To take card payments in WooCommerce you need a payment gateway plugin connected to a payment processor. WooPayments, Stripe, PayPal Payments and Square are the official, widely used choices, and the right one depends mostly on your country and on where you want your money and reports to live. The guide below covers ten gateways and what each does today.
How card payments work in WooCommerce
WooCommerce does not process cards itself. A gateway plugin adds a payment method to checkout, sends the card details securely to a processor, and tells WooCommerce whether the payment worked. The processor is the company that talks to the card networks and banks and pays out to you.
Two things follow from that. First, you are choosing a processor as much as a plugin: its fees, payout schedule, supported countries and dispute handling matter more than the plugin’s settings screen. Second, switching later is possible but not free. Saved cards and subscription tokens usually live with the processor, so moving them takes planning.
When you compare gateways, check these points:
- Where you can sign up. Processors support specific countries for merchants, and the list differs for each.
- Currencies and local methods. Cards are the baseline. Bank debits, wallets and local schemes can matter more in some markets.
- Checkout experience. Card fields on your checkout page feel different from a redirect to another site.
- Subscriptions and saved cards. If you sell recurring products, confirm WooCommerce Subscriptions support.
- Refunds and disputes. Can you refund from the order screen, and where do you answer a chargeback?
- Fee model. Most gateways charge per transaction. Look up the current rates on the processor’s own site, since they differ by country and card type.
How to add a card gateway
- Open an account with the processor, or start the connection from the plugin.
- Install and activate the plugin under Plugins > Add New.
- Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments, find the gateway and open its settings.
- Connect your account. Some plugins use a guided connection and others ask for API keys. Start in test mode.
- Choose card options such as saved cards, 3D Secure and express checkout buttons.
- Place test orders, including a refund and a declined card, and check that webhooks reach your site.
- Switch to live mode and watch the first real payments.
If you use the block-based checkout, check that the gateway supports it. Most maintained plugins do.
1. WooPayments
WooPayments is WooCommerce’s own payments plugin. Shoppers pay by card without leaving your checkout, and you manage transactions, refunds, disputes and payouts from the WordPress dashboard. It also supports in-person payments through WooCommerce’s point of sale and mobile app, depending on your country and hardware.
It is free to install and has no setup or monthly fee. You pay per transaction, and the rates are published on WooCommerce’s fees page. The catch is availability: you can sign up only in the countries on the supported list, and setup uses a WordPress.com account connection even if your site is hosted elsewhere. WooPayments on WordPress.org
Best for: stores in supported countries that want payments, disputes and payouts inside the WooCommerce admin.
2. WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
This is Stripe’s plugin for WooCommerce. It accepts cards in many currencies, plus local methods such as Alipay, ACH and SEPA, and express checkout buttons including the wallets Stripe supports. Saved cards and 3D Secure are part of the package.
The plugin is free and Stripe charges processing fees. Stripe supports a long list of countries for merchants, which makes it the default choice for many stores that cannot use WooPayments. The Stripe Dashboard is where you handle payouts and disputes. WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway on WordPress.org
Best for: stores that want broad country and payment method coverage with the Stripe dashboard.
3. WooCommerce PayPal Payments
PayPal’s official plugin puts PayPal buttons on product, cart and checkout pages, and adds card payments through standard or advanced card processing. Advanced card processing gives you card fields styled to fit your checkout. Pay Later options appear in select countries, and Venmo is available to shoppers in the United States.
It supports subscriptions through WooCommerce Subscriptions or PayPal Subscriptions, with some features needing account approval from PayPal. Many shoppers trust the PayPal button, which is the reason to offer it even if cards go through another gateway. WooCommerce PayPal Payments on WordPress.org
Best for: stores whose customers expect PayPal, with cards as a second route.
4. WooCommerce Square
Square’s plugin connects WooCommerce to a Square account. It takes card payments online and synchronises sales, inventory and product data between the store and Square, so a shop with a physical counter keeps one set of stock numbers.
That sync is the reason to choose it. If you only sell online, other gateways are often simpler. If you also sell in person with Square hardware, it removes a lot of manual stock work. Square charges processing fees, and availability depends on the countries Square serves. WooCommerce Square on WordPress.org
Best for: shops that also sell in person with Square.
5. Mollie Payments for WooCommerce
Mollie is a European payment provider, and its plugin is built around local payment methods alongside credit cards, such as iDEAL in the Netherlands. If you sell to customers across several European countries, the local methods often convert better than cards alone.
The plugin is free and Mollie charges per transaction based on the method used. Check Mollie’s current list of supported merchant countries before you sign up. Mollie Payments for WooCommerce on WordPress.org
Best for: stores selling to European customers who prefer local methods.
6. PayPal Enterprise Payments (formerly Braintree)
The plugin many people still search for as Braintree for WooCommerce has been renamed PayPal Enterprise Payments for WooCommerce. It is published by WooCommerce and takes cards, PayPal and Venmo, Apple Pay and Google Pay, ACH direct debit, buy now pay later options and some local methods without sending customers away from your checkout.
It supports saved cards and works with WooCommerce Subscriptions and Pre-Orders. You need a Braintree-based account, and the service is available only in countries where Braintree operates. The plugin page notes that using several currencies needs a currency switcher plugin. If you used the old Braintree plugin, check the current plugin page for the minimum WooCommerce version before you update. PayPal Enterprise Payments on WordPress.org
Best for: larger or growing stores that want a single processor for cards and PayPal.
7. Payment Gateway for Authorize.net
Authorize.net is a long-standing US gateway. This plugin, listed on WordPress.org, handles cards and eCheck, with Google Pay and Apple Pay, saved cards, subscriptions and the checkout block. It suits merchants who already have an Authorize.net account and want to keep it.
Authorize.net has its own gateway and merchant fees, which are separate from the plugin. If you do not already have an account there, compare it with Stripe and Square first. Several plugins on WordPress.org connect to Authorize.net, so check who publishes the one you choose and when it was last updated. Payment Gateway for Authorize.net on WordPress.org
Best for: merchants who already use Authorize.net.
8. Airwallex Online Payments Gateway
Airwallex is a global payments and finance platform. Its WooCommerce plugin accepts cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and many local payment methods. It is worth a look if you sell across borders and want to hold and convert several currencies.
Check Airwallex’s own site for supported merchant countries and for how payouts and fees work. Airwallex Online Payments Gateway on WordPress.org
Best for: cross-border sellers who deal in several currencies.
9. Checkout.com Payment Gateway
Checkout.com is an enterprise payments provider, and its plugin connects WooCommerce to its unified payments API. It offers more payment methods and currencies for customers of larger merchants.
Check the provider’s site for how onboarding works. It makes most sense for stores with high volume and a team that manages payments. Checkout.com Payment Gateway on WordPress.org
Best for: high-volume merchants with a payments team.
10. Razorpay for WooCommerce
Razorpay is a payment gateway for India, and its plugin lets you accept cards, UPI and net banking through WooCommerce. If your customers are in India, local methods such as UPI matter as much as cards, and this is one of the main gateways built for that market. A separate Razorpay Subscriptions plugin works with WooCommerce Subscriptions.
Check Razorpay’s site for onboarding requirements, since merchants usually need to be registered in the countries it supports. Razorpay for WooCommerce on WordPress.org
Best for: stores selling to customers in India.
Wallets and pay later: add-ons, not replacements
Amazon Pay and Klarna both publish WooCommerce plugins on WordPress.org. They sit beside a card gateway and add a familiar login or an instalment option at checkout. They do not replace card processing. Add them after your card gateway is working, and only if your customers use them.
Comparison at a glance
| Gateway | Strongest point |
|---|---|
| WooPayments | Payments inside the WooCommerce admin |
| Stripe | Broad country and method coverage |
| PayPal Payments | PayPal button plus cards |
| Square | In-person and online stock sync |
| Mollie | European local methods |
| PayPal Enterprise Payments | One processor for cards and PayPal |
| Authorize.net | Existing US merchant accounts |
| Airwallex | Multi-currency cross-border selling |
| Checkout.com | Enterprise volume |
| Razorpay | Indian payment methods |
How to choose a gateway
Begin with the one question the processor controls: can you sign up there from your country? Cross off anything that says no. Then look at who your customers are. European buyers often want a local method. Indian buyers expect UPI. US buyers expect cards and PayPal.
Next, think about money flow. If you want sales, refunds and payouts in one admin, WooPayments is built for it. If you want the Stripe dashboard and its tools, choose Stripe. If you already have a merchant account with a bank or processor, use the gateway it supports.
Offering two gateways is common and sensible: a card gateway for the bulk of orders and PayPal for people who prefer it. More than two usually adds confusion at checkout. Use your own test orders and your own fees comparison from each provider’s site before you decide.
For the rest of the checkout, see our guides to WooCommerce checkout plugins, express checkout plugins and Stripe Connect plugins for marketplaces. If you sell recurring products, read our subscription plugin roundup.
Security and compliance basics
- Use hosted or tokenised card fields. They keep raw card numbers off your server, which keeps your compliance scope small.
- Serve the whole site over HTTPS. Gateways expect it.
- Keep API keys private. Never paste live keys into support tickets or public repositories.
- Enable 3D Secure where your processor offers it. It shifts liability for some fraud and is required by regulation in some regions.
- Test webhooks. If webhooks fail, orders can stay on hold even though the payment worked.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to accept credit cards on WooCommerce?
Install WooPayments if your country is supported, or the Stripe plugin if it is not. Both connect through a guided setup and add card fields to checkout. Test with a sample order before you go live.
Do I need an SSL certificate to take card payments?
Yes. Your checkout should run over HTTPS, and most gateway plugins will not work properly without it. Most hosts include a free certificate.
Can I use more than one payment gateway at the same time?
Yes. WooCommerce lets you enable several gateways under WooCommerce > Settings > Payments. Many stores pair a card gateway with PayPal.
What happened to the Braintree plugin for WooCommerce?
It was renamed PayPal Enterprise Payments for WooCommerce. It is published by WooCommerce and takes cards, PayPal and other methods. Check the plugin page for current requirements.
Are there monthly fees for these gateways?
Most WooCommerce card plugins are free, and the processor charges per transaction. Some processors also have other charges. Read the current fee page of the provider you choose.
Which gateway is best for subscriptions?
WooPayments, Stripe, PayPal Payments and PayPal Enterprise Payments all list support for WooCommerce Subscriptions. Confirm your chosen method for renewals, since not every payment method can be charged again automatically.
Can I refund a card payment from WooCommerce?
Yes, with most gateways. Open the order and use the refund option, and the plugin sends the refund to the processor. Some methods have time limits, so check the provider’s rules.
Is it safe to store customers’ cards?
Gateways store a token at the processor, not the card number on your site. Saved cards are safe when you use a reputable gateway with tokenisation, and customers can remove them from their account.
Next steps
Pick a gateway, test it with a few orders and keep your list short. If you are building a store with a community or a marketplace around it, you can see finished examples in our live demos, or read the guide to a multi-vendor marketplace build to see where payouts and vendor payments fit in.