Which is the best payment gateway in Singapore in 2026? Top 7 choices compared for your business needs.

Key takeaways

• Payment gateways allow businesses to accept and process digital wallets, debit cards, and credit cards, making them essential for selling and getting paid online.

• Popular payment gateway providers in Singapore include Airwallex, PayPal, Stripe, Adyen, and Shopify Payments. Each are suited to different business models and levels of complexity.

• Airwallex supports 160+ local payment methods and like-for-like settlements in 20+ currencies, giving businesses more control over FX costs and international revenue.

Singaporean online shoppers are highly active, bordering on hyperactive. Around 71% of the population shops online¹, more than half buy at least once a week, and average order values are as high as US$137.4.² If there was ever a country where choosing the right payment gateway partner really matters, Singapore is it.

Whether you’re looking for low fees, the ability to get paid and keep the money in the same currency your customers pay (known as like-for-like settlement), or support for local and global payment methods, there are several factors to consider when selecting a payment gateway provider.

In this article, we compare the top seven payment gateway providers in Singapore and help you choose the best payment gateway for your business.

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is the technology that lets you accept online payments by securely processing payments from credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets. It captures a customer’s payment details at checkout, sends them to the relevant financial institutions for approval, and confirms whether the payment can be completed.

Payment gateways sit between your business, your customer’s bank, and your merchant’s bank. They handle payment processing in the background so you can accept payments reliably, protect sensitive payment data, and offer the payment methods your customers expect. To learn more about the full technical flow, read our article on payment gateways.

Benefits of choosing the right payment gateway for your business

Choosing the right payment gateway affects revenue capture, cost, and risk. In Singapore, 4.95 million people are expected to shop online by 2029³. This means even small improvements to your payment experience can affect how much of that demand you actually convert into paid transactions.

1. Higher conversion rates and fewer abandoned carts

Customers complete more online transactions when you offer familiar, preferred payment methods. This includes credit cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and local options such as PayNow and relevant Buy Now, Pay Later providers.

Our Cross-Border eCommerce Report found that 77% of consumers are likely to abandon a cart if their preferred payment method isn’t available, so the payment methods your gateway supports have a direct impact on conversion and revenue.

2. Lower fraud exposure and fewer chargebacks

A good payment gateway includes fraud prevention tools that reduce unauthorised access without blocking genuine customers. Look for 3D Secure, tokenisation, velocity checks, and rule-based risk controls that flag unusual payment details or repeated attempts across locations. The right setup helps you reduce chargebacks and protect sensitive payment data.

3. Cleaner payment processing and less manual work for finance teams

Better payment processing gives you clearer payment data for reconciliation, refunds, and reporting. Many gateways also support recurring payments and subscription billing, which helps you reduce manual follow-ups on failed bank transfers or expired cards.

4. Faster settlement and tighter cash flow control

When approvals come back quickly from a customer’s bank and funds settle predictably, you get a tighter view of your cash flow. That transparency is essential when you're paying suppliers, managing inventory, or timing international payments.

Top 7 payment gateway providers in Singapore

Singapore businesses have plenty of choice from global and local payment gateway providers, each offering different combinations of payment methods, fees, and currency support. The table below compares the key differences to help you assess which option best fits your business.

The information in this table has been reviewed to be accurate as of 1 January 2026.

Airwallex

Airwallex is a global payment gateway and financial operations platform built for businesses that need to accept customer payments across borders while managing global payments, FX, and cash flow in one place. It is well suited to eCommerce businesses, platforms, and growing companies that want to support a wide range of payment methods, reduce currency conversion costs, and centralise payment processing.

Beyond online payments, Airwallex combines payment gateway capabilities with multi-currency accounts, cards, and expense management. This makes it a practical choice for finance teams that want tighter control over international payments, clearer visibility over customer payments, and fewer third-party payment providers across their business processes.

Airwallex key features

• Accepts card payments and 160+ local payment methods, including GrabPay, WeChat Pay, PbBa, and ACH direct debit.

• Like-for-like settlement in 20+ currencies, helping you avoid unnecessary currency conversion on customer payments.

• Payment Links to accept payments directly via URL or QR code, without a website or complex integration.

• No-code plugins for Shopify and other eCommerce platforms, plus hosted checkout pages and application programming interface (APIs).

• Built-in fraud prevention tools and pre-chargeback programmes to reduce disputes and unauthorised access.

Airwallex pricing and fees

• Domestic cards and wallets: 3.30% + S$0.50 per transaction

• International cards and wallets: 3.60% + S$0.50 per transaction

• Local payment methods: S$0.50 + local payment method fee

Airwallex pros and cons

PayPal

PayPal is a long-established payment gateway provider best known for its consumer-facing digital wallet and global reach. It suits eCommerce sellers, service businesses, and SMEs that want a familiar checkout option for international customers, straightforward setup, and built-in support for fraud protection and dispute management.

PayPal key features

• Accepts card payments, debit cards, PayPal Wallet, and bank transfers for online payments.

• Operates in 200+ markets, supporting international payments and cross-border transactions.

• No-code setup with button-based checkout and simple integrations for eCommerce platforms.

• Supports recurring payments, invoicing, and subscription billing.

• Built-in dispute, chargeback, and fraud protection tools.

PayPal pricing and fees

• Domestic card payments: 3.9% + S$0.50 per transaction

• International card payments: 4.4% + fixed fee per transaction

• Local payment methods: 3.4% + fixed fee per transaction

PayPal pros and cons

Stripe

Stripe is a payment gateway built for eCommerce, Software as a Service (SaaS), and marketplace businesses that need flexible online payment processing and the ability to scale globally. It suits teams that want deep control over checkout, support for multiple currencies, and tools for recurring billing, subscriptions, and online transactions across markets.

Stripe key features

• Accepts card payments, digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and local payment methods such as PayNow and GrabPay.

• Support for 100+ local payment methods and 135+ currencies for global payments.

• Flexible checkout options, from hosted payment pages to fully custom APIs.

• Payment Links to accept payments directly without building a full checkout.

• Subscription billing, invoicing, and marketplace payouts through Stripe Billing and Stripe Connect.

Stripe pricing and fees

• Domestic cards and wallets: 3.4% + S$0.50 per transaction

• International cards and wallets: 3.9% + S$0.50 per transaction

• Currency conversion: additional 2% FX fee when conversion is required

• Local payment methods: 0.8–3.4% + payment method fee, depending on the method

Stripe pros and cons

For more information, read our detailed Stripe payment gateway review.

Adyen

Adyen is an enterprise-grade payment gateway designed for businesses that operate across online, in-store, and mobile channels and need a single platform to manage payment processing at scale. It is best suited to fast-growing eCommerce, retail, and marketplace businesses with consistent transaction volumes and more complex payment requirements.

Adyen key features

• Accepts 100+ local payment methods across APAC, Europe, the UK, and the US, including cards, wallets, BNPL, and PayNow.

• POS terminals and in-store payment solutions alongside online and in-app checkout.

• Unified dashboard for online, in-person, and mobile transactions to simplify reconciliation and reporting.

• Like-for-like settlement available in SGD, HKD, and USD for Singapore-based merchants.

• Advanced fraud protection and smart authentication to improve authorisation rates.

Adyen pricing and fees

• Domestic and international card payments: €0.11 + Interchange++ + 0.6% per transaction

• Local payment methods: €0.11 + local payment method fee per transaction

Adyen pros and cons

For more information, read our detailed Adyen guide.

Shopify Payments

Shopify Payments is a built-in payment gateway for Shopify merchants that want to accept online payments without setting up a separate third-party payment provider. It is best suited to eCommerce businesses that run entirely on Shopify and value quick setup, centralised operations, and tight integration with the Shopify checkout and admin dashboard.

Shopify Payments key features

• Accepts card payments directly within the Shopify checkout, without external payment gateway setup.

• Built-in fraud analysis tools to assess risk and help prevent unauthorised transactions.

• Customisable checkout branding to match your storefront and customer experience.

• One dashboard to manage orders, payouts, fraud settings, and payment data.

Shopify Payments pricing and fees

• Domestic and international card payments: varies by Shopify plan, card type, and issuing region

• Currency conversion fees: 2% 

• Third-party payment provider fees: 0.6%–2%, depending on Shopify plan

• Local payment methods: varies depending on Shopify plan and market availability

Shopify Payments pros and cons

For more information, read our detailed Shopify Payments guide.

HitPay

HitPay is a Singapore-based payment gateway built for SMEs that want to accept customer payments through PayNow, cards, and popular digital wallets with minimal setup. It suits retail, service, and eCommerce businesses that need a simple way to handle online payments and in-person payments while keeping fees predictable and operations easy to manage.

HitPay key features

• Accepts card payments, PayNow QR, GrabPay, ShopeePay, and BNPL options such as Atome and GrabPay PayLater.

• Support for Apple Pay and Google Pay for digital wallet payments.

• QR code payments, Tap to Pay, and POS terminals for in-person payments.

• Recurring billing and subscription payments with flexible billing cycles.

• No setup fees or monthly fees for merchants.

HitPay pricing and fees

• Domestic cards: 2.8% + S$0.50 per transaction

• International cards: 3.65% + S$0.50 per transaction + 2% FX surcharge

• PayNow (online): 0.65% + S$0.30 for transactions ≥ S$100, or 0.9% (min. S$0.20) for transactions < S$100

• GrabPay and BNPL methods: 3%–5.5% per transaction

HitPay pros and cons

Opn Payments (Omise)

Opn Payments, now known as Omise, is a regional payment gateway designed for SMEs and online sellers that want a straightforward way to accept customer payments across Southeast Asia and Japan. It suits businesses that prioritise simple checkout, recurring billing, and support for popular local payment methods without complex setup or long-term contracts.

Opn Payments key features

• Accepts card payments, PayNow, OCBC Digital, and regional e-wallets such as Alipay+, GrabPay, and ShopeePay.

• Payment Links+ to accept payments without a website or ecommerce store.

• Support for recurring billing and subscription payments.

• Basic fraud prevention checks and dispute management tools.

• Integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento, plus APIs for custom builds.

Opn Payments pricing and fees

• Domestic and international cards: 3.30% + S$0.30 per transaction

• PayNow and OCBC Digital: 1.00% + S$0.15 per transaction

• GrabPay and ShopeePay: 2.80% + S$0.15 per transaction

• Alipay and Alipay+: 2.90% + S$0.15 per transaction

• Atome (BNPL): 5.50% + S$0.15 per transaction

• Bank transfers: Free

Opn Payments pros and cons

Factors to consider when choosing a payment gateway for your business

It may be tempting to choose the payment gateway with the lowest fees in Singapore, but there’s more to consider than just cost. When assessing different online payment solutions and payment gateway providers, evaluate these five factors:

1. Fee schedule and pricing models

2. Fraud detection

3. Security features

4. Local and alternative payment methods 

5. Integration options

Fee schedule and pricing models

Examine the payment gateway’s complete fee structure, including setup fees, monthly transaction fees, and any hidden charges. Watch for additional costs such as cross-border fees, currency conversion fees, or minimum usage penalties. Check whether you can choose between Interchange++ pricing or blended pricing, as this affects how predictable your transaction fees and cash flow will be over time. Keep in mind that the lowest advertised fees might not always be the best choice, especially if it comes at the expense of important features.

Fraud detection

A good payment gateway should protect your business from fraudulent transactions and minimise chargebacks. Look for fraud prevention tools like real-time transaction monitoring and 3D Secure authentication, which add an extra layer of verification and reduce the risk of unauthorised purchases during online transactions.

Security features

Your payment gateway must keep customer data safe and secure. Ensure it complies with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and any relevant local requirements in the regions where your business operates. Features like network tokenisation can also enhance security by helping protect sensitive payment data and reduce the risk of data breaches.

Local and alternative payment methods

If you plan to sell regionally or globally, your payment gateway should support local payment methods and alternative payment methods to reduce cart abandonment rates and drive higher sales. It should also help you save on currency conversion fees by offering like-for-like settlements, especially when accepting payments in multiple currencies. Airwallex is one provider that supports this feature.

Integration options

A payment gateway should be easy to install and integrate with your eCommerce platform or accounting software, so payment processing fits smoothly into your existing business processes. Most payment providers are compatible with leading eCommerce platforms and provide integration options ranging from no-code plugins to fully customisable APIs.

How does a payment gateway work?

Payment gateways capture the customer’s details and transmit them to their bank, who then authorises the payment. In other words, it functions as the digital bridge between your customers, their banks, and your business. At a high level, this is what happens during an online card payment:

Step 1: Customer makes a purchase 

The customer initiates the transaction by entering their payment details at your website’s checkout page. If they’re using a credit or debit card, they need to enter their card number, card verification value (CVV) code, and expiration date.

Step 2: Payment gateway encrypts data

The payment gateway encrypts the customer’s payment information and sends it to the acquiring bank, or payment processor, to ensure sensitive card data is transmitted securely.

Step 3: Authorisation request

The acquiring bank passes the transaction details through the card network to the issuing bank, which checks the card’s validity and available balance.

Step 4: Bank performs fraud checks

The issuing bank performs fraud checks and confirms whether the transaction should be approved or declined, often using tools like 3D Secure or risk scoring.

Step 5: Bank confirms transaction 

The approval or decline message is sent back through the card network and payment gateway to your website, where the customer sees a payment confirmation or is prompted to try another payment method.

Step 6: Settlement of funds

Once approved, funds are settled from the customer’s bank to your business account, typically in batches and within a few business days, depending on the payment gateway provider.

Airwallex Payments: the faster, more cost-effective solution for global payments

Many Singapore businesses start with payment setups that work well enough. Cards go through, wallets function, and funds land in the bank. The cracks appear later, when growth pushes beyond one market, one currency, or one customer profile. Each new region adds payment methods, settlement complexity, FX exposure, and reconciliation effort that compounds quietly over time.

Airwallex Checkout addresses that pressure at the point it matters most. It lets Singapore businesses accept 160+ local payment methods across 180+ countries and settle like-for-like in 20 currencies. Funds stay in the same currency customers use at checkout, which removes forced conversion, reduces FX leakage, and keeps margins visible as international volumes increase.

Motherswork, a Southeast Asia–wide omnichannel mother-and-baby retailer headquartered in Singapore, experienced these benefits as it expanded into China and Vietnam. High FX costs, limited local payment options, and documentation-heavy cross-border transfers were squeezing margins and slowing cash flow. 

After switching to Airwallex, including Airwallex Checkout and local payment rails, Motherswork introduced preferred local payment methods, cut international transaction fees by an average of 23% in just three months, lifted overall conversion by 29%, increased average order value by 4%, and now sees around 95% of transfers arrive within the same day. 

Airwallex Checkout integrates cleanly into existing setups. You can choose no-code plugins, hosted checkout, Payment Links, or API-based builds. Built-in fraud prevention, adaptive 3D Secure, and compliance with PCI DSS, SOC1, and SOC2 protect revenue without adding steps at checkout.

Beyond payments, Airwallex brings your whole financial stack together in one platform. With an Airwallex Business Account, Singapore businesses manage collections, FX, payouts, cards, and expenses from a single dashboard. Global Accounts, Corporate Cards, and local-rail transfers sit alongside Checkout, reducing operational drag as international activity grows. That gives finance teams the strongest possible foundations as the business grows beyond Singapore.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the best software for accepting online payments in 2026?

The best payment software depends on where you sell, how you get paid, and how complex your setup looks today. In Singapore, platforms like Airwallex, Stripe, PayPal, and HitPay stand out for reliability, security, and local payment coverage. Businesses with international customers often prioritise gateways that support local payment methods, multi-currency pricing, and like-for-like settlement.

What currencies and payment methods are supported by payment gateways?

Payment gateways can accept credit and debit card payments from major networks like Visa or Mastercard, along with digital wallets such as Apple Pay, and bank transfers. Some even support local payment methods like GrabPay and WeChat Pay. Your chosen payment gateway will have a list of supported payment methods.

Most payment gateways in Singapore support major currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP, but they often convert them into SGD by default. If your business processes a large volume of foreign currency transactions, choose a payment gateway with like-for-like settlement. This means you can accept foreign currencies without converting them, which helps you avoid unnecessary conversion fees.

What are the safest payment methods when banking or trading online?

Card payments with 3D Secure, bank transfers through regulated networks, and major digital wallets rank among the safest online payment methods. These options use encryption, tokenisation, and real-time fraud monitoring to protect sensitive data. Security ultimately depends on the gateway’s compliance with standards like PCI DSS and its fraud prevention controls.

How long does it take to set up a payment gateway?

The time required to set up a payment gateway varies from a few hours to several weeks, depending on your chosen integration option. 

If you're using an out-of-the-box solution without customisation needs or a no-code eCommerce plugin, you might get started in just a few hours. However, a fully customised setup with specific integration requirements may take one to two weeks to complete. For an accurate timeline that aligns with your business needs, check with your payment gateway provider.

Can I integrate a payment gateway with my existing website or eCommerce platform?

Yes. Most payment gateways, including Airwallex, integrate with eCommerce platforms like Shopify or Magento. If your website runs on these platforms, you can easily add payment processing capabilities using a plugin. If you're unsure how to proceed, your payment gateway provider can offer guidance or direct integration support.

What types of businesses will benefit from using payment gateways?

Payment gateways support far more than eCommerce stores. Service-based businesses, healthcare providers, education institutions, event organisers, utility companies, and digital content creators all use payment gateways to collect payments online. Any business that invoices customers, sells subscriptions, or accepts remote payments benefits from digital payment acceptance.

What’s the difference between a payment gateway and a POS system?

A payment gateway processes online and in-app payments. A POS system handles in-person payments through physical terminals or Tap to Pay. Some providers offer both, allowing businesses to manage online and offline payments from one dashboard.

Do payment gateways offer fraud protection and chargeback management?

Payment gateways like Airwallex, Stripe, and PayPal have built-in fraud protection and chargeback management. These anti-fraud tools look out for suspicious transactions such as multiple attempts to use a card from different locations. They also track IP addresses and combine data points to assess risk. 

However, fraud prevention tools can mistakenly block valid transactions, leading to customer frustration. Airwallex’s fraud engine has features that let businesses customise settings based on their risk appetite, decide when to use 3D Secure authentication, or automatically reject transactions.

Sources

1. https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_c98105aa8d0585e55e44cd3d2c3384dd/view

2. https://www.statista.com/topics/9919/e-commerce-in-singapore/#topicOverview

3. https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1331952/number-of-e-commerce-users-singapore

4. https://www.airwallex.com/docs/payments/payment-methods/apac

5. https://www.paypal.com/sg/cshelp/article/what-payment-methods-can-i-use-with-paypal-help468

6. https://docs.stripe.com/payments/payment-methods/overview

7. https://www.adyen.com/payment-methods

8. https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments/shopify-payments/supported-countries/singapore

9. https://docs.hitpayapp.com/payments/payments#supported-payment-methods

10. https://docs.omise.co/payment-methods/singapore

11. https://www.shopify.com/sg/pricing?country=sg&lang=en

12. https://www.paypal.com/sg/business/paypal-business-fees

13. https://stripe.com/en-sg/pricing

14. https://www.adyen.com/pricing

15. https://www.shopify.com/sg/blog/credit-card-processing-fees

16. https://hitpayapp.com/pricing

17. https://omise.co/en/pricing/singapore

This publication does not constitute legal, tax, or professional advice from Airwallex, nor substitute seeking such advice, and makes no express or implied representations / warranties / guarantees regarding content accuracy, completeness, or currency. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [[email protected]]. Airwallex (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (201626561Z) is licensed as a Major Payment Institution and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.