Finding the best ways to receive payments online in 2025 can feel like a big task with so many choices out there. It’s important to pick the right one, because it can really change how smoothly your business runs and how happy your customers are. This article will look at some of the top options available, helping you figure out which payment system might be the best fit for your needs.

Key Takeaways

• Stripe is often seen as a top choice for general use.
• PayPal works well for sending and receiving money.
• Google Pay is good for mobile and digital wallet hook-ups.
• Amazon Pay helps make checking out a simple process.
• Authorize.net is known for its strong security features.

1. Stripe

Stripe has really become a big name in online payments, powering everything from small startups to huge companies. It’s known for being super flexible and having a ton of tools for businesses. They even call themselves the "financial infrastructure for the internet," and honestly, it’s not far off. When you first log into their dashboard, you’ll see just how much depth it has. That can feel a bit overwhelming at first, especially if you’re not a developer. But don’t worry, they’ve got wizards and guides to help you through the setup process.

Stripe is a solid choice for businesses that need a lot of customization and want to handle payments globally. It’s built to scale with you, whether you’re just starting out or processing millions of transactions every day. The platform’s focus on developers means it’s incredibly adaptable, but they’ve also made strides to make it more user-friendly for everyone else.

1.1. Key Features

Stripe offers a lot of features that make it stand out:

• Customizable Payment Flows: You can design your own checkout experience, which is great for branding.
• Global Reach: It supports over 135 currencies, so you can sell to customers almost anywhere.
• Advanced Fraud Prevention: They use machine learning to help stop fraudulent transactions.
• Subscription Management: If you have recurring payments, Stripe makes it easy to manage subscriptions.
• Developer-Friendly APIs: For those who like to tinker, the APIs are robust and well-documented.

1.2. Pricing and Fees

Stripe’s pricing is pretty straightforward, but it’s good to know the details. Here’s a quick look at their standard rates for online card transactions:

Transaction Type	Fee
Online Card	2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
International	Additional 1%
Currency Conversion	Additional 1%

It’s worth noting that Stripe payment processing can be more cost-effective than some competitors, especially for larger transaction volumes. They also offer custom pricing for businesses with high volumes or unique needs.

1.3. Integrations and Ecosystem

One of the biggest advantages of Stripe is its massive ecosystem of plugins and integrations. It connects with pretty much everything you can imagine, from e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce to accounting software like QuickBooks. You can even connect it to tools like Zapier to automate tasks, like getting Slack notifications for new sales or creating customer records automatically. This makes managing your business much easier and more efficient. The platform is constantly adding new features and partnerships, so it stays current with the latest trends in online payments.

2. PayPal

PayPal has been around for a long time, and it’s still one of the most recognized names in online payments. It’s super easy for both you and your customers to use, which is a big plus. This means less fuss with coding and no need to learn a bunch of developer talk. It’s a solid choice if you want something straightforward.

PayPal has processed over 35 billion payments in 2024, showing just how many people trust and use it. With more than 35 million businesses and 500 million active users, it’s clear PayPal is a major player in the payment world.

PayPal isn’t just for basic payments anymore. They’ve added a bunch of features to keep up with how people pay these days. Here’s a quick look:

• Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options: This lets your customers split their purchases into smaller payments, which can be a real sales booster.
• Cryptocurrency purchases: If you’re into digital currencies, PayPal now lets you buy and sell them right through their platform.
• Enhanced checkout solutions: They’re always working on making the checkout process smoother and faster for everyone.
• PayPal Business app: This app is pretty popular for managing all your transactions when you’re on the go. It’s handy for keeping tabs on things from your phone.

While PayPal is great for ease of use, their pricing can sometimes be a bit confusing. For standard transactions, you’re looking at 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. If your business starts growing and you need something more robust, you might want to check out Braintree, which is also owned by PayPal. It offers more advanced analytics, better control over your checkout experience, and slightly lower fees. Plus, it accepts more payment methods, like Venmo.

3. Google Pay

Google Pay has really grown into a full-fledged digital wallet. It’s not just for tapping your phone at the store anymore. Now, it works with most big banks, and they’ve added some serious security stuff like tokenization and using your fingerprint or face to confirm who you are. This makes transactions super secure, which is a big deal for both businesses and customers.

Businesses can even set up loyalty programs right through Google Pay, which is pretty neat. It’s also available in more and more countries, so it’s getting easier for people all over the world to use it. Because it’s part of the whole Google world, it just works smoothly across all your devices, whether you’re on your phone, tablet, or computer. It’s all about making payments easy and quick.

Google Pay is a solid choice for businesses looking to accept payments, especially if their customers are into using their phones or other devices to pay. It’s free to use for standard transactions, which is a huge plus, and it integrates well with existing systems. This makes it a pretty attractive option for many different kinds of businesses.

Here’s a quick look at some key details for Google Pay:

Feature	Detail
Best for	Mobile and digital wallet integration
Pricing	Free
Payment processing fees	No fees for standard transactions

Google Pay is a strong contender for businesses that want to offer modern payment methods to their customers. It’s especially good for those who want to make the checkout process as simple as possible on mobile devices.

4. Amazon Pay

Amazon Pay hooks into the payment methods people already have saved in their Amazon accounts, so buyers don’t have to type in card details again. It works on desktop, mobile, and even with Alexa voice commands. Amazon Pay plugs into shoppers’ existing Amazon accounts, making checkout almost effortless.

This setup can cut cart abandonment by letting people finish their orders in a click or two. It also supports recurring payments, so if you sell subscriptions or memberships, it handles those charges without extra work.

Feature	Details
Fee	2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Setup cost	Free
Voice checkout	Yes, via Alexa
Supported regions	20+ countries

Key benefits:

• Fast checkout with stored Amazon info
• Works across web, mobile apps, and voice
• Easy integration on platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce

Merchants often see fewer abandoned carts because buyers skip the form-filling bit and tap right into their Amazon wallets.

Before you add Amazon Pay to your site, take a look at their Acceptable Use Policy to make sure your products and practices fit within their rules.

5. Apple Pay

Apple Pay has really become a big deal for mobile payments, especially if you’re an iPhone user. It’s super secure because it uses things like Face ID and Touch ID, which makes paying for stuff pretty easy and safe. This service handles billions in transactions now and has grown to include things like sending money to friends and saving your payment cards in Safari for quick online shopping.

It’s pretty interesting how much of a difference Apple Pay can make for businesses. If you add it as a payment option, your mobile conversion rates can jump up quite a bit. We’re talking potentially a 250% increase, which is huge for online stores. It just shows how much people like using it.

Apple Pay isn’t just about convenience; it’s also about trust. People feel more comfortable making purchases when they know their financial information is protected by the strong security features built into their Apple devices. This trust translates directly into more completed sales for businesses.

Here’s a quick look at some of the key aspects of Apple Pay:

• Security: Uses biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID) and tokenization to protect card details.
• Convenience: Allows for quick, one-tap payments in apps, online, and in physical stores.
• Reach: Available to nearly 1 billion iPhone users globally, with a significant portion actively using the service.
• Integration: Works with many existing payment processors, making it easy for businesses to adopt.

Apple Pay is definitely a strong contender for businesses looking to improve their mobile payment experience and reduce cart abandonment. It’s free for merchants to use, which is a big plus, and the processing fees are handled by the card networks, not Apple directly.

6. Authorize.net

Authorize.net has been around for a long time, making it one of the more established payment gateways out there. It’s known for being pretty reliable, especially when it comes to security. They’ve really beefed up their fraud detection systems over the years, adding things like AI and machine learning to spot suspicious transactions. This means businesses can feel more secure when processing payments.

Authorize.net is a solid choice for businesses that prioritize security and need a system that works with a lot of different e-commerce platforms. It might not have all the bells and whistles of some newer options, but it gets the job done reliably.

One of the big draws of Authorize.net is its compatibility. It plays nice with most major e-commerce systems and shopping carts, which is a huge plus if you’re already set up with something specific. They also support a good range of payment methods, including:

• Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
• PayPal
• Apple Pay

While it’s a veteran in the payment processing world, it’s worth noting that Authorize.net offers competitive pricing but has limitations. It’s not as robust as other payment gateways, with limited features, capabilities, and integrations. So, if you’re looking for something super cutting-edge with tons of advanced features, you might want to compare it with other options. But for straightforward, secure payment processing, it’s definitely a contender.

7. Braintree

Best for

Businesses with high transaction volumes.

Pricing

Free to set up.

Payment processing fees

2.59% + $0.49 per transaction.

Braintree, a service from PayPal, is still a top choice for businesses that handle a lot of transactions. They’ve really expanded their reach, now supporting payments in over 130 currencies across more than 45 countries. This makes them a solid option for anyone looking to accept payments from customers all over the world. They’ve made some big improvements lately, especially with their tools for recurring billing and preventing fraud.

Braintree has also beefed up its marketplace capabilities, which is great news for platforms that connect buyers and sellers. Their integration process is pretty straightforward, thanks to their "drop-in" UI elements. This means you can get their payment system up and running on your site without too much fuss, and it’ll still look like it’s part of your brand. It’s all about making things easy for businesses while keeping things secure and efficient.

Here’s a quick look at what makes Braintree stand out:

• Global Reach: Accept payments in over 130 currencies and 45 countries.
• Enhanced Tools: Better recurring billing and fraud prevention features.
• Easy Integration: Simple "drop-in" UI elements for quick setup.
• Marketplace Support: Improved features for businesses operating as online marketplaces.

For businesses with significant sales, Braintree offers a robust payment solution that can handle the volume and complexity of international transactions. Their focus on continuous improvement means they’re always adding features that help businesses grow and manage their finances more effectively.

8. Helcim

Helcim has really made a name for itself, especially for businesses that are looking for a clear, volume-based pricing model. It’s not like some of the others that hit you with a flat fee no matter what. With Helcim, the more you process, the less you pay per transaction, which is a pretty sweet deal if your business is growing.

Helcim is a great choice if you’re looking to create invoices or handle in-person transactions, and it comes with a free account.

Helcim’s approach to pricing, known as "Interchange Plus," means you pay the direct interchange fee from the card networks (like Visa or Mastercard) plus a small markup from Helcim. This can be a bit confusing at first, but it often works out cheaper for businesses with higher transaction volumes. It’s all about understanding those interchange fees and how they can vary.

Here’s a quick look at their pricing structure:

• Account Fee: Free
• Online Transaction Fees: 0.4% + $0.20 per transaction (rates decrease with higher volume)
• In-Person Transaction Fees: 0.2% + $0.08 per transaction (rates decrease with higher volume)

Helcim also offers a pretty solid all-in-one platform. It’s not just about processing payments; they give you tools for point-of-sale (POS) and other financial management stuff. The user experience is generally good, both for you and your customers. It’s pretty straightforward to set up and use, which is a big plus when you’re trying to get paid without a lot of hassle. If you’re looking for a credit card processor that rewards higher sales, Helcim is definitely worth checking out.

9. Square

Square started out as a simple mobile card reader, but it’s really grown into a full payment system. It’s not just for swiping cards anymore; they’ve got everything from online store solutions to tools for managing appointments and even keeping track of your inventory. Square is a great choice for businesses that do sales both online and in person. They’ve added some pretty good reporting tools lately and made their developer API better, which is a big plus. Plus, their Cash App integration gives customers more ways to pay, which is always good.

Square is known for its ease of use, especially for small businesses and startups. It simplifies the process of accepting payments, whether you’re selling coffee at a farmers market or running an online boutique. The platform’s integrated services mean you don’t have to juggle multiple providers for different business needs.

Here’s a quick look at some of the pros and cons of using Square:

• Pros:
  • Easy to combine in-person and online sales, which is super handy.
  • Comes with a basic website builder, so you can get an online presence going without too much fuss.
  • No monthly fees or setup costs, which is great for new businesses.
• Cons:
  • It might not have as many advanced features as some other platforms like Stripe.

Square’s pricing is pretty straightforward, though it can vary a bit depending on how the transaction happens. For online credit card transactions, you’re generally looking at 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction. They also have subscription plans if you want to get access to more features, but the basic service is free to start with.

10. Adyen

Adyen is a big player in the payment processing world, especially for larger businesses that operate globally. Think of companies like Uber and Microsoft; they use Adyen. It’s built to handle payments across all sorts of channels, whether someone is buying something online, through their phone, or right there in a physical store.

Best for

Adyen is really good for businesses that need a unified way to manage payments across different sales points and in many countries. If you’re a global enterprise, this is probably on your radar. They support a ton of payment methods and currencies, which is super helpful for international sales.

Pricing

Adyen’s pricing isn’t a one-size-fits-all deal. They use a custom pricing model, which means you’ll need to talk to them directly to get a quote tailored to your business needs. It’s not like some other services where you see a flat rate right away.

Payment processing fees

For payment processing fees, Adyen uses what’s called an "Interchange++" pricing model. This basically means the fees are broken down into three parts: the interchange fee (which goes to the card-issuing bank), the scheme fee (which goes to the card networks like Visa or Mastercard), and Adyen’s own processing fee. It’s a transparent way to see exactly what you’re paying for each transaction.

Adyen’s system is pretty robust, designed to handle a lot of transactions and keep things secure. They’ve got tools to help reduce fraud and make sure more payments go through successfully. It’s all about making sure businesses can accept money from customers no matter where they are or how they want to pay.

Features

Adyen comes with a bunch of features that make it stand out:

• Unified Commerce: This is a big one. It lets businesses accept payments online, on mobile devices, and in physical stores all through one platform. It simplifies things a lot.
• Global Reach: They support over 250 payment methods and more than 150 currencies. This is huge for businesses with customers all over the world.
• Risk Management: Adyen has advanced tools to help detect and prevent fraud, which is super important these days. They also work to optimize authorization rates, meaning more transactions get approved.
• Real-time Data: Businesses can get real-time insights into their payment data, which helps them make better decisions and understand their customers’ buying habits.

When you’re looking at payment solutions, especially for a larger operation, comparing Adyen to other options like Stripe alternatives can give you a good idea of what fits best. Each platform has its own strengths, and it really depends on what your business needs most.

Wrapping Things Up

So, there you have it. Picking the right way to get paid online in 2025 isn’t really a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. It’s more about figuring out what your business actually needs. Think about things like how many sales you expect, what kind of stuff you’re selling, and where your customers are. Some options are great for big businesses, while others are perfect if you’re just starting out. Take your time, look at all the choices, and pick the one that just makes the most sense for you. It’ll make a big difference in how smooth everything runs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an online payment system?

An online payment system is like a digital cash register for websites. It helps businesses take money from customers over the internet. Think of it as the bridge that connects your customer’s bank account or credit card to your business’s bank account, making sure the money gets to you safely and quickly.

Why are online payment systems necessary?

These systems are super important for any business that sells things online. Without them, customers couldn’t pay for items on your website. They make shopping easy and safe for customers, which means more sales for your business. They also help keep your money and customer information secure.

How does the online payment process work?

When a customer buys something on your website, they put in their payment details. This info goes to the online payment system. The system then checks with the bank to make sure the customer has enough money and that the card is real. Once everything is approved, the money moves from the customer to you, and the sale is complete. It all happens very fast!

How do I choose the best online payment system for my business?

When picking an online payment system, you should think about a few things. First, how safe is it? You want to protect your customers’ information. Second, what are the costs? Some systems charge more than others. Third, can it connect with other tools you use for your business? And finally, what kinds of payments does it accept? You want to make sure your customers can pay how they like.

What do these online payment terms mean?

Yes, there are some common terms. A ‘payment gateway’ is the technology that sends payment info from your website to the payment processor. A ‘payment processor’ is the company that handles the actual money transfer between banks. ‘Merchant account’ is a special bank account where your business holds money from credit card sales before it goes to your main bank account. ‘PCI compliance’ means following rules to keep credit card data safe.

Which online payment system is best for specific business needs?

For businesses with lots of sales, Braintree is a great choice. If you need to send invoices or take payments in person, Helcim is excellent. Square is best if you sell in many different ways, like online and in a physical store. And for businesses that sell all over the world, Adyen is the top pick.