TrustRadius

Best Payment Gateway Software 2025

Payment gateway Software helps connect eCommerce websites to the bank (merchant account) in order to process online payments and transfer sensitive credit card information securely.

We’ve collected videos, features, and capabilities below. Take me there.

All Products

Learn More about Payment Gateway Software

What is Payment Gateway Software?

Payment Gateway Software helps connect eCommerce websites to a bank or merchant account to process online payments and transfer sensitive credit card information securely.

There are three major methods the payment gateway software can utilize, depending on the vendor's approach and the level of security and compliance the business must support:

  • A form filled out on the company's website, where the data is then sent through the payment gateway
  • A redirect to the payment gateway (on a separate website where the customer can fill out payment information)
  • A form powered by the payment gateway vendor that collects information on the company's website but connects straight into the payment gateway vendor's server

The first option is the least secure but allows for the most consistent branding and customer experience. The second option is the most secure, data-wise, but also the most disruptive customer experience (since the customer has to leave the eCommerce site to input their billing information). The third option offers a happy medium, but still requires some security precautions and visual compromises, since the look and feel of the gateway module is likely to be different from the rest of the site.

Some vendors bundle payment gateways with point of sale systems (POS) for physical business locations. Others offer more comprehensive merchant solution tools, such as customer management, invoicing, recurring billing, and more. Buyers should choose a payment gateway that connects easily to their eCommerce platform. Most eCommerce providers have a list of the payment gateway connectors/integrations they offer on their websites. Many users also frequently integrate payment gateway software with blogging software, if they’re in the process of converting their blog to an online store.

Payment Gateway Features

Most Payment Gateway vendors offer the following important basic and advanced features. The advanced features are generally only available for an additional fee.

Basic Features and Capabilities

  • Processes multiple types of credit and debit cards
  • Processes ACH Payments and eChecks
  • Secure payment processing
  • Payment analytics and reporting
  • Multi-currency
  • Storage of customer information
  • Third-party integrations
  • PCI compliance

Advanced Features

  • Recurring subscriptions and billing
  • Invoicing
  • Fraud prevention
  • Buyer authentication
  • POS system

Payment Gateway Software Comparison

Before deciding to invest in a payment gateway solution and link it to your bank account, consider the following key points:

  1. Customer preference: What is your customers’ preferred online payment method? Do they typically pay with credit cards, Apple Pay, PayPay, or other online payment system? Consider which method of payments the majority of your customers will be using before choosing a new payment gateway provider.
  2. Customer support: What level of customer support does the payment gateway provider offer? For example, do they respond to issues promptly? Are any bugs you or your users experience resolved quickly? Some payment gateway providers have higher customer support rating scores than others. Click the ‘product details’ tab on TrustRadius to view a product’s customer support rating.
  3. Price model: What type of pricing model does the product have? Will it continue to be cost-effective as your online business grows, or will the fee percentages increase as your revenue increases? If you’re planning to scale up your business quickly, make sure to pick a product that won’t penalize you for rapid revenue growth.

Pricing Information

Software that strictly offers payment gateway services charges per transaction, which can run as low as $0.10 per transaction. Some vendors charge a recurring monthly fee in addition to these transaction fees.

More comprehensive products that are considered merchant solutions generally charge per transaction, which are most often composed of a percentage plus flat fee (ranging from 2.2% to 2.9% plus $.30). Again, a few vendors will also charge a recurring monthly fee.

High volume enterprise-level companies should work with the vendor to obtain custom pricing. Fraud prevention, a POS system, invoicing, and other advanced features will typically incur an add-on fee in addition to the charges described above.

Other Payment Gateway Products

Loading related categories...

Payment Gateway FAQs

What does payment gateway software do?

Payment gateway software is an interface that connects an online merchant’s website to a customer’s bank account. It allows customers to make purchases directly on the online seller’s website and have the funds drawn out of their account. Importantly, they also provide online businesses with a secure way to process payments and sensitive information (e.g. credit card numbers).

Who uses payment gateway software?

Payment gateway software is commonly used by B2C companies, especially eCommerce businesses. No matter the size of your business, if you plan on selling products online, you’ll need a payment gateway system. Nonprofit organizations also commonly use payment gateway software as a way to collect donations.

What is the best payment gateway software?

Some of the most popular payment gateway software products on TrustRadius, based on the number of end-user verified reviews they have, are:

How much does payment gateway software cost?

Payment gateway software providers typically charge between 2.20%-2.90% per transaction, sometimes plus an additional flat fee of between 20-30 cents. Some vendors also charge a monthly subscription fee, which can range from $10-$25 per month.