How it works
When a customer clicks "Pay now", the payment gateway:
- Securely collects their card or wallet details.
- Checks with the card network and bank that the payment can go through.
- Approves or declines the payment in a few seconds.
- Sends the money (minus its fee) to your account, usually a few days later.
A quick example
A customer pays $40 for an order. The gateway processes it, takes a fee of a few percent plus a small fixed amount, and pays the rest into your bank account on its payout schedule.
Payment gateways on Shopify
Shopify has its own gateway, Shopify Payments, available in many countries. It works out of the box and supports cards plus wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. You can also use third-party gateways, but Shopify then adds its own transaction fee on each order, on top of what the gateway charges. For most new stores, Shopify Payments is the simplest and cheapest option where it is available.
What to check
- Fees: the percentage and fixed amount per order
- Payout time: how long until the money reaches your bank
- Payment methods: cards, wallets and local options your customers use
- Availability: whether it supports your country and currency
Why it matters for a new store
Gateway fees come out of every sale, so they affect your profit per order. A missing payment method can also make customers abandon checkout. See how gateway fees fit into your budget in our guide to what it costs to start a Shopify store.
