The Best Payment Providers For Your New Website

If you plan to take payments on your new website, choosing a payment provider is one of the most important decisions you will make. It affects how much each sale costs you, how smooth the checkout feels for customers and how much work you need to do to keep payments secure.

This guide explains what to look for, compares some of the most popular options for UK businesses and covers the points to check before you sign up. Fees in this guide were checked on each provider's UK website in October 2026. Prices change, so always confirm the current rates before you decide.

A payment provider, sometimes called a payment gateway or payment processor, securely takes a customer's card or wallet details, checks the payment is authorised and transfers the money to your bank account.

Most modern providers handle the difficult parts for you, including:

• Security: card details are entered on secure forms hosted by the provider, keeping sensitive data off your website.
• Strong Customer Authentication: most online card payments in the UK need an extra check, such as approving the payment in a banking app. Providers handle this through 3D Secure.
• Fraud screening: automatic checks to spot suspicious payments.
• Payouts: regular transfers of your takings to your bank account.

Most providers charge a percentage of each transaction plus a small fixed fee. Look at:

• The rate for standard UK consumer cards, which will cover most of your sales
• Higher rates for business cards, American Express and international cards
• Currency conversion fees if you sell abroad
• Any monthly, setup or chargeback fees

Customers expect choice. Check whether the provider supports cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, PayPal, and, if relevant, Direct Debit or Buy Now Pay Later options such as Klarna and Clearpay.

The provider needs to work with your website platform. WooCommerce, Shopify, Wix, Squarespace and most other platforms have ready-made integrations with the major providers. A good integration saves development time and reduces the risk of errors.

A slow or confusing checkout loses sales. Look for a mobile-friendly checkout, saved details for returning customers and digital wallets that let people pay in a couple of taps.

Check how quickly money reaches your bank account and what support is available if something goes wrong.

Stripe is a popular choice for websites of all sizes and integrates with most website platforms. According to Stripe's UK pricing page, standard UK cards cost 1.5% + 20p per transaction, with higher rates for premium UK cards (2.8% + 20p), EEA cards (2.5% + 20p) and international cards (3.15% + 20p, plus 2% if currency conversion is needed). There are no setup or monthly fees on the standard plan. Stripe also supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna and many other payment methods.

Good for: businesses that want a flexible, developer-friendly option that will scale.

PayPal is widely recognised by shoppers, and offering it as an option can reassure customers who prefer not to enter card details. PayPal's UK merchant fees page lists a standard rate for commercial transactions of 2.9% plus a fixed fee of 30p for payments in pounds, with different rates for card payments through its advanced checkout products.

Good for: adding a trusted extra payment option alongside card payments.

Square is well known for its card readers, but it also offers online payments and a free online store builder. Square's UK pricing lists online payments at 1.4% + 25p for UK cards and 2.5% + 25p for non-UK cards, with no monthly fee on its free plan.

Good for: businesses that sell both in person and online and want everything in one system.

Worldpay is one of the UK's largest payment processors. On its eCommerce page, it lists an Essential package at 1.5% + 20p for Visa and Mastercard consumer cards and a Full package, for businesses with a live e-commerce site, at 1.3% + 20p, with 2.9% + 20p for commercial cards and Amex on both.

Good for: established businesses with steady volumes that want a traditional merchant services provider.

If your website runs on Shopify, Shopify Payments is built in and avoids the additional transaction fee Shopify charges when you use a third-party payment provider. Rates depend on your Shopify plan, so check Shopify's pricing page for your plan.

Good for: Shopify stores that want the simplest setup.

GoCardless specialises in Direct Debit, which is useful for subscriptions, memberships, retainers and regular invoices. It often costs less than card payments for recurring billing. Check its current pricing on its website.

Good for: businesses that take regular or recurring payments.

Many providers let you offer Buy Now Pay Later services such as Klarna or Clearpay, which can encourage customers to complete larger purchases. They usually cost more per transaction than standard card payments; for example, Stripe lists Klarna from 4.99% + 35p.

Since 15 July 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority regulates most third-party Buy Now Pay Later agreements in the UK. The rules mainly apply to the lenders, but if you offer these options, make sure your website describes them accurately.

Any business that takes card payments must follow the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The simplest way to keep your obligations manageable is to use the provider's hosted checkout or payment fields, so card details never touch your website. Your provider will explain what you need to do, which for most small businesses is a short annual self-assessment questionnaire.

Also make sure:

• Your website uses HTTPS throughout
• Your website platform, plugins and themes are kept up to date
• Admin accounts use strong passwords and two-factor authentication

There is no single best provider. For many small businesses, a combination works well, for example Stripe or Square for card payments, with PayPal offered as an additional option. Shopify stores are usually best served by Shopify Payments. If you take recurring payments, consider GoCardless.

Compare the total cost based on your expected sales, the payment methods your customers use and how well each provider integrates with your website platform. Our guide to the best e-commerce platforms can help if you are still choosing where to build your shop.

If you would like help building a website that takes payments smoothly and securely, our website design team can recommend and set up the right payment options for your business. Call us on 01509 357412 to talk through your project.

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