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Shopify allows e-commerce entrepreneurs to build attractive, simple online retail environments. It's an E-commerce platform that takes care of all the technical details and makes building an online store simple.
If you’re using - or thinking about using - Shopify for your online store, you’ll need to work out how to get paid through the platform. You can choose from a range of recommended and third party payment options depending on what suits you and your customers. This guide runs through some of the important points to consider, and some of the most popular Shopify payment gateways to look at.
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We’ll also briefly touch on how to protect your profits when selling overseas, with Wise for business.
A payment gateway is the provider which arranges to take payment from your customer, and pass the money on to you as the seller.
You’ll be very familiar with some payment gateways like PayPal, but there are also dozens of other options which offer in house and third party payment solutions when you use Shopify.
Shopify offers a smooth customer experience - and getting the right payment gateway for your Shopify store will make sure that the customer journey is simple and convenient from start to finish.
Choosing the right gateway will take a little research as there isn’t a single best option out there. Instead, different gateways suit different business types, and have different availability and fees.
No matter what your e-commerce business looks like, you’ll need to think about the costs, convenience and customer service on offer from different payment gateways to find the right one for you.
Here’s a run down of the key factors to think about when choosing your Shopify payment gateway.
Different markets have different customer preferences when it comes to payment providers. Depending on where you’re selling, you’ll find different solutions - and you can also check out which payment gateways your typical customer prefers.
You might find, for example, that digital wallet payments are essential, if you’re selling to younger customers or in a market where e-wallets are widely used. However, for more traditional customers and marketplaces, a gateway which allows regular credit card payments may work better. Usually you’ll want to make sure cards issued by Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted, for example, as well as any other payment methods which are popular in the countries you’re selling to.
Shopify partners with a wide range of third party payment gateways, as well as offering Shopify Payments - an inhouse solution. However, not all options are available in all markets, so you’ll need to check the coverage of your preferred payment gateways before you make a decision.
Think about where you sell now, and your global expansion plans to make sure you select a payment gateway that can grow with your business.
➡️ Read how Novelship used Wise Business as a reliable remittance tool while successfully expanding overseas. |
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Getting your payment gateway set up and operational can take different amounts of time depending on the provider you choose. For instance, PayPal is quick and can be ready in under a day, while other providers might take 4-5 weeks to get going.
It's a good idea not to wait until your online store is fully built before deciding on or setting up your payment gateway.
If your customers have a frustrating checkout experience they will hold you responsible as the seller.
Slow, awkward or limiting payment gateways can lead to abandoned carts, and customers walking away from their planned purchases.
Check out the customer experience for any gateway you’re considering, and look online for reviews which will help you understand the performance of the gateway for merchants and customers alike.
Don’t forget to look at what steps your chosen gateway will take to reduce and manage fraud - and what they do if things go wrong. Reducing fraud is important for both online sellers and customers, so showing you have a partnership with a reputable payment gateway is a good indication that customers can safely shop in your store.
Different payment gateways have very different fee structures. Make sure you do your research carefully before you decide which will work for you.
If you’re selling with Shopify, and choose a gateway other than Shopify Payments, you’ll pay a fixed Shopify transaction fee every time you make a sale. On top of that, you’ll pay the costs levied by your payment gateway which may include a set up cost, monthly or annual fee, and a per transaction charge. The per transactions charges are typically a percentage of the sale value - with extra costs for international transactions or where currency conversion is involved.
If you have a Shopify store selling in Singapore, you’ll be able to choose from around 30 different payment gateways, including Shopify’s own service, Shopify Payments¹. If you’re expanding to other markets, you might also find that different payment gateways work for your business needs.
The right service for you will depend on your personal preferences and the type of business you’re operating. To help kickstart your research, we’ll cover some of the most popular options here.
Before we start - one key point to look at whichever payment gateway you choose. If you’re selling to an international audience you’ll need a smart way to manage your money across different countries and currencies. Wise for Business can help.
Open your Wise business account online for a one-time fee of to enjoy all features, and you’ll be able to withdraw payments in global currencies such as USD, GBP, EUR, AUD and NZD, as well as SGD from payment gateways fee free. Simply transfer your balance from your chosen payment gateway to your Wise account where you can hold multiple foreign currencies, or switch back to SGD and withdraw to your local bank account.
➡️ Learn more here how to use Wise with Shopify
All currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate - the one you’ll find on Google - with low, transparent fees. This can work out much cheaper than using your regular bank or an alternative like PayPal - meaning more profit for you.
Shopify Payments is Shopify’s own payment gateway service - and means you don’t have to worry about setting up a third party provider.
However, you do need to note the following:
You’ll automatically be able to receive payments through PayPal when you set up your Shopify store⁸.
If you also activate Shopify Payments, you’ll then be able to receive PayPal payments without paying an extra transaction fee. If you don’t set up Shopify Payments you’ll pay a transaction fee which varies depending on the store subscription you have, from 0.5% - 2%.⁶ ⁹
If you receive a payment through PayPal, you’ll be paid into your linked PayPal Business Account. Your PayPal account must have the same name as your store.
You’ll pay fees to PayPal depending on the payment type you’re receiving, including whether it’s a local or domestic payment.
Shopify Payments and PayPal are Shopify’s recommended payment options, but you can also choose to use a third party provider to receive payments through Shopify. If you’re selling mainly in Singapore, it makes sense to select a payment gateway which is popular here - such as GrabPay.¹¹
With GrabPay, anyone with the GrabPay wallet can pay you instantly - making buying convenient for them, and using a familiar payment route. You’ll be paid into your GrabPay merchant wallet within 48 hours, and your customer will also receive Grab points.
To get started with GrabPay you’ll need to contact the Grab customer service team, who will be able to talk you through the process, as well as the fees you’ll pay for using GrabPay in your Shopify store.
Don’t forget that, as well as any fees you need to pay to GrabPay, you’ll also have to cover the Shopify transaction fee, which will be 0.5% - 2% depending on your store subscription.
Another strong contender if you sell mainly in Singapore is DBS PayLah! As one of Singapore’s most popular digital wallets, this is another payment method your local customers will be familiar and comfortable with.
However, it’s worth knowing that you’ll pay fees as a merchant when using PayLah!
You’ll need to double check the exact costs for your business type, but may need to pay:
This may or may not work out to be good value for you, depending on the volume of payments you’re likely to take through PayLah! - and don’t forget that you’ll also have to pay a Shopify transaction fee, of an extra 0.5% - 2% depending on your store subscription.
WorldPay can be used in Singapore, and also in many other countries covered by Shopify, including the US and UK.
This broad coverage is a good selling point if you are planning on processing cross-border transactions, and you’ll also benefit from perks according to the WorldPay plan you select, as well as fraud prevention support.
WorldPay offers different subscription plans, from a lower monthly fee Standard plan which is aimed at companies processing up to 350 transactions per month, through to Enterprise plans which are for larger businesses with more complex payment needs. The fees you pay, as well as any per transaction charges will vary depending on the plan you select. However, there are no set up fees, or charges for refunds through WorldPay.¹³ ¹⁴
As well as your WorldPay fees, you’ll need to remember that you’re also going to pay a 0.5% - 2% Shopify transaction fee for each payment you process.
If you’re planning on selling in a selection of overseas markets, it makes sense to select a payment gateway which can be used in multiple countries.
Skrill is an option which might work well if you’re selling in the US, and in major European economies like Germany and the UK.
The costs of using Skrill will depend on the way your account is set up, and the currency and payment method in questions¹⁵.
Aside from Skrill’s own fees, you’ll also pay the Shopify transaction fee of 0.5% - 2%.
A different shopping option - for both customers and merchants - is to offer a pay later option. These are popular in certain regions, with some major providers like Put it on lay-buy covering domestic sales in Singapore, local markets like Malaysia, as well as major countries like China, the US and UK.
If you’re selling high value items this could be a payment route you’re interested in.
Make sure you check out the terms and conditions, as well as any costs, online - and also factor in the additional 0.5% - 2% Shopify transaction fee, payable on each transaction.
Apple Pay is a little different - but we’ve included it in here as an example of Shopify’s accelerated checkout options.
When customers use Apple Pay, they have already added their chosen payment methods to Apple Pay in advance. This means that by choosing to pay through Apple Pay they don’t need to enter their card details again, and can quickly and securely pay online.
You can use Apple Pay as long as you already have one of the following payment gateways available:¹⁸
If you already have one of these, Apple Pay is a no brainer.
It offers the customer increased convenience and you won’t have to pay extra charges on top of those you’re already paying for your chosen payment gateway.
And if you’re unsure about which gateway to go for, and wish to offer Apple Pay, it’s good to know that you’ll need one of these options to get started.
As with all other third party payment options, you’ll pay the Shopify transaction fee, when taking payment from all of the gateway options listed above, aside from Shopify Payments.
Klarna is another pay later payment option - but this time you’ll be paid upfront by Klarna for any goods you sell.
The customer can then receive their products immediately, and will agree a payment plan with Klarna which includes paying interest. However, this gateway isn’t suitable for all e-commerce businesses, but again might be an interesting option for companies selling high value items, as it can help you to connect to more customers.
As a third party provider, using Klarna means you’ll pay the Shopify transaction fee, as well as any costs involved with the service or currency exchange if you’re selling in a foreign currency.
Shopify is a great way to start selling online, and gives e-commerce entrepreneurs all the tools required to build global businesses. Choosing the right payment gateways is important, to make shopping a simple and enjoyable experience for your customers, and to cut the fees and charges you pay as the seller.
Do your research to find the best shopify payment gateways for you, and don’t forget to use your Wise business account to receive, hold, convert and withdraw international payments for less.
All sources checked on 29 October 2020
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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