Ecommerce Payment Gateway Guide for Growing Stores
A practical comparison of Stripe, PayPal, Square, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Cash App — plus how to choose the right gateway for your store.
Why payment gateway choice matters
Your payment gateway affects checkout conversion, fees, customer trust and international reach. Small differences in fees compound into thousands of dollars over a year.
Stripe overview
Stripe is the default for modern SaaS and ecommerce brands. Developer-friendly, supports 135+ currencies and includes powerful billing and subscription tools. Fees are 2.9% + 30¢ for US cards.
PayPal overview
PayPal has the widest recognition — many customers trust seeing it at checkout. Higher fees than Stripe for card payments but essential for reaching PayPal-loyal customers.
Square overview
Square shines for businesses that also sell in-person. Unified inventory across online and physical stores. Great for US-based retail and food service.
Apple Pay
Not a standalone gateway — Apple Pay works on top of Stripe, Square or others. Massive conversion boost on iOS traffic. Add it wherever supported.
Google Pay
Similar to Apple Pay but for Android users. Also a wrapper on top of underlying processors. Essentially free to enable and improves checkout speed dramatically.
Cash App Pay
Popular with younger US audiences. Available via Square as a checkout option. Worth adding if your audience skews toward Gen Z.
Fees compared
Standard rates for card payments: Stripe 2.9% + 30¢, PayPal 3.49% + 49¢, Square 2.9% + 30¢. International cards and currency conversion add 1-2%. Always check current provider rates.
Country availability
Stripe supports 46+ countries as merchants; PayPal supports 200+. If your business is outside major markets, PayPal or a local gateway may be your only option.
Choosing the right mix
Most stores benefit from offering Stripe + PayPal + Apple Pay + Google Pay. This covers 95% of customer preferences. Add local gateways for specific markets.
FAQ
Do you offer consulting on this topic?
Yes — book a free 15-minute consultation via our contact page.
Can you help implement this?
Absolutely — we build and ship, not just advise.