Best Payment Gateways 2025

Compare fees, features, FX rates, and integration options from the leading payment gateways. Find the right mix of global reach, developer tooling, and customer experience for your business.

Problem Solved: Selecting a payments provider that balances conversion, compliance, cost, and global coverage. Evaluate nine industry leaders side-by-side with the latest published data.

Payment Gateway Overview

Get a quick snapshot of each gateway's positioning, strengths, and ideal customer profile before diving into detailed comparisons.

Stripe

Developer-first payment platform with powerful APIs, global reach, and comprehensive financial tools.

Best for: Developers & SaaS

PayPal

Global leader in digital payments with household-name recognition, buyer protection, and plug-and-play checkout.

Best for: Consumer Trust & Conversions

Square

All-in-one payment solution combining online, in-person, and invoicing workflows with simple hardware and software.

Best for: Omnichannel Retail & Hospitality

Authorize.Net

Trusted gateway with robust fraud tools, virtual terminal, and compatibility with existing merchant accounts.

Best for: Established Businesses & B2B

Airwallex

Global payments, spend, and treasury platform with multi-currency accounts, 160+ local methods, and embedded cards.

Best for: Cross-Border Scale-Ups

Braintree

PayPal-owned gateway built for flexible checkout, tokenization, and advanced fraud controls.

Best for: Scaling Ecommerce & SaaS

Adyen

Enterprise-grade unified commerce stack with direct-to-scheme acquiring, risk, and data-rich insights.

Best for: Global Omnichannel Enterprises

Worldpay

Global acquirer with high-volume processing, alternative payments, and dedicated account management.

Best for: High-Volume & Regulated Industries

Checkout.com

API-first payments platform delivering local payment methods, granular data, and modular risk tools.

Best for: Digital-Native Brands & Marketplaces

Feature Comparison

Compare pricing, international capabilities, payout speeds, and developer experience across all nine gateways. Use the horizontal scroll on smaller screens to see every provider.

Feature	Stripe	PayPal	Square	Authorize.Net	Airwallex	Braintree	Adyen	Worldpay	Checkout.com
Transaction Fee (Online)	2.9% + 30¢	2.9% + 30¢	2.9% + 30¢	2.9% + 30¢	2.8% + 30¢ / 4.3% intl*	2.59% + 49¢	IC++ (est. 2.9% + 12¢)**	2.6% + 10¢†	2.9% + 20¢
Monthly Gateway Fee	$0	$0	$0	$25 gateway	$0	$0	Custom (volume)	$0–$25 plan	Custom
International Cards & FX	✓ +1.5%	✓ FX fees	✓ +1.5%	✓ +1.5%	✓ 0.5% FX major / 1% others	✓ +1% cross-border	✓ 150+ methods	✓ Regional pricing	✓ 150+ methods
Setup Complexity	⚠️ Technical	✓ Simple	✓ Easy	⚠️ Moderate	⚠️ Compliance review	⚠️ Developer-led	⚠️ Enterprise onboarding	⚠️ Sales-led	⚠️ API-first
Mobile Payments & SDKs	✓ API & SDKs	✓ PayPal App	✓ POS & Tap	✓ Limited	✓ Apple Pay, Google Pay, SDKs	✓ Native SDKs	✓ Unified POS	✓ POS hardware	✓ Mobile SDKs
Subscription Billing & Recurring	✓ Advanced	✓ Basic	✓ Invoices	✓ ARB	✓ Subscription mgmt (0.5%)	✓ Vault & billing	✓ RevenueProtect	✓ Recurring suite	✓ Intelligent retries
Payout Speed	2-day standard	Instant (fee) / 1-2 days	Next-day / instant (fee)	Processor dependent	Same-day wallet / 1-2 days bank	2-3 days (US)	Next-day with cut-off	2-4 days	Same-day (select markets)

Rates reflect publicly available pricing as of Q4 2025. High-volume merchants typically qualify for custom quotes.

* Airwallex US domestic card rate 2.8% + 30¢; international cards 4.3% + 30¢. FX markup 0.5% for major currencies, 1.0% for others.

** Adyen generally prices on interchange++ contracts; blended SMB estimate provided for comparison.

† Worldpay pricing differs by contract and geography; figure shown references Worldpay for Platforms.

Pricing & Fee Structure

Understand card fees, FX markups, and add-on costs. Always request a custom quote if your volume or average transaction size differs from published rates.

Developer Choice

Stripe

2.9% + 30¢

Per transaction

✓ No monthly fees
✓ No setup costs
✓ Instant payouts (+1%)
✓ International: +1.5%

Enterprise: Custom rates

Connect: +0.25% platform fee

Start with Stripe

Most Trusted

PayPal

2.9% + 30¢

Standard rate

✓ No monthly fees
✓ Instant setup
✓ Buyer protection included
✓ Global brand recognition

PayPal Pro: $30/mo + 2.9%

Express: One-click checkout

Get PayPal

Square

2.9% + 30¢

Online payments

✓ No monthly fees
✓ Free POS software
✓ In-person: 2.6% + 10¢
✓ Next-day deposits

Plus: $60/mo + lower rates

Premium: Custom pricing

Try Square Free

Authorize.Net

2.9% + 30¢

+ $25/mo gateway

✓ $25/month gateway fee
✓ 10¢ per transaction
✓ Established since 1996
✓ Advanced fraud detection

CIM: Customer profiles

ARB: Recurring billing

Get Authorize.Net

Global FX Advantage

Airwallex

2.8% + 30¢

Domestic cards (US)*

✓ International cards 4.3% + 30¢
✓ 160+ local payment methods & dynamic pricing
✓ Multi-currency accounts with local details in 20+ currencies
✓ Unlimited corporate cards with zero FX fees

FX markup: 0.5% major currencies, 1.0% others

Grow plan: $99/mo adds advanced approvals

Accelerate: Custom pricing with dedicated manager

Talk to Airwallex

Flexible Checkout

Braintree

2.59% + 49¢

Standard cards (US)

✓ Includes PayPal, Venmo, wallets
✓ 3D Secure 2 built in
✓ Advanced fraud protection (Kount)
✓ Tokenization vault

ACH & SEPA: 0.75% (max $5)

High volume: Custom pricing

Explore Braintree

Enterprise Pick

Adyen

Custom (IC++)

Blended starter estimate**

✓ Direct-to-scheme acquiring
✓ RevenueProtect risk suite
✓ Local methods in 150+ countries
✓ Unified POS + ecommerce

Monthly invoice minimum may apply

Requires underwriting before go-live

Talk to Adyen

Global Acquiring

Worldpay

2.6% + 10¢

PayFac estimate†

✓ Global acquiring & alternative payments
✓ Smart routing & retries
✓ Integrated POS hardware
✓ Developer portal APIs

Contracts may include termination fees

Custom interchange++ for enterprise

Talk to Worldpay

API-First Choice

Checkout.com

2.9% + 20¢

Published starter rate

✓ 150+ local payment methods
✓ Granular reporting & alerts
✓ Fraud detection (Spectre)
✓ Scales for marketplaces

High-growth startups: Tailored plans

Volume discounts available

Contact Checkout.com

Integration & Development

Evaluate developer tooling, FX capabilities, and omnichannel support to match your team's resources and roadmap.

Developer-first APIs

Stripe

• SDKs for every major language and framework
• Robust CLI, webhooks, and local testing tools
• Modular products (Billing, Connect, Tax, Issuing)
• Real-time observability with detailed logs and metrics

Checkout.com

• Single REST API covering global payment methods
• Event webhooks with automatic retries and alerting
• Dedicated test environment with full reconciliation data
• Postman collections and Terraform provider for IaC

Braintree

• Drop-in UI, hosted fields, and custom integration paths
• Vault tokenization with network token support
• GraphQL and REST APIs plus mobile SDKs
• Transparent sandbox logs and advanced fraud hooks

Global Scale & FX

Airwallex

• Multi-currency wallet with local account details in 20+ currencies
• FX automation at 0.5% over interbank for major currencies
• 160+ local payment methods and 120+ transfer corridors via API
• Card issuing, spend management, and treasury APIs in one platform

Adyen

• Direct acquiring connections to major card schemes
• RevenueAccelerate to auto-update cards and optimize approvals
• Risk management tuned by machine learning (RevenueProtect)
• Unified data layer across ecommerce and in-store channels

Worldpay

• Acquiring licenses across 40+ countries and regions
• Smart routing to maximize authorization rates
• Support for 300+ payment types and alternative methods
• Deep bank reporting integrations for finance teams

Omnichannel & SMB Operations

Square

• Unified POS, invoicing, and online checkout builder
• Plug-and-play hardware plus Tap to Pay on iOS/Android
• Inventory, team management, and loyalty tools included
• APIs and prebuilt ecommerce integrations for quick launch

PayPal

• Instant PayPal Checkout buttons with minimal PCI scope
• Access to Pay Later, Venmo, and PayPal Credit
• Hosted checkout and subscriptions for rapid deployment
• Advanced Fraud Protection and Chargeback Protection add-ons

Authorize.Net

• Accept Hosted for secure payment forms without PCI burden
• Customer Information Manager (CIM) for stored profiles
• Virtual terminal and batch-upload tools for AR teams
• Extensive reporting and settlement reconciliation exports

Pros & Cons Summary

Balance product strengths against potential trade-offs, especially around onboarding effort, pricing, and support levels.

Stripe

Pros

• Superior developer experience and API coverage
• Global payment methods and currencies
• Advanced subscription, invoicing, and marketplace tooling
• Excellent fraud prevention (Radar) and machine learning models
• Large partner ecosystem and marketplace of extensions

Cons

• Requires technical integration and ongoing engineering time
• Funds can be held during risk reviews for new accounts
• Per-transaction pricing can be higher without volume discounts

PayPal

Pros

• Highest consumer trust and recognition worldwide
• Easy setup with minimal technical knowledge
• Strong buyer and seller protection policies
• Global reach with 200+ markets and currencies
• One-click PayPal Express checkout boosts conversions

Cons

• Account holds and freezes can happen without warning
• Limited checkout customization compared to API-based gateways
• Cross-border FX markups are higher than FX-specialist providers

Square

Pros

• Seamless integration between online and in-person sales
• Free POS software and affordable hardware kits
• Transparent pricing with no long-term contracts
• Excellent fit for retail, restaurants, and service businesses
• Next-day deposits included at no extra cost

Cons

• Limited international availability compared to global acquirers
• Fewer enterprise customization options and APIs
• Account stability can be an issue for high-risk industries

Authorize.Net

Pros

• Long-established brand with reliable processing
• Advanced fraud detection suite and AVS controls
• Extensive reporting, batch tools, and recurring billing
• Plays nicely with existing merchant accounts and processors
• Strong customer support and documentation

Cons

• Monthly gateway fees add to total cost of ownership
• Interface and developer docs feel dated compared to newer peers
• Requires separate merchant account for processing

Airwallex

Pros

• Collect, hold, and pay in 20+ currencies with local account numbers
• Interbank FX with 0.5% markup on major currencies (1.0% others)
• Accept cards plus 160+ local payment methods from one integration
• Issue unlimited multi-currency corporate cards with zero FX fees
• Local payouts to 120+ countries with embedded treasury workflows

Cons

• Deep compliance and KYC reviews can extend onboarding time
• Tap-to-pay and card-present support limited to select regions
• Advanced automation features require paid Grow or Accelerate plans

Braintree

Pros

• Single integration covers PayPal, cards, Venmo, and wallets
• Robust tokenization and vault capabilities
• Advanced fraud tools and 3D Secure 2 support
• Marketplace payouts and split settlements available
• Transparent sandbox and API logging for developers

Cons

• Requires developer resources to unlock full customization
• Flat 2.59% + 49¢ can be high for micro-transactions
• Underwriting can take longer for higher-risk industries

Adyen

Pros

• Unified commerce platform across in-store and online
• Direct acquiring improves approval rates globally
• RevenueProtect risk system with adaptive 3DS flows
• Rich data and network token management for retention
• Support for 150+ local payment methods worldwide

Cons

• Enterprise onboarding with monthly minimum invoices
• Requires technical team to implement deeply
• Pricing structure can be complex for smaller merchants

Worldpay

Pros

• Global acquiring with local settlement capabilities
• Supports alternative payments and high-risk categories
• Integrated hardware and ecommerce solutions
• Dedicated account management for large merchants
• Backed by large financial institution expertise

Cons

• Contract terms and fees vary widely by region
• Legacy tooling can feel less modern than API-first rivals
• Support queues may be slower for smaller accounts

Checkout.com

Pros

• Modern API with comprehensive documentation
• Access to 150+ alternative payment methods
• Granular data, alerts, and reconciliation reporting
• Modular risk, compliance, and platform capabilities
• 24/7 support presence across major regions

Cons

• Pricing is bespoke and requires a sales conversation
• Fewer plug-and-play SMB tools compared to Square
• Onboarding can take several weeks for compliance checks

Which Payment Gateway Should You Choose?

Match the gateway to your business model, team resources, and growth plans. Many companies blend two providers—one for consumer trust, another for treasury or platform capabilities.

Choose Stripe if you...

• Are building a SaaS, marketplace, or subscription business
• Need advanced billing, invoicing, and Connect payouts
• Want world-class developer tooling and ecosystem support
• Require global payment methods with minimal overhead

Best for: SaaS platforms, marketplaces, developer-led teams

Choose PayPal if you...

• Want maximum customer trust and instant checkout buttons
• Need to launch quickly with minimal engineering time
• Sell to international customers who prefer PayPal wallets
• Value PayPal Buyer & Seller Protection for dispute coverage

Best for: Ecommerce stores, solopreneurs, donation sites

Choose Square if you...

• Need both online and in-person payment processing
• Run a retail store, restaurant, or appointment-based service
• Want integrated POS, inventory, and team management tools
• Prefer transparent pricing with no long-term contracts

Best for: Retailers, restaurants, omnichannel SMBs

Choose Authorize.Net if you...

• Have an existing merchant account and want a proven gateway
• Need virtual terminal, recurring billing, and AR tools
• Operate in traditional industries that require phone orders
• Value strong support with human assistance and documentation

Best for: Established businesses, B2B invoicing, nonprofits

Choose Airwallex if you...

• Operate across multiple currencies and need interbank FX with razor-thin markups
• Accept cards plus 160+ local payment methods from a single API
• Pay global suppliers or contractors via local transfers in 120+ countries
• Issue corporate or customer cards and embed treasury services into your product

Best for: Global scale-ups, B2B marketplaces, cross-border SaaS

Choose Braintree if you...

• Need to combine PayPal, Venmo, cards, and wallets in one integration
• Want advanced fraud, tokenization, and recurring billing tools
• Plan to support marketplaces or platform payouts
• Have developer resources to customize the checkout experience

Best for: Scaling ecommerce, SaaS subscriptions, marketplaces

Choose Adyen if you...

• Need enterprise-grade global acquiring and unified commerce
• Operate stores in multiple countries with local payment needs
• Want advanced risk management and network tokenization
• Require detailed data insights to optimize approval rates

Best for: Global retail chains, travel platforms, enterprise marketplaces

Choose Worldpay if you...

• Process very high volume or operate in regulated industries
• Need global acquiring with local settlement and reporting
• Prefer dedicated account management and tailored contracts
• Require both ecommerce and POS hardware under one vendor

Best for: Enterprise retailers, airlines, gaming, financial services

Choose Checkout.com if you...

• Are a digital-native brand scaling across multiple regions
• Need high approval rates with local acquiring and APMs
• Want real-time data streams for finance and product teams
• Plan to build a modular payments stack with modern APIs

Best for: Marketplaces, fintechs, enterprise ecommerce scale-ups

Popular Gateway Matchups

Jump to quick head-to-head breakdowns. Each tag links to an in-depth summary further down the page.

#Airwallex vs Stripe #PayPal vs Airwallex #Braintree vs Adyen #Braintree vs PayPal #Adyen vs Worldpay #Worldpay vs Square #Stripe vs Checkout.com

Head-to-Head Matchups

Understand how each gateway stacks up against its closest competitor across FX, developer experience, compliance, and customer trust.

Airwallex vs Stripe

Both target global digital businesses, but they optimize for very different priorities.

• Airwallex bundles multi-currency accounts, 160+ local payment methods, and same-day wallet settlement so you can operate globally without patchwork banking.
• Stripe shines with developer tooling, 100+ payment methods, and embedded finance products such as Billing, Connect, and Issuing.
• Pick Airwallex when treasury efficiency, FX savings, and global payouts are mission critical; choose Stripe if extensibility, ecosystem, and platform features matter most.

PayPal vs Airwallex

Consumer trust faces off against business-first treasury infrastructure.

• PayPal offers instant recognition, buyer protection, and Pay Later options that lift conversions for consumer checkouts.
• Airwallex delivers interbank FX (0.5%/1.0%), global collection accounts, and 160+ local payment methods that reduce costs for B2B or cross-border operations.
• Use PayPal to maximize shopper confidence; use Airwallex to streamline global treasury, invoices, and supplier payments.

Braintree vs Adyen

Two enterprise-ready gateways, one optimized for flexible checkout, the other for unified commerce.

• Braintree provides flat-rate pricing, easy PayPal/Venmo enablement, and developer-friendly drop-in UIs for fast launches.
• Adyen offers direct-to-scheme acquiring, local payment methods in 150+ countries, and deep risk orchestration for global retailers.
• Choose Braintree for mid-market SaaS or ecommerce teams that want control with familiar tooling; choose Adyen for multinational enterprises that need local acquiring in every market.

Braintree vs PayPal

Sister products serving different depths of integration.

• Braintree gives you full-stack gateway capabilities, transparent API logs, and advanced fraud features for custom experiences.
• PayPal Payments Standard and Checkout launch in minutes with hosted pages and minimal PCI scope.
• Many merchants deploy both: PayPal wallet for conversion lift and Braintree for customized card processing and vaulting.

Adyen vs Worldpay

Modern unified commerce platform versus long-established global acquirer.

• Adyen operates on a single platform, providing consistent data, risk, and reconciliation across channels and regions.
• Worldpay leverages decades of bank-backed acquiring, alternative payments, and specialized support for regulated industries.
• Choose Adyen for technology-led omnichannel orchestration; choose Worldpay when you need bespoke contracts, hardware, and high-volume resilience.

Worldpay vs Square

Enterprise-grade acquiring compared with SMB all-in-one simplicity.

• Square offers turnkey hardware, simple pricing, and tightly integrated business software ideal for small businesses.
• Worldpay negotiates custom rates, supports complex verticals, and provides dedicated account teams for multi-country rollouts.
• Square is unbeatable for supported countries that need fast launch; Worldpay is better for large or high-risk merchants requiring bespoke terms.

Stripe vs Checkout.com

Two API-first pioneers vying for digital-native merchants.

• Stripe pairs its payments core with a vast product suite (Billing, Tax, Treasury, Climate) and a vibrant partner ecosystem.
• Checkout.com emphasizes performance, local acquiring in fast-growing markets, and real-time data streams for finance teams.
• Stripe typically offers faster self-serve onboarding; Checkout.com can unlock lower scheme fees and richer data for at-scale enterprises.

Feature Showdown: Who Leads Where?

See the standout capability for each gateway and the closest competitor chasing that advantage.

Gateway	Standout Feature	Closest Competitor	Key Difference
Stripe	Full-stack developer platform (Billing, Connect, Issuing)	Checkout.com	Stripe wins on breadth of modular products and ecosystem; Checkout.com counters with granular performance data.
PayPal	Consumer trust and 430M+ active accounts	Braintree	PayPal owns the shopper relationship; Braintree adds deep customization for merchants needing more control.
Square	Unified POS, hardware, and software for SMBs	Worldpay	Square is turnkey with transparent pricing; Worldpay scales to enterprise hardware rollouts with negotiated contracts.
Authorize.Net	Mature gateway with virtual terminal and ARB	Worldpay	Authorize.Net slots into existing merchant accounts; Worldpay bundles acquiring, hardware, and alternative payments together.
Airwallex	Multi-currency accounts and low FX markups	Adyen	Airwallex pairs 0.5% FX markup and unlimited corporate cards; Adyen focuses on unified commerce with local acquiring.
Braintree	Vaulting, recurring billing, and PayPal network access	Stripe	Braintree simplifies PayPal + card acceptance; Stripe offers broader platform services and marketplace infrastructure.
Adyen	Unified commerce with RevenueProtect risk engine	Worldpay	Adyen delivers a single global platform; Worldpay provides bank-backed acquiring with regional expertise.
Worldpay	High-volume acquiring and alternative payments in 140 markets	Adyen	Worldpay brings decades of bank-grade infrastructure; Adyen offers newer technology with unified data.
Checkout.com	Real-time data and modular API architecture	Stripe	Checkout.com offers granular data streaming; Stripe provides broader product breadth and ecosystem partnerships.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a payment gateway and a processor?

A payment gateway securely captures and transmits payment data, while a processor moves the funds between banks. Modern platforms like Stripe, Airwallex, Adyen, and Checkout.com combine both roles, whereas Authorize.Net can be paired with a separate processor.

How long do payments take to reach my bank account?

Stripe and Braintree typically pay out within 2 business days in the US. Square offers next-day deposits, while PayPal can transfer instantly for a small fee. Airwallex settles to its multi-currency wallet the same day, and Adyen, Worldpay, plus Checkout.com can provide next-day funding once processing history is established.

Which gateway has the strongest fraud protection?

Stripe Radar, Braintree Fraud Protection, Adyen RevenueProtect, and Checkout.com's Spectre all use machine learning and network data to block risky transactions. Authorize.Net and Worldpay offer robust rule-based tools, while PayPal's buyer protection helps reduce disputes on consumer checkouts.

Who offers the best solution for multi-currency pricing?

Airwallex leads with multi-currency wallets at near mid-market FX. Adyen and Checkout.com provide extensive local payment methods and direct acquiring in 150+ markets. Stripe also supports 135+ currencies, but FX markups can be higher than Airwallex's specialist treasury model.

Can I use multiple payment gateways on my website?

Yes. Many merchants run Stripe or Checkout.com as the primary processor while offering PayPal or Braintree for wallet users, and Airwallex for international invoicing. Just ensure your checkout UX stays clear and that reporting teams can reconcile across providers.

What happens if my payment gateway account gets suspended?

Account reviews can occur after chargeback spikes, compliance concerns, or unusual volume. Maintain clear documentation, respond quickly, and keep a backup provider (e.g. Stripe + PayPal, Adyen + Worldpay) to minimize downtime. Providers like Airwallex and Checkout.com offer dedicated account managers who can help navigate reinstatement.

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