Thanks to the pandemic, there has been a massive increase in online shopping, with more people buying online than ever before. This has made payment gateways even more necessary for businesses to meet this demand and influx of online consumers in order to stay competitive. Now more than ever, companies realise just how important payment gateways are.

No matter the size of your business, if you want to offer online card payments, you need to use a safe and secure payment gateway. And with all the options available, businesses are spoiled for choice. However, not all payment gateways are equal, and you need to do your research before deciding on one. Here we delve into the best payment gateways of 2021.

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is a merchant service that authorises online payment processing for businesses. It lets businesses accept payment through their websites, providing a safe and reassuring user experience for customers wanting a quick yet secure payment option.

When customers make a purchase online using a payment gateway, their card information is sent to the credit card network where it is processed, and the payment information is then transferred back to the business along with whether the payment was authorised or not. If the payment is authorised, the order is completed.

10 best payment gateways in 2021

Before deciding which payment gateway is best for your business, there are a number of factors you need to consider first, such as which payment methods customers use the most, as some payment gateways don’t accept payments from certain card issuers or payment portals.

To simplify things, here are the best payment gateways available in 2021.

1. Amazon Pay

Amazon Pay might be considered a relatively new payment gateway compared to giants like PayPal, but it is by no means less successful. Simple and affordable, Amazon Pay is great for any business that wants an international payment gateway that is not too costly or complicated.

Amazon Pay advantages:

  • No membership, transaction, currency conversion or other fees added to transactions with the merchant
  • Multiple payment options
  • Instant refunds (depending on payment methods used)
  • User-friendly
  • Detailed resources available for setup and use
  • Easy to integrate
  • International – businesses can accept payments from anywhere
  • Great customer support
  • Secure payment processing with encryption
  • Supports many currencies

Amazon Pay makes checking out that much easier for consumers using information already stored in their Amazon account to make payments. This also makes it easier for businesses and streamlines the transaction process for both parties.

2. Authorize.net

Authorize.net comes from Visa and provides businesses considered as high-risk with the opportunity to safely and securely accept payments and manage their accounts. This payment gateway can approve transactions within seconds.

Authorize.net makes transactions safe and easy and makes an effort to ensure transactions process quickly.

Authorize.net advantages:

  • PCI-compliant
  • Automatic recurring payments
  • Instant card approval/denial
  • Invoice system makes keeping track of transactions effortless
  • Inventory tracking
  • Safely stores payment information
  • Easy to integrate
  • International – businesses can accept payments from anywhere
  • 24/7 customer support from a team of experts
  • Secure payment processing with encryption

Authorize.net is the perfect solution for high-risk businesses. Unlike many other payment gateways, Authorize.net specialises in these kinds of businesses, making the processing of transactions easier while simultaneously keeping the company safe and secure.

3. Opayo

Formerly Known as Sage Pay, Opayo is another all-in-one payment gateway that offers businesses the chance to create a secure and efficient checkout system that suits their image.

Opayo records all transactions in your Sage accounting software, allowing you to keep track of your income and expenses.

Opayo advantages:

  • Auto-invoicing
  • Can take payments over the phone
  • Flexible customisation options
  • User-friendly
  • Full payment solution
  • Free fraud screening
  • Automatically records transactions in Sage accounting software
  • Reporting and analytics available
  • Reasonable rates
  • Great customer service

Opayo is the most popular among small businesses with its small business packages that start from only £25 per month. It is a perfect package for startups getting off the ground.

4. Adyen

Adyen is a payment platform that supports multiple payment methods internationally. This platform is popular with famous corporations such as Uber and Mango, and with good reason.

Adyen allows businesses to accept payments made across the board, from a single platform, streamlining the whole process.

Furthermore, Adyen allows businesses to analyse transaction data to see if any changes need to be made to products or services and has a tool that searches through the data to identify any cases of fraud.

Adyen advantages:

  • Customer support from a team of experts
  • Supports multiple currencies
  • Seamless
  • Used by famous brands
  • Provides data insights
  • Inexpensive – no monthly, PCI compliance, or setup fees
  • All-in-one payment solution
  • User-friendly
  • One-click recurring payments
  • Risk management

Adyen is a one-stop single platform solution that helps businesses save money and grow successfully.

5. 2Checkout

All-in-one payment platform 2Checkout simplifies transactions for both businesses and customers. The platform was created to help increase businesses’ revenue online and quickly expand by streamlining transaction processes.

2Checkout advantages:

  • Only pay for what you want
  • Risk Management & Compliance
  • International – businesses can accept payments from anywhere
  • Flexibility
  • Advanced fraud protection
  • PCI-compliant
  • User-friendly
  • Expert support team
  • Reasonable pricing in most countries
  • Easy integration
  • Customisable
  • Multiple payment methods accepted
  • Offers recurring billing

As can be seen, 2Checkout offers several perks to businesses and customers, along with maximising sales and making online sales effortless. 2Checkout was created with businesses in mind and the goal to help them expand.

6. Braintree

Braintree was bought by PayPal in 2014 and is a great option for startups. It is a sleek and straightforward platform that streamlines the checkout process.

Braintree is an easy-to-use payment gateway that accepts most payment methods and even in-store transactions using a mobile app and PayPal Here card reader (as it is a subsidiary of PayPal).

Another feature is the Braintree vault, which allows businesses to share payment information securely with trusted parties.

Braintree advantages:

  • Advanced fraud protection
  • Secure payment processing with encryption
  • Multiple payment methods accepted
  • Recurring billing
  • Easy integration with integration support
  • Support via phone and email
  • Reporting available
  • Third-party integration
  • User-friendly

As a subsidiary of PayPal, Braintree is backed by one of the most trusted and reputable brands in the world, allowing businesses to use the platform to expand their reach and increase growth safely.

7. Square

Believed to be one of the best payment gateways for brick and mortar businesses, with in-store and online transactions available. No setup costs are needed, and a free mobile card reader is provided. Just a smartphone or tablet is required to accept transactions, making it perfect for street vendors or other small businesses.

Square advantages:

  • No setup costs or added fees
  • Free POS app
  • Easy setup – simply download the software and use the free plugin mobile credit card reader for transactions
  • User-friendly
  • Free magstripe reader
  • Multiple payment methods accepted (except for PayPal)
  • Secure and complies with regulations
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Offline payments accepted
  • Expert resources available

Square has everything a small business needs to handle transactions quickly and efficiently without spending too much money.

8. Cardstream

Cardstream is a fully customisable payment gateway that concentrates on helping white-label partners expand their business. While it may not be the best choice for those who want a simple, one-stop solution, thanks to quite an involved setup process, many other benefits make Cardstream a popular payment gateway.

Cardstream advantages:

  • Fully customisable
  • Low cost
  • Free setup
  • No transaction limit
  • Multiple payment methods accepted
  • Recurring billing
  • Secure
  • Branded receipts

Cardstream is the payment gateway for businesses wanting to create a professional-looking brand and experience for customers by allowing them to create branded pages and receipts for transactions.

9. LumiPay

LumiPay is a reliable payment gateway that is perfected for high-risk and small businesses. It is a payment gateway provider that helps you find the best payment platform for your business. All the research and heavy lifting are done for you.

LumiPay advantages:

  • Secure
  • Low rates
  • High approvals
  • Fast payments
  • Intuitive fraud protection
  • Processes payments other payment gateways won’t
  • Free from interest of acquiring banks
  • Attention to detail
  • Great support via phone and email

LumiPay is a one-click solution to process payments that other payment gateways (such as PayPal) won’t.

10. Klarna

Klarna is a Swedish company that has become one of the biggest payment gateways in Europe and the UK, with millions of users. There are many benefits that make Klarna such a popular payment gateway, especially since it minimises risk for both businesses and customers.

Klarna advantages:

  • Business paid at checkout
  • 24/7 customer service
  • Takes all the risk
  • Customisable
  • Secure and complies with regulations
  • User-friendly
  • Accepts multiple currencies
  • Payment assured
  • Simple checkout experience
  • Customers can pay in instalments/after delivery

Klarna’s buy now pay later scheme can be beneficial to both your business and customers. Not only does it handle all the credit risk, but it also makes transactions quick, safe, and easy for customers.

Key takeaways

Hopefully, this list of the best payment gateways of 2021 has helped you make a decision. However, if you’re still not sure which of the best payment gateways are suitable for your business, we’ve got a solution for you.

Let LumiPay help you make the right choice for your business’ online payments. For more information, go here.