Best Payment Gateways in 2026
Online payment gateways and processors: Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, Adyen, Braintree, Checkout.com, Cashfree Payments, PayU, Paddle and Mollie.
- Verified 11 Nov 2026Every profile shows where facts came from
- Unknowns labelledGaps are stated, never guessed
- No paid placementNo affiliate links, ratings or reviews
- Not a rankingAlphabetical by default; fit notes, not scores
What is Payment Gateways?
A payment gateway lets a business accept card, wallet and local payments online and settle them to a bank account. Processors charge per transaction; enterprise providers offer Interchange++ pricing; merchants of record also handle sales tax and VAT.
Also called Payments Software
Payment fees are often a business's largest software-related cost, so small rate differences matter at scale.
This category covers developer platforms (Stripe, Braintree), consumer wallets (PayPal), enterprise processors (Adyen, Checkout.com), a merchant of record for SaaS (Paddle), a European provider (Mollie) and Indian gateways (Razorpay, Cashfree, PayU).
Flat rates commonly run about 2% to 3.5% plus a fixed fee; enterprises negotiate Interchange++. The profiles below summarise dated 2026 sources and are research aids, not rankings.
Best payment gateways and processors by need.
Shortlists built from what each sourced profile documents, listed alphabetically, not ranked. Open a profile for limits, prices and sources.
Best free payment gateways and processors
7 of 14 profiles document a free plan.
Payment gateways and processors for small businesses
2 of 14 profiles are documented mainly for small and mid-size teams.
Payment gateways and processors for enterprises
8 of 14 profiles are documented for large enterprises.
Payment gateways and processors for India
3 of 14 profiles are built for or documented in the Indian market.
Payment gateways and processors for global teams
6 of 14 profiles support international hiring or payroll.
Payment Gateways compared: browse and filter
Search and filters update this list on the page and do not create new URLs, so every profile stays crawlable and linkable.
Adyen
Adyen · Enterprise global payments
A global payments platform for high-volume enterprises using Interchange++ pricing, with a EUR 120 monthly minimum invoice.
- EUR 120 minimum
- Interchange++
- Cloud API
- Enterprise
- Independent sources
Best for High-volume global enterprises
Key capabilities- Model
- Markup
- Minimum
- Unified commerce
PricingInterchange++ with markup from ~0.60% + ~10-12c; EUR 120 monthly minimum invoice.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directlyBraintree
PayPal · PayPal-owned card processing
PayPal's developer payment gateway at 2.89% + 29 cents, with PayPal and Venmo built in and custom rates above $100k a month.
- No monthly fee
- Per transaction
- Cloud API
- Cards + PayPal
- Independent sources
Best for Businesses wanting cards plus PayPal and Venmo in one integration
Key capabilities- Cards (US)
- Custom
- Monthly fee
- Cards
Pricing2.89% + 29c (US); custom rates above $100,000 a month.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directlyCashfree Payments
Cashfree Payments · Indian payment gateway
An Indian payment gateway with a 1.95% standard rate, 0% on UPI and RuPay, and 0% on the first INR 20 lakh of sales until March 2027.
- Per transaction
- INR
- Cloud API
- India
- Independent sources
Best for Indian businesses wanting the lowest headline rate
Key capabilities- Standard
- UPI and RuPay
- International
- GST
Pricing1.95% standard; 0% on UPI and RuPay; reported INR 4,999 annual fee; promo 0% on first INR 20 lakh until 31 March 2027.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly-
CCAvenue
Infibeam Avenues Ltd. · Payment gateway (India)
One of India’s oldest payment gateways, from Infibeam Avenues, with a no-setup-fee Startup Pro plan at 2% for most domestic methods and 27+ currencies.
- Free plan
- Cloud
- Independent sources
Best for Indian merchants selling to international customers
Key capabilities- Cards, UPI, net banking and wallets
- International cards and AMEX
- Multi-currency processing
- Customisable checkout
PricingStartup Pro: no setup fee, 2% on most domestic methods.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly Checkout.com
Checkout.com · Enterprise payment processing
An enterprise payment processor with sales-led pricing: flat rates around 2.90% + 20 cents for non-European cards or Interchange++ markups of 0.10% to 0.40%.
- Sales-led
- Flat or IC++
- Cloud API
- Enterprise
- Independent sources
Best for Mid-market and enterprise merchants selling across regions
Key capabilities- Non-European cards
- European cards
- Enterprise IC++
- Local acquiring
PricingNot published; reported ~2.90% + 20c (non-European cards), under 1% (European); enterprise IC++ markup ~0.10-0.40% + 8c.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly-
Instamojo
Instamojo Technologies · Payment links, online store and payment collection (India)
An Indian payment-link and online-store platform for freelancers and small sellers, charging 2% + INR 3 per transaction on physical goods with no setup fee.
- Free plan
- Cloud
- Independent sources
Best for Freelancers and creators in India
Key capabilities- Payment links
- Methods
- Instant payouts
- Online store
Pricing2% + INR 3 + GST per transaction on physical goods; no setup fee.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly Mollie
Mollie · European payment provider
A European payment provider known for easy setup and local methods such as iDEAL, Bancontact and SEPA, with no long contracts.
- No long contracts
- Per transaction
- Cloud API
- Europe
- Independent sources
Best for European SMBs needing local payment methods
Key capabilities- Bancontact
- iDEAL / Wero
- Cards
- iDEAL and Wero
PricingFees vary by method and country; Bancontact ~1.4% + EUR 0.25; iDEAL and Wero usually a fixed fee.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directlyPaddle
Paddle · Merchant of record for SaaS
A merchant of record for SaaS and digital products at 5% + 50 cents per checkout, handling global tax, chargebacks and compliance.
- No monthly fee
- Per transaction
- Cloud
- Merchant of record
- Independent sources
Best for Global SaaS and digital product companies (~$100k-$10M ARR)
Key capabilities- Fee
- Monthly / migration
- Under $10
- Sales tax and VAT
Pricing5% + 50c per checkout; no monthly or migration fees; custom quotes for products under $10.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directlyPayPal
PayPal · Consumer-trusted checkout
The widely trusted checkout button, with PayPal Checkout at 3.49% + 49 cents and card processing around 2.99% + 49 cents in the US.
- No monthly fee
- Per transaction
- Cloud
- Buyer trust
- Independent sources
Best for Ecommerce stores where buyer trust lifts conversion
Key capabilities- PayPal Checkout
- Cards via PayPal
- Monthly fee
- PayPal
PricingPayPal Checkout 3.49% + 49c; standard cards via PayPal ~2.99% + 49c (US).Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly-
Paytm Payment Gateway
One97 Communications (Paytm) · Payment gateway (India)
Paytm’s payment gateway for Indian businesses with wallet, UPI and card acceptance, reported at about 1.99 to 2 percent standard TDR and custom enterprise pricing.
- Cloud
- Independent sources
Best for Existing Paytm merchants
Key capabilities- UPI and cards
- Paytm wallet
- Net banking
- SDKs
PricingStandard TDR reported at about 1.99–2%.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly PayU
PayU · Payment gateway (India and emerging markets)
A payment gateway strong in India, at 2% for domestic payments and 3% for Amex, Diners, EMI and international cards.
- No setup fee
- Per transaction
- Cloud API
- India
- Independent sources
Best for Indian merchants with EMI-heavy, high-ticket baskets
Key capabilities- Domestic
- Premium/international
- UPI
- Setup fee
Pricing2% domestic; 3% on Amex, Diners, EMI and international cards; UPI varies by business type.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly-
PhonePe Payment Gateway
PhonePe · Payment gateway (India)
PhonePe’s online payment gateway for Indian businesses, with zero setup and annual fees and a Standard plan listed at 1.99 percent that was shown as free during an offer.
- Cloud
- Vendor sources
Best for Indian merchants with heavy UPI traffic
Key capabilities- UPI
- Cards and net banking
- International
- Dashboard
PricingStandard 1.99% (promotional “free” offer); zero setup fee.Prices taken from the vendor’s own pricing page Razorpay
Razorpay · Indian payment gateway
India's leading payment gateway, at 2% + GST on standard domestic payments with 0% MDR on UPI (platform fee applies).
- No setup fee
- Per transaction
- Cloud API
- India
- Independent sources
Best for Indian businesses collecting online payments
Key capabilities- Standard
- UPI
- Custom
- Setup / annual fee
Pricing2% + GST on domestic cards, net banking and wallets; UPI 0% MDR with a platform fee; custom pricing above INR 5 lakh a month.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directlyStripe
Stripe · Developer-first payment platform
The developer-first payments platform: 2.9% + 30 cents for US online cards with no monthly fee, plus Billing, Radar, Tax and Connect.
- No monthly fee
- Per transaction
- Cloud API
- Developers
- Independent sources
Best for Developers and online businesses building custom payment flows
Key capabilities- Online cards
- International
- Chargebacks
- Standard EEA cards
PricingUS online cards 2.9% + 30c; international +1.5%; EU standard cards 1.5% + EUR 0.25; chargebacks $15.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
No listings match these filters.
Listings are ordered alphabetically by default. They are not ranked, and there are no user ratings or paid placements.
Payment Gateways compared on key criteria.
Summaries come from each profile; open a profile for sources and caveats.
| Product | Pricing model | Card fee from | Monthly fee | Merchant of record | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adyen | Interchange++ | ~0.60% + ~11c markup | EUR 120 minimum | No | Enterprise |
| Braintree | Flat rate | 2.89% + 29c | None | No | Cards + PayPal |
| Cashfree Payments | Flat rate (INR) | 1.95% | AMC reported | No | India, low rate |
| Checkout.com | Sales-led | ~2.90% + 20c (reported) | Not published | No | Multi-region enterprise |
| Mollie | Per method | Varies; Bancontact ~1.4% + EUR 0.25 | None stated | No | European SMBs |
| Paddle | MoR % + fixed | 5% + 50c | None | Yes | Global SaaS |
| PayPal | Flat rate | ~2.99% + 49c | None | No | Buyer trust |
| PayU | Flat rate (INR) | 2% | None | No | EMI, high-ticket |
| Razorpay | Flat rate (INR) | 2% + GST | None | No | India |
| Stripe | Flat rate | 2.9% + 30c (US) | None | No | Developers |
Which Payment Gateways option fits which situation.
- AdyenMay suit High-volume global enterprises
- BraintreeMay suit Businesses wanting cards plus PayPal and Venmo in one integration
- Cashfree PaymentsMay suit Indian businesses wanting the lowest headline rate
- Checkout.comMay suit Mid-market and enterprise merchants selling across regions
- MollieMay suit European SMBs needing local payment methods
- PaddleMay suit Global SaaS and digital product companies (~$100k-$10M ARR)
- PayPalMay suit Ecommerce stores where buyer trust lifts conversion
- PayUMay suit Indian merchants with EMI-heavy, high-ticket baskets
- RazorpayMay suit Indian businesses collecting online payments
- StripeMay suit Developers and online businesses building custom payment flows
Based on each profile's documented strengths and limits. These are fit notes, not rankings: test options against your own requirements.
Key features and capabilities of Payment Gateways.
The capabilities that define the category. Not every product offers all of them, and depth varies a lot between entry-level and enterprise tools.
Online card acceptance
Accept major cards securely on websites and apps.
Local payment methods
Wallets, bank transfers and regional methods customers prefer.
Recurring payments
Store payment details securely for subscriptions and instalments.
Fraud screening
Rules and risk scoring to block suspicious payments.
Payouts and settlement
Funds settled to your bank account on a schedule.
Refunds and disputes
Manage refunds, chargebacks and evidence.
Hosted checkout and APIs
Use a hosted page or build a custom checkout.
Reporting and reconciliation
Match transactions, fees and payouts to the books.
How businesses use Payment Gateways.
- 01
Ecommerce checkout
Take payments for online orders.
- 02
Subscription billing
Charge customers automatically each period.
- 03
Invoice payments
Add pay links to invoices.
- 04
Marketplace payouts
Split payments between sellers and the platform.
- 05
In-app payments
Accept payments in mobile apps.
- 06
International sales
Accept local methods and currencies abroad.
Who uses Payment Gateways and what problems it solves.
Online stores
Accept cards and wallets at checkout.
SaaS companies
Bill subscriptions and handle global tax.
Enterprises
Optimise authorisation and cost at scale.
Indian businesses
Accept UPI, cards and net banking.
What Payment Gateways changes in practice.
Practical outcomes teams report when the category is implemented well. Results depend on adoption, data quality and process, so we do not quote percentages.
More completed checkouts
Preferred payment methods reduce abandonment.
Lower fraud losses
Screening blocks risky transactions.
Faster cash
Predictable settlement schedules.
Easier reconciliation
Fees and payouts reported clearly.
Room to expand
New countries and methods added without new providers.
Features and criteria to evaluate in Payment Gateways.
Total fees
Percentage, fixed fee, FX and chargebacks.
Pricing model
Flat rate or Interchange++.
Tax handling
Processor or merchant of record.
Local methods
UPI, iDEAL, SEPA, wallets.
Risk and holds
Account review and reserve policies.
Developer tools
APIs, SDKs and documentation.
How to choose Payment Gateways: a step-by-step approach.
- 1
Estimate volume and mix
Domestic, international and wallet share.
- 2
Compare effective rates
Model fees on real order data.
- 3
Decide on merchant of record
Who handles VAT and sales tax.
- 4
Check settlement countries
Where you can receive payouts.
- 5
Test checkout conversion
Run a pilot or A/B test.
- 6
Negotiate at scale
Ask for custom rates.
Questions to ask before you buy
- What are the total fees, including cross-border, currency and dispute fees?
- Which local payment methods do you support in our markets?
- How long does settlement take, and are there reserves?
- How is PCI DSS scope handled?
- How does reporting reconcile with our accounting system?
Common mistakes when choosing Payment Gateways.
Comparing headline rates only
FX, international and chargeback fees add up.
Ignoring tax obligations
Processors do not file your VAT.
Single gateway dependency
Account holds can stop revenue.
Missing local methods
Local wallets lift conversion.
Not renegotiating
Volume earns lower rates.
Payment Gateways key terms explained.
- MDR
- Merchant discount rate charged per transaction.
- Interchange++
- Card network cost plus scheme fees plus markup.
- Merchant of record
- The legal seller responsible for tax and chargebacks.
- Chargeback
- A disputed payment reversed by the card issuer.
- Settlement
- Paying collected funds to the merchant.
- UPI
- India's Unified Payments Interface.
Payment Gateways comparisons.
12 side-by-side comparisons with a feature table, pricing, strengths and limits, and best-fit scenarios. No winner is declared in any of them.
Alternatives to popular payment gateways and processors.
Every product in this category has a guide comparing its main alternatives and competitors on pricing, free plan, features and fit.
Payment Gateways questions and answers
What is the best free payment gateways and processors?
7 of the 14 payment gateways and processors profiles here document a free plan: Braintree, Mollie, Paddle, PayPal, PayU, Razorpay and Stripe. Free plans and tiers usually cap users, records or usage, so check each profile for limits. The list is alphabetical, not a ranking.
What is the best payment gateways and processors for small businesses?
Products documented mainly for small and mid-size teams include Mollie and Paddle. Mollie may suit european SMBs needing local payment methods. Paddle may suit global SaaS and digital product companies (~$100k-$10M ARR). The best fit depends on your sales or work process and budget, so trial two or three.
Which payment gateways and processors suits large enterprises?
8 profiles are documented for large enterprises: Adyen, Braintree, Cashfree Payments, Checkout.com, PayPal, PayU, Razorpay and Stripe. Larger rollouts should also check SSO, permissions, audit logs, data residency and contract terms on each profile.
What is the best payment gateways and processors for India?
Products built for or documented in India include Cashfree Payments, PayU and Razorpay. Indian payroll must handle PF, ESI, TDS and professional tax, so check statutory coverage on each profile.
Which payment gateways and processors supports international teams?
Adyen, Braintree, Checkout.com, Paddle, PayPal and Stripe support international hiring, HR or payroll. Employer-of-record and global payroll services are priced per employee.
Where can I find alternatives to a specific payment gateway?
Every product in this category has its own alternatives guide, for example Adyen alternatives, Braintree alternatives and Stripe alternatives. Each guide compares the main competitors on pricing, free plan, features and fit.
What is the cheapest payment gateway?
It depends on volume and region: Indian gateways start around 1.95% to 2%; Stripe EEA cards start at 1.5% + EUR 0.25; enterprises negotiate Interchange++. This list is not a ranking.
Stripe or Paddle?
Stripe is a processor at 2.9% + 30 cents (US); Paddle is a merchant of record at 5% + 50 cents that handles tax.
Razorpay or Cashfree?
Razorpay is 2% + GST; Cashfree is 1.95% with a reported annual fee, per a 2026 comparison.
What is Interchange++ pricing?
Card network interchange plus scheme fees plus the provider markup, used by Adyen and Checkout.com.
Narrow your Payment Gateways shortlist.
Open a profile for sources and pricing, read an alternatives guide, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf is not the answer.
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