Written by Zara Chechi Reviewed by Ruairi Shirlow Updated on 20 March 2023 On this page 9 best online payment methods 1. takepayments 2. Worldpay 3. Square 4. Stripe 5. PayPal 6. Shopify Next steps Top 3 tips for taking payments on your website FAQs Expand takepayments is the top online payment gateway in our independent research, scoring a high 4.8/5. takepayments has comprehensive features, a low online transaction fee and, to top it all off, also has affordable hardware.Our research team compared 11 of the best payment gateways to find the number one on the market. The list below features the top six providers that take payments online.Read on to find a payment provider to help take your business to the next level. Alternatively, tell us about your business' requirements, and we'll match you with leading online payment providers that will provide you with quotes that are tailored for your business. The best online payment methods in the UKtakepayments: best for featuresWorldpay: best for integrationsSquare: best for faster payoutsStripe: best method for reportingPayPal: best method for global reachShopify: best method for creativity Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward takepayments Worldpay Square Stripe Paypal Shopify Payments Score 4.8 Score 4.7 Score 4.4 Score 4.0 Score Not yet rated Score Not yet rated Best For Short contracts Best For Best all-round provider Best For Simplicity Best For Flexibility Best For Global reach Best For Creativity Transaction fee Bespoke – based on quote Transaction fee Between 0.75% and 2.75% (based on quote) Transaction fee 1.75% Transaction fee 1.4% + 20p0.4 for invoicing Transaction fee 2.9% + 30p Transaction fee 1.6% to 2.9% + 30 cents (20p) takepaymentsBest for features takepayments 4.8 Quick overview takepayments scores a 4.8/5 in our research and the highest score for features with a 5/5, offering 16 integrations, several reporting options, and it accepts over 170 currencies. Read more + Read less - Strengths Best for features Low monthly hardware cost Weaknesses No email support Pricing See more See less Transaction fee Hardware Online: 10p (first 400 are free) Bespoke Card: 0.30% - 2.29% Although takepayments has better features all-around, Square offers hundreds more intgerations than takepayments. Square might be a better option for you if you want a pay as you go payment provider that includes a free ecommerce platform and free EPOS system.takepayments' payment gateway integrates with over 50 shopping carts, so you can take payments through your website. There are no setup fees and each online transaction is charged a flat fee of 10p. This is a fairly inexpensive option when it is compared with providers that charge a percentage per transaction. Plus, the first 400 transactions are free.takepayments scores a 4.6/5 for its customer support because it offers phone and live chat support, but it does lack an email option. Square scores a 5/5 as it includes an email support option, if this is important to you then Square could be a be a better fit.Pricingtakepayments charges 10p per online transaction and between 0.30% and 2.29% per card transaction.How does takepayments compare with other online payment methods?takepayments' fee of 10p per online transaction is affordable, but it does mean that you will be tied into 12-month contract. Its hardware is affordable at £25/m + VAT, but its not cheaper than a provider like Square, which charges a one-off £16 for a card reader. Eligible for card machine quotes? Click your monthly turnover to find out < £1k £1-5k £5-10k £10-15k £15-20k £20-25k £25-30k £30-35k £35-40k £40-45k £45-50k £55-60k £60-70k £70-80k £80-90k £100k+ WorldpayBest for integrations Worldpay 4.7 Quick overview Worldpay scores a 4.7/5 overall in our research. It offers over 100 integrations over 26 categories, including customer relationship management, accounting, and analytics. Read more + Read less - Strengths Over 100 integrations 30 minutes fund transfer time Weaknesses Reporting is a paid add-on Pricing See more See less Transaction fees Hardware Minimum monthly cost 0.75% - 2.75% Terminal Fee £17.50/mo £9.95 +VAT Virtual Terminal £9.99/mo A Worldpay payment page can be hosted on its site or integrated within your own website, which offers a lot of versatility.Worldpay's large range of integrations also make it a good choice for businesses that want to seamlessly bring together various systems and software together.It's monthly fee and 18-month contract isn't a good fit for businesses that want flexibility. Stripe would be a better option in this case as it offers pay as you go with a card transaction fee of 1.4% +20p. However, Worldpay's transaction fees start much lower at 0.75% so if you're prepared to lock into a contract, you'll more likely end up with a better deal.Worldpay does offer a pay as you go option, which is priced at 2.75% +20p, our research into this shows that this is fairly steep.Worldpay's 30-minute transfer time is the fastest out of all the providers in our research, which is helpful for businesses that need the cash flow.You will need to pay £4.99 per month for reporting, which can add up when you consider the minimum monthly fee and potentially a monthly hardware fee. If you want more affordable reporting, you might better suited to Stripe as there no additional charge, although its transactions fees are much higher.PricingOn a pay as you go plan you’ll pay 2.75% + 20p transaction fee. On a monthly plan, you can expect to pay a £19.95 fixed online payment gateway fee plus 2.75% + 20p per transaction. If you're taking more than 1,000 card payments per month, you can contact Worldpay to negotiate a better rate.Worldpay also charges a fee for PCI compliance, which amounts to £29.95 per year.How does Worldpay compare with other online payment methods?Worldpay is well suited to businesses that want fast payouts and don't mind a monthly fee. Its contract is 18 months long, the longest among all of the providers we looked at.For more flexibility, Square or Stripe could be a better option, however, transaction fees are much higher with pay as you go providers. If you're confident you'll have steady and regular transactions, then Worldpay is a good choice. But. if you're just starting out and you're not sure about your numbers yet, it might be better to go with a pay as you go provider. Ask The Experts What’s the difference between a virtual terminal and a payment gateway? Zara Chechi Both virtual terminals and payment are ways of taking payments. A virtual terminal allows you to take payments over the phone, in store, and via email. If you don’t carry out face-to-face transactions, a virtual terminal is a good choice.A payment gateway is used to take payments online. Payment gateways can be integrated into your website or hosted on a separate page. A payment gateway takes the payment, helps safeguard against fraud, and checks if the buyer has enough funds on their card. SquareBest for faster payouts Square 4.4 Quick overview Square scores a 4.4/5 overall in our research and transfers funds by the next working day. Square offers hundreds of integrations, a cheap card readers, and a free EPOS app. These features make it a great choice for small businesses or startups. Read more + Read less - Strengths Payouts by next working day Free EPOS app Weaknesses Higher transaction fees compared to some competitors Pricing See more See less Transaction fees Hardware 1.75% card transactions Reader - £16 2.5% payment links and invoices Terminal £149 + VAT If you want to start taking online payments but don’t have an online store, Square can help you build one with its free ecommerce platform.Square offers API integration, allowing you to take payments from your own website. It aims to cut out the hassle of keeping tabs on your online transactions, letting you track all your sales from one place.The price is on the expensive side, but there’s no cost to sign up or any hidden fees, and PCI compliance is handled for you.Square's card reader is super affordable at £16, however, as with all pay as you go readers, the transaction fee is much higher than a provider like Worldpay, which has a monthly fee.However, Square's free ecommerce website, free EPOS app, and high number of integrations make it a good fit for businesses that want a comprehensive system without monthly costs.PricingCard transactions are charged a 1.75% fee.Square charges a 2.5% transaction fee for all card-not-present transactions, which includes ecommerce payments, invoices, and those keyed-in or made through a virtual terminal.How does Square compare with other online payment methods?Square scores well for features with a 4.7/5, it has hundreds of integrations and built-in reporting capabilities. However, it doesn't have multi-currency support, which is pretty limiting for online transactions.If you want to accept multiple currencies, you could opt for Stripe (135+) if you want a pay as you go provider, or takepayments (170+) if you don't mind a monthly fee and contract.Square's transaction fees are fairly steep at 1.75% for card transactions, which is why it scores a 3.3/5 for price. Revolut scores a much higher 4.6/5 for its price as its in-person transaction fee is 0.8% +20p. Despite its cheaper fees, Revolut lacks fraud protection measures which Square offers. These measures are important for ensuring safe transactions for both you and your customers. StripeBest for reporting Stripe 4 Pricing 1.4% +20p Quick overview Stripe is a mobile reader but it is able to take payments online. It scores an overall 4/5 in our in-depth research and has the highest reporting capabilities out of all the providers on this list. Stripe is a good choice for businesses that need comprehensive reporting, offering reports on realtime charges, fees, and refunds. Read more + Read less - Strengths Good reporting capabilities Strong customer support Weaknesses Readers are a little pricey Pricing See more See less Transaction fees Hardware 1.4% +20p £49 or £179 0.4% for invoicing Stripe also offers a payment form you can embed into your website. This means your customers can easily pay there and then, without the annoyance of getting redirected somewhere else. You can also customise the logo, images, and colour to make the image seamlessly align with your website.At 1.4% +20p per transaction, this isn't the cheapest rate available, especially when compared with takepayments' 10p per transaction. takepayments does require a 12-month contract, compared to Stripe's more flexible pay as you go option.However, Stripe is a good choice if you want the option of having a mobile reader as well. If you're a seasonal trader, or want the option to take payments occasionally, Stripe's reader is a one-off fee of £49 or £179 and then the transaction fee for each payment taken.Square does offer cheaper hardware, scoring a 3.3/5 for price, compared to Stripe's 3.2/5. Although both have similar scores due to their steeper transaction fees, Square's reader is a much cheaper one-off £16.Stripe's reporting options and mobile reader make it a good choice for businesses that want extensive reporting capabilities and the option of having a mobile reader that they don't need to pay monthly for.PricingStripe charges 1.4% of the transaction, plus a 20p transaction fee.How does Stripe compare with other online payment methods?Stripe's transaction fees are a little higher as this is a pay as you go provider. The benefit of this is that you aren't locked into a contract, which can be expensive to get out of, such as with Worldpay or takepayments. However, it does mean that you'll end up paying a little more money per transaction. Want to start taking payments online? Get free quotes PayPalBest for global reach PayPal Pricing Not yet rated Quick overview PayPal is a well-known payment processor, but it can also be used on your website to take payments. You can use it to take PayPal, card payments and, in some instances, even local payment methods. Read more + Read less - PricingIf your business is based in the UK, PayPal charges 2.9% of the transaction, plus a fixed fee of 30p. You'll also pay an additional fee relating to where your customer is making the purchase from: 0.5% if it's within Europe, and up to 2% for Canada and the US.How does PayPal compare with other online payment methods?PayPal is suited to businesses that regularly take online payments from around the world. This is because it includes realtime mark cross-currency exchange rates.Some users have found that PayPal can take a while to release funds, even when a transaction is valid, which can be frustrating. If this is something you want to avoid, Worldpay could be a better option as it transfers funds within 30 minutes. ShopifyBest for creativity Shopify Pricing Not yet rated Quick overview Shopify’s ecommerce platform gives you the chance to get creative. Its online store builder invites you to create a platform to showcase your products, helping ensure they'll soon be flying off your virtual shelves. You can do it all with drag and drop elements, too – so you won't need design skills to set up your business' online headquarters. Read more + Read less - When it comes to actually taking the payment, Shopify offers integration with over 100 payment gateways, as well as its own, Shopify Payments.PricingHow much you'll pay to accept online payments with Shopify depends on the plan you select. Its cheapest plan, Basic Shopify, costs $29 (£23) per month, but comes with the highest credit card processing costs of 2.2% + 20p per online transaction.The next plan up, simply dubbed ‘Shopify', is $79 (£63) per month, with online processing rates of 1.9% + 20p per transaction.Advanced Shopify (the ecommerce platform's most expensive option) will set you back a whopping $299 (£240) per month, though it also offers the lowest credit card processing rates – just 1.6% + 20p per sale.How does Shopify compare with other online payment methods?Shopify is a good choice if your main focus is to design and create an ecommerce site. The ability to realtime track your transactions with ease and efficiency makes it a good choice for online retailers that want to keep an eye on the numbers. PayPal, on the other hand, requires you to sign in before you can see any transactions.Being linked to an ecommerce platform means you can optimise your checkout, helping reduce bounce rates. You can also do this at an affordable rate with Square as its ecommerce site is free. Next stepsIf you're after a provider that has comprehensive features and affordable transaction fees, takepayments is a good choice, scoring an overall 4.8/5 in our research. However, takepayments will require you to be locked into an 18-month contract. If you'd rather not be locked into a contract, we recommend Square, which scores an overall 4.4/5, as it offers a free EPOS app, free ecommerce platform, and hundreds of integrations. However, it does have much higher transaction fees than takepayments.Like the sound of them and want to start comparing your options? We can help. Simply let us know a bit more about your business' requirements. We'll ask about your industry and expected sales volume, and whether you've accepted card payments online before (and, if so, which online payment method you used). When this is done, we'll match you with the top online payment providers that are the best fit for you.Leading merchant account providers will send you quotes that are tailored to your business' size and ambitions. It takes just 30 seconds, and is free for UK-based businesses. Top 3 tips for taking payments on your websiteOnline shoppers can be a fickle bunch. Almost 75% of online shoppers abandon their baskets before completing a purchase. Transactions can break down in seconds if you don’t give your customers a smooth and snappy shopping experience.Follow these tips to keep people on your site and inspire them to buy:1) Make it easyDon’t make your users have to sign up for an account to pay. It’s one of the biggest barriers to making a sale. People can’t be bothered to enter their details and will often choose to abandon the purchase rather than signing up. By offering guest checkout you simplify a user’s journey and boost your chances of them making a purchase.2) Make it look goodNo matter where you host your payment page, it needs to look like it belongs to your website. Add your logo and colours to ensure a visually consistent path from browser to buyer. If your customer feels like they’re lurching around different websites to make a payment, they may just abandon their cart.3) Make it quickDon’t ask your customers for lots of details or make them navigate long, data-heavy forms. Only take the minimum amount of information you need for the transaction to take place. This speeds up the process and is sure to inspire trust in your website and services. Want to start taking payments online? Get free quotes FAQs What are the methods of online payment? There are several methods of online payment:Credit/debit card paymentsApple payGoogle PayPayPalPayment links What is the best online payment method? The best online payment method will come down to the customer. Some customers might prefer the convenience of Apple Pay, whereas others might feel more comfortable using a payment link.It's best to offer as many online methods as you can to increase the chances of a sale being made. What is the most common payment method? Card transactions are the most common payment method, both online and offline. Written by: Zara Chechi Business Services Expert Zara is a Payments Expert, specialising in writing about Point of Sale systems. With a Law Degree from City University of London, she has used her legally-honed research and analytical skills to develop expertise in the Business Services world. Featured in FinTech Magazine, she quickly became an expert in payroll, POS systems, and merchant accounts. Reviewed by: Ruairi Shirlow Business Services Researcher Ruairi uses his 3+ years of research experience to uncover insights which can help Expert Market provide the best business solutions for their users. He has done this by meeting with business owners to find out what is important to them and what challenges they face on a daily basis. Ruairi specialises in tools that can be used to grow your business and has done research for a wide range of categories on Expert Market, such as EPOS, Website Builders, and Merchant Accounts.