WooCommerce connects to dozens of payment gateways, but not all of them
WooCommerce does not have a single built-in payment processor. Instead, it acts as a bridge between your store and whatever payment gateway you choose. The gateway you pick determines which payment methods your customers see at checkout — credit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, local payment methods — and how the money reaches your account.
Some gateways work through official WooCommerce extensions that Automattic (the company behind WooCommerce) maintains or certifies. Others work through third-party plugins built by independent developers. A few work through both routes. The difference matters because official extensions get security updates automatically and integrate more tightly with your store data.
Your choice of gateway also affects your fees, settlement speed, and which countries you can accept payments from. A gateway that works perfectly for a US store may not work in Canada or the UK.
Key Takeaways
- WooCommerce itself does not process payments — you choose a gateway, and WooCommerce connects to it through an extension or plugin.
- Official WooCommerce extensions for Stripe, Square, PayPal, and Klarna are maintained by Automattic and receive automatic security updates.
- Third-party plugins exist for hundreds of other gateways, but their quality and update frequency vary widely.
- Your gateway choice determines which payment methods appear at checkout, how quickly you receive money, and which countries you can serve.
- Some gateways charge per transaction, others charge monthly, and some charge both — compare the fee structure before you commit.
Official WooCommerce payment extensions
Automattic maintains official extensions for the most common gateways. These are built into WooCommerce or available free from the WooCommerce plugin directory. They receive security patches automatically and are tested against every WooCommerce release.
Stripe is the most widely used. It accepts credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and regional payment methods like iDEAL (Netherlands) and Bancontact (Belgium). Settlement happens within two to three business days. Stripe charges 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction in the US; rates vary by country.
PayPal works through the official WooCommerce PayPal Checkout extension. Customers can pay with their PayPal account, credit card, or debit card. Settlement is typically next business day. PayPal charges 2.99% plus $0.30 per transaction in the US.
Square accepts credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and ACH bank transfers (US only). Settlement is next business day for most transactions. Square charges 2.9% plus $0.30 per card transaction; ACH transfers cost $0.25 each.
Klarna lets customers pay in installments or buy now, pay later. It is available in the US, UK, Sweden, Germany, and other European countries. Klarna charges a percentage of the order total, typically 2–8% depending on your region and risk profile.
Third-party gateways through community plugins
Hundreds of other gateways have plugins built by independent developers. These are not maintained by Automattic, so their security and compatibility depend entirely on the developer. Before installing one, check when it was last updated, how many active installations it has, and what the reviews say.
Authorize.net is a long-established US processor. Multiple plugins exist; the most widely used is maintained by WooCommerce itself but not as an official extension. It accepts credit cards and eChecks. Settlement is next business day. Authorize.net charges a monthly gateway fee (usually $25–$35) plus per-transaction fees (typically 2.9% plus $0.30).
2Checkout (Verifone) serves over 200 countries and accepts credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and local payment methods. Settlement timing varies by region. Fees are typically 3.5% to 5.5% per transaction depending on payment method and region.
Mollie is popular in Europe and handles credit cards, bank transfers (SEPA), iDEAL, Bancontact, and other regional methods. Settlement is next business day. Mollie charges a flat percentage per transaction, usually 2.5% to 3.5% depending on payment method.
Razorpay serves India, Malaysia, and other Asian markets. It accepts credit cards, debit cards, UPI, and bank transfers. Settlement is next business day. Razorpay charges 2% plus a fixed amount per transaction (the fixed amount varies by payment method).
How to find and install a payment gateway extension
Start in your WooCommerce dashboard. Go to Payments (or Settings > Payments depending on your WooCommerce version). You will see a list of available gateways. Official extensions are marked as such. Click on any gateway to read its description, see its fees, and install it directly from your dashboard.
If the gateway you want is not listed there, search the WordPress plugin directory at wordpress.org. Type the gateway name plus "WooCommerce" — for example, "Razorpay WooCommerce". Read the plugin description, check the last update date, and scan the reviews for complaints about broken integrations or missing features.
Before you install, verify that the plugin supports your version of WooCommerce. Older plugins sometimes stop working when WooCommerce updates. If the plugin was last updated more than a year ago and you are running a recent WooCommerce version, ask the developer in the support forum whether it still works.
Regional payment methods and local gateways
If you sell outside the US, your customers expect to pay in their local method. A UK customer may want to use Faster Payments or Bacs. A German customer may want iDEAL or Sofortüberweisung. A Chinese customer may want WeChat Pay or Alipay.
Some gateways like Stripe and 2Checkout handle multiple regions and payment methods through a single integration. Others are region-specific. Mollie, for example, is built for Europe and handles European bank transfers and digital wallets but not US ACH or Chinese mobile wallets.
If you sell in multiple regions, compare gateways by the countries you serve and the payment methods your customers use. A gateway that is perfect for the US may not work in your target market at all.
Fees, settlement speed, and what they cost you
Payment gateway fees fall into three categories: per-transaction percentage, per-transaction fixed amount, and monthly gateway fees. Some gateways charge all three.
| Gateway | Per-Transaction Fee (US) | Monthly Fee | Settlement Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 2.9% + $0.30 | None | 2–3 business days |
| PayPal | 2.99% + $0.30 | None | 1 business day |
| Square | 2.9% + $0.30 (cards); $0.25 (ACH) | None | 1 business day |
| Authorize.net | 2.9% + $0.30 | $25–$35 | 1 business day |
| Mollie | 2.5–3.5% (varies by method) | None | 1 business day |
The difference adds up. On a $100 order, Stripe costs $3.20. Authorize.net costs $3.20 plus a portion of the $25–$35 monthly fee. If you process $10,000 a month, that monthly fee becomes $0.25–$0.35 per transaction on top of the percentage. For a small store, Stripe or PayPal is usually cheaper. For a high-volume store, Authorize.net or a dedicated merchant account may be worth the monthly fee.
Settlement speed also matters. If you need cash quickly, PayPal and Square settle next business day. Stripe takes two to three days. If you have irregular sales or tight cash flow, the extra day or two can strain your operations.
Testing a gateway before you go live
Most gateways offer a sandbox or test mode. Before you switch your store to live payments, turn on test mode and process a few fake transactions. This lets you see exactly what your customers see at checkout and confirm that the gateway is sending order data back to WooCommerce correctly.
To enable test mode, go to your gateway's settings in WooCommerce and look for a toggle labeled "Test Mode", "Sandbox Mode", or "Development Mode". Turn it on. Then go to your store's checkout page and try to buy something using the test card numbers the gateway provides (Stripe's test card is 4242 4242 4242 4242, for example). Complete the purchase and check that the order appears in your WooCommerce dashboard with the correct amount and customer details.
If the order does not appear, or if the amount is wrong, the gateway is not connected properly. Check the gateway's logs (usually in your WooCommerce dashboard under the gateway's settings) to see what went wrong. Most connection problems are caused by mismatched API keys or webhooks that are not configured correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple payment gateways on the same WooCommerce store?
Yes. You can install extensions for multiple gateways and enable them all. Customers will see all available payment methods at checkout. This is useful if you want to offer both credit cards and bank transfers, or if you want to accept PayPal and Stripe. Each gateway processes its own transactions and settles separately.
What happens if my payment gateway goes down?
If the gateway is temporarily unavailable, customers will see an error message at checkout and will not be able to complete their purchase. If you have multiple gateways enabled, they can try a different one. If you have only one gateway and it goes down, your store cannot accept payments until it comes back online. This is why some high-volume stores enable a backup gateway.
Do I need a merchant account to use WooCommerce?
No. Most modern gateways like Stripe and PayPal do not require a separate merchant account. They handle the merchant account part themselves. Older gateways like Authorize.net may require you to set up a merchant account with a bank first, then connect it to the gateway. Check the gateway's requirements before you sign up.
Can I switch gateways without losing my order history?
Yes. Your order history lives in WooCommerce, not in the gateway. When you disable one gateway and enable another, all your past orders stay in your dashboard. New orders will process through the new gateway. You may need to refund old orders through the old gateway if a customer requests it, but the orders themselves do not disappear.
Which gateway is best for international sales?
Stripe and 2Checkout both support over 100 countries and multiple payment methods per region. Mollie is best if you sell primarily in Europe. Razorpay is best for Asia. Check the gateway's supported countries list before you commit — some gateways do not work in certain regions due to local regulations or banking restrictions.