7 best eCommerce payment gateways for online stores (2026)

Key takeaways:

• Choosing the right eCommerce payment gateway affects your checkout conversion rate, cart abandonment, and ability to accept payments from customers around the world.

• The best gateway for your online store depends on your eCommerce platform, the payment methods your customers expect, and how you handle cross-border revenue.

• Airwallex supports 160+ local payment methods and like-for-like settlement in 20+ currencies, making it a strong choice for Singapore online stores that sell internationally.

Picking the right eCommerce payment gateway is one of the most important decisions you'll make for your online store. It determines which payment methods your customers can use, how much each transaction costs, and how smoothly your checkout runs.

This article compares seven eCommerce payment gateways available to Singapore online stores. For each provider, we cover platform integrations, fees, supported payment methods, and what type of business each gateway suits best.

What is an eCommerce payment gateway?

An eCommerce payment gateway is the technology that sits between your online store and your customer's bank. When a customer checks out, the gateway captures their payment details, encrypts them, and sends them to a payment processor for authorisation. The whole process takes seconds.

Note that payment gateways are not the same as payment processors:

• The gateway handles the front-end: collecting and transmitting payment data securely.

• The processor handles the back-end: verifying funds and moving money between accounts.

For a full breakdown of how they work together, read our guide on payment gateways vs payment processors.

Types of eCommerce payment gateways

There are four main types of eCommerce payment gateways: hosted, self-hosted, API-based, and local bank integration. Each offers a different trade-off between ease of setup and control over the checkout experience.

For a detailed comparison of each type, see our guide to what a payment gateway is and how it works.

Why your eCommerce payment gateway choice matters

The right gateway can meaningfully improve your eCommerce performance, but the wrong one introduces friction, hidden costs, and integration headaches that are hard to undo.

Benefits for eCommerce businesses

The gateway you choose can directly improve how many customers complete a purchase, how secure those transactions are, and how efficiently your store operates across borders. Here is what a well-chosen gateway can do for you:

Higher conversion rates

Customers are more likely to complete a purchase when they see a familiar payment method at checkout. Offering PayNow, GrabPay, or Apple Pay alongside cards can reduce drop-off — especially for first-time buyers who do not want to enter card details.

Fewer chargebacks and fraud losses

A good gateway includes fraud detection tools that flag suspicious transactions before they are processed. This matters for eCommerce stores in particular, where card-not-present fraud is more common than in physical retail.

Stronger data security

Data breaches are costly. The global average cost of a data breach is US$4.4 million, according to IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025.² Payment gateways protect your customers — and your business — through encryption, tokenisation, and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance.

Easier cross-border selling

If you sell to customers outside Singapore, a gateway with multi-currency support lets customers pay in their local currency. Some gateways also offer like-for-like settlement, meaning you receive and hold funds in the same currency your customer paid — avoiding unnecessary conversion fees.

Automation that saves time

Gateways can automate recurring billing, sync with accounting software, and update inventory in real time. For growing eCommerce stores, this reduces manual work across your finance and operations teams.

Limitations to know before you choose

Not every gateway suits every online store. Before committing, it is worth understanding where certain gateways fall short.

Checkout redirection can hurt conversion

Hosted gateways redirect customers to a third-party page to complete payment. For eCommerce stores, this interruption increases the chance of abandonment. If your priority is a smooth, on-brand checkout, a self-hosted or API-based gateway gives you more control.

Fees compound at volume

Transaction fees of 3–4% may seem small on individual orders. At high sales volumes, they add up quickly. Watch for additional charges on currency conversion, chargebacks, and refunds — these can significantly affect your margins.

Platform incompatibility can delay your launch

Not every gateway integrates natively with every eCommerce platform. If your store runs on Shopify or WooCommerce, confirm that your chosen gateway has a tested, maintained plugin, not just a generic API connection. Incompatibility can mean custom development costs and delayed go-live timelines.

7 best eCommerce payment gateways for Singapore online stores

For eCommerce businesses, the right gateway needs to support the payment methods your customers expect, integrate with your store platform without extra development work, and handle cross-border revenue efficiently.

Here’s a quick overview of how the best eCommerce payment gateways in Singapore compare:

The information in this table has been reviewed to be accurate as of 20 April 2026.

1. Airwallex

If your Singapore store sells — or plans to sell — beyond one market, Airwallex is built for exactly that problem. Where most gateways convert your international revenue into SGD by default, Airwallex lets you hold funds and settle like-for-like in 20+ currencies, which is the widest currency coverage of any gateway on this list.

Its local payment method library goes further than most too, spanning PayNow, GrabPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Atome, and more across 180+ countries. Integration flexibility is strong: you get no-code plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento as well as a hosted checkout page, Payment Links, and a full API for custom-built stores.

Worth knowing: Airwallex also acts as an acquirer, which means payments, FX, payouts, and expense management can all be managed in one platform. This reduces the number of providers your finance team needs to work with as you grow.

2. Stripe

Stripe suits eCommerce stores that need reliable infrastructure, strong local payment method coverage, and the flexibility to build custom checkout flows. Its Singapore APM support is one of the stronger sets here, and its native integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce make setup straightforward.

Subscription billing, invoicing, and marketplace payouts are all built in, which gives it an edge for stores with recurring revenue models.

On fees, domestic card rates are in line with the market average. Where costs can escalate is on cross-border orders — currency conversion carries an additional fee on top of the international card surcharge, and like-for-like settlement is limited to SGD and USD only.³

Worth knowing: Stripe's developer tooling and documentation are among the best available. If your team plans to build custom payment flows or integrate deeply with other systems, Stripe gives you more room to do that than most gateways on this list.

3. Shopify Payments

Shopify Payments removes integration friction for Shopify merchants: everything lives in one dashboard with no separate gateway setup required. For stores that sell mainly to card-paying customers and run entirely within the Shopify ecosystem, that simplicity is its strongest argument.

The trade-offs are meaningful, however. PayNow is not natively supported, and accessing local Singapore alternatives typically requires bringing in a secondary provider.⁴ There is no like-for-like settlement in foreign currencies, and pricing is hard to benchmark since rates are tied to your Shopify subscription plan rather than a fixed structure.

Worth knowing: Shopify Payments is most cost-effective when you are already on a higher-tier Shopify plan and selling primarily to card-paying customers in Singapore. If your store needs PayNow or meaningful cross-border capability, using a separate gateway will serve you better.

4. PayPal

PayPal's main advantage is trust: the PayPal button at checkout is instantly recognisable to shoppers worldwide, which can lift conversion among international customers making a first purchase. It integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and most major eCommerce platforms without much technical effort.

However, PayPal's fees are among the highest on this list for both domestic and international card transactions, and you'll pay more to convert currencies as well. Customers are redirected away from your storefront to complete payment, which creates friction and can increase abandonment on mobile.

Worth knowing: PayPal works best as a secondary option alongside a lower-cost primary gateway. It captures international buyers who prefer paying with their PayPal balance, but relying on it as your only checkout method is likely to cost more and convert less.

5. HitPay

HitPay has the richest local Singapore payment method offering of any gateway on this list, supporting PayNow, GrabPay, ShopeePay, Atome, ShopBack Pay, and WeChat Pay alongside cards.⁶ For stores focused on the Singapore market, that depth at checkout is a genuine advantage. On domestic card pricing, HitPay undercuts every other provider here.

There are two things to factor in before choosing it. Using HitPay through a platform plugin carries an extra fee on top of your standard transaction rate — 0.5% additional for Shopify and 0.2% for WooCommerce, Wix, and Magento — which narrows the pricing advantage for platform-based stores.⁶

It also does not offer like-for-like settlement in foreign currencies, making it less suited to stores with significant cross-border revenue.

Worth knowing: HitPay's pricing advantage is most pronounced for stores doing high volumes of PayNow and local wallet transactions direct from their own website. Once plugin fees are factored in, the gap versus other gateways is smaller than the headline rates suggest.

6. Adyen

Adyen is built for scale: it suits larger eCommerce businesses and marketplaces that need to manage high transaction volumes across multiple markets and channels. Its local payment method support in Singapore is solid, and it is one of only two gateways on this list offering like-for-like settlement, though its settlement currency range is narrower than Airwallex.⁷

Its pricing structure is fundamentally different from every other gateway here. Adyen uses Interchange++ pricing, meaning your rate varies by card type and issuing bank rather than following a fixed blended percentage.⁷ This offers more transparency at volume but makes costs harder to forecast for smaller stores.

Setting up Adyen requires custom development work: there are no ready-made plugins for Shopify or WooCommerce, so you will need a developer or technical partner to get it running.⁷

Worth knowing: A minimum monthly invoice applies depending on business model, which makes Adyen impractical for lower-volume stores.⁷

7. WooPayments

WooPayments is the natural starting point for WooCommerce stores that want to accept payments without setting up a separate gateway. It is built by the WooCommerce team, runs entirely within the WooCommerce dashboard, and carries no monthly fees or setup costs.⁸

However, its payment method range is someone limited: it doesn’t support PayNow and the BNPL options that Singapore shoppers increasingly expect.⁸ Like-for-like settlement is not available, and for cross-border orders, costs rise with both an international surcharge and a conversion fee.

Worth knowing: WooPayments only works within WooCommerce. If your store is — and plans to stay — a pure WooCommerce build with a primarily Singapore customer base, it is a clean, low-friction choice. If your needs extend beyond that, a third-party gateway will give you more capability.

How to choose an eCommerce payment gateway

There is no single best gateway for every online store. The right choice depends on how your store is built, who your customers are, and where you plan to grow. These are the questions worth working through before you decide.

Which platform does your store run on?

This is often the most important factor. If you are on Shopify, you need a gateway with a tested Shopify plugin, not just an API connection. Same for WooCommerce.

A gateway that works well in theory but requires custom development to connect to your platform will slow you down and cost more to maintain. Check that your shortlisted gateway has an actively maintained plugin for your specific platform before anything else.

What payment methods do your customers expect?

Singapore shoppers are used to paying with PayNow, GrabPay, and digital wallets. If those options are not at checkout, some customers will leave without buying. The same applies if you sell to customers in other countries — a shopper in Malaysia expects different options than one in China or Australia.

Think about where your orders actually come from, and make sure your gateway covers those markets.

Do you sell internationally?

If yes, pay close attention to how a gateway handles foreign currency. Most gateways convert international payments into SGD automatically and charge a fee to do so. If you receive a lot of orders in USD, EUR, or other currencies, those conversion costs add up.

Look for a gateway that lets you hold funds in the currency your customer paid. This gives you more control and reduces unnecessary fees.

Do you need recurring billing?

If you sell subscriptions or offer payment plans, make sure your gateway supports automated recurring payments natively. Not all gateways handle this well, and adding a separate billing tool creates extra complexity and cost.

Do you want to offer Buy Now, Pay Later?

BNPL options like Atome and GrabPay PayLater are increasingly popular with Singapore shoppers. If your average order value is high enough that customers might hesitate at checkout, offering a BNPL option can improve conversion. Check whether your preferred gateway supports BNPL directly or requires a separate integration.

How do you want to integrate?

If you have a developer, you have more options, including fully custom API builds that give you complete control over the checkout experience. If you do not, look for a gateway with a no-code plugin and a hosted checkout page. Both get you live quickly without technical expertise.

What will it actually cost you?

Look beyond the headline card rate. Factor in international card fees, currency conversion fees, plugin fees, and chargeback costs. A gateway with a lower card rate can end up costing more overall if your order mix includes a lot of international cards or cross-border transactions.

Run the numbers based on your actual order profile, not just the cheapest-looking number on the pricing page.

Why Singapore eCommerce stores choose Airwallex as their payment gateway

Growing an eCommerce store across borders gets complicated fast: more currencies, more payment methods, more providers to manage. Airwallex is designed to simplify that.

Here’s what you get with Airwallex:

You keep more of your international revenue

When a customer pays you in USD, most gateways convert that into SGD straight away and charge you a fee to do it. With Airwallex, you can hold that USD in your account and use it directly: to pay for Meta ad spend, cover a US-based SaaS subscription, or pay an overseas supplier.

This means you avoid double conversions, and reduce your FX fees.

You get access to competitive FX fees

Airwallex’s FX is priced at 0.4 to 0.6% interbank, saving you up to 80% on FX fees. When you do choose to convert, you’ll incur less FX fees.

Your customers can pay the way they prefer

Airwallex supports 160+ local payment methods across 180+ countries — including PayNow, GrabPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay, and Atome in Singapore. This helps reduce cart abandonment and increases conversion rates.

It connects to more than just your checkout

Airwallex combines payment gateway capabilities with multi-currency accounts, corporate cards, and expense management in one place. For growing eCommerce teams, that means fewer tools to manage and a clearer view of cash flow across markets.

Motherswork, a Singapore-based mother-and-baby retailer, switched to Airwallex as it expanded into China and Vietnam. Within three months, it cut international transaction fees by 23%, lifted overall conversion by 29%, and increased average order value by 4%. Watch how they did it.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Do I need a payment gateway for my eCommerce store?

Yes, if you want to accept online payments, a payment gateway is what makes that possible. It captures your customer's payment details at checkout, checks whether the payment can go through, and initiates the transfer of funds to your account. Without one, you cannot process card payments, digital wallets, or PayNow on your website.

Which eCommerce payment gateway is cheapest for Singapore businesses?

It depends on how you sell. HitPay has the lowest standard domestic card rate of the gateways covered in this article, and its PayNow fees are competitive for high-value transactions. However, if you sell through Shopify or WooCommerce, the additional plugin fee narrows that gap. The cheapest option for your store depends on your order mix, your platform, and whether your customers pay mostly by card or by local payment methods like PayNow.

Can I use more than one payment gateway on my online store?

Yes. Most eCommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce allow you to connect multiple gateways. A common approach is to use one gateway as your primary checkout and add PayPal as a secondary option for international buyers who prefer paying with their PayPal balance. Just be aware that managing multiple gateways adds complexity to reconciliation and reporting.

What is like-for-like settlement, and why does it matter?

Like-for-like settlement means you receive funds in the same currency your customer paid — for example, if a US customer pays you in USD, you receive USD rather than having it converted to SGD automatically. This matters because automatic currency conversion comes with a fee. If you process a lot of international orders, those fees compound over time. Of the gateways in this article, Airwallex offers the widest like-for-like settlement coverage across 20+ currencies.

Is PayNow important for eCommerce stores in Singapore?

Yes, particularly if your customers are primarily Singapore-based. PayNow is fast, familiar, and widely used by local shoppers — especially on mobile. Stores that do not offer PayNow at checkout risk losing customers who prefer it over entering card details. Not all gateways support PayNow natively, so it is worth confirming this before you choose a provider.

How long does it take to set up an eCommerce payment gateway?

It depends on how you integrate. If you are using a no-code plugin for Shopify or WooCommerce, you can typically be live within a few hours. A fully custom API integration — where you build a checkout experience from scratch — can take one to two weeks depending on your developer's availability and the gateway's documentation. Gateways like HitPay and Airwallex offer both options, so you can start quickly and build out further as your store grows.

Sources:

1. baymard.com/lists/cart-abandonment-rate

2. ibm.com/reports/data-breach

3. stripe.com/en-sg/pricing

4. help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments/shopify-payments/supported-countries/singapore

5. paypal.com/sg/business/paypal-business-fees

6. hitpayapp.com/sg/pricing

7. adyen.com/pricing

8. woocommerce.com/document/woopayments/fees-and-debits/fees/

This publication does not constitute legal, tax, or professional advice from Airwallex, nor does it 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.