Best Payment Options for Shopify Stores in 2026: Fees, Pros & Global Support

Imagine trying to grow a business while every payment arrives differently.

One customer pays by bank transfer. Another asks for a card link. A third sends money from an account name no one recognizes.

Your team spends time matching transactions, following up on failed payments, and double-checking whether the money actually landed, time that should’ve gone into selling, building, or hiring.

Thankfully, you don’t have to run payments like this anymore. 

A modern payment gateway brings everything under one roof, so customers can pay easily and your team isn’t stuck managing exceptions all day.

If you’re not sure which option makes sense for your business, this guide will help. 

We’ll break down best payment options for Shopify stores by real use cases, core features, and fees, so you can choose with confidence and keep your focus on growth.

Ready? Let’s get started. 

How Payments on Shopify Work 

Payments on Shopify work as a connected process that starts at checkout and ends when money reaches your bank account.

When you set up your store, you need to first choose a payment provider in Shopify’s payment settings, such as Shopify Payments or a third-party gateway. 

Here’s what goes on behind the scenes:

When a customer places an order and enters payment details:

1. Shopify sends the payment request to the selected provider for approval.
2. If the bank/card network approves, Shopify marks the order as paid in your admin.
3. The order moves forward for fulfillment.
4. The payment provider processes the charge, deducts its processing fees, and groups transactions.
5. Funds are transferred (payout) to your linked business bank account on a scheduled cycle.

Tracking and Reconciliation:

• All completed payments, payouts, fees, refunds, and chargebacks are recorded inside Shopify.

• You can track exactly which orders were included in each payout.

• This allows you to reconcile your revenue without manually matching transactions.

Everything You Need to Know About the Best Payment Options for Shopify Stores

Let’s start with Shopify Payments.

Shopify Payments is Shopify’s built-in payment processor, and it’s available only in specific countries.

As of now, it works in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, most of Western Europe (including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and the Nordics), Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and a few others. 

If your business is registered outside these supported countries, Shopify Payments will not appear as an option in your admin, and you must use a third-party payment gateway instead.

Benefits of Using Shopify Payments

• Simplified Management: Everything related to payments, including payments, payouts, refunds, and disputes, is managed directly within your Shopify dashboard. This means fewer external platforms and dashboards to monitor.

• Avoid Extra Transaction Fees: Shopify charges an additional “third-party transaction fee” when you use an external payment provider. By using Shopify Payments, you generally avoid this extra fee, resulting in lower overall costs.

• Seamless Financial Reconciliation: Since both payouts and associated fees are clearly visible within Shopify, it is much easier to accurately match customer orders with the corresponding bank deposits, streamlining your accounting and bookkeeping.

Limitations of Shopify Payments

• Geographic Restrictions: Availability is dependent on your business location and country.

• Eligibility Requirements: Certain business types or products may be restricted, and you must meet specific requirements for your country and business as set by Shopify Payments.

• Local Compliance and Setup: Depending on your country, setting up Shopify Payments can require specific verification processes and banking configurations to comply with local regulations.

When You Need a Third-Party Payment Gateway You typically need an alternative to Shopify Payments in the following situations: ✔️ Shopify Payments is not available in your country/region. ✔️ Your business type or product category is restricted, or you cannot meet the compliance requirements for Shopify Payments. ✔️ You require a particular gateway type (e.g., direct vs. external) or a unique checkout flow that only a third-party provider offers. ✔️ You need to accept local payment methods (such as specific regional cards, digital wallets, or bank transfers) that Shopify Payments does not support in your market. Note: Shopify advises checking third-party gateway availability by country for these options.

Best Third-Party Payment Gateways for Shopify in 2026

If you sell to customers across multiple countries, Shopify Payments alone is often not enough.

Global stores typically rely on third-party payment gateways to improve approval rates, support local payment preferences, and add redundancy to their payments stack. 

This section breaks down the most commonly used Shopify payment gateways in 2026, explaining what each one does well, how payouts and fees work, and when it actually makes sense to use them.

Stripe

Strengths

✔️ Global Coverage

Stripe supports card payments from customers in a large number of countries and lets you charge in multiple currencies from a single account.

For Shopify merchants, this means international customers can pay using their local cards without running into region-based declines. Stripe also handles currency conversion automatically when required, which reduces failed transactions caused by cross-border restrictions.

✔️ Developer Flexibility

Stripe is built for businesses that need control. It supports features like manual capture, advanced fraud rules, webhooks, subscription billing logic, and custom checkout behavior.

On Shopify, this matters if you want to align payments with inventory checks, delayed fulfillment, or complex business models. Stripe adapts to your workflow instead of forcing a fixed one.

✔️ Apple Pay And Google Pay

Stripe natively supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, which significantly improves mobile checkout performance.

Customers can pay using biometric authentication instead of entering card details, reducing friction and checkout time. This is especially impactful for global brands with high mobile traffic.

✔️ Fees And Payout Timelines

Stripe’s fees depend on the country where your account is registered.

A commonly referenced rate for card payments is 2.9% plus a fixed fee per transaction, with additional fees for international cards and currency conversion.

Payouts are typically sent to your bank on a 2–3 business day rolling basis, though this varies by region and account history.

Best For: International-First Shopify Brands

Stripe is best for Shopify stores selling across borders, especially those with mobile-heavy traffic or technical teams that want control over payment logic. It’s a strong choice when global reach and flexibility are priorities.

PayPal

Strengths

✔️ Buyer Trust And Brand Recognition

PayPal is widely recognized and trusted by consumers, especially for cross-border purchases.

For first-time buyers who are hesitant to enter card details on an unfamiliar site, PayPal acts as a trust layer. This can increase conversions in certain regions and demographics.

✔️ Express Checkout For Repeat Purchases

This means customers who already have PayPal can complete payment quickly without typing full card details again.

For global audiences, that speed matters because checkout friction is a top reason people abandon carts, especially on mobile.

✔️ Built-In Dispute Workflow

This means PayPal disputes are handled inside PayPal’s resolution system, with a defined process for claims and chargebacks.

PayPal also explicitly charges a Merchant Dispute Fee to manage that dispute resolution process, which is part of how PayPal operates its protection and dispute handling model.

✔️ Fees And Payout Timelines

PayPal has published merchant fee tables by region.

For example, the US business fee page lists standard rates for PayPal Checkout and card payments (with a percentage + fixed fee structure). Payout timing depends on how you withdraw funds to your bank and your country setup. 

Best For: Global Stores Selling To First-Time Buyers

PayPal is best when your audience includes a meaningful share of customers who prefer PayPal for trust and speed, often cross-border shoppers, first-time buyers, and customers who want a familiar button at checkout.

Adyen 

Strengths

✔️ Broad Local Payment Method Coverage

Adyen supports a wide range of local and alternative payment methods across regions, in addition to global card networks.

For Shopify merchants selling into Europe, Asia, and emerging markets, this allows customers to pay using methods they already trust, not just international cards.

✔️ Enterprise-Grade Payment Routing And Optimization

Adyen offers advanced routing and authorization optimization designed to improve approval rates at scale. This is particularly valuable for high-volume merchants processing large transaction counts across multiple geographies.

✔️ Unified Commerce And Multi-Currency Processing

In addition, Adyen is built to handle multi-currency transactions and complex settlement requirements.

It supports consolidated reporting across regions, making it easier for finance teams to track revenue and settlements when operating in many countries simultaneously.

✔️ Fees And Payout Timelines

Adyen uses a transparent Interchange++ pricing model, where costs are broken down by payment method and network fees.

Payout timing varies by payment method and region, with settlements typically occurring on scheduled working days.

Typical fee components merchants see in 2025: Adyen base processing fee: ~€0.11–€0.13 per transaction Adyen markup: ~0.60% on top of interchange (for Visa/Mastercard card transactions) Interchange (card network fee): varies by region and card type — often ~0.3–0.4% in the EU and can be ~2% or more in the US on average

Best For: High-Volume Shopify Plus Merchants

Adyen is best suited for large Shopify Plus stores operating across many regions that need extensive local payment coverage, multi-currency settlement, and enterprise-level reporting and optimization.

Worldpay

Strengths

✔️ Established Global Card Processing Network

Worldpay has long-standing relationships with card networks and banks across multiple regions.

This makes it a reliable processor for merchants handling international card volumes, particularly in North America and Europe.

✔️ Flexible Integration Options For Large Merchants

It supports multiple integration models, including hosted and redirect-based checkouts, allowing businesses to choose an approach that fits their compliance and operational needs.

Shopify merchants can integrate Worldpay through supported apps and plugins.

✔️ Scalable Infrastructure For High Transaction Volumes

Worldpay is designed to support large transaction volumes with consistent performance.

This makes it suitable for businesses that expect steady growth or already process significant payment volumes across regions.

✔️ Fees And Payout Timelines

Worldpay pricing is typically contract-based and varies depending on transaction volume, regions served, and payment methods used.

Settlement timelines depend on card networks and regional banking schedules, with payouts occurring on agreed settlement cycles.

Worldpay typically charges payment processing fees as a percentage of transaction value + a fixed per-transaction fee. The exact amount depends on your business size, card mix, and negotiated pricing, but here are recent real pricing ranges published for online merchants: Entry-level e-commerce fees ~1.3% + £0.20 per transaction for personal Visa/Mastercard online payments. This is an example starter rate for smaller UK-based merchants. General online transaction range Typical merchant fees range from ~1.3% up to 3.5% of each transaction plus a small add-on fee. Some simple “pay-as-you-go” Worldpay models (e.g., UK example) can be around 2.75% + £0.20 per online transaction if no bespoke pricing is negotiated. 💡 Settlement Timing: Expect multi-day settlement (often ~3–7 business days) with payments aggregated into payout batches rather than being pushed immediately upon capture.

Best For: Large And Regionally Focused Enterprise Stores

Worldpay is best for established Shopify merchants and enterprise businesses that prioritize stable global card processing and scalable infrastructure, particularly in mature card-heavy markets.

Best Local & Alternative Payment Methods to Add in 2026

As global ecommerce matures, customers no longer expect to pay the same way everywhere.

Credit cards are still important, but they’re no longer enough on their own. Modern Shopify payment methods now include installment plans, digital wallets, and direct bank payments that match how people already transact in their region.

In this section, we break down the most effective alternative payment methods on Shopify in 2026, explain what each category actually is, and show when adding them improves conversion versus when it creates friction.

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)

Buy Now, Pay Later is a payment model that allows customers to split a purchase into installments or defer payment, while the merchant receives the full amount upfront (minus fees).

The BNPL provider takes on the credit risk, handles repayment from the customer, and manages collections if needed. 

On Shopify, BNPL is most effective for products where price hesitation exists, typically mid to high average order values, because it reframes the cost from a single large payment into smaller, more manageable amounts.

Here are a few options of BNPL providers:

Klarna

Klarna is a global BNPL provider that offers flexible payment options such as “Pay Later,” “Pay in 3,” or longer-term financing, depending on the country.

From a Shopify merchant’s perspective, Klarna helps reduce checkout hesitation by letting customers try or receive the product before paying in full.

Klarna is widely used in Europe, the UK, and the US, and it’s particularly effective for fashion, lifestyle, and consumer goods where buyers value flexibility.

Afterpay

Afterpay focuses on short-term, interest-free installment payments, typically split into four equal payments. The appeal is simplicity: customers know exactly what they’ll pay and when.

On Shopify, Afterpay performs well for younger, mobile-first audiences and impulse-friendly categories like fashion, beauty, and accessories, where reducing upfront cost can quickly tip a purchase decision.

Affirm

Affirm is designed for higher-value purchases and longer-term financing. It shows customers the total cost upfront, including any interest, before they commit.

For Shopify stores selling premium products, electronics, fitness equipment, furniture, or high-ticket DTC goods, Affirm helps close purchases that might otherwise be delayed or abandoned due to price sensitivity.

Digital Wallets

Digital wallets allow customers to pay using stored payment credentials and biometric authentication instead of manually entering card details.

These wallets dramatically reduce checkout time, especially on mobile, making them some of the highest-converting Shopify payment methods today.

Here are some key choices:

Apple Pay

Apple Pay enables customers to complete payments using Face ID or Touch ID.

On Shopify, this removes multiple checkout steps for iPhone users and significantly improves mobile conversion rates. It is especially effective in markets with high iOS adoption, such as the US, UK, and parts of Europe.

Google Pay

Google Pay facilitates payments for Android, iOS, and Chrome users, utilizing their stored cards or connected bank accounts.

For international Shopify stores, it broadens digital wallet acceptance beyond Apple users and offers a quicker checkout experience for customers integrated into Google’s ecosystem.

Shop Pay

Shop Pay is Shopify’s own accelerated checkout. It stores customer payment and shipping details across Shopify stores, enabling one-tap checkout for returning buyers.

For Shopify merchants, Shop Pay often delivers some of the fastest checkout completion times and strong repeat-purchase performance.

Bank Transfers And Regional Payment Methods

In many regions, customers prefer paying directly from their bank accounts rather than using traditional credit or debit cards.

These alternative payment methods on Shopify are often essential for building local trust and maximizing conversion rates.

Let’s explore some of these key options:

SEPA Bank Transfers

SEPA enables euro-denominated bank transfers across much of Europe.

It is commonly used for B2B transactions and higher-value consumer purchases, particularly in countries where bank transfers are deeply trusted.

iDEAL

iDEAL is the most widely used online payment method in the Netherlands.

Customers pay directly through their own bank’s interface, making it one of the highest-converting options for Dutch shoppers on Shopify.

UPI And UPI-Equivalent Systems

UPI-style systems enable instant bank-to-bank payments using mobile apps.

While UPI itself is India-specific, similar real-time bank payment systems exist globally. For Shopify merchants selling into these markets, bank-based payments often outperform cards.

💡 Added Insights: When More Payment Options Help vs Hurt Conversion Adding payment methods helps when options are regionally relevant. For example, iDEAL in the Netherlands or BNPL for higher-priced goods directly removes friction. Conversion improves because customers see a payment option they already trust. Adding too many options can hurt conversion when checkout becomes cluttered or overwhelming. If customers have to stop and think “Which one should I use?”, decision fatigue sets in. The most effective Shopify stores limit visible options to those that matter most for their top regions and audience. The rule of thumb: Use cards and wallets as the default, add BNPL when price sensitivity exists, and layer in local bank methods only where they are culturally expected.

Comparing Shopify Payment Options By Use Case: Which Is Best For You?

Choosing the right payment setup on Shopify isn’t about picking the “best gateway.” It’s about picking the least painful setup for how and where you sell. 

Here’s how we at doola think about it.

Best Payment Option For U.S.-Only Shopify Stores

If your sales are exclusively within the U.S., Shopify Payments is typically the most straightforward and effective option.

This is because it natively provides all the essential payment features for a U.S.-only store, including card payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay, without introducing unnecessary complications. 

Managing payouts, refunds, and disputes is simplified as it’s all handled within Shopify, making accounting and reconciliation easy.

In addition, using Shopify Payments also means you bypass Shopify’s additional transaction fees charged for third-party gateways.

doola’s Take:

For businesses selling only in the U.S. that have a standard model, integrating external payment gateways too soon only creates complexity.

Begin with Shopify Payments and only consider expanding your options if your specific business needs require it.

Best Payment Option For International Shopify Sellers

For international Shopify sellers, relying on a single payment gateway is insufficient. The most effective strategy is to layer payment options.

The optimal combination is Shopify Payments (for strong card coverage and digital wallets) plus a second global gateway like Stripe (for better international card approval rates and advanced payment logic) or PayPal (to build customer trust in markets where shoppers are reluctant to enter card details).

doola’s Recommendation:

Use Shopify Payments as your core foundation, then integrate one additional, reliable third-party gateway.

This layered approach minimizes cross-border transaction friction and significantly reduces lost sales compared to trying to choose only one option.

Best Low-Fee Payment Option For Beginners

For new stores and first-time founders, Shopify Payments is the option with the lowest friction and the lowest effective cost.

While it may not always have the lowest per-transaction fee, its true value comes from eliminating several operational burdens:

• It avoids the extra transaction fees Shopify charges when using third-party payment gateways.

• It simplifies operations by consolidating payment processing into a single dashboard.

• It removes the confusion often associated with managing multiple payout schedules.

• It minimizes setup errors that can lead to failed customer payments.

doola’s take:

Beginners often underestimate the true operational cost of time. Time spent troubleshooting payment issues is typically far more expensive than saving a small percentage (e.g., 0.2%) on transaction fees.

Shopify Payments is recommended because it keeps the payment process simple and dependable, which is crucial for early-stage growth.

Best Option For High-Risk Or Digital Products

For businesses dealing with high-risk products or selling digital goods, relying solely on Shopify Payments may not be enough.

Stripe or PayPal are often more effective secondary options.

Stripe offers merchants greater control over fraud detection rules, charge timing, and risk management logic.

PayPal is valuable when customers have more trust in the PayPal platform than in the individual store, which is common for digital purchases or international transactions.

doola’s Take:

If your business is likely to face more reviews or payment disputes, control and redundancy are essential. Relying on a single payment processor is inherently risky.

For these types of businesses, using a secondary payment gateway is not optional; it is a critical defensive measure.

Best Payment Setup For Subscription-Based Shopify Stores

For subscription-based Shopify stores, the Shopify Payments + Stripe combination offers the most robust long-term solution.

Shopify Payments seamlessly manages standard, recurring card transactions directly within the Shopify ecosystem. 

Stripe, however, becomes essential for handling complex subscription scenarios, such as free trials, delayed billing, plan upgrades or downgrades, automated payment retries (dunning), and multi-currency plans.

doola’s Take:

Subscription revenue is often lost not due to pricing, but because of silent payment failures. A successful setup must handle failed payments gracefully and provide clear visibility into payment status.

The combined strength of Stripe’s advanced subscription logic and Shopify’s native payment flow provides this necessary safety net and operational insight.

Summary of Payment Options ✔️ For U.S.-only stores: The best choice is Shopify Payments. ✔️ For global stores: Use Shopify Payments as your primary method, supplemented by Stripe or PayPal to offer international flexibility. ✔️ For beginners and early-stage stores: Start with Shopify Payments and consider adding other options as your business grows. ✔️ For high-risk products or digital goods: Incorporate Stripe and/or PayPal as a backup or for better control over transactions. ✔️ For subscriptions: Use Shopify Payments as the foundational service, but also integrate Stripe for greater flexibility in managing recurring billing.

Fees, Compliance & Hidden Costs Most Shopify Sellers Miss

Shopify payment fees involve much more than the advertised percentage.

The true cost of accepting payments includes fees, currency conversion, chargebacks, and compliance and risk costs, all of which impact your cash flow and approval rates.

This section will detail the comprehensive Shopify payment processing fees, clarify how payment gateway and platform charges combine, and outline the critical compliance issues that may result in payment reserves or account holds.

Shopify Payment Processing Fees (What You Actually Pay)

1. Base Payment Processing Fees

When you use Shopify Payments, you pay a card processing fee on every order, similar to Stripe/other gateways, which is deducted from each payout. These include:

• A percentage of the order (e.g., ~2.7–2.9% for domestic cards on mid-tier plans)

• A fixed per-transaction charge (like ~$0.30)

These rates vary by Shopify plan and card type. On higher plans the percentage goes down slightly.

Important detail: Shopify Payments waives extra Shopify transaction fees that normally apply when you use an external gateway,  so you only pay the card costs, not platform penalties. 

Hidden Fees That Creep Into Your Margin

1. Shopify’s Third-Party Transaction Fees

If you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, Shopify may charge a third-party transaction fee on every order processed through that external gateway, and this fee is separate from (and added on top of) the gateway’s own processing charges. 

The exact rate depends on your plan. Shopify’s pricing typically shows around 2% on Basic, 1% on Shopify/Grow, and 0.6% on Advanced, so your effective cost can rise quickly when you stack it with gateway fees like a percentage plus a fixed amount. 

For example, if a gateway charges around 2.9% + a fixed fee, and Shopify adds 2% on your plan, your total can be roughly 4.9% + fixed fee on that order, which can feel close to double compared to using Shopify Payments alone. 

One key exception: when Shopify Payments is activated, PayPal and manual payment methods are generally excluded from these third-party transaction fees, even though other third-party gateways may still trigger them.

2. Customer Foreign Transaction Fees (Customer-Paid, Not Your Cost)

If a customer buys from another country, their bank/card issuer may charge them a foreign transaction fee (even if they’re charged in their local currency).

Shopify explicitly notes these “international transaction fees” are charged to the customer by their bank and aren’t charged to you as the merchant.

3. Currency Conversion Fees (Merchant-Paid, Real Cost To You)

If you sell in one currency but your payout currency is different, Shopify applies a currency conversion fee when converting the captured payment into your payout currency.

Shopify documents that a conversion fee applies to currency conversion and even shows an example calculation using a 1.5% conversion fee.

Shopify also documents an important refund rule: currency conversion fees (and credit card fees) are not returned to you when you issue a refund.

The Actual Currency Conversion Fee Rate 

Shopify’s currency conversion fees, as described in their help documentation and published rates, are:

• 1.5% for U.S. stores

• 2% for most other regions using Shopify Payments

It’s important to note that these conversion fees are charged when a payment is converted, and Shopify does not return these fees on refunds, according to their refunds documentation.

What Sellers Miss Most Often (The “Refund Trap”) Even if you refund the customer in full, Shopify clearly states currency conversion fees and credit card fees aren’t returned to you. That means high-return categories can leak margin faster when you sell cross-border in multiple currencies.

4. Chargebacks, Disputes & Related Costs

While Shopify doesn’t list specific dispute fees publicly, merchant data indicates that chargeback fees on card networks typically run $15–$25 per dispute, and can hit your net margins hard if disputes are frequent.

5. Reserves and Frozen Accounts

Payment processors,  including Shopify Payments, can place reserves or holds when they detect risk, unexpected spikes in sales, or unusual order patterns. Merchants report real freezes where:

• Shopify can’t charge recurring fees or platform charges

• Stores become frozen because billing cards fail

These aren’t penalties, but risk controls to protect processors from losses.

Why Business Structure & Compliance Matter Your official business structure, tax setup, and compliance documentation have a direct impact on payment approval and stability: ✔️ Identity and Business Verification Missing or inconsistent information about your identity or business details will increase the frequency of security reviews. ✔️ Consistency in Store Details Discrepancies in product descriptions, pricing, or refund policies can trigger risk-monitoring systems. ✔️ Handling Rapid Growth Significant and sudden increases in sales volume without the proper verification documents can lead to funds being held or delayed payouts. Payment processors, including Shopify Payments, actively monitor these risk signals. If inconsistencies are detected, they may request further documentation, introduce processing delays, or even place a hold on your account. Key Insight: The necessity for providers to manage merchant risk and compliance is a key factor in how they determine payment processing fees. A portion of the card fees is allocated to cover potential financial losses resulting from fraud and chargebacks..

How to Choose the Best Payment Option for Your Shopify Store

There’s no universally “best” payment gateway on Shopify. The right setup depends on where your business is legally based, where your customers live, how much you sell, and how fast you plan to scale.

Here are a few steps you can take to find the best payment options for your Shopify Store:

1. Ask The Right Questions First

Before looking at gateways or fees, get clear on three basics: where your business is legally set up, where your customers are paying from, and how fast you expect to grow.

These answers narrow your options more than any feature comparison ever will.

2. Compare Country Of Incorporation Vs Country Of Customers

Your country of incorporation determines which payment providers Shopify allows you to use and which currencies you can receive payouts in. Your customer locations determine which payment methods feel familiar at checkout.

When these two don’t align, you’ll need payment options that bridge the gap, otherwise you’ll see failed payments, higher fees, or unnecessary friction

3. Confirm What You Can Legally Use

Start with your country of incorporation and where your business bank account is located, because this decides what Shopify will even allow you to activate.

Shopify Payments availability and payout currencies are tied to your business location, not your customers.

If Shopify Payments isn’t available for your setup, you’re automatically in “third-party gateway required” territory.

4. Map Where Your Customers Actually Pay From

List your top customer regions by revenue or traffic. Then match payment expectations to those regions. Cards are universal, but local preferences aren’t.

For example, Europe leans heavily into bank-based methods in some markets, and many regions convert better when fast wallets are visible. Your goal here is simple: the checkout should feel familiar to your top buyers.

5. Use Your Numbers To Pick The Simplest Setup That Won’t Break Later

Look at these three metrics: monthly order volume, average order value, and your 12-month growth plan.

If you’re early-stage, optimize for a clean, stable setup with minimal moving parts. If you’re scaling, fees and approval rates compound quickly, so you’ll care more about performance than convenience.

Higher AOV stores often benefit more from installment-style options, while lower AOV stores usually win with the fastest one-tap wallets.

6. Decide If You Need One Gateway Or A Strategic Two-Gateway Stack

Use multiple gateways only when each one has a job.

A practical global setup is Shopify Payments for cards and wallets, plus one additional gateway to improve acceptance in key regions or to add redundancy if your category is risk-sensitive.

This keeps checkout clean while protecting revenue if one provider flags transactions or has downtime.

7. Run A Quick Reality Check Before You Lock It In

Before committing, sanity-check the hidden costs you’ll actually pay: third-party transaction fees (if applicable), currency conversion fees when payout currency differs from customer currency, and dispute handling overhead.

The “best” payment option is the one that keeps approvals high and cash flow predictable without turning payments into a weekly operations problem.

How doola Helps Shopify Sellers Unlock Better Payment Options

Many Shopify sellers assume payment limitations are a “Shopify issue,” when in reality, they’re often a business-structure issue.

A large number of popular Shopify payment options are designed to work best, or only, with the U.S.-based or fully compliant business entities. 

This is where doola comes in. We help Shopify sellers build the exact business foundation payment providers expect, so payment access issues don’t block growth.

🚀 US Company Formation (LLC Or C-Corp)

doola helps founders form a U.S. LLC or C-Corp, giving Shopify sellers a legally recognized U.S. business entity. This unlocks access to payment gateways and financial tools that are otherwise restricted or harder to obtain for non-U.S. businesses.

🚀 EIN And Tax Setup

Payment providers rely on tax identification to verify merchants and meet reporting requirements.

doola handles EIN issuance and helps set up the business correctly from a tax perspective, reducing red flags during gateway onboarding and reviews.

🚀 US Banking Access

Many Shopify payment options require a U.S. bank account for payouts.

doola helps sellers open compliant U.S. business bank accounts, allowing funds to settle smoothly and making it easier to activate gateways that don’t support international personal accounts.

🚀 Ongoing Compliance Support

In addition, doola supports ongoing requirements like filings, documentation, and reminders, helping sellers avoid the kind of compliance gaps that lead to payout holds or account freezes later.

In short, with the right business structure in place, Shopify sellers see fewer payment rejections, broader gateway access, and more predictable payouts.

Want access to more Shopify payment gateways without the compliance headaches? 

Sign up to know more!

FAQs

What is the best payment option for Shopify stores in 2026?

There isn’t one single “best” option for every store. In 2026, the best setup depends on where your business is registered, where your customers are located, and how you sell.

For most stores, Shopify Payments works best as a foundation because it integrates directly with Shopify, supports cards and wallets, and avoids extra platform fees.

Many global sellers then layer one additional gateway for reach or redundancy.

Is Shopify Payments better than Stripe or PayPal?

It’s not about better or worse, it’s about role.

Shopify Payments is deeply integrated and simplest to manage inside Shopify.

Stripe offers more flexibility and control, especially for international or complex payment logic.

PayPal adds buyer trust and familiarity in certain markets.

Most successful stores use Shopify Payments as the core and add Stripe or PayPal where it makes sense.

Can international sellers use Shopify Payments?

Only if Shopify Payments is supported in the country where the business is registered and where the bank account is located.

If your country isn’t supported, Shopify Payments won’t appear as an option, and you’ll need to use third-party payment gateways instead.

Customer location alone doesn’t determine eligibility, business location does.

How many payment gateways should a Shopify store have?

Most Shopify stores perform best with one or two gateways.

One gateway keeps checkout clean, while a second is useful for international customers, local payment methods, or backup if one provider flags transactions.

Adding too many gateways can overwhelm customers and hurt conversion.

What payment options reduce cart abandonment the most?

Fast, familiar options reduce abandonment the most. Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay consistently perform well because they shorten checkout time.

In certain regions, local bank methods also reduce friction because customers already trust them. The key is relevance, not quantity.

Are BNPL options worth it for small Shopify stores?

They can be, but only when price hesitation exists.

BNPL works best for mid-to-high average order values where splitting payments makes the purchase feel more accessible.

For very low-priced products, BNPL often adds complexity without meaningful conversion lift.

Do I need a US company to access the best Shopify payment gateways?

Not always, but having a US company significantly expands your options. Many leading payment gateways and payout setups work more smoothly with U.S.-registered entities, EINs, and U.S. bank accounts.

Without that structure, international sellers often face limited gateway access, higher fees, or slower approvals.