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Do I Need a Payment Gateway?
Payment gateways allow you to take payments in a variety of ways, most notably through an eCommerce website. While you still need a payment system in place, if you want to take payments in person, you'll need the right hardware. A card machine can enable your business to accept credit card, debit card and mobile payments, giving your customers more flexibility.
Accept a range of contactless & card payments
3 things to consider when choosing a payment gateway
1
How do you want to take card payments for business?
A payment gateway allows you to securely take customer payments online through your ecommerce store, by phone or by email.
If you're looking to take payments face to face and over the phone as well, we can help find the right solution for your business.
2
What commitment can you agree to?
We compare payment gateways from a range of providers, with contracts ranging from 1-5 years.
We'll help you find the right solution for your business.
3
Which customer support service level agreement?
Agreements with payment solution providers include a service level agreement (SLA) to keep your payment service running smoothly.
We help you compare SLAs, so you can decide whether you need support within business hours or 24/7.
Why compare payments gateways?
It's free!
We don't charge you to use our service to find the best payment gateway deal that meets your business requirements.
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Our knowledgeable UK-based customer service and technical support team are on hand to help.
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What is a payment gateway?
If your business wants to sell products or services online, a payment gateway could be the ideal solution. Unlike a card machine, payment gateways allow you to take payments from your customers online, enabling them to securely enter their payment details such as debit and credit cards.
Payment gateways are available as a standalone solution, or they can be included as part of a complete payment service provider package, utilising card machines and merchant services.
Payment gateways use SSL to encrypt your customer's data, checking them against the details held by the bank as part of a fraud prevention process. If the payment is authorised and the cardholder is the legitimate account holder, the payment will be sent to your business bank account.
Choosing the best payment gateway provider
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Integration
A payment gateway will form an essential part of your online business, so it is important to ensure that the software is able to integrate with other payment services you use, such as a card machine.
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Security
It's essential that your business follows the strict regulations designed to protect your customer's data. At the very minimum, your payment gateway provider should offer Level 1 PCI DSS compliance. The best payment gateway services help your business implement fraud detection procedures designed to only allow legitimate customers to make payments.
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Reliability
A successful eCommerce website needs to be accessible and enable your business to take payments at any time. Some payment providers offer an uptime guarantee that gives you the reassurance that your service is as reliable as possible.
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Payment options
Typically, most customers want to pay by credit or debit card, but other payment options such as eWallets or gift vouchers are increasing in popularity. The best payment gateways and merchant service providers support multiple payment methods, giving your customers more flexibility.
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International payments
Depending on your business, you may need to accept international payments from customers outside the UK. If this is a possibility you should choose a payment gateway provider which accepts multiple currencies, with a low fee for these types of transactions.
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Reporting
Many payment gateways offer useful reporting tools as part of their packages. The best options provide real-time insight into sales, inventory and potential problems, allowing you to quickly react to changes in trends.
Which is the best payment gateway provider in the UK?
With so many payment providers offering different payment gateway services, finding the best payment gateway provider depends on the needs of your business. We've listed the pros and cons of a range of UK payment gateway payment providers below to help you decide.
PayPal is a long-established eCommerce payment gateway provider and a great option for small businesses. Through their Payflow Gateway service, you can take payments via debit and credit card, PayPal and PayPal Credit.
PayPal also offers the ability to take payments in person via a card machine.
Pros
Cons
Easy for customers to pay
High transaction charges for businesses with lower sales volumes
Quick and simple to setup
The free Web Payments Standard version is relatively basic
Trusted and reliable solution
PCI compliant robust security and fraud protection measures
International payment methods and currencies accepted
Funds available almost instantly via PayPal
Integrates with most eCommerce platforms
Continuing SagePay's reputation of providing a highly secure payment solution as Opayo by Elavon, Opayo offers flexible offline and online payment methods.
Pros
Cons
Simple and quick checkout process
Setting up the payment gateway requires training or prior experience
Transparent fee structure
Calls to the support team are charged
Ability to accept mobile and online payments
All major payment methods are accepted
Accept a wide range of currencies
Daily transaction settlement
Easily integrate with Sage accounting software
Support available 24/7, 365 days a year
Stripe offers a full-service payment solution, which makes it one of the most popular options for businesses looking for both a payment gateway and a merchant account.
Pros
Cons
Transparent pricing structure
Can be difficult to setup without prior experience
Intuitive payment gateway platform
Higher fees for payments outside the UK and EEA
Ability to accept recurrent payments
Settlement of funds can take up to seven days
Live sales data reporting
Low fees for UK and EEA payments
Digital wallet payments such as Apple and Google Pay are accepted
Robust platform which handles millions of transactions
Secure authentication methods are used to protect your business
Cardstream payment gateway solution is fully customisable, which is a great option if your business is looking to create branded payment pages and receipts.
Pros
Cons
Fully customisable payment gateway solution
The fee structure can be complicated
Free to open an account
A minimum 12-month contract is required
No limit on transactions
Settlement of funds can take up to seven days
Independent from acquiring banks
Ability to accept recurring card payments
Multiple currencies are supported
Alerts offered for chargebacks
One of the easiest payment gateway options available. Amazon Pay's software design is similar to the Amazon website, so many users will be familiar with the checkout process.
Pros
Cons
Well-known trusted brand
High charges for businesses with lower sales volumes
Fast checkout process
Settlement of funds can take up to five days
Automatic verification of customer details
Simple integration with multiple eCommerce platforms
Useful eCommerce tools to assist with online sales
Sophisticated fraud detection software
Immediate, deferred, split and recurring payment options available
Trusted customer login
No monthly fees or contracts
As one of the leading payment processing companies, Elavon is known for providing customers with innovative online payment methods.
Pros
Cons
Integrating the latest technology into the payment gateway
Unverified reports of unexpected fees and account suspensions
Supports small businesses and large worldwide corporations
Can be difficult to install without technical support
Customer loyalty promotions and offers
Gift card payment options
Tailored solutions available for specific industries
Multiple payment methods supported, including Apple Pay
Flexible contracts
24/7 customer support
Offering a highly customisable payment gateway, authorize.net is an ideal payment gateway solution for tech-savvy business owners or programmers.
Pros
Cons
Simple pricing structure and clear transaction fees for businesses processing under $500k a year
The system feels dated in comparison to competitors
Tailored pricing available for businesses processing over $500k a year
Designed specifically for programmers, so can be complicated for those without prior knowledge
Customisable payment platform
Digital invoicing
Recurring payments
Extensive integration tools for various platforms, shopping carts and devices
Dedicated merchant accounts available via partner banks
The Nochex payment gateway is positioned as a low-cost alternative to PayPal. With Nochex, customers don't need to log into an account to make payments.
Pros
Cons
No transaction limits
Limited payment features
Clear pricing structure
Hardware to support face-to-face payments not available
Competitive pricing compared to PayPal and Worldpay
Charity-tailored payment gateway option
Customers can make payments without setting up an account
Combined merchant account and payment gateway
Good reputation with online businesses
The customer support team benefit from many positive reviews
One of the most popular payment processors in the UK, Worldpay offers a variety of flexible plans designed to suit the needs of small businesses.
Worldpay also offers the ability to take payments in person via a card machine.
Pros
Cons
Highly secure payments
Transaction fees can vary
Flexible payment gateway plans
A full eCommerce package is not available
All major debit and credit card accepted
Take payments by phone, online and email
Send invoices and receive payments without a business website
Includes an online merchant account for receipt of card payments
Virtual terminal option
Accept a wide range of currencies
24/7 customer support
In addition to an excellent reputation for providing traditional PDQ card terminals, Verifone offer Enterprise Payment Software which supports online payments.
Pros
Cons
Flexible all-in-one payments platform
Reports of unclear pricing
Comprehensive reporting with tools to improve business insight
Limited integration with third-party software
Fully PCI compliant with all data encoded and obscured
Supports international payments
Real-time payment notifications
Manage multiple payment services via a single dashboard
PayPal is a long-established eCommerce payment gateway provider and a great option for small businesses. Through their Payflow Gateway service, you can take payments via debit and credit card, PayPal and PayPal Credit.
PayPal also offers the ability to take payments in person via a card machine.
Easy for customers to pay
Quick and simple to setup
Trusted and reliable solution
PCI compliant robust security and fraud protection measures
International payment methods and currencies accepted
Funds available almost instantly via PayPal
Integrates with most eCommerce platforms
High transaction charges for businesses with lower sales volumes
The free Web Payments Standard version is relatively basic
Continuing SagePay's reputation of providing a highly secure payment solution as Opayo by Elavon, Opayo offers flexible offline and online payment methods.
Simple and quick checkout process
Transparent fee structure
Ability to accept mobile and online payments
All major payment methods are accepted
Accept a wide range of currencies
Daily transaction settlement
Easily integrate with Sage accounting software
Support available 24/7, 365 days a year
Setting up the payment gateway requires training or prior experience
Calls to the support team are charged
Stripe offers a full-service payment solution, which makes it one of the most popular options for businesses looking for both a payment gateway and a merchant account.
Transparent pricing structure
Intuitive payment gateway platform
Ability to accept recurrent payments
Live sales data reporting
Low fees for UK and EEA payments
Digital wallet payments such as Apple and Google Pay are accepted
Robust platform which handles millions of transactions
Secure authentication methods are used to protect your business
Can be difficult to setup without prior experience
Higher fees for payments outside the UK and EEA
Settlement of funds can take up to seven days
Cardstream payment gateway solution is fully customisable, which is a great option if your business is looking to create branded payment pages and receipts.
Fully customisable payment gateway solution
Free to open an account
No limit on transactions
Independent from acquiring banks
Ability to accept recurring card payments
Multiple currencies are supported
Alerts offered for chargebacks
The fee structure can be complicated
A minimum 12-month contract is required
Settlement of funds can take up to seven days
One of the easiest payment gateway options available. Amazon Pay's software design is similar to the Amazon website, so many users will be familiar with the checkout process.
Well-known trusted brand
Fast checkout process
Automatic verification of customer details
Simple integration with multiple eCommerce platforms
Useful eCommerce tools to assist with online sales
Sophisticated fraud detection software
Immediate, deferred, split and recurring payment options available
Trusted customer login
No monthly fees or contracts
High charges for businesses with lower sales volumes
Settlement of funds can take up to five days
As one of the leading payment processing companies, Elavon is known for providing customers with innovative online payment methods.
Integrating the latest technology into the payment gateway
Supports small businesses and large worldwide corporations
Customer loyalty promotions and offers
Gift card payment options
Tailored solutions available for specific industries
Multiple payment methods supported, including Apple Pay
Flexible contracts
24/7 customer support
Unverified reports of unexpected fees and account suspensions
Can be difficult to install without technical support
Offering a highly customisable payment gateway, authorize.net is an ideal payment gateway solution for tech-savvy business owners or programmers.
Simple pricing structure and clear transaction fees for businesses processing under $500k a year
Tailored pricing available for businesses processing over $500k a year
Customisable payment platform
Digital invoicing
Recurring payments
Extensive integration tools for various platforms, shopping carts and devices
Dedicated merchant accounts available via partner banks
The system feels dated in comparison to competitors
Designed specifically for programmers, so can be complicated for those without prior knowledge
The Nochex payment gateway is positioned as a low-cost alternative to PayPal. With Nochex, customers don't need to log into an account to make payments.
No transaction limits
Clear pricing structure
Competitive pricing compared to PayPal and Worldpay
Charity-tailored payment gateway option
Customers can make payments without setting up an account
Combined merchant account and payment gateway
Good reputation with online businesses
The customer support team benefit from many positive reviews
Limited payment features
Hardware to support face-to-face payments not available
One of the most popular payment processors in the UK, Worldpay offers a variety of flexible plans designed to suit the needs of small businesses.
Worldpay also offers the ability to take payments in person via a card machine.
Highly secure payments
Flexible payment gateway plans
All major debit and credit card accepted
Take payments by phone, online and email
Send invoices and receive payments without a business website
Includes an online merchant account for receipt of card payments
Virtual terminal option
Accept a wide range of currencies
24/7 customer support
Transaction fees can vary
A full eCommerce package is not available
In addition to an excellent reputation for providing traditional PDQ card terminals, Verifone offer Enterprise Payment Software which supports online payments.
Flexible all-in-one payments platform
Comprehensive reporting with tools to improve business insight
Fully PCI compliant with all data encoded and obscured
Supports international payments
Real-time payment notifications
Manage multiple payment services via a single dashboard
Reports of unclear pricing
Limited integration with third-party software
We compare payment gateways with the top providers
Frequently asked questions
Payment gateways are the virtual equivalent of a card machine, they work by encrypting and transferring payment information during an online or offline transaction. The payment gateway checks to see whether the payment should be authorised or declined. If the transaction is authorised the payment moves from the payment gateway to the merchant account, before finally settling into the merchant's bank.
There are two main payment options available. Which is best for your business depends on the service you require. It is possible to choose a basic payment gateway or a complete payment service provider, which offers both a payment gateway and a card machine. Both can be integrated with a card machine to allow you to take payments in person.
The cheapest payment gateway will charge the lowest set-up and monthly fees, and transaction charges. It is important to compare these separate costs to find the most competitive deal. Depending on the type of business you operate, a provider charging more for a monthly fee with lower transaction charges may save you money if you process lots of transactions. In comparison, if you are a smaller business, a lower monthly fee and more expensive transaction charges may work out to be more cost-effective.
The difference between a gateway and a virtual terminal is the way the card details are processed. A virtual terminal requires the merchant to enter the customer's card details into the terminal, whereas a payment gateway asks for the customer to enter their own card details. Typically, a payment gateway is used for online transactions, whereas a virtual terminal is used for transactions face-to-face or over the telephone.
Payment gateway fees can vary significantly between providers, with some charging fees based on the whole service provided and others charging separate fees for the merchant account and the payment gateway. Payment gateway providers generally charge monthly fees, with additional charges for various optional services. In addition, your business will need to pay transaction fees, which may be a set amount per transaction, alongside a charge based on a percentage of each transaction.
To create a payment gateway you typically need a UK bank account, a website and an email address. Depending on the gateway provider you choose, you may also need to answer some questions about your business. The simple payment service providers offer a merchant account as part of their package, however, if you also need to open a merchant account you may need to show sales projections and a business plan.
There are several payment types which you can process with a virtual terminal, as the software allows you to turn your tablet, smartphone or computer into a point-of-sale connection. This means you can process card payments over the phone or in person, simply enter the card details that your customer provides along with the verification checks and the transaction will be processed.
Yes, gateways are secure, with the best payment gateways making it possible for merchants to implement the highest levels of security. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is guidance designed to help merchants and financial payment processors provide secure payment solutions. For example, a gateway is designed to ensure that all data is encrypted when transferred to the payment processor for authorisation, meaning it cannot be stolen and used for fraud.
Yes, you can set up recurring payments with some payment gateways. This will enable your business to accept automatic payments at regular times, using a customer's card details.
Yes, you can process international payments with some payment gateway providers. If your business operates within global markets, the best payment gateway will be the one which offers the lowest fees for the currencies you accept.
Yes, it is possible to integrate with existing systems, although there are some restrictions which vary between providers. If you already have systems in place such as an eCommerce website, it is important to choose a payment gateway which offers integration into your chosen platform, such as WordPress, Woocommerce or Shopify.
There are some gateways which are easy to use, in comparison to the more complicated platforms. For example, PayPal and Amazon both offer payment gateways with systems which are more likely to be familiar to your customers. This may result in a more seamless payment experience and a reduction in the number of shopping carts which are abandoned.
Collecting payments from customers via a payment gateway will offer your business a simple, secure payment processing method. However, there are some differences between providers. It's important to compare the options available to ensure you benefit from the best payment gateway service.
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