International Payment Gateway List (Top 10 Options, Including their Pro and Cons)

The landscape of business has dramatically shifted, moving beyond traditional national borders to embrace a truly global marketplace. This remarkable transformation is largely thanks to relentless advancements in technology and significant improvements in global transportation networks.

Where once geographical distances and communication barriers posed insurmountable hurdles, innovations like high-speed internet, digital communication tools, and sophisticated logistics systems have made international collaboration and commerce not just possible, but highly efficient.

Railways, air cargo, and sea shipping have become lifelines, seamlessly connecting diverse economies and enabling businesses to source, produce, and sell goods across continents with unprecedented speed and cost-effectiveness.

However, as businesses expand their reach globally, a critical challenge emerges: how to handle international payments effectively and securely. Cross-border transactions, unlike domestic ones, are often fraught with complexities, including varying regulatory frameworks, fluctuating exchange rates, high fees, and potential delays.

These factors can significantly impact a business's profitability, cash flow, and overall operational efficiency, turning the promise of global expansion into a daunting logistical puzzle if not managed correctly.

Therefore, selecting the most suitable payment methods for international transactions is paramount for any business venturing into the global arena. This article aims to demystify the array of options available, providing a comprehensive overview of the best international payment solutions, including their advantages and disadvantages.

International Payment Gateway List:

International payment gateways are services that allow businesses to accept payments from customers around the world securely and efficiently. They facilitate online transactions by connecting merchants with various payment methods such as credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, and bank transfers across different countries and currencies.

Choosing the right international payment gateway is crucial for businesses looking to expand their reach and accept payments from customers worldwide.

Here is a list of some of the leading international payment gateways, along with their advantages and disadvantages:

1. Stripe:

Stripe is a leading payment processing platform that allows businesses to accept a wide range of payments online, in-app, and even in person. It's particularly popular with online businesses due to its developer-friendly tools and extensive features.

Think of Stripe as the intermediary that facilitates the flow of money from your customer's payment method (like a credit card or bank account) to your business's bank account.

Stripe is a popular choice for businesses of all sizes due to its developer-friendly API and extensive features. It's designed to make online payment processing seamless and highly customizable.

Advantages:

Here are the advantages of using Stripe:

• Global Reach: Supports over 135 currencies and 195 countries, making it excellent for international sales.
• Developer-Friendly: Offers a robust and flexible API that allows for deep customization of the checkout experience.
• Comprehensive Features: Provides tools for subscriptions, invoicing, fraud prevention (Stripe Radar), and analytics.
• Transparent Pricing: Generally offers a clear, flat-rate pricing structure, though additional fees apply for currency conversion and some advanced features.
• Seamless Integration: Integrates easily with many e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.

Disadvantages:

Some disadvantages of using stripes are:

• Technical Expertise Required: While user-friendly for basic setups, advanced customization often requires coding skills or developer resources.
• Account Freezing/Suspension: Some users report instances of accounts being frozen or suspended due to stringent compliance rules or perceived high-risk activities, which can disrupt cash flow.
• Customer Support: While improving, some users have reported slow or unresponsive customer support.
• Processing Fees: For high-volume businesses, the flat-rate fees can accumulate, potentially becoming more expensive than negotiated rates with dedicated merchant accounts.

Tap here to find payment methods with no foreign transaction fees.

2. PayPal:

PayPal is a widely recognized and popular online payment system that allows individuals and businesses to send and receive money securely over the internet.

It acts as a digital intermediary between your financial accounts (like bank accounts, credit cards, and debit cards) and the recipient, meaning you don't have to share your sensitive financial details directly with every merchant or individual you transact with.

Here is a breakdown of what PayPal is and how it functions:

1. Core Functionality:

• Digital Wallet: At its heart, PayPal operates like a digital wallet. You can link your bank accounts and credit/debit cards to your PayPal account. This allows you to pay for things online or send money without repeatedly entering your card or bank details.

2. Sending and Receiving Money:

• For Individuals: You can send money to friends and family, typically for free if funded by your PayPal balance or linked bank account (fees may apply for credit card funding or international transfers). You can also request money from others.
• For Businesses (Merchants): Businesses use PayPal to accept payments from customers for goods and services. This can be done through a PayPal button on their website, invoicing, or even in-person using Square (a PayPal subsidiary) or QR codes.

Millions of online retailers accept PayPal. When you check out, you can often select PayPal as a payment option, log into your PayPal account, and confirm the payment. This keeps your financial information private from the merchant.

You can hold also balance in your PayPal account (in various currencies) which can then be used for purchases, sent to others, or withdrawn to your linked bank account.

Advantages:

• Wide Global Acceptance: Available in over 200 countries and supports 25+ currencies, making it highly accessible to international customers.
• Ease of Use: Simple to set up and use for both merchants and consumers, with a familiar interface.
• Buyer and Seller Protection: Offers programs that protect both parties in a transaction, fostering trust.
• Multiple Payment Methods: Customers can pay using their PayPal balance, linked bank accounts, or credit/debit cards.
• Fast Transactions: PayPal-to-PayPal transfers are generally instant.

Disadvantages:

Here are some disadvantages of using PayPal:

• Higher Fees for International Transactions: While domestic transactions can be free under certain conditions, international payments often incur higher costs, including currency conversion fees.
• Account Holds/Limitations: Similar to Stripe, PayPal has a history of holding or limiting funds if suspicious activity is detected, which can be a significant drawback for businesses.
• Brand Prominence: In some cases, customers are redirected to PayPal's site, which can detract from a fully branded checkout experience.
• Target for Scammers: Its widespread use makes it a frequent target for phishing attempts and fraudulent activities.

PayPal is one of the best choice.

3. Adyen:

Adyen is a powerful payment platform designed for larger, global businesses that require a unified system for online, mobile, and in-store payments.

It is used globally by a vast array of businesses, particularly those operating at an enterprise level or with significant international operations. Its primary appeal lies in its "unified commerce" platform, which allows businesses to manage payments across various sales channels: online, in-app, and in-store, through a single system.

Advantages:

Some of thr advantages of Adyen are:

• Unified Platform: Offers a single platform to manage payments across various channels (online, mobile, in-store), streamlining operations for omnichannel businesses.
• Global Reach and Local Acquiring: Operates in nearly 100 countries (USA, Canada, Spain, Astonia, Brazil, Nigeria, Morocco, etc), and supports local payment methods, which can improve authorization rates and lower transaction fees by processing payments locally.
• Robust Features: Includes advanced risk management, authorization optimization, and mobile SDKs for app integration.
• No Monthly/Setup Fees: Generally avoids monthly, setup, or integration fees, charging per transaction.
• High Authorization Rates: Its local acquiring capabilities can lead to higher approval rates for international transactions.

Disadvantages:

• Complex Pricing Model: While no monthly fees, the per-transaction pricing can be complex, involving processing fees plus payment method fees and interchange-plus pricing for cards.
• Minimum Invoice Amounts: May require minimum invoice amounts, potentially making it less suitable for very low-volume merchants.
• Enterprise-Focused: While it serves businesses of all sizes, its comprehensive features and pricing often make it more appealing to larger enterprises rather than small startups.
• Payout Delays: Payouts can take up to two business days, depending on currencies and banks involved.

4. Square:

Square is a prominent financial services and digital payments company, particularly well-known for its Point-of-Sale (POS) systems and payment processing solutions tailored for small to medium-sized businesses. It revolutionized the way many small businesses accept credit card payments, especially in physical locations.

Advantages of using Square:

Some of the advantages of using Square for international payment are:

• Transparent Pricing: Offers a clear, flat-rate pricing structure with no hidden fees, making budgeting easier.
• Ease of Use: Very user-friendly, with quick and easy setup, especially for businesses new to online payments.
• Integrated Solutions: Provides a comprehensive ecosystem including POS hardware, online store builders, invoicing, and analytics.
• Fast Processing (In-Person): Known for quickly processing chip payments.
• Mobile POS Capabilities: Excellent for businesses needing to accept payments on the go.

Disadvantages:

• Limited International Availability: Currently available in a limited number of countries (US, Canada, Australia, Japan, UK, Ireland, France, and Spain), restricting its global reach compared to others.
• Flat Fees for High Volume: While transparent, the flat-rate fees can become more expensive for high-volume businesses compared to providers offering interchange-plus or tiered pricing.
• Account Holds: Like other aggregators, Square may hold funds or suspend accounts for irregular activity or perceived violations of terms.
• Limited Customer Support Hours: Customer support may not be available 24/7, which can be an issue for businesses operating outside standard hours.

Note: Unlike traditional merchant accounts that require a separate relationship with an acquiring bank, Square operates as a Payment Facilitator (PayFac). This means Square holds a master merchant account and processes payments on behalf of thousands of smaller businesses under that single account. This model simplifies the onboarding process for businesses, allowing them to get set up and start accepting payments very quickly without lengthy applications or underwriting

5. Worldpay:

Worldpay is a global leader in financial technology and payment processing solutions. They enable businesses of all sizes to accept payments across various channels like online, in-store, and mobile in 174 countries and across 135 currencies.

It processes transactions including credit and debit card payments, e-wallets, bank transfers, and more. They also handle the secure routing of these payments from the customer to the merchant's bank account.

Worldpay is a global leader in payment processing, serving businesses of all sizes with a wide range of payment solutions.

To use Worldpay, visit their official Worldpay website and explore their solutions for businesses. They will guide you through the application process and provide more specific instructions based on your business type and payment needs.

Advantages:

• Extensive Global Reach: Processes transactions across 174 countries and 135 currencies, making it highly suitable for international businesses.
• Direct Processor: Functions as a direct processor, which can sometimes lead to lower transaction fees by cutting out intermediaries.
• Diverse Payment Methods: Supports a wide variety of payment types, including credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and alternative payment methods.
• Robust Security: Offers advanced security features like PCI-compliant point-to-point encryption and fraud prevention tools.
• Comprehensive Reporting: Provides analytical tools for merchants to track performance and gain insights.

Disadvantages:

Less Transparent Pricing: Some users have reported a lack of complete transparency regarding pricing, making it challenging to compare rates with competitors.

Increased Complaints: There have been reports of an increase in merchant complaints, particularly regarding termination fees.

Complex Setup for Small Businesses: While robust, its extensive features might be more complex to set up and navigate for smaller businesses compared to simpler alternatives.

Emphasis on "Smart Terminals": While beneficial for some, its focus on specific terminal types might not align with every business's needs.

6. 2Checkout (now Verifone):

2Checkout, now part of Verifone (after being acquired by Verifone in 2020), is a global online payment processing platform that helps businesses accept payments from customers worldwide. It acts as a comprehensive solution that often combines the functions of a payment gateway and a merchant account, simplifying the process of selling online, especially for businesses with international aspirations.

Think of it as a bridge that connects your business with various payment methods and financial institutions globally, allowing you to get paid for your products or services.

2Checkout accepts a wide range of payment options, including major credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Diner's Club, JCB), PayPal, and various local payment methods and e-wallets depending on the region.

It also supports transactions in over 200 countries, across 87 currencies. This is one of its strongest selling points, making it ideal for businesses with an international customer base.

Advantages:

• Global Payment Solution: Enables selling in over 200 countries and territories, supporting over 45 payment methods and 100 billing currencies.
• Customizable Checkout Experience: Allows merchants to tailor checkout pages, promotions, and tax rules.
• Recurring Billing Solutions: Offers advanced features for subscription-based businesses.
• Fraud Prevention: Provides robust fraud detection and prevention tools.
• Ease of Setup: Generally easy to set up, allowing businesses to start accepting payments quickly.

Disadvantages:

Some disadvantages of 2Checkout are:

• Strict Compliance Policies: Known for strict compliance policies, which can sometimes lead to account stability issues or fund holds.
• Higher Transaction Fees: Some users have reported higher transaction fees compared to other providers, especially for chargebacks.
• Limited Merchant Support: While some praise their support, others have reported less-than-ideal or unresponsive customer service.
• Complex Admin Panel: The admin panel interface is sometimes complex and difficult to navigate for some users.
• Payout Delays: Concerns have been raised about delays in payment releases, with a 90-day hold period often mentioned after account cancellation.

In essence, 2Checkout empowers businesses to expand their reach and simplify payment collection, particularly for those with a global customer base or those managing subscription models.

Some other international Payment gateways are:

7. Authorize.Net:

A long-established payment gateway mainly used by U.S. businesses but supports international payments.

• Advantages: Reliable, extensive fraud detection tools, good customer support.
• Disadvantages: Monthly fees, less suitable for small businesses because of cost.

8. Payoneer:

Payoneer is an American financial services company that provides online money transfer, digital payment services, and working capital solutions, primarily catering to freelancers, online businesses (e-commerce sellers), and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that operate globally.

In essence, Payoneer simplifies the process of sending and receiving international payments, acting as a bridge between individuals and businesses across different countries and currencies. It's often seen as an alternative or complement to traditional banking methods for cross-border transactions.

• Advantages: Low fees for receiving payments, supports many currencies, good for freelancers and businesses.
• Disadvantages: Less suited for direct consumer payments, some fees for currency conversion.

9. Skrill:

A digital wallet and payment gateway service that supports international money transfers and payments.

• Advantages: Fast transfers, supports multiple currencies, integrates with many platforms.
• Disadvantages: Fees can be high for certain transactions, limited support options.

Using the right payment gateway depends on your business needs, target markets, transaction volume, and budget.

When choosing an international payment gateway, consider the following factors for your businesses:

1. Target Markets: Which countries and currencies do you need to support?
2. Supported Payment Methods: Do they offer the payment options preferred by your customers?
3. Pricing Structure: Understand all fees, including transaction fees, monthly fees, setup fees, and currency conversion rates.
4. Integration Ease: How easy is it to integrate with your existing e-commerce platform or website
5. Security and Compliance: Ensure the gateway is PCI DSS compliant and offers robust fraud protection.
6. Customer Support: What kind of support do they offer, and during what hours?
7. Features: Do they offer features like recurring billing, invoicing, or analytics that your business needs

By carefully evaluating these aspects, businesses can select the international payment gateway that best suits their needs and helps them thrive in the global marketplace.

Top 10 international payment gateways ( and Their fee structures):

The "best" gateway depends on your specific needs, business size, and target markets. Here is a summary guide to the top 10 international payment gateways and their fee structures as of now:

1. Stripe:

Best for online businesses, startups, developers, and platforms.

How it Works: Robust APIs for seamless integration.

Typical fees (for US merchants, indicative):

• Online Card Transactions: ~2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge.
• International Cards: +1.5% additional fee.
• Currency Conversion: +1% additional fee.
• No monthly fees. Custom pricing for high volume.

2. PayPal (PayPal Payments Pro / PayPal Checkout)

PayPal is best for businesses wanting a widely recognized brand with strong buyer protection, easy integration, and global reach.

How it Works: Offers various tools from simple "Buy Now" buttons to full checkout flows.

Typical fees (for US business accounts, indicative):

• Domestic Commercial Transactions: ~2.99% + $0.49 fixed fee.
• International/Cross-Border: Additional 1.50%.
• Currency Conversion: Often includes a markup of 3-4% on the exchange rate
• Chargeback Fee: ~$20.

3. Adyen:

This is best for large enterprises, global brands, and businesses with high transaction volumes needing a unified platform for online, mobile, and in-store payments.

How it Works: Advanced, unified payment platform.

Typical Fees: Uses Interchange++ pricing (very transparent):

• Fixed Fee: A small fixed fee per transaction (e.g., $0.13).
• Processing Fee: A percentage charged by Adyen (e.g., 0.60%).
• Interchange Fee: Fee charged by the card-issuing bank (variable).
• Scheme Fee: Fee charged by card networks (Visa, Mastercard - variable).

No monthly fees, setup fees, or hidden costs. International and currency conversion costs are factored into the variable fees.

4. Worldpay (part of FIS):

Best for businesses of all sizes, especially those with diverse payment needs (online, in-store, phone) and international operations.

How it Works: Comprehensive payment processing solutions.

Typical Fees (UK indicative, often custom-quoted):

• Online Transactions: Starting around 2.75%.
• In-person Transactions: Starting around 1.5%.
• Additional Fees: Can include monthly fees (e.g., for PCI compliance), batch fees, and currency conversion markups. Less transparent pricing, usually requires a direct quote.

5. 2Checkout (now Verifone):

Best for: Online businesses focused on global sales, digital goods, and subscription billing, offering extensive local payment methods.

How it Works: Combines payment gateway and often acts as Merchant of Record for compliance.

Typical Fees (Pay-as-you-go, no monthly fees, indicative):

• 2Sell Plan: 3.5% + $0.35 per sale.
• 2Subscribe Plan: 4.5% + $0.45 per sale.
• 2Monetize Plan (includes global tax compliance): 6.0% + $0.60 per sale.
• Cross-border Fees: May apply (e.g., 2% for offshore payments).
• Currency Conversion Fee: Typically 2-5% on top of the exchange rate.

6. Authorize.Net:

Best for established online businesses, those needing robust fraud tools, recurring billing, or who have an existing merchant account.

How it Works: A widely used payment gateway that securely transmits payment data. Often requires a separate merchant account.

Typical Fees (indicative for US):

• Gateway Only Plan: $25/month + $0.10 per transaction + $0.10 daily batch fee. (Credit card % rate determined by your separate merchant account).
• All-in-One Plan: ~2.9% + $0.30 per transaction + $25/month.
• International Payments Fee: Additional 1.5%.
• eCheck Processing: ~0.75%.

7. Checkout.com:

Best For: Large and growing businesses, global enterprises seeking transparent pricing, extensive payment methods, and advanced analytics.

How it Works: Modern, unified global payment platform.

Typical Fees: Uses Interchange++ pricing:

• No setup fees, no monthly fees, no hidden fees.
• Fixed Fee: A small fixed fee per transaction.
• Variable Percentage: Based on payment method, interchange, and scheme fees.
• Exchange Rate (FX) Fee: Standard 1.99% for currency conversion. Pricing is often customized based on business profile.

8. Braintree (a PayPal service):

Best For: Developers, businesses needing flexible integrations, and those who want to accept PayPal, Venmo, and other digital wallets alongside cards.

How it Works: Developer-friendly payment gateway.

Typical Fees (Standard Pricing, indicative for US):

• Cards and Digital Wallets: 2.89% + $0.29 per transaction.
• International Transactions: Additional 1% for non-USD currencies OR cards issued outside the US.
• No monthly fees.

9. Square:

Square is best for small to medium-sized businesses, brick-and-mortar stores expanding online, and those looking for simple, integrated POS and online solutions.

How it Works: Offers online payment processing alongside its popular in-person POS systems.

Typical Fees (for US merchants, indicative):

• Online Transactions: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
• International Cards: Compatible with most international cards. Square typically states no separate currency conversion fees for merchants, but the customer's bank might charge them FX fees.
• No monthly fees for basic plans.

10. Payoneer:

Best For: Freelancers, e-commerce sellers on marketplaces, and SMBs focused on receiving international payouts efficiently. Has recently introduced Payoneer Checkout for direct website payments.

How it Works: Primarily known for global receiving accounts and payouts, with newer direct payment processing.

Typical Fees (for Payoneer Checkout, indicative):

• Credit Card (all currencies): 3.20% + $0.49 fixed fee.
• Receiving through Global Receiving Accounts: Free for some currencies, up to 1% for others (e.g., USD).
• Currency Conversion: Around 0.5% when converting between balances, but up to 3% when withdrawing to a bank account in a different currency.
• Annual account fee: $29.95 if low activity.

When making your decision, consider your specific needs: Do you primarily sell online? Do you have high transaction volumes? What countries are your customers in? Do you need subscription billing? Answering these questions will help you narrow down the best fit.

Note: If you are looking for the best international payment gateway for your website, consider starting with Stripe or PayPal (PayPal Payments Pro/Checkout) as they have broad global acceptance and widely used APIs/plugins for e-commerce platforms. Payoneer could also be a strong contender, especially if you already receive international payouts through them, as their "Global Receiving Accounts" and ability to withdraw to local bank accounts are their core strengths.

Also, Due to extensive international sanctions imposed on Russia since 2022, most major international payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Adyen, Worldpay, etc.) do not process transactions to or from Russia. Visa and Mastercard, for example, have suspended operations in Russia, meaning their cards issued outside Russia will not work within Russia, and cards issued in Russia will not work internationally. Any business looking to sell to Russia faces significant challenges and should seek specialized local solutions if absolutely necessary, while being fully aware of compliance risks and legal restrictions from their own country.