10 Best Payment Gateways in the US in 2024

Rising online transactions across the United States have increased the number of payment gateways facilitating these transactions. 

From robust fraud protection to smooth international transactions, a payment gateway saves you from many headaches. With an expected annual growth rate of 12.6%, they are a great asset in supporting the digital economy. 

However, choosing the best payment gateway can be challenging — specifically when the industry, costs, sales volume, and overall payment needs differ for every business in the US. 

And so, we’ve simplified the process for you. Our hand-picked payment gateways in the US will get you started soon! 

Top 10 Payment Gateways in the US

1. PayPal’s Payflow
2. Stripe
3. Shopify Payments
4. Square
5. Authorize.net
6. 2Checkout (Verifone)
7. Adyen
8. Worldpay (FIS)
9. WePay
10. PaySimple

1. PayPal’s Payflow

PayPal is the first preference for small to midsize businesses. With 431 million users, it’s the top contender in our list as it works with any shopping cart, processor, and merchant account.

Through PayPal apps, it supports other functions of business – sending invoices, POS, and payment management. There’s also PayPal Credit which helps boost sales. 

Designed to facilitate credit card transactions for e-commerce, it offers two services Payflow Link (based on needs) and Payflow Pro (based on customization).  

Features 

Payment Methods	A variety of methods including credit/debit cards, PayPal Credit, ACH, and international payments
Registration Documents	Check here
Settlement Period	2-3 business days
Mobile App Integration	SDKs for Android and APIs for iOS
Onboarding Time	Few days
Customer Support	Phone, email, community forums
eCommerce Platforms Supported	Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, OpenCart, and many others
Other Integrations	CRM, ERP, Accounting Software, APIs
Security	PCI DSS compliant
Dashboard	User-friendly
Clients	Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, Volusion

Fees

1. Payflow Pro Transaction – 10¢
2. Payflow Link Transaction – 10¢
3. Credit and Debit Card Payments – 2.99% + fixed fee

More details

Pros

• 44% higher checkout conversion
• No setup or monthly fees
• Mobile-optimized checkout options
• Advanced reporting options

Cons 

• Higher fees for lower volume 
• Slow customer support
• Restricts migration of customer data 

2. Stripe

A complete payment platform for eCommerce, Stripe is a versatile payment gateway with global reach. Best for handling recurring subscriptions and on-demand marketplaces, Stripe is a preferred choice due to ease of integration, innovative tools and services, and scalability. 

Its optimizations, improved authorization, and automation make it a convenient and preferred method. It offers 3 different types of checkout – flexible and brand checkout, shareable payment link, and prebuilt payment form. 

Features 

Payment Methods	Credit/debit cards, PayPal Credit, ACH, and international payments
Registration Documents	Check here
Settlement Period	T +3
Mobile App Integration	SDKs for Android and APIs for iOS
Onboarding Time	Few minutes
Customer Support	Chat, phone, email
eCommerce Platforms Supported	Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, Squarespace, and many others
Other Integrations	CRM, ERP, Accounting Software, APIs
Security	PCI DSS compliant
Dashboard	User-friendly
Clients	Amazon, Google, Salesforce, BMW, Zara, etc.

Fees 

1. Cards, wallets, and links — 2.9% + 30¢
2. Bank debits and transfers — 0.8%

More details

Pros 

• Quick, easy setup with low cost
• Suitable for small businesses and startups
• Faster, one-click checkout
• Unified experience across online and in-person channels

Cons

• Expensive plans 
• Challenging for beginners

3. Shopify Payments

If you are a Shopify store owner, Shopify Payments is for you. It offers streamlined payment processing, eliminating third-party providers. One platform to manage an entire business enhances efficiency and reduces complexities, avoiding the hassle of a third-party payment provider or setting up another merchant account. 

It provides 3D secure checkout and flexible POS to customers for multiple payment options. 

Features 

Payment Methods	Credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and others depending on the region
Registration Documents	Read here
Settlement Period	2-5 business days
Mobile App Integration	Shopify mobile app
Onboarding Time	Almost instant
Customer Support	24/7 live chat, phone, email
eCommerce Platforms Supported	Shopify stores
Other Integrations	Other Shopify services
Security	PCI-compliant, 3D secure checkouts
Dashboard	Admin panel
Clients	Gymshark, Allbirds, Kylie Cosmetics, Fashion Nova

Fees 

1. Online payments — 2.5/2.7/2.9% + 30¢
2. In-person Payments —  2.4/2.5/2.6% + 30¢

Pros 

• Quick, easy setup with transparent pricing
• Seamless integration with high-security
• Transparent pricing
• Smooth check out
• Free card reader for physical payments

Cons

• Only for Shopify owners 
• Available in limited countries

4. Square

From a mobile card reader to a comprehensive Point-of-Sale (POS) system, Square became a popular choice for SMEs. The wide range of features makes it suitable for various types of business. From inventory management to customer engagement, it provides tools for payment processing, building customer loyalty, and employee management. 

Its specialization lies in providing free sites so that businesses can build an online presence without any tech skills or cost. 

Payment Methods	Credit/debit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, AfterPay, and Square invoices.
Registration Documents	Read here
Settlement Period	1-2 business days
Mobile App Integration	POS
Onboarding Time	Instant
Customer Support	Phone, email, social media
eCommerce Platforms Supported	Square Online, Wix, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento,
Other Integrations	Various tools and platforms like CRM
Security	PCI DSS compliant
Dashboard	User-friendly
Clients	Blue Bottle Coffee, Sweetgreen, Glossier

Fees 

1. Online Transactions — 2.9% + 30¢
2. ACH bank transfer — $1-$5
3. Subscription payments — 2.9% + 30¢
4. For businesses processing $250k+ per year — Custom quote

Pros 

• Clear, transparent pricing 
• Flexible hardware options 
• Impressive features 
• No fees for chargebacks

Cons

• Incompatible for Windows devices
• Limited version for specialized industries

5. Authorize.net

This Visa-owned payment gateway is the best choice for Magento-powered websites. It accepts various payment methods online – including Apple Pay and eChecks. With extensive features, it offers reliable payment processing and 24/7 support. 

It provides an all-in-one plan including both a merchant account and payment gateway or as a standalone gateway. It caters to different business requirements and gives flexibility and pricing transparency. 

Authorize.net also provides the freedom to work with other merchant account providers and high-risk accounts. 

Features 

Payment Methods	Credit/debit cards, ACH payments
Registration Documents	Read here
Settlement Period	1-2 business days
Mobile App Integration	SDKs and APIs
Onboarding Time	Few days
Customer Support	Email, phone
eCommerce Platforms Supported	Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Salesforce, and many others
Other Integrations	Accounting software,  CRM, third-party application
Security	PCI DSS compliant
Dashboard	User-friendly
Clients	TicketMaster, Dell, GoDaddy

Fees 

1. Merchant Account – 2.9% + 30¢
2. Payment Gateway only – 10 ¢/transaction + 10¢ daily batch fee

Pros 

• No termination fees 
• Strong security and fraud detection
• Streamlined payment process

Cons

• Time-consuming implementation
• Higher fees apart from transaction costs

6. 2Checkout (Verifone)

Verifone took over 2Checkout in 2020. It is a preferred choice for online businesses that sell physical or digital products, tech startups, and subscription sellers for both small and large enterprises. It simplifies the complexities of online transactions, enhancing customer experiences. 

There are two flexible payment models – payment service provider and merchant of record. Companies can decide the best of the two, depending on their business. 

Features 

Payment Methods	Various credit/debit cards, PayPal, and other local  methods
Registration Documents	Read here
Settlement Period	1-7 days
Mobile App Integration	SDKs and APIs
Onboarding Time	Few days
Customer Support	Phone, email, chat
eCommerce Platforms Supported	Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and others
Other Integrations	Accounting software, CRM
Security	PCI DSS compliant
Dashboard	User-friendly
Clients	SurveyMonkey, Bitdefender, SaaS companies

Fees 

1. 2Sell Plan – 3.5% +35¢
2. 2Subscribe Plan – 4.5% + 45¢

Pros

• Most reliable for subscription-based businesses
• Global reach, accepting 87+ currencies 
• Advanced fraud detection and prevention
• Supports multiple languages

Cons

• Standard fees irrespective of transaction volume 
• Holds funds or sudden termination affecting operations

7. Adyen

Adyen is a global, developer-friendly, hassle-free, and streamlined payment gateway catering to 30+ currencies and countries worldwide for mobile, online, and in-store transactions. It is appealing for tech-savvy, small to mid-sized businesses for moderate price, instant support, and innovative working policy.

Store owners can create customized payment experiences and use AI to detect fraud. Its global reach makes it a premier e-commerce solution. 

Features 

Payment Methods	Multi options including credit/debit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, gift cards, etc.
Registration Documents	Read here
Settlement Period	Daily, Weekly, Monthly
Mobile App Integration	SDKs and APIs
Onboarding Time	Few days
Customer Support	24/7 phone support
eCommerce Platforms Supported	Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Salesforce, and many others
Other Integrations	77 local and 27 local in-person payment integration
Security	PCI DSS compliant
Dashboard	User-friendly
Clients	Uber, Spotify, eBay, Microsoft, Airbnb, and Netflix

Fees 

1. Visa and Mastercard – Interchange + 0.60% + 13¢
2. American Express – 3.3% + 23¢
3. Other payment methods – 3-12% +13¢
4. ACH Direct payment – 40¢ 

Pros 

• Diverse payment methods 
• Robust fraud detection
• Flexible multichannel features and support 
• Analytics for better decision-making
• Test account available

Cons

• Complex price structure 
• Minimum monthly sales invoice required 
• Challenging technical integration

8. Worldpay (FIS)

For large enterprises dealing with high-volume transactions, Worldpay is a scalable solution. It offers comprehensive solutions for both in-person and online transactions. Spread across 146 countries and supporting 300+ payment methods, it serves various industries including retail, hospitality, and e-commerce.  

Worldpay accepts card payments, online or in-store, without any hardware. It protects from data breaches, giving robust security. 

Features

Payment Methods	Various credit/debit cards, ACH payments, digital wallets
Registration Documents	Know here
Settlement Period	Next day
Mobile App Integration	Own mobile app
Onboarding Time	Few days
Customer Support	24/7 phone support
eCommerce Platforms Supported	Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and many others
Other Integrations	POS, Accounting Software, CRM
Security	PCI compliance
Dashboard	Flexible
Clients	Airbnb, Spotify, Etsy, Hotels.com

Fees 

1. Payment Processing – Quote-based
2. Hardware Cost – Based on third-party providers

Pros 

• Strong customer support
• Seamless global transactions
• Flexible with integrations 
• Supports 126 currencies

Cons

• Lacks transparent pricing 
• Confusing, time-consuming interface

9. WePay

WePay is a payment service provider partnering with independent software platforms and vendors. It targets small and medium-sized businesses, nonprofits, and crowdfunding platforms. 

The platform provides customized payment solutions to clients on checkout experiences and fraud protection along with easy integration with popular eCommerce platforms and fundraising websites. 

It offers 3 products – Clear, Link, and Core for different payment needs.  

Features 

Payment Methods	Major credit/debit cards, digital wallets, mobile payments, compatible card readers
Registration Documents	Know here
Settlement Period	Daily, Weekly, Monthly
Mobile App Integration	Compatible card readers
Onboarding Time	Instant
Customer Support	Email
eCommerce Platforms Supported	Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, Wix, Squarespace, and many others
Other Integrations	Accounting Software, CRM
Security	PCI DSS compliance
Dashboard	User-friendly
Clients	GoFundMe, Constant Contact, FreshBooks, Meetup

Fees 

1. Credit Card Transaction (for new US businesses) – 2.9% + 25¢
2. Merchant Platforms – 2.9% + 30¢
3. In-person Transactions – 2.6% +10¢

Pros 

• Easy, seamless integration
• Highly convenient
• Customized and personalized solutions
• Good customer support 
• No setup fees

Cons

• High processing cost
• Lacks phone support, only email support is available
• Only for businesses with WePay platform partners

10. PaySimple

For businesses with automated billing and customer management solutions, PaySimple streamlines billing. Serving over 22,000 businesses, it gives freedom to change systems since there is no contract or cancellation fee. It is useful for subscription-based business that handles scattered data and needs recurring billing. 

This cloud-based payment gateway offers multiple payment modes with real-time performance reports. 

Features 

Payment Methods	Various options – credit/debit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, gift cards, etc.
Registration Documents	Read here
Settlement Period	Daily, Weekly, Monthly
Mobile App Integration	SDKs and APIs
Onboarding Time	Few days
Customer Support	24/7 phone support
eCommerce Platforms Supported	Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, Wix, Squarespace, and many others
Other Integrations	Accounting Software, CRM
Security	Industry standard compliance
Dashboard	User-friendly
Clients	Legal firms, personal trainers, property management companies

Fees 

1. Credit Card – 2.90% + 30¢ 
2. ACH/e-Check Processing – 1.00% + 30¢

Pros 

• Easy, user-friendly interface
• Seamless third-party integration
• Empowers small business owners
• Manages customers in one system 

Cons

• Limited geographical presence 
• Inconsistent customer support 
• The cost structure is not transparent

Which Payment Gateway Should You Select for Your Business?

A payment gateway is crucial for the success of your business because a streamlined payment process enhances customer satisfaction. When choosing one for your business, decide on important factors like business size, industry, needs, payment methods, features, and integration among others.  

As a small business, you can start with PayPal, Stripe, or Square. But if your business has slightly different requirements, you’ll need customized solutions. Making informed decisions will improve transaction efficiency and overall financial operations.