To accept payments online, connect your website to a payment service that can take the methods your customers use, then compare the provider’s full fees, eligibility, checkout flow and payout terms. There is no universally best provider: availability and costs vary by seller country, platform, payment method and business model.
This guide is for businesses evaluating providers for an online checkout. It names 11 candidates from a July 17, 2026 Shopify comparison, but the available information does not establish that all 11 currently serve the same market or offer comparable terms. Treat the list as a starting shortlist, not a ranking or a verified US-only comparison.
Choose the kind of online payment setup you need
“Accepting payments online” can mean several different things. A provider may process card payments, enable digital wallets, host a checkout page, or add payment options to a platform. Decide how you want checkout to work before comparing providers.
Use your platform’s integrated payments service
For a Shopify store, Shopify says merchants can accept cards through Shopify Payments, a third-party provider, or both. Shopify Payments is integrated into the platform, but is available only in specified countries and regions. Check eligibility for your business location before planning around it.
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- With Square Terminal, you can ring up sales, accept payments, and print receipts, all with one device. Use it at the counter or ring up customers anywhere in your store.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
- Process chip cards in just two seconds.
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.
Connect a third-party provider
A third-party provider can be a route to payment services beyond the platform’s integrated option. Shopify distinguishes direct providers, where customers complete checkout on the store, from external providers, where customers are sent to a provider-hosted checkout page. Shopify says it supports more than 100 third-party credit-card providers; a third-party transaction fee may also apply, subject to exceptions. Check the policy for your location and plan.
Add wallets or other payment methods
Shopify identifies PayPal, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay as examples of additional checkout options, and also mentions cryptocurrency. The methods available depend on the provider, platform, seller location and sometimes the customer’s location. Confirm that each method you plan to offer is enabled for your setup.
Rank #2
- Our team provides expert guidance, onboarding assistance, and payment processing consultation to help businesses deploy Square solutions effectively.
- Complete Business Payment Solution - Accept EMV chip cards, contactless payments, NFC wallets, and traditional credit and debit card transactions. Square Terminal combines payment acceptance, receipt printing, and business management tools in a compact all-in-one device.
- Expert POS Deployment Support - Unlike standard online purchases, SwyftPAY provides hands-on onboarding assistance from payment industry professionals with over 50 years of experience serving retail, restaurant, mobile, and service-based businesses.
- Designed for Growing Businesses - Ideal for retail stores, restaurants, food trucks, service contractors, salons, medical offices, professional services firms, and other businesses seeking a modern payment acceptance solution.
- Equipment ships after signup with Square, through SwyftPAY
Take payment outside automated checkout
A bank transfer arranged manually may suit a specific business workflow, but it is not the same as an automated checkout provider. Consider how you will confirm payment, reconcile orders and handle delays before relying on this approach.
11 provider names to investigate—not a verified ranking
A Shopify comparison published July 17, 2026 lists the providers below among a group of 13. The information available here does not establish current official pricing, eligibility, payout terms, supported methods or platform compatibility for every provider, so it would be misleading to rank them or label one cheapest. Verify each provider’s current terms for your country and business before deciding.
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- PAYMENT TERMINAL: The Verifone P400 is a compact, customer-facing payment terminal engineered for efficient checkout experiences. Powered by a 600 MHz Arm Cortex-A9 processor and Linux-based V/OS, it combines reliable performance, intuitive operation, and durable construction for modern retail and service environments.
- MULTIPLE PAYMENT OPTIONS: Accept a wide range of payment methods with support for triple-track magnetic stripe cards, EMV chip cards, and NFC/contactless transactions. Compatible with major contactless payment schemes and ISO standards, the P400 delivers flexible payment acceptance for diverse customer preferences.
- VIVID TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY: Equipped with a 3.5-inch HVGA color capacitive touchscreen featuring Corning Gorilla Glass technology, the P400 offers a responsive and user-friendly interface. The bright display enhances customer interaction, making payment verification, PIN entry, and transaction processing quick and convenient.
- SECURE TRANSACTIONS: Designed with PCI PTS 5.x approval and EMVCo-certified technologies, the Verifone P400 helps safeguard sensitive payment information. Advanced security architecture, secure card authentication, and support for encrypted payment processing provide enhanced protection during every transaction.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY: Integrate seamlessly with existing POS infrastructures using Ethernet, USB, and RS232 connectivity options. The P400 also supports optional Wi-Fi or Bluetooth configurations, enabling flexible deployment across retail counters, hospitality environments, and service-based businesses while maintaining dependable performance.
| Provider | What is established here | What to verify before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Payments | Shopify’s integrated payments service; available only in specified countries and regions. | Eligibility, supported methods, fees, payout schedule and account requirements for your location. |
| PayPal | Named as an online payment method by Shopify. PayPal’s US fee information is subject to eligibility, application and approval. | Terms for your country, approval, checkout integration, payment-method coverage and full fees. |
| Square | The surfaced online-payments information is for the UK and describes wallet options and integrations including WooCommerce. | Availability and terms in your country, supported platforms, methods and fees. |
| Stripe | Named in the July 17, 2026 Shopify comparison. | Current availability, pricing, methods, integration, approval and payout terms from Stripe for your market. |
| Payment Depot | Named in the July 17, 2026 Shopify comparison. | Current availability, pricing, methods, integration, approval and payout terms for your market. |
| Payline | Named in the July 17, 2026 Shopify comparison. | Current availability, pricing, methods, integration, approval and payout terms for your market. |
| Finix | Named in the July 17, 2026 Shopify comparison. | Current availability, pricing, methods, integration, approval and payout terms for your market. |
| Stax | Named in the July 17, 2026 Shopify comparison. | Current availability, pricing, methods, integration, approval and payout terms for your market. |
| Helcim | Named in the July 17, 2026 Shopify comparison. | Current availability, pricing, methods, integration, approval and payout terms for your market. |
| Authorize.net | Named in the July 17, 2026 Shopify comparison. | Current availability, pricing, methods, integration, approval and payout terms for your market. |
| Adyen | Named in the July 17, 2026 Shopify comparison. | Current availability, pricing, methods, integration, approval and payout terms for your market. |
The comparison also names Clover and Chase Payment Solutions; they are not included in this 11-name shortlist. The source’s inclusion of a provider is not evidence that it is available to every seller or a good fit for a particular store.
Compare the total cost, not just the headline rate
A quoted processing rate may not represent what you pay overall. Build a like-for-like estimate using your expected order amount, sales volume and payment mix. Include every fee that applies to your configuration, and confirm the full fee schedule directly with the provider.
Rank #4
- Runs on the advanced VX Evolution platform - powered by the time-tested Verix operating system, with over 7 million Verix-based devices sold
- Takes advantage of the industry's fastest processor to handle encryption, decryption and processing at lightning speeds - moving more transactions in the same time for greater profits
- Uniquely designed communication port area neatly connects cables under the device for clean countertops
- PCI PED 2.0 approval is standard, with the option of PCI PTS 3.0, Reassuring Confidence From Full Spectrum Security
- Dual Comm- 160 mb processing PN: M252-653-03-NAA-2
- Processing charges: percentage and fixed charges per transaction, including differences by payment method.
- Platform charges: any extra transaction fee imposed by your ecommerce platform for using a third-party provider, plus any exceptions that apply to your plan or location.
- Other possible charges: monthly fees, cross-border or currency-conversion charges, and method-specific fees.
- Payout terms: when funds are paid out and what account or verification requirements apply.
Provider prices can vary by market, plan, payment method and transaction profile. Rates quoted in a secondary comparison are not a substitute for current provider terms, and they should not be treated as universal prices.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the checkout experience and business fit
Price is only one part of the decision. A payment setup must work with your site and the way you sell.
Best Value
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Get set up quickly with no long-term commitments. Download the Square Point of Sale app for free, create an account, and start taking payments anywhere.
- Run your business all in one place with the free Square Point of Sale app. Track your sales, manage inventory, accept tips, send receipts digitally, and more.
- Works with Apple devices with a Lightning connector.
- Seller and customer locations: confirm that the provider can serve your business country and the countries where your customers are located. Local payment methods may matter to customers in some markets.
- Platform integration: confirm that the provider supports your website platform and the checkout arrangement you want.
- Checkout flow: decide whether customers should stay on your site or move to a provider-hosted page, then check how the integration handles that flow.
- Payment methods: check card, wallet, bank and other methods against what your customers need and your business can accept.
- Product restrictions and approval: review prohibited or restricted business categories, application requirements and approval conditions before building around a provider.
- Sales channels: if you also need in-person payments, check that requirement separately. An online checkout comparison does not establish that a provider or particular device meets your point-of-sale needs.
A practical process for selecting a provider
- Set your market. Write down the country where your business is established and the countries where you expect customers. Do not assume a provider’s terms in one market apply elsewhere.
- Confirm eligibility first. Check the provider’s official availability, business-category restrictions and approval requirements. Remove options that cannot serve your business.
- Match the integration to your website. Verify platform support and whether checkout is direct or hosted, along with any platform transaction fees.
- List required payment methods. Include the methods your customers expect, then confirm they are available for your location and checkout setup.
- Compare full costs using the same assumptions. Use a representative order amount, volume and payment mix. Include provider, platform, monthly, cross-border, currency and method-specific charges where applicable.
- Review payouts and operating requirements. Check timing, account requirements and any conditions that could affect when you receive funds.
- Make a conditional choice. Select the provider that fits your market, platform, customer methods and expected costs—not simply the one with the lowest advertised rate.
What the 11-provider list can—and cannot—tell you
The July 17, 2026 Shopify comparison provides names to investigate, not a canonical set of the 11 best providers. It lists 13 providers, and the evidence available for this guide does not establish current, comparable official terms for all 11 listed above. Shopify’s platform guidance, PayPal’s US information and Square’s UK page each have specific scope; none justifies generalizing terms across countries. Make the final comparison from current provider and platform information for your own market.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
