an agency or freelancer. Review provider documentation, test environments, integration assistance, support channels and hours, and responsibility for plugin problems.
9. Examine Contracts and Portability
Check the minimum term, notice period, and early-termination conditions. Also investigate data export, stored payment token portability, recurring-payment migration, ownership of the integration, and what remains accessible after cancellation.
10. Consider Future Requirements
Think beyond your immediate needs and consider your future requirements. Increased volumes, international expansion, new payment methods, subscriptions, marketplace functionality, multiple websites, mobile apps, in-person payments, and reporting or accounting integrations can all affect which provider remains suitable for the long term.
Payment Gateway Selection Matrix
Below is a matrix to help you narrow down the type of payment gateway and integration that best suits your business needs.
| Business requirement | Features to prioritise | Commercial checks | Technical checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic ecommerce website | Hosted checkout, ecommerce plugins, digital wallets | Monthly gateway fees, transaction charges, minimum monthly charges | Platform compatibility, plugin support, checkout setup |
| Subscription business | Tokenisation, stored credentials, recurring billing, failed-payment tools | Billing charges, transaction fees, failed-payment or recovery costs | Subscription integration, token handling, migration options |
| International ecommerce | Multiple currencies, international cards, local payment methods | Cross-border charges, FX fees, international-card pricing | Regional availability, settlement currencies, payment-method support |
| Service business | Payment links, invoicing, virtual terminal, recurring payments where needed | Card-not-present rates, virtual-terminal fees, monthly charges | CRM, invoicing, or accounting connections |
| Marketplace or platform | Split payments, seller onboarding, payout management, verification tools | Platform fees, payout charges, dispute responsibility | API capability, seller onboarding flows, compliance requirements |
| Omnichannel business | Connected online and in-person payments, refunds, reporting, customer data | Total cost across channels, software fees, settlement charges | EPOS, ecommerce, reporting, and inventory integration |
| Bespoke platform | APIs, SDKs, webhooks, embedded checkout, testing tools | Volume pricing, gateway fees, advanced-feature charges | Developer resources, testing, security responsibilities, long-term maintenance |
Payment Gateway Due-Diligence Checklist
Before selecting a payment gateway provider, ensure you know the answers to these questions:
- Is the gateway available to UK businesses?
- Is it a standalone gateway or part of a bundled payment service?
- Do I need a separate merchant account?
- Must I use the provider’s payment processing?
- Does it integrate with my ecommerce platform?
- Is the integration officially supported?
- Who maintains the plugin?
- What happens if the integration stops working?
- Can I use hosted, embedded, and API-led checkout options?
- Which payment methods are supported?
- Which currencies can customers use?
- Which currencies can be settled into my bank account?
- Does it support recurring payments?
- What tokenisation or card-on-file tools are available?
- What are the complete UK and international transaction charges?
- Is there a separate gateway or monthly fee?
- Are there minimum monthly charges?
- What are the refund, chargeback, and dispute fees?
- Do advanced fraud tools cost extra?
- What are the contract and cancellation terms?
- What is the standard settlement time?
- Does faster settlement cost extra?
- What PCI responsibilities remain with my business?
- What customer and technical support is included?
- Can I export transaction and customer data?
- Can stored payment tokens be transferred or migrated to another provider?
- What happens to subscriptions if I change provider?
Questions to Ask Your Web Developer or Ecommerce Agency
Understanding what your web developer or ecommerce agency offers is just as important as understanding what your payment gateway provider offers. Make sure you understand:
- Which gateways integrate natively with our ecommerce platform?
- Is the integration supplied by the provider, platform, or a third party?
- Will we need a custom API integration?
- How much development and testing will be required?
- Who will maintain the integration after launch?
- Will the checkout remain on our website or redirect customers elsewhere?
- How much control will we have over its appearance?
- Which payment methods can the integration display?
- What PCI responsibilities will remain with us?
- Can the integration support subscriptions and stored cards?
- How will refunds and disputes appear in our systems?
- Can transaction data connect with our accounting or order-management software?
- What happens if the provider changes its API or plugin?
- Can we change the payment gateway later without rebuilding the checkout?
- Can existing recurring-payment tokens be migrated?
Changing Payment Gateways: Migration and Implementation
If you already use a payment gateway and are looking to change to another provider, you should first review how the current service connects with your ecommerce platform, acquiring agreement, plugins, custom code, stored payment methods, subscriptions, reporting, and accounting systems.
Review Your Existing Setup
Map the parts of your payment setup that depend on your existing provider. This helps identify what needs replacing, rebuilding, or retaining and can expose dependencies that might otherwise delay the switch.
Confirm Data and Token Portability
Customer information and transaction records may be exportable, but stored card information generally cannot be downloaded and transferred to another provider, although it is worth confirming this functionality with your provider.
Payment tokens may also be specific to the existing gateway or processor and cannot always be migrated. Subscription businesses should establish what happens to stored credentials and active recurring payments before committing to a new provider.
Confirm what data can be exported, whether payment tokens can be transferred, and how subscriptions will be migrated rather than assuming the new provider can take them over automatically.
Build and Test the New Integration
Use your new provider’s test environment to ensure everything works before launch. Check successful and failed transactions, 3D Secure, refunds, recurring payments, digital wallets, international cards, confirmation emails, and reporting and reconciliation.
Remember to test payment scenarios that your business actually handles rather than checking whether only basic card payments succeed.
Plan the Switch
Try to plan the switch around slower periods to minimise the impact of any downtime. If possible, parallel test as well. Allow for DNS or plugin changes, staff training, and customer communication where required.
Before cancelling your old service, confirm how outstanding refunds will be handled, how long you will retain access to historic transaction data, and when cancellation should take effect.
Ensure that all testing is complete and your new gateway is fully operational before closing your existing arrangement, or you may find yourself unable to accept online payments altogether.
Other Online Payment Providers to Consider
The eight providers we’ve covered may not be right for your business. Below are six other online payment providers that may better suit your needs.
Paysafe: Consider it for ecommerce and card-not-present payments, including international and multi-currency requirements.
Adyen: Consider it for online, international, or omnichannel payments, including websites, apps, and pay-by-link.
GoCardless: Consider it for recurring payments, invoices, and bank-to-bank collections through Direct Debit and Open Banking rather than card acceptance.
Tyl by NatWest: Consider it if you want hosted checkout, ecommerce plugins, APIs, payment links, and virtual-terminal support alongside acquiring.
Global Payments: Consider it if you need online payments through hosted pages, gateways, APIs, virtual terminals, pay-by-link, or QR payments.
Verifone: Consider it if you need hosted or integrated checkout, virtual-terminal payments, or API-based online-payment integration.
Omission from the main comparison does not mean these providers are unsuitable. The right choice depends on your payment channels, integrations, pricing requirements, and support needs.
Final Recommendations: Which Payment Gateway Should You Choose?
There is no definitive “best” payment gateway; the right option depends on how you take payments, the complexity of your checkout, and the commercial terms you qualify for.
If you want a simple setup, prioritise hosted checkout, supported ecommerce plugins, transparent pricing, and straightforward support. For subscription businesses, look for recurring billing, tokenisation, and failed-payment management features.
For those selling overseas, look for supported currencies, local payment methods, international card charges, currency conversion, and settlement arrangements. If you have more technical resources available, assess APIs, documentation, testing tools, and the long-term work required to maintain the integration.
Service businesses may not need a full ecommerce checkout if payment links, invoices, or a virtual terminal meet their needs. If you sell across multiple channels, examine how online and in-person payments, refunds, reporting, and customer data connect.
At higher transaction volumes, always use the same information when requesting quotes for a like-for-like comparison. If you are switching providers, investigate data export, token portability, and recurring-payment migration before signing.
Build your shortlist around your commercial and technical requirements, then compare each provider using the same transaction assumptions before choosing a payment solution.
FAQs
What is the best payment gateway for a UK business?
There is no single best payment gateway for every UK business. The right choice depends on your transaction profile, ecommerce platform, payment methods, checkout requirements, and technical resources. Compare providers using the same business assumptions rather than choosing one based on a headline rate alone.
What is the difference between a payment gateway and a payment processor?
A payment gateway captures and securely transmits payment details from the customer to the payment system. A payment processor then communicates the transaction information between the relevant parties for authorisation and completion. Some providers bundle gateway and processing functions within one payment platform.
Do I need a merchant account as well as a payment gateway?
Traditional payment setups may require a separate merchant account alongside the gateway. Bundled payment service providers can include access to the processing and settlement structure within one service. A standalone gateway does not necessarily provide acquiring, so check how each provider structures the arrangement.
How much does a payment gateway cost?
Payment gateway costs can include percentage transaction rates, fixed per-transaction charges, monthly gateway fees, international or currency-conversion charges, and fees for refunds or disputes. Some providers bundle these costs, while others separate gateway and processing charges, so compare total cost using your own transaction profile.
What is the cheapest payment gateway for a small business?
There is no universally cheapest payment gateway for small businesses. Lower-volume businesses may benefit from providers with no or limited fixed monthly costs, but percentage charges can matter more as turnover grows. Compare total annual costs using your transaction count, average value, card mix, and sales channels.
Can a payment gateway integrate with my ecommerce platform?
Many payment gateways provide native integrations, ecommerce plugins, APIs, or third-party connectors for common platforms. Availability varies by provider, platform, country, and account type. Before choosing a gateway, confirm compatibility and establish who supplies, updates, and supports the integration if problems occur.
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