A payment gateway securely passes card details from your checkout to the payment network and returns an approval or decline. Choosing one affects your fees, checkout experience, payout speed and how easily you can scale. This guide compares ten widely used gateways in the USA so you can match one to your business.
Quick answer
- Developers and online-first businesses: Stripe
- Customers who expect PayPal at checkout: PayPal or Braintree
- In-store and online together: Square
- Lower costs as volume grows: Helcim
- Already have a merchant account: Authorize.net
- Shopify stores: Shopify Payments
- Bank-linked processing: Chase Payment Solutions
- Enterprise and global scale: Adyen or Worldpay
“Top” here means a strong fit for a defined need based on published features and pricing. It is not a guarantee of performance for your business.
What a payment gateway does
A gateway encrypts payment data, sends it for authorization and returns the result at checkout. A merchant account holds your funds before they reach your bank. Many providers bundle both, while some, such as Authorize.net, can work as a gateway alongside a merchant account you already have. Read more in our guide to how a payment gateway works.
How we compared them
- Pricing model and published fees
- Online and in-person support
- Integrations and developer tools
- Payout speed
- Contract terms
- Best-fit business type
Fee figures are indicative, based on published pricing in early 2026. Confirm current rates on each provider’s site.
Comparison table
| Gateway | Pricing model | Online rate | Monthly fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Flat rate | 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 | Developers, online |
| PayPal | Flat rate | 2.99% + $0.49 | $0 | Wallet payments |
| Square | Flat rate | 3.3% + $0.30 | $0 (Free plan) | Retail plus online |
| Helcim | Interchange-plus | Interchange + 0.5% + $0.25 | $0 | Growing volume |
| Authorize.net | Gateway fees plus processor | Confirm with provider | Monthly gateway fee | Existing merchant accounts |
| Braintree | Flat rate or custom | See provider pricing page | Confirm | PayPal and Venmo users |
| Adyen | Interchange-plus | Custom, minimums apply | Confirm | Enterprise, global |
| Shopify Payments | Flat rate | 2.9% + $0.30 (Basic plan) | From $39 | Shopify stores |
| Chase Payment Solutions | Flat rate | 2.9% + $0.25 | $9.95+ for eCommerce | Bank-linked processing |
| Worldpay | Quote-based | Confirm with provider | Confirm | Large merchants |
The top 10 payment gateways in the USA
1. Stripe: best for developers and online businesses
Stripe offers customizable checkout, payment links and invoicing, supports more than 135 currencies, and has no monthly fee or long-term contract.
- Limits: It does not sell full countertop POS setups, and deposits can take up to two business days
- Suits: SaaS, eCommerce, marketplaces, developer-led teams
2. PayPal: best for wallet-friendly checkout
PayPal is one of the most widely used payment platforms and integrates with most shopping carts. It has no monthly fee and no PCI compliance fee.
- Limits: Deposits may take up to three days, and the product range can be confusing
- Suits: Merchants whose customers expect to pay with PayPal
3. Square: best for combined in-store and online sales
Square gives you gateway, processing, POS software and hardware in one place. The Free plan has no monthly fee and there are no termination, chargeback or PCI fees.
- Limits: Free plan rates are higher than many competitors
- Suits: Retail, cafes, service businesses
4. Helcim: best for lower costs at volume
Helcim uses interchange-plus pricing and applies volume discounts automatically as your monthly processing grows past $50,000. There is no monthly fee and no long-term contract.
- Limits: Deposits may take up to two business days, and costs are harder to predict than flat rates
- Suits: Growing SMBs with steady card volume
5. Authorize.net: best if you already have a merchant account
Authorize.net is long established in the US and is commonly used as a standalone gateway paired with an existing merchant account. It is a Visa solution that also offers processing.
- Limits: A monthly gateway fee applies, and features can feel dated next to newer platforms
- Suits: Businesses with an acquiring relationship they want to keep
6. Braintree: best for PayPal and Venmo integration
Braintree is a PayPal service for web and mobile payments in the US and abroad, with a developer-friendly integration path. Existing integrations and acquiring relationships can outweigh headline fees when choosing between it and Authorize.net.
- Limits: Pricing varies by setup, so model it on your own transaction data
- Suits: Online stores where a large share of buyers use PayPal
7. Adyen: best for enterprise and global scale
Adyen offers global acquiring and risk management on interchange-plus pricing, aimed at larger and multinational merchants.
- Limits: Minimum fees can make it a poor fit for small businesses
- Suits: High-volume enterprises selling in many countries
8. Shopify Payments: best for Shopify stores
Online rates fall as you move up Shopify plans, to as low as 2.5% plus 30 cents on higher tiers.
- Limits: Phone support is limited to the Plus plan, and business and American Express cards cost more on the Basic plan
- Suits: Online retailers already on Shopify
9. Chase Payment Solutions: best for bank-linked processing
Chase is both processor and acquiring bank, so deposit issues stay with one company. It has no PCI or cancellation fees.
- Limits: Some hardware pricing is not published, and its Business Complete checking account carries a $15 monthly fee for some merchants
- Suits: Businesses that already bank with Chase
10. Worldpay: best for larger merchants
Worldpay serves larger merchants that want a custom pricing agreement and enterprise support. Pricing is quote-based, so request a written schedule before comparing it with flat-rate providers.
- Limits: Setup is more involved than self-serve gateways
- Suits: Established merchants with significant volume
Payment gateway pricing models
- Flat rate: One rate covers all costs. It is simple, but can cost more at high volume.
- Interchange-plus: You see the card network cost on each sale plus a fixed markup. It is more transparent but less predictable.
- Quote-based: Pricing is negotiated, common for enterprise.
A common benchmark is about 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions. On a $100 sale that is $3.20.
How to choose the right gateway
- Match your sales channel. Online only, in-person or both.
- Check platform support. Make sure it works with your cart or CMS.
- Model total cost. Include monthly, chargeback, international and refund fees.
- Check payout speed and holds.
- Review support hours and contract terms.
- Plan for growth. Look at multi-currency support and volume pricing.
Common mistakes
- Choosing on headline rate alone
- Ignoring refund and chargeback costs
- Forgetting that some gateways need a separate merchant account
- Locking into a contract before testing
- Overlooking account-hold policies for new accounts
Need a gateway for a high-risk business?
Mainstream gateways can decline or restrict some industries. In that case, review high-risk payment gateways built for stricter underwriting.
Verdict
There is no single best gateway. Flat-rate platforms suit simplicity and lower volume, interchange-plus options suit scale, and enterprise providers suit global operations. Shortlist two or three, request written fee schedules, and compare total monthly cost.
Ready to compare more options? Browse TheFinRate’s payment gateway providers and payment gateway reviews to shortlist the right gateway for your business.
