What is a payment gateway in Shopify?

A service that securely processes credit card and electronic payments, moving money from shopper to merchant.

Does Shopify include a payment gateway?

Yes — Shopify Payments is built in and is the easiest option for most merchants.

Can I use a third-party gateway?

Yes — Shopify supports Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, and many others.

What are transaction fees?

Fees charged by the gateway (and Shopify) for processing each payment — usually a percentage plus fixed amount.

Is Shopify Payments cheaper than third-party gateways?

Shopify Payments has no additional Shopify transaction fees; third-party gateways may charge extra fees on top of Shopify's.

Glossary Term

P

Payment Gateway

The service that processes payments — securely moving money from shopper to you.

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Key Takeaways
A Payment Gateway securely processes electronic payments on your store.
It moves money from the shopper's account to yours.
Shopify Payments is Shopify's built-in gateway.
Many third-party gateways (Stripe, PayPal) are supported.
Without a gateway, you can't accept online payments.

Overview

A Payment Gateway is the service that securely processes credit card and other electronic payments on your store, moving money from the shopper's account to yours. On Shopify, Shopify Payments is the built-in gateway, and many third-party gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net) are supported.

A payment gateway is the bridge between your store and the financial system. When a shopper checks out, the gateway securely transmits their payment, verifies funds, and approves the transaction. Without a gateway, you can't accept online payments — it's essential infrastructure.

Payment gateway pairs with Shopify Payments (Shopify's gateway), transaction fees (the cost), and alternative payment methods (options). It's how you get paid online.

1

Why Your Payment Gateway Matters for Shopify Merchants

1
Getting Paid
The gateway is how you get paid — without it, no online sales.
2
Conversion
A smooth, trusted gateway increases checkout conversion.
3
Fees
Gateways charge fees — choose one that fits your volume and margins.
4
Security
Gateways handle PCI compliance and fraud protection — critical for trust.
5
Global Reach
The right gateway supports the currencies and countries you sell to.

2

Choosing a Payment Gateway

1
Start with Shopify Payments
Shopify Payments is built in, easy, and has no additional transaction fees on Shopify.
2
Add PayPal
PayPal is trusted and popular — add it alongside Shopify Payments.
3
Consider alternatives
Stripe, Authorize.net, and others work if you need specific features or regions.
4
Check fees
Compare transaction fees, monthly fees, and chargeback fees across gateways.
5
Support local methods
If you sell internationally, ensure the gateway supports local payment methods.