6 Best WooCommerce Payment Gateways in 2026 (Compared)

Choosing a WooCommerce payment gateway affects more than your checkout. It decides which payment methods your customers see, how fast you get paid, what happens when a payment is disputed, and who you can call when something breaks.

We've built WooCommerce plugins since 2017 and run our own payment gateway, Woosa Payments. That means we have a stake in this list, so we've kept it practical: what each gateway does well, where it falls short, and which type of store it suits.

How we compared them

We looked at five things that matter most to WooCommerce stores:

Payment methods: cards, wallets, local methods like iDEAL and Bancontact, and BNPL
Subscriptions: support for the WooCommerce Subscriptions extension
Onboarding: instant signup or reviewed application
Support: self-service or a named contact
Fit: the type and size of store each gateway works best for

Quick comparison

WooPayments: best for stores wanting a native, all-in-one setup. Subscriptions: yes. Onboarding: instant.
Stripe: best for developers and international card payments. Subscriptions: yes. Onboarding: instant.
PayPal Payments: best for stores whose buyers trust PayPal. Subscriptions: yes. Onboarding: instant.
Mollie: best for European stores needing local methods. Subscriptions: yes. Onboarding: fast.
Square: best for stores that also sell in person. Subscriptions: limited. Onboarding: instant.
Woosa Payments: best for established stores wanting multiple processors and a named account manager. Subscriptions: yes. Onboarding: reviewed.

1. WooPayments

WooPayments is WooCommerce's own payment solution, previously called WooCommerce Payments. It's built in partnership with Stripe, and your business information is verified with Stripe when you sign up.

Strengths: It's managed from inside your WooCommerce dashboard, so payments, payouts and disputes live where you already work. It's free to install, with no setup or monthly fees.

Limitations: It's only available to businesses in the countries on its supported list, and because it runs on a single processor, an account review affects your whole checkout.

Best for: Stores in supported countries that want the simplest native setup.

2. Stripe

The official Stripe plugin for WooCommerce connects your store directly to your own Stripe account.

Strengths: Broad card and wallet coverage, many local payment methods, strong developer tools and a well-documented API.

Limitations: Support is largely self-service, and automated risk systems can pause accounts with limited explanation, which is hard for stores without a dedicated contact.

Best for: Tech-savvy merchants and developers selling internationally.

3. PayPal Payments

The official PayPal plugin brings PayPal checkout, Pay Later options and card payments into WooCommerce.

Strengths: Many shoppers already have a PayPal account and trust the brand, which can lift conversion, especially for first-time buyers.

Limitations: Customers are often redirected away from your checkout, and PayPal's buyer protection tends to favour the customer in disputes.

Best for: Stores where PayPal is an expected option. Most stores use it alongside another gateway rather than on its own.

4. Mollie

Mollie is a European payment provider with a popular WooCommerce plugin. It's compatible with WooCommerce Subscriptions for recurring payments, and its pricing is per transaction.

Strengths: Strong coverage of European local methods such as iDEAL, Bancontact and SEPA, with quick setup.

Limitations: Its focus is Europe, so stores selling heavily in the US may need a second gateway.

Best for: European stores that want local payment methods without complexity.

5. Square

Square connects online sales in WooCommerce with in-person payments on Square hardware.

Strengths: If you also run a shop or market stall, Square keeps inventory and sales in sync between your physical and online store.

Limitations: Availability is limited to a handful of countries, and its online payment method range is narrower than the other options here.

Best for: Small retailers selling both online and in person in Square's markets.

6. Woosa Payments

Woosa Payments is our own gateway, built by a team that has developed WooCommerce plugins for 8+ years.

Strengths: One WooCommerce plugin gives you 30+ payment methods, including cards, Apple Pay, iDEAL, Bancontact, SEPA Direct Debit and Klarna, and it works with WooCommerce Subscriptions with automatic retries for failed payments. Behind the plugin, Woosa routes payments across multiple processing relationships, so your store doesn't depend on a single provider. Every merchant gets a named account manager, and account issues are discussed with you before action is taken.

Limitations: Onboarding is reviewed by a person rather than instant, so it isn't the fastest way to start a brand-new store. It's built for established stores processing real volume.

Best for: Growing stores that want multiple processors behind one integration and a real person to talk to.

Explore the Woosa Payments WooCommerce payment gateway

How to choose the right WooCommerce payment gateway

Start with your customers' country. Dutch shoppers expect iDEAL, Belgian shoppers Bancontact, and US shoppers cards and wallets. A gateway missing your customers' preferred method costs conversions.

Check subscription support. If you sell subscriptions or memberships, confirm the gateway works with WooCommerce Subscriptions and retries failed payments automatically.

Think about dependency. A single processor is simple, until it reviews or pauses your account. Larger stores often run two gateways or use one that routes across multiple processors.

Decide how much support you need. Self-service works for small stores. When payments are core to your revenue, a named contact pays for itself the first time something goes wrong.

Compare total cost, not just the headline rate. Look at fees per payment method, currency conversion, chargeback fees and payout timing.

Frequently asked questions

What is a WooCommerce payment gateway?

A WooCommerce payment gateway is a plugin that connects your WooCommerce checkout to a payment provider. It securely passes your customer's payment details for authorisation and returns the result to your store.

Can I use more than one payment gateway in WooCommerce?

Yes. WooCommerce lets you enable several gateways at once. Many stores combine a main gateway with PayPal, or use a gateway that routes across multiple processors.