Compare the top 8 payment gateway providers & services in Australia 2025

Key takeaways

• A payment gateway is the secure tech that processes online payments between your checkout and your customer’s bank.

• Choosing the right payment gateway in Australia can reduce cart abandonment, FX costs and payment failures.

• This guide compares 8 leading payment gateway providers in Australia for 2025 to help you pick the best fit for your business.

Your checkout page is where sales happen or fall apart. After investing in marketing, product development, and customer acquisition, the last thing you want is to lose a sale because your payment gateway creates friction at the final step.

Choosing the best payment gateway for your Australian business means finding a solution that keeps checkout smooth, secure, and fast. With the right payment gateway service provider, you can reduce cart abandonment, accept payments from customers worldwide, and get paid faster.

This guide compares seven of the best payment gateway providers in Australia to help you find the right fit.

What is a payment gateway provider or service?

A payment gateway is the technology that sits between your checkout page and your customer's bank. When someone clicks "pay" on your website, the payment gateway captures their card details, encrypts the data, and sends it through the payment network for approval.

Think of it as a secure tunnel that protects sensitive payment information as it travels from your customer to their bank and back to you. The best payment gateways in Australia will do this in seconds, with minimal friction for your customer.

Your gateway affects three critical things: how fast transactions process, how secure customer data stays, and how many payment methods you can accept. A clunky gateway means abandoned carts. A secure, fast gateway means more completed sales.

How do payment gateway providers work?

Payment gateways work by securely transmitting your payment information from the merchant. It then verifies the transaction with your bank or credit card company, ensuring funds are transferred to the merchant. Payment gateways also handle fraud detection and chargeback processing, protecting both the customer and the merchant.

Payment gateway vs payment processor: what's the difference?

People often use these terms interchangeably, but they're different parts of the payment journey.

Your payment gateway is the customer-facing technology. It lives on your checkout page, captures payment details, and encrypts data before sending it for processing. This is what your customers interact with directly.

Your payment processor works behind the scenes, communicating with banks and card networks to move money from your customer's account to yours.

Many modern payment gateway providers in Australia bundle both services together. Airwallex, for example, acts as both your gateway and processor, which simplifies setup and often reduces your costs since you're not paying multiple providers.

The top 8 payment gateway providers in 2025

Finding the best payment gateway in Australia depends on your business type, transaction volume, and where your customers are located. Here are eight leading options, each with different strengths:

• Adyen: Global gateway with advanced routing and optimisation for enterprise businesses.

• Airwallex: Multi-currency gateway with like-for-like settlement, ideal for cross-border commerce.

• GoCardless: Direct Debit specialist for subscription and recurring payment models.

• Stripe: Developer-friendly platform with powerful APIs and 100+ payment methods.

• Square: Versatile POS and online payments platform with strong in-person and eCommerce integration.

• PayPal: Trusted name recognition with one-click checkout for consumer familiarity.

• Shopify: Integrated gateway built specifically for Shopify store owners.

• Worldpay: Established provider with extensive payment method support across channels.

Top features to look for in a payment gateway service provider

Not all payment gateway service providers are created equal. When comparing options, focus on the features that directly impact your checkout conversion and operational efficiency:

• Checkout experience: Your gateway should keep customers on your site throughout the payment process. Redirecting to external pages increases cart abandonment. The best payment gateways offer embedded checkout that matches your branding

• Payment method coverage: Can you accept the payment methods your customers prefer? This includes credit cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, buy-now-pay-later options, and local payment methods for international customers

• Security and compliance: Your gateway must be PCI DSS compliant to protect card data. Look for features like tokenisation, 3D Secure authentication, and fraud detection tools that work in real-time without creating friction.

• Integration ease: The gateway should connect to your eCommerce platform, accounting software, and other tools without requiring a development team. No-code integrations save time and reduce technical debt.

• Settlement speed: How quickly do funds hit your account? Some gateways settle same-day, others take 2–3 business days. Faster settlement improves cash flow.

• Multi-currency support: If you sell internationally, check whether the gateway lets customers pay in their local currency and how much you'll pay in conversion fees.

• Transaction success rates: Even small improvements in approval rates (the percentage of payments that successfully processed) can significantly impact revenue. The best payment gateway providers optimise routing to increase approvals.

• Transparent pricing: Look for clear fee structures with no hidden charges. Some gateways quote low rates but add fees for currency conversion, chargebacks, or international cards that quickly add up.

Compare the top payment gateway providers in 2025

*Airwallex fee waived with $5,000 monthly deposits or $10,000 minimum balance

Key features of the top 8 payment gateway providers

Adyen

Adyen operates as both gateway and processor, handling payments across online, mobile, and in-store channels. The platform supports over 250 payment methods and 150+ currencies across 200+ countries.¹

Adyen's payment routing technology automatically sends transactions through the path most likely to succeed, which improves authorisation rates. For Australian businesses with international revenue, the gateway processes locally in each market to reduce cross-border fees. Adyen has a Sydney office with 24/7 support.

Adyen’s pricing is an Interchange++ model – you pay the actual interchange fee plus Adyen's markup. Costs vary by transaction type, card brand, and customer location.

Pros 

• Extensive global reach with 250+ payment methods and 150+ currencies

• Payment routing optimisation improves authorisation rates

• Real-time transaction monitoring and analytics

• Sydney office with 24/7 support

Cons

• Complex Interchange++ pricing structure

• Built for enterprise – expensive for smaller businesses

• Requires technical resources for setup

Airwallex

Airwallex is an end-to-end financial platform with a global business account, FX, and innovative features such as our Yield feature that lets you earn returns on held USD and AUD funds. Our payments feature lets you accept 160+ local payment methods across 130+ currencies, with no-code integrations for Shopify, WooCommerce, and other major platforms.

Our key differentiator is like-for-like settlement. Collect payments in 130+ currencies and settle like-for-like in 20+ currencies. When your customers pay in USD, you receive USD. When they pay in EUR, you get EUR. No forced currency conversion means you avoid unnecessary FX fees, saving you up to 80% compared to traditional banks. We offer hosted checkout pages and embeddable payment forms you can brand to match your site.

Beyond payments, we provide multi-currency accounts with local bank details in over 21 currencies, virtual and physical corporate cards, and robust expense management and billing tools to help you manage your business finances.

Our pricing: 1.65% + 30c AUD for local cards (3.4% + 30c for international cards), 0.5-1% for FX conversion. Plans start at $29 AUD/month, waived if you deposit at least $5,000 per month or maintain a $10,000 balance.

Pros

• Like-for-like settlement in 20+ currencies eliminating forced conversions

• Save up to 80% on FX fees vs traditional banks

• 93% of transactions arrive same day, 50% instantly

• All-in-one platform: payments, accounts, corporate cards, and more

• No-code integration with major platforms

• 160+ local payment methods across 130+ currencies

Cons

• Digital-only, no physical branches

• $29 AUD/month fee (waived when you meet the minimum criteria)

• Primarily serves registered companies

• POS hardware still rolling out 

GoCardless 

GoCardless specialises in Direct Debit through Australia's BECS system. Instead of card payments, customers authorise you to pull payments directly from their bank account on agreed dates.

This works well for subscription businesses and recurring payments, but can also be used for one-off payments. Once the Direct Debit mandate is set up, payments happen automatically without manual authorisation each time. This reduces churn from expired cards.

The platform integrates with Xero and QuickBooks for automatic payment reconciliation. Fees start at 1% + 40c AUD for domestic payments. GoCardless supports collections in eight currencies with FX conversion, but you can't hold multi-currency balances.²

Pros 

• Specialises in Direct Debit for recurring or one-off payments

• Lower fees than card processing (1% + 40c)

• Reduces churn from expired cards

• Integrates with Xero and QuickBooks

• Automated payment collection

Cons 

• Direct Debit only – no credit card acceptance

• Limited multi-currency (eight currencies with conversion)

• Best as complementary solution, not standalone

PayPal 

PayPal supports a variety of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal balances. The platform also offers invoicing, subscription payments, and mobile payments. 

PayPal’s widespread acceptance is available for personal and business use. However, PayPal is likely to incur higher fees for business transactions, which in the long-term may affect a business’ bottom line. 

Pricing is higher than alternatives: 2.9% + fixed fee for domestic transactions, 3.9% for international (2.9% + 1% additional), plus currency conversion fees. PayPal lets you hold multi-currency balances, but the FX margins are not as competitive as other platforms.³ 

Pros 

• Widespread consumer trust boosts conversion

• Fast setup with pre-built integrations

• Accepts major cards and digital wallets

• Multi-currency wallet capability

• Buyer and seller protection

Cons

• Higher fees (2.9% + fixed fee domestic, 3.9% international)

• High FX margins on currency conversion

• Disputes favour buyers

• Limited checkout customisation

Square

Square combines payment processing with point-of-sale hardware and business management tools. The platform offers both online and in-person payments in a unified dashboard, making it an option for businesses that sell across multiple channels.

Square offers a flat-rate pricing model with no monthly fees for basic usage. In Australia, card-present transactions are charged at 1.6% for sellers who signed up after May 2024 (1.9% for existing sellers using certain hardware). Online/card not present payments are higher at 2.2% + 30c. ⁴

The platform includes free POS software, invoicing tools, and next-day deposits. Square Reader and Square Terminal provide portable hardware options for accepting tap, chip, and swipe payments.

Pros 

• No monthly fees for basic usage

• Unified online and in-person payment management

• Free next-day deposits

• Strong POS hardware options

• Integrated invoicing and business tools

Cons

• Higher online transaction fees (2.2% + 30c)

• Limited international payment methods

• Account holds reported for some high-volume sellers

• Less customisation than developer-focused alternatives

Stripe

Stripe is a developer-first payment platform that powers online payments for businesses of all sizes. The platform offers extensive APIs, pre-built checkout components, and support for 100+ payment methods across 135+ currencies. ⁵

In Australia, Stripe charges 1.7% + 30c AUD for domestic cards and 3.5% + 30c for international cards. No monthly fees or setup costs apply. The platform also supports BECS Direct Debit at 1% + 30c (capped at A$3.50) and various buy-now-pay-later options. ⁵

Stripe excels in integration flexibility, offering plugins for major eCommerce platforms plus powerful APIs for custom builds. Stripe Radar provides machine learning-based fraud detection, and Stripe Terminal enables in-person payments with compatible card readers.

Pros 

• Extensive API and developer documentation

• 100+ payment methods and 135+ currencies

• No monthly fees or setup costs

• Machine learning fraud detection (Radar)

• Integrates with major eCommerce platforms

Cons

• Higher international card fees (3.5% + 30c)

• May require technical resources for advanced features

• Currency conversion fees for multi-currency payouts

• Phone support limited to higher volume merchants

Shopify 

Shopify Payments is built directly into Shopify stores. The gateway accepts all major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay, with payment forms embedded in your checkout to keep customers on your site.

Pricing ranges from 1.4% to 1.75% + 30c per transaction depending on your Shopify plan. If you use a different gateway, Shopify charges penalty fees of 0.5-2% on top. Settlement takes 1–3 business days.

The gateway only works with Shopify stores, so it's not suitable for multi-platform sellers.⁵

Pros 

• Seamless Shopify integration

• Embedded checkout keeps customers on site

• No extra fees when using Shopify Payments

• Supports major cards and digital wallets

• Auto-syncs with orders and inventory

Cons

• Only works with Shopify stores

• Penalty fees (0.5–2%) for alternative gateways

• Slower settlement (1–3 business days)

• Limited customisation

• Not for multi-platform sellers

WorldPay 

Worldpay operates in 146 countries and supports 126 currencies. The gateway handles online and in-person payments with fraud protection tools and real-time monitoring. High-volume businesses get dedicated account managers.

The platform suffers from legacy infrastructure – the dashboard feels dated, customer support can be slow, and onboarding involves more paperwork than modern competitors.

Pricing: 2.75% + $A$0.37 pay-as-you-go, or A$37.35/month plus per-transaction fees. Fee structures are complex with different rates for credit vs debit cards.⁶

Pros

• Available in 146 countries, supporting 126 currencies 

• Built-in fraud prevention tools

• Flexible payment methods supporting cards and digital wallets 

Cons

• Dated dashboard interface

• Lengthy onboarding

• Complex fee structures

• Inconsistent customer support

• More paperwork than fintech alternatives

What questions to ask when onboarding a payment gateway company

How does checkout work on mobile devices? More than 60% of eCommerce traffic comes from mobile.⁷ Your gateway needs to deliver a smooth mobile checkout experience. Ask to see a demo on an actual phone, not just a desktop browser resized to look like mobile.

Which payment methods can I accept? Beyond Visa and Mastercard, can you offer Apple Pay, Google Pay, Afterpay, or local payment methods for international customers? The more options you provide, the higher your conversion rate.

Where will customer payment data be stored? The best payment gateways tokenise card data, meaning they store an encrypted token instead of actual card numbers. This reduces your PCI compliance burden and protects you if your systems are breached.

What's your average authorisation rate? This tells you what percentage of legitimate transactions successfully process. Even a 1–2% difference in authorisation rates can significantly impact revenue. Ask for data specific to your industry and average transaction value.

How do you handle failed payments? Smart retry logic can recover failed transactions automatically. Some gateways retry immediately, while others wait and retry at optimal times. This matters more for subscription businesses, but it's relevant for everyone.

What integrations are available? Your gateway should connect to your eCommerce platform, accounting software, and other critical tools. Pre-built integrations save development time and reduce errors.

How quickly will I receive funds? Settlement timeframes range from same-day to 3+ business days. Faster access to funds improves cash flow and gives you more flexibility to reinvest in growth.

What happens if I need to move providers? Some gateways make it difficult to export customer data or migrate subscriptions. Before signing, understand the exit process. Can you download transaction history? What about customer payment tokens?

What are all the fees? Get specifics on transaction fees, monthly fees, setup costs, chargeback fees, currency conversion fees, and any other charges. If a provider can't give you straight answers, that's a red flag.

Who can I call when something breaks? Payment issues need immediate attention. Find out if you get a dedicated support contact, what the average response time is, and whether support is available 24/7 or only during business hours.

Why businesses choose Airwallex as their payment gateway

Airwallex combines modern payment technology with the financial infrastructure growing businesses need. Our gateway accepts payments from 180+ countries while eliminating the hidden FX fees that eat into your revenue.

When customers pay you, funds settle in their original currency. No forced conversions, no inflated exchange rates. You decide when and how to convert currencies, saving up to 80% compared to traditional bank rates. 93% of transactions arrive the same day, with 50% arriving instantly.

Our gateway integrates with your existing eCommerce platform in minutes – Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, or custom-built stores. Customers can pay with cards, digital wallets, or local payment methods popular in their region. Beyond the gateway, you get multi-currency accounts with local bank details in 21+ countries, corporate cards, automated accounts payable, and real-time analytics.

Frequently asked questions about payment gateway providers 

What is a payment gateway provider?

A payment gateway service provider supplies the technology that captures payment information from customers and securely transmits it through the payment network for authorisation. The gateway sits between your checkout page and the banking system, encrypting sensitive data and managing the communication between all parties involved in the transaction.

What's the difference between a payment gateway and a payment processor?

A payment gateway captures and encrypts payment data from your customer at checkout. A payment processor communicates with banks and card networks to authorise and settle transactions. Some companies like Airwallex provide both services, while others specialise in just one, requiring you to work with multiple providers.

How much does a payment gateway cost?

Pricing varies significantly between providers. Most charge a percentage of each transaction (typically 1.4% to 2.75%) plus a fixed fee per transaction (usually 30c to 40c AUD). Some add monthly fees, currency conversion charges, or other costs. For an accurate comparison, calculate your total cost based on your specific transaction volume, average sale amount, and where your customers are located.

How do I choose the best payment gateway for my business?

Start by identifying your specific needs. Where are your customers located? What payment methods do they prefer? Do you sell subscriptions or one-time purchases? How quickly do you need access to funds? Then evaluate gateways based on their fee structure, integration capabilities, security features, and customer support quality. The best payment gateway for you depends on your unique situation, not just which provider has the lowest advertised rate.

Are payment gateways secure?

Reputable payment gateways use multiple layers of security including PCI DSS compliance, end-to-end encryption, tokenisation, and fraud detection systems. However, security quality varies between providers. Look for gateways that are PCI Level 1 certified (the highest standard) and use tokenisation to protect stored card data. Ask potential providers about their security track record and what happens if a breach occurs.

Sources

1. https://www.adyen.com/en_AU/pricing

2. https://gocardless.com/en-au/pricing/

3. https://www.paypal.com/au/business/paypal-business-fees

4. https://squareup.com/au/en/payments/our-fees

5. https://stripe.com/au/pricing#standard-pricing

6. https://www.shopify.com/au/pricing

7. https://www.worldpay.com/en-au/pricing

8. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/australia-ecommerce-market

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on our own online research. Airwallex was not able to manually test each tool or provider. The information is provided for educational purposes only and a reader should consider the specific requirements of their business when evaluating providers. This research is reviewed annually. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [[email protected]]. This information doesn’t take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. If you are a customer of Airwallex Pty Ltd (AFSL No. 487221) read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the Direct Services available here.