Choosing a payment gateway is one of the big decisions you’ll face when setting up a Shopify store. It affects everything from checkout experience to transaction costs and cash flow. Let's talk about what makes for a good Shopify gateway and how to choose the best one for your specific needs.
First things first, a payment gateway is the technology that lets you accept credit cards and other payment methods online. On Shopify, this might mean using Shopify Payments, Shopify’s built-in option, or integrating with a third-party gateway platform like Antom.
Shopify Payments is the default for most store owners in markets like the US, UK, and Australia. In fact, according to Red Stag Fulfillment 90% of eligible Shopify merchants were using it by the end of 2024, and it processed over $43 billion in GMV in Q3 alone!
Third-party gateways offer their own optimised online payment experience. While they may require marginally more setup initially, they then offer greater functionality and flexibility, especially if you’re selling across borders or need to support local payment methods in markets around the world where alternative payment methods are popular.
Key factors to consider when selecting a Shopify payment provider
There’s no universal answer to what makes the best Shopify payment gateway, but here's a few questions to help your narrow it down:
- Does it integrate easily with Shopify? Some gateways require developer workarounds or offer limited plugin support.
- What payment methods are supported? Look for credit card payment options, digital wallets, bank transfers, and BNPL options. Local methods are especially key in Asia and South America.
- Is the checkout hosted or API-based? Hosted payment checkout flows can reduce PCI burden. API-based checkouts offer more customisation.
- Does it support subscription billing? If you plan to offer memberships or recurring subscriptions, check for auto debit and subscription modules.
Breaking down payment processor fees and costs
The true cost of a payment gateway goes well beyond the headline rate. Make sure you evaluate:
- Transaction fees: Are they fixed, percentage-based, or tiered?
- Currency conversion: What’s the markup on FX rates? Are cross-border surcharges applied?
- Payout timing: How quickly can you access your funds?
- Additional costs: Monthly fees, setup fees, refund processing charges, dispute fees. They add up.
It’s not just about price. A provider that helps reduce failed payments or offers local acquiring might improve overall profitability.
Improving user experience at checkout on your Shopify store
A complicated checkout process can undo all your hard work in getting customers to the buy button. The payment flow needs to feel local, quick, and trustworthy.
- Frictionless checkout: Remove unnecessary redirects, clicks, or form fields. A streamlined flow minimises distractions and makes the path to purchase clearer.
- Mobile-first design: Mobile traffic dominates for most stores. Your checkout must be optimised for mobile payments, with large tap targets, minimal typing, and responsive elements that load quickly.
- Localised options: Customers are more likely to complete a purchase when they recognise payment logos and see their preferred payment option and local currency. Offering local methods like GCash, PayNow, or PayPay depending on region can significantly boost success rates.
- Checkout branding: A branded experience builds trust. Look for providers that support logo placement, custom colours, and local language support to maintain consistency and familiarity throughout the checkout process.
- Speed and responsiveness: Checkout delays, especially after the pay button is clicked, can raise doubts. Choose a provider that routes payments efficiently to avoid slowdowns and reduce failed payments. We’ve written more about payment orchestration here.
- Guest checkout and remembered preferences: Give users the option to check out without creating an account and allow returning customers to use stored credentials for faster repeat purchases.
- One-click and accelerated payments: Options like Shop Pay, Apple Pay or Google Pay have been shown to reduce cart abandonment. Enabling these can be especially helpful for mobile users and returning customers.
Security, fraud prevention, and compliance essentials
Security isn’t just a backend concern, it affects customer trust too.
- PCI DSS compliance: Ensure your provider offers hosted or tokenised solutions that limit your exposure.
- Chargeback and fraud tools: Features like 3DS, velocity checks, and automated risk scoring help reduce disputes.
- Regulatory alignment: Selling in different regions? Your provider needs to comply with data localisation laws, tax rules, and SCA requirements like those under PSD3 in the EU.
- Scalability: Can the platform support flash sales, spikes, and high-volume traffic? Are real-time dashboards and alerts included?
How unified Shopify payment solutions streamline operations
Using multiple providers may work in the short term, but for growing teams it often becomes a burden. A unified solution helps:
- Consolidate reporting: Track all transaction types in one dashboard.
- Simplify reconciliation: Reduce manual effort and avoid mismatched records.
- Cut development overhead: One integration means fewer updates, fewer errors.
- Support multi-merchant platforms: If you’re running a marketplace, features like Antom’s Combined Payment and Flexible Settlement make a big difference.
Why Antom is a smart choice for payment processing on Shopify stores
Antom’s integration with Shopify ticks the boxes merchants care about:
- Easy-to-install Shopify app, no complex setup needed
- Supports 300+ global and local payment methods
- Handles 100+ currencies with competitive FX rates
- Built-in support for recurring billing and subscription payments
- Antom Shield for advanced fraud protection and compliance
- Designed for e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, and fast-growing brands
Whether you're expanding into Southeast Asia or refining your checkout flow, Antom provides the tools, local payment options, and settlement control to support your goals.
Shopify payment gateway FAQs
Shopify Payments is built into Shopify and offers native integration. Third-party gateways offer more flexibility, especially for international sales or unique business models.
Yes, though Shopify limits how they’re presented to customers. You can offer alternatives like BNPL or local wallets as additional options.
Consider local acquiring to avoid cross-border fees. Use providers with transparent FX rates and no hidden charges.
For domestic-only stores in supported countries, it’s convenient. But for international sellers or those needing more features, third-party gateways like Antom may offer better value and flexibility.
