Business Expert is an independent comparison site. Some partners may compensate us for promotion. This never affects our impartial evaluations based on fees, customer service, and product features.
Best Payment Gateways UK 2026
Square for a no-code online store, Stripe for a developer-built checkout, Airwallex for multi-currency selling. No gateway is cheapest for every card mix.
The right gateway depends on how your checkout is built and where your customers pay from, and no single provider is cheapest for every card mix. Rates below are verified against provider pricing pages on 7 August 2026, for accepting payments online.
BusinessExpert may earn a commission if you sign up through links on this page. Square, Airwallex and GoCardless are affiliate partners. Our editorial recommendations are based on verified pricing and features, not commission rates.
Rates verified against each provider’s own pricing page on 7 August 2026, for online card acceptance. Stripe adds 2% when a currency is converted. Worldpay and GoCardless quote rates excluding VAT. Shopify’s rate depends on your monthly plan. GoCardless is a bank-payment alternative, not a card gateway, and is covered separately below.
Square gives you a hosted online store, checkout links and an API on a free plan, with no developer and no monthly fee. UK cards cost 1.4% + 25p online, and the same catalogue runs your counter till.
Non-UK cards rise to 2.5% + 25p, so a mostly overseas customer base costs more here than on a card-origin-priced gateway. For a UK business selling both online and over the counter, though, nothing else stands up this quickly.
Stripe is the standard for a custom online checkout. Its API covers one-off payments, subscriptions, split payments and marketplace flows, and the documentation is the best in the business.
Standard UK cards are 1.5% + 20p. Premium UK cards jump to 2.8%, EEA to 2.5% and other international cards to 3.15%, plus 2% when a currency is converted, so model your real mix before committing.
Best for international and multi-currency: Airwallex
Airwallex matches the cheapest gateways on UK cards at 1.30% + 20p, but the reason to choose it is currency. It settles like-for-like in 20+ currencies and converts at 0.5% over interbank.
That beats a card processor’s blended FX markup for a business taking payments in euros or dollars. Our international payment gateways guide has the cross-border detail.
Cheapest for UK and EU consumer cards: Mollie
Mollie charges 1.20% + 20p on UK domestic consumer Visa and Mastercard, the lowest headline rate here, with no monthly fee and strong plugin support.
The catch is the rest of the mix. European cards and UK commercial cards are 2.90% + 20p, and other international cards 3.25%, so heavy EU or B2B card traffic erodes the saving fast.
Best for Shopify stores: Shopify Payments
If you already sell on Shopify, its own gateway is usually the right call. Every alternative adds a third-party surcharge of 0.5% to 2% per transaction on top of that gateway’s own fee.
Online card rates run from 2.0% + 25p on Basic up to 1.5% + 25p on Advanced, so the monthly plan you pay for sets the transaction rate.
If you switch away from Shopify Payments, that surcharge follows you to whatever gateway you pick. On Shopify, staying put is usually the cheapest route.
Best established acquirer and gateway: Worldpay
Worldpay now publishes an eCommerce pay-as-you-go rate: 1.3% + 20p on consumer Visa and Mastercard, with commercial cards and American Express at 2.9% + 20p, and next-business-day settlement included.
Tailored interchange-plus pricing is where larger merchants save, but it is quoted rather than published, and expect heavier integration than a fintech PSP.
Best wallet and BNPL second button: PayPal
PayPal is dear as a sole gateway at 2.9% + 30p on standard checkout, but it earns its place as a second button. The brand and native Pay in 3 recover customers who will not type card details into an unfamiliar site.
Its Advanced Card and Debit product prices card acceptance separately at 1.2% + 30p, for merchants who want PayPal as the acquirer rather than just the wallet.
Best payment gateway providers
Square Payment Processing
Best no-code online and in-person gateway
Best no-code online and in-person gateway
Square Payment Processing
Square gives you a hosted online store, checkout links and card acceptance on a free plan with no code and no monthly fee, and it shares one catalogue with the counter till.
Best for: No-code sellers who want a hosted online store and card acceptance across web and counter on one account
Watch out: Online non-UK cards cost 2.5% + £0.25, and account holds can hit newer or fast-growing accounts with little warning.
Not ideal if: International sellers whose card mix is mostly non-UK, where a card-origin-priced gateway works out cheaper
Standard UK cards (online)1.4% + £0.25
Non-UK cards (online)2.5% + £0.25
In-person (UK consumer cards)1.75%
Monthly feeFree (paid plans from £29/month)
SettlementNext day (including weekends)
ContractNo lock-in
RegulationFCA-authorised payment institution
Eligibility: UK sole traders, limited companies, LLPs and charities. Some restricted industries declined, including adult content, gambling and certain regulated sectors. Identity and banking verification required on signup. No minimum turnover published.
Not ideal if: International sellers whose card mix is mostly non-UK, where a card-origin-priced gateway works out cheaper
Watch out: Online non-UK cards cost 2.5% + £0.25, and account holds can hit newer or fast-growing accounts with little warning.
Transparent, flat-rate pricing
No mandatory monthly subscription fees
No long-term contracts
Fast setup with minimal training required
Non-UK cards cost 2.5% + £0.25 online, dearer than Stripe or Airwallex for international traffic
Account holds can freeze payouts with limited warning on newer or fast-growing accounts
No interchange-plus pricing for high-volume businesses
Fully integrated POS and payment ecosystem
Omnichannel payment acceptance
Built-in inventory management and CRM
Next-business-day or instant transfers
Airwallex Payments
Best for international and multi-currency
Best for international and multi-currency
Airwallex Payments
The card rate on UK cards matches the cheapest gateways, but the reason to pick Airwallex is the currency handling: settle like-for-like in 20+ currencies and convert at 0.5% over interbank rather than a card processor’s blended FX markup.
Best for: Cross-border sellers who take payments in several currencies and settle without converting everything to sterling
UK cards1.30% + £0.20
EEA cards2.40% + £0.20
International cards3.15% + £0.20
Currency conversion0.5% over interbank (major); 1% other
Monthly feeNone for payment acceptance
Recurring card payments0.50% per successful transaction
Eligibility: UK-registered limited companies and LLPs only. Sole traders are not supported. Standard KYC and KYB checks apply, including director identity verification and company documentation. Restricted industries include gambling, adult content, CBD and certain financial services. Minimum applicant age 18.
1.30% + 20p on UK cards, level with the cheapest gateways on the list
Like-for-like settlement in 20+ currencies, so overseas takings need not convert to sterling
Currency conversion at 0.5% over interbank undercuts a card processor’s blended FX
160+ local payment methods for customers who never reach for a card
EEA cards at 2.40% + 20p cost more than Stripe or Mollie for European traffic
The multi-currency machinery is wasted on a domestic-only business
Sole traders are not eligible; limited companies and LLPs only
No FSCS protection on held balances (e-money safeguarded)
UK 1.30% + 20p, EEA 2.40% + 20p, international 3.15% + 20p card acquiring
Like-for-like settlement in 20+ currencies with local receiving details
0.5%-over-interbank conversion instead of a card processor’s FX markup
160+ local payment methods and hosted, embedded and payment-link checkout
Stripe
Best for custom checkout and developer control
Best for custom checkout and developer control
Stripe
The default for most UK ecommerce: 1.5% + 20p on standard UK cards, no monthly fee, no contract, and live the same day.
Best for: Most UK ecommerce businesses wanting low cost, fast setup and a deep feature set
Watch out: Premium UK cards cost 2.8% + £0.20 and EEA cards 2.5% + £0.20, which can materially increase effective rates if your card mix includes commercial or overseas cards. First payout may be held 7 to 14 days. £20 chargeback fee plus £20 to contest (refunded only if you win).
Not ideal if: Shopify merchants, where a third-party surcharge of 0.5% to 2.0% stacks on top. High-volume debit-heavy businesses where interchange-plus pricing through an acquirer such as Worldpay can beat the flat rate above roughly £1M/year.
Standard UK cards1.5% + £0.20
Premium UK cards2.8% + £0.20
EEA / international cards2.5% + £0.20 EEA; 3.15% + £0.20 intl (+2% if converted)
Monthly feeNone
SettlementT+2 (first payout held 7 to 14 days)
RegulationFCA e-money, ref 900461
Eligibility: UK-registered businesses, including sole traders, limited companies and partnerships. Identity verification and bank account required. Restricted industries include adult content, gambling, firearms and certain financial services. No minimum turnover or trading period required.
Not ideal if: Shopify merchants, where a third-party surcharge of 0.5% to 2.0% stacks on top. High-volume debit-heavy businesses where interchange-plus pricing through an acquirer such as Worldpay can beat the flat rate above roughly £1M/year.
Watch out: Premium UK cards cost 2.8% + £0.20 and EEA cards 2.5% + £0.20, which can materially increase effective rates if your card mix includes commercial or overseas cards. First payout may be held 7 to 14 days. £20 chargeback fee plus £20 to contest (refunded only if you win).
No monthly fee, no contract, live the same day
50+ payment methods and native BNPL configurable from the dashboard
Radar Lite fraud screening and Adaptive 3DS included free
Expensive on Shopify, where a third-party surcharge of up to 2.0% stacks on top
Flat 1.5% loses to Worldpay IC+ above roughly £1M/year on a debit-heavy mix
£20 chargeback fee, plus £20 to contest (refunded only if you win)
1.5% + 20p on UK cards online with no monthly fee or minimum contract
Klarna and Clearpay enabled in minutes with no separate underwriting
Adaptive 3DS handles SCA exemptions automatically
Mollie Payments
Mollie Payments
Mollie charges the lowest UK card rate of any gateway on this list at 1.20% + £0.20, with no monthly fee and no contract.
Best for: UK e-commerce SMBs with EU customer base and WooCommerce, Shopify or Magento stores
Watch out: European and commercial UK cards cost 2.90% + £0.20, which erodes the headline saving fast for a mixed card base. FX conversion adds 2.5 to 3% above interbank when settling across currencies. No instant payout option.
Not ideal if: B2B sellers with significant commercial card volume, or businesses with US, APAC or Latin American customers where Mollie’s rates are materially higher.
Standard UK consumer cards1.20% + £0.20
European / UK commercial cards2.90% + £0.20
International cards3.25% + £0.20
Amex2.50% + £0.20
Monthly feeNone
SettlementDaily, weekly, or monthly at no extra fee
ContractNo contract, no lock-in
RegulationFCA Payment Institution, FRN 977968
Eligibility: UK, EEA and Switzerland-registered businesses. Restricted industries declined, including CBD, online gaming, forex trading, tobacco and vape products. Identity and banking verification required on signup. No minimum turnover or trading period published.
Not ideal if: B2B sellers with significant commercial card volume, or businesses with US, APAC or Latin American customers where Mollie’s rates are materially higher.
Watch out: European and commercial UK cards cost 2.90% + £0.20, which erodes the headline saving fast for a mixed card base. FX conversion adds 2.5 to 3% above interbank when settling across currencies. No instant payout option.
1.20% + £0.20 for UK domestic consumer cards, one of the lowest headline UK rates
iDEAL at €0.29 flat and SEPA DD at €0.25 flat beat Stripe post-Brexit percentage fees significantly
Trustpilot 4.5/5 from 12,000 reviews, strong support and account-stability track record
Plug-and-play Tap Terminal (£45, 4G + Wi-Fi), no developer integration required
Official Magento extension and Xero integration via Maze Digital UK
No setup or monthly subscription fees
Highly transparent transaction pricing
Local European methods (iDEAL, Bancontact) useful for selling into the EU
Official plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify and Magento cut integration to minutes
EU/UK/Switzerland footprint only, not suited to businesses with US, APAC or Latin American revenue
2.90% + £0.20 commercial card rate is expensive if B2B card payments are common
No instant payout product, fastest standard schedule is daily
Open Banking pay-by-bank at 0.90% + £0.20 is more expensive than Stripe’s 0.5% + 20p
1.20% + £0.20 on UK domestic consumer cards; European cards are charged at 2.90% + £0.20
iDEAL €0.29 flat and SEPA DD €0.25 flat, post-Brexit cost advantage over Stripe
Plug-and-play Tap Terminal with 4G, tipping and digital receipts built in
Official integrations: Magento (Magmodules/Adobe Commerce Gold Partner), Xero, WooCommerce, Shopify
Pay-as-you-go pricing model
Support for Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
Acceptance of local European methods like SEPA and Klarna
Documented REST API with idempotency keys and versioned webhooks
Built-in fraud protection
Worldpay Online
Best established acquirer and gateway
Best established acquirer and gateway
Worldpay Online
PAYG at 1.3% + 20p on consumer Visa and Mastercard undercuts Stripe on the percentage, but commercial cards and Amex jump to 2.9% + 20p, and tailored interchange-plus pricing is where larger merchants save.
Best for: Higher-volume stores with engineering resource and a debit-heavy card mix
Watch out: Commercial cards and Amex jump to 2.9% + £0.20. PCI compliance fees and chargeback admin fees apply on top of published rates. Tailored IC+ pricing requires negotiation and a separate contract.
Not ideal if: Businesses that need to be live within a day or two, or those with a card mix that is mainly commercial or Amex, where the 2.9% rate could exceed Stripe’s equivalent.
Consumer Visa/Mastercard (PAYG)1.3% + £0.20
Commercial cards / Amex2.9% + £0.20
IC+ pricingTailored pricing for large volumes (quoted)
Monthly feeNone on published PAYG
SettlementNext business day (included)
ContractPAYG subject to contract; no fixed term published for eCommerce
RegulationFCA-authorised acquirer
Eligibility: UK-registered businesses with an established trading history. Application includes KYC and business review. Not instant-approve: typically 5 to 10 business days to go live. Some categories may be declined. Not suited to brand-new businesses without a trading record.
Not ideal if: Businesses that need to be live within a day or two, or those with a card mix that is mainly commercial or Amex, where the 2.9% rate could exceed Stripe’s equivalent.
Watch out: Commercial cards and Amex jump to 2.9% + £0.20. PCI compliance fees and chargeback admin fees apply on top of published rates. Tailored IC+ pricing requires negotiation and a separate contract.
1.3% + 20p PAYG on consumer Visa and Mastercard undercuts Stripe on those cards
Next-business-day settlement included at no extra cost
Interchange-plus pricing can cut effective rates on a debit-heavy mix at scale
Commercial cards and Amex jump to 2.9% + 20p, dearer than the consumer rate
Heavier integration than a fintech PSP; tailored pricing is contracted
PCI and chargeback admin fees apply; not live in a week
1.3% + 20p PAYG for UK Visa and Mastercard transactions online
Tailored interchange-plus pricing available for large volumes
Saving depends entirely on your card mix, so model before switching
Shopify Payments
Built-in Shopify gateway
Built-in Shopify gateway
Shopify Payments
The only gateway that avoids Shopify’s 0.5% to 2.0% platform surcharge, with payments, reporting and disputes all inside the Shopify admin.
Best for: UK Shopify store owners who want to avoid the 0.5–2% third-party gateway surcharge and keep payment data inside the Shopify admin dashboard.
Watch out: Payout timeline of 2 to 5 business days is slower than next-day gateways. Account holds can freeze funds with limited warning. The lowest online rate of 1.5% + £0.25 requires the £344/month Advanced plan. Switching to any other gateway incurs the third-party surcharge on every transaction.
Not ideal if: Businesses that need gateway flexibility, custom acquiring arrangements, or process primarily high-volume card-not-present transactions where standalone gateway pricing may be more competitive.
Online rate (Basic)2.0% + £0.25
Online rate (Advanced)1.5% + £0.25
In-person rate (Advanced)1.5%
3rd-party surcharge0.5–2.0% if you switch
Monthly feeNone (Shopify plan required)
Settlement2–5 business days
Eligibility: UK businesses on a paid Shopify plan (Basic, Grow or Advanced). Not available during free trials. Some merchant categories restricted, including gambling, adult content and certain regulated sectors. Identity, business and banking verification required during onboarding. Account holds can pause payouts with limited advance notice.
Not ideal if: Businesses that need gateway flexibility, custom acquiring arrangements, or process primarily high-volume card-not-present transactions where standalone gateway pricing may be more competitive.
Watch out: Payout timeline of 2 to 5 business days is slower than next-day gateways. Account holds can freeze funds with limited warning. The lowest online rate of 1.5% + £0.25 requires the £344/month Advanced plan. Switching to any other gateway incurs the third-party surcharge on every transaction.
Avoids the 0.5–2% third-party surcharge, the only gateway that does
No separate gateway contract, login, or dashboard to manage
PCI DSS Level 1 compliant with 3DS2 and SCA handled by the platform
Shopify Protect automatic chargeback coverage for eligible low-risk orders
Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major cards supported natively
Rates depend on your Shopify plan, lowest rates require the £344/month Advanced plan
Account holds can freeze payouts with limited advance warning
Payout timeline of 2–5 days is slower than some standalone gateways offering next-day settlement
Not available to all business categories; some merchant types are restricted
Lock-in: switching to another gateway means paying the surcharge
Only gateway that avoids the Shopify third-party surcharge
Payments, reporting, and disputes all inside Shopify admin
Shop Pay accelerated checkout with autofill for returning customers
Shopify Protect chargeback coverage for eligible orders
PCI DSS Level 1 compliance with 3DS2/SCA handled at platform level
PayPal Checkout
Best for Customer Trust and BNPL
Best for Customer Trust and BNPL
PayPal Checkout
Run it as a second checkout option, not your only gateway: it is dearer than Stripe, but the trust and native Pay Later lift conversion.
Best for: Stores adding a second checkout button for trust and native Pay Later
Watch out: 2.9% + £0.30 is materially dearer than Stripe or Square at any volume. Seller Protection does not cover ‘significantly not as described’ disputes. Account freezes and fund holds are a documented risk, particularly for businesses processing irregular volumes.
Not ideal if: Businesses using PayPal as their primary or sole gateway, where the 2.9% rate is expensive. It earns its place as a second checkout button alongside a cheaper primary gateway.
Online fee (UK)2.9% + £0.30
Monthly feeNone
BNPLPay in 3 / Pay Later native, no extra integration
SetupButton embed or API
Seller ProtectionCovers item-not-received and unauthorised claims
RegulationFCA e-money, ref 994790
Eligibility: UK individuals and businesses with a verified PayPal Business account. Identity and banking verification required. Applicants must be 18 or over. Some business types restricted under PayPal’s Acceptable Use Policy, including firearms, gambling and certain financial services.
Not ideal if: Businesses using PayPal as their primary or sole gateway, where the 2.9% rate is expensive. It earns its place as a second checkout button alongside a cheaper primary gateway.
Watch out: 2.9% + £0.30 is materially dearer than Stripe or Square at any volume. Seller Protection does not cover ‘significantly not as described’ disputes. Account freezes and fund holds are a documented risk, particularly for businesses processing irregular volumes.
One of the most recognised checkout brands for UK consumers
Native Pay in 3 / Pay Later with no separate integration
Recovers customers who won’t enter card details on an unfamiliar site
2.9% + 30p is materially dearer than Stripe at any volume
Seller Protection doesn’t cover ‘significantly not as described’ disputes
Rarely makes sense as the only gateway
Standard UK merchant rate of 2.9% + 30p on domestic transactions
Pay in 3 native to PayPal Checkout for eligible baskets of £20 to £3,000
Best run alongside a primary gateway for the conversion lift
Which type of payment gateway do you need?
Four product types answer this query, and treating them as peers is where buyers go wrong. Match the type to how your checkout is built before comparing rates.
Type
Examples
What it is
Best when
Full-stack PSP
Stripe, Square, Airwallex, Mollie, PayPal
Gateway, processing and acquiring in one account
Most SMEs wanting the simplest setup
Platform-native
Shopify Payments
Payments built into your store, priced by plan
You already sell on that platform
Acquirer + gateway
Worldpay, Adyen, Checkout.com
Separate acquiring relationship and underwriting
Higher volume, bespoke rates at scale
Bank-payment alternative
GoCardless
Direct Debit and Pay by Bank, not cards
Subscriptions and invoice collection
A full-stack PSP bundles the merchant account for you, so there is no separate underwriting. An acquirer relationship is a separate contract that can pay off on cost once volume is high.
Payment gateway fees compared
No gateway is cheapest for every business. The winner changes with your average order value, card origin, card class and volume, so the effective rate matters more than the headline percentage.
The headline rate is the bait; the effective rate is the bill. If your customers pay mostly on business or overseas cards, your real rate climbs well above the number in the advert.
Every figure below is modelled from published rates on 7 August 2026 and excludes chargeback, payout and currency-conversion costs unless stated.
Square versus Stripe: at which transaction value does each become cheaper?
Using published online rates for standard UK consumer cards (Square at 1.4% + 25p, Stripe at 1.5% + 20p), the two providers cost exactly the same at £50.
Below that, Stripe is cheaper because its lower percentage outweighs its smaller fixed fee. Above £50, Square becomes cheaper because its lower fixed fee starts to compound.
Transaction value
Square (1.4% + 25p)
Stripe std UK (1.5% + 20p)
Cheaper
£10
£0.39
£0.35
Stripe
£20
£0.53
£0.50
Stripe
£30
£0.67
£0.65
Stripe
£50
£0.95
£0.95
Tie
£100
£1.65
£1.70
Square
£200
£3.05
£3.20
Square
Formula: cost = (percentage × transaction value) + fixed fee. Standard UK consumer Visa and Mastercard only. For premium/business UK cards, Stripe rises to 2.8% + 20p; for EEA cards to 2.5% + 20p; Square’s non-UK rate is 2.5% + 25p.
Rates verified from provider pricing pages, 7 August 2026. For the full comparison including in-person and B2B card rates, see our Stripe vs Square guide.
Low-volume UK-only service business
100 payments a month, £60 average, all standard UK consumer cards (£6,000 turnover). Mollie at 1.20% + 20p costs about £92; Worldpay PAYG about £98; Square about £109; Stripe about £110. Mollie’s flat consumer rate wins when every card is a standard UK one.
Ecommerce with a mixed card base
500 payments, £45 average (£22,500): 70% standard UK consumer cards, 10% premium or commercial UK, 20% EEA, with the last two priced at each provider’s higher tier.
Stripe lands near £510 and Mollie near £485, so Mollie still edges it, but the gap narrows fast as premium, commercial and European cards grow, because both price those well above the 1.2 to 1.5% headline.
International seller needing multi-currency settlement
300 payments, £80 average (£24,000), split 40% UK, 30% EEA and 30% international, settling in more than one currency. Stripe runs near £900 once its 2% conversion fee applies; Airwallex lands near £585 by settling each currency locally and converting only at 0.5% when you choose.
The lesson is consistent: add up a real month of your own card mix before trusting any headline rate. Our payment gateway fees guide breaks down the fee types in full.
Alternatives for recurring and invoice payments
GoCardless is not a card gateway. Customers pay from their bank account, not a card, so it sits alongside the table above rather than inside it.
For subscriptions, memberships and invoice collection it is the cheaper rail: Direct Debit at 1% + 20p on the Standard plan, capped at £4, with mandates that renew without the customer re-authorising.
Its Instant Bank Pay (now Pay by Bank) handles one-off bank payments through open banking, with no card-network fee.
The first collection on a new mandate can take up to a week to clear. If you move a customer from card to Direct Debit, plan for that gap in your cash flow.
Fees verified against provider pricing pages, 7 August 2026. This is editorial content, not regulated financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate merchant account for a payment gateway?
Usually not. Stripe, Square, Airwallex, Mollie and PayPal are payment service providers: they hold a pooled merchant account and you share it, so you get access without your own underwriting. A dedicated acquirer such as Worldpay is a separate relationship that takes longer to set up but can offer lower rates once volume is high.
What is the cheapest payment gateway for my transaction mix?
It depends on your card mix. Mollie at 1.20% + 20p is cheapest when almost every card is a standard UK consumer card; Airwallex wins when a lot of revenue is in foreign currencies, because it avoids a forced conversion; Stripe is close on UK cards with a deeper feature set. Add up a real month of your own transactions before choosing from a headline rate.
Is Stripe cheaper than Square for UK online payments?
It depends on your average transaction value. For standard UK consumer cards, both providers cost exactly the same at £50 per transaction: Square at 1.4% + 25p comes to £0.95, and Stripe at 1.5% + 20p also comes to £0.95. Below £50, Stripe is cheaper; above £50, Square is cheaper. At £100, Square costs £1.65 versus Stripe at £1.70. At £10, Stripe costs £0.35 versus Square at £0.39. If you take a lot of premium, business or EEA cards, compare those rates separately: Stripe’s premium UK rate is 2.8% + 20p, which changes the calculation. See our full Stripe vs Square comparison for more transaction values and card types.
Which payment gateway is cheapest for business and premium cards?
This is where the comparison changes most sharply. Stripe charges 2.8% + 20p on premium and commercial UK cards, compared with 1.5% + 20p on standard consumer cards. Square charges 2.5% + 25p on non-UK cards but does not separately publish a domestic premium rate. Airwallex publishes a blended rate that covers most card types. Mollie’s commercial and EU card rate is 2.90% + 20p, well above its 1.20% headline. If your customers pay mainly on business or corporate cards (common in B2B, SaaS and trade businesses), verify the premium card rate for each provider you are considering, because the cheapest headline figure will not hold for that card mix.
Can I change gateways without rebuilding my website?
On most platforms, yes. WooCommerce, Wix and similar carts let you switch the gateway plugin without touching the rest of the site. A fully custom checkout built on one gateway’s API takes developer work to move. Shopify is the exception: leaving Shopify Payments keeps a 0.5% to 2% surcharge on whatever gateway you switch to.
Can I use more than one payment gateway?
Yes, and many businesses do. A common setup is Stripe or Square for the website, PayPal as a second checkout button for trust, and GoCardless for recurring invoices. The complexity is manageable when the use cases are genuinely distinct.
Which gateways work with Shopify, WooCommerce and Wix?
Shopify stores are usually cheapest on Shopify Payments, because any other gateway adds a platform surcharge. WooCommerce and Wix support Stripe, Square, Mollie and PayPal through official plugins, so on those carts the gateway choice comes down to fees and features rather than integration.
What should a high-risk business use?
Mainstream PSPs decline restricted sectors such as CBD, gambling, adult content and some financial services, and can freeze accounts that drift into them. Those businesses need a specialist acquirer. See our guide to payment gateways for high-risk businesses.
How we researched the best UK payment gateways
What we verified. We checked every provider’s published pricing page on 7 August 2026, recording rates by card origin and class: standard UK consumer, premium and commercial UK, EEA, and international.
We do not quote a single blended rate because the effective cost depends on your card mix, and a blended number hides that.
What we did not test. We did not process real transactions or access any provider’s API directly.
Where we describe integration complexity or payout timelines, we draw on each provider’s own published documentation and publicly available accounts. We flag any claim that could not be verified from a primary source.
Ranking criteria. Cost transparency and fee structure are weighted first: a provider whose pricing is clear and complete scores higher than one whose effective rate depends on undisclosed factors.
Secondary criteria are integration options, payout speed, supported payment methods, currency handling, and FCA regulatory standing.
Update cadence. We re-verify every provider when a pricing, eligibility or product change is announced. The verification date reflects the most recent full pass. If you spot a rate or policy that has changed, contact us at businessexpert.co.uk/contact.
Affiliate disclosure. Square, Airwallex and GoCardless are affiliate partners: BusinessExpert earns a commission if you sign up through those links.
Rankings and recommendations are set independently of commercial relationships. See our editorial policy for the full detail.
Square Payment Processing
Best no-code online and in-person gateway
Airwallex Payments
Best for international and multi-currency
Stripe
Best for custom checkout and developer control
Mollie Payments
