The top 6 international payment gateways for UK businesses in 2025

International payments are now standard for many UK businesses. But managing them well can still be a challenge. Many teams rely on old banking tools or a mix of platforms. This often means high FX fees, slow settlement, and manual work.

If you’re expanding into new markets or working with overseas suppliers, the right gateway matters. You need a solution that does more than move money. It should help reduce costs, support multiple currencies, and connect with your existing systems.

We’ve reviewed the top international payment gateways for UK businesses in 2025, looking at usability, FX rates, currency support, integrations, and compliance. This guide will help you find the option that fits your needs now and as you grow.

What is an international payment gateway?

An international payment gateway allows your business to accept payments from customers around the world – securely, quickly, and in their local currency.

That means an an international payment gateway:

• Authorises and processes cross-border card or alternative payments

• Converts foreign currencies and settles funds

• Screens for fraud and ensures compliance

• Connects with checkout pages or accounting systems

Read more: Top B2B Payment Gateways (And how they differ from B2C)

What’s the difference between domestic and international gateways?

A domestic payment gateway is built to handle local payments in GBP. It supports UK-issued cards, local bank transfers, and payment methods your UK customers expect. It’s fine if your business operates solely in the UK and doesn’t need to accept payments from overseas.

An international payment gateway, on the other hand, is designed for cross-border commerce. It supports multiple currencies, local payment methods from other countries (like iDEAL, Sofort, or UnionPay), and handles foreign exchange. It also ensures compliance with global standards like PSD2, PCI DSS, and 3D Secure.

If your business sells internationally or pays suppliers abroad, an international gateway provides the infrastructure you need to operate globally, without relying on a patchwork of banks or bolt-ons.

What to think about when choosing an international payment gateway for your UK business

Choosing the right gateway comes down to fit. Here are the core factors to consider:

Multi-currency support and global reach

Can you accept payments in major global currencies – and get settled in GBP or the currency of your choice? Look for local payment rails and transparent FX.

Pricing and fees

Understand setup costs, per-transaction fees, FX spreads, and any platform fees. Some providers offer tiered pricing based on volume or features.

Supported payment methods

Cards are just one piece. Think wallets, bank transfers, and BNPL options, depending on your audience and industry.

Security and compliance

Ensure the provider is PCI DSS compliant, supports 3DS2, and offers fraud detection tools. Some also offer automated tax handling for global sales.

Integration and flexibility

Does it plug into your eCommerce platform, accounting stack, or ERP system? Hosted checkouts, APIs, and plugins all matter for speed and scale.

Read more: Top 6 WooCommerce Payments Gateways in the UK in 2025

Customer support

When payments are on the line, responsive support matters. Look for UK-based or time zone-aligned teams.

The best international payment gateways for UK businesses in 2025

Here are our top picks based on feature set, flexibility, and value:

 1. Airwallex

Airwallex (that’s us) is a hassle-free, full-stack global payments platform with built-in multi-currency business accounts, market-leading FX, and local payment rails. It’s designed for UK businesses selling or operating internationally, from ecommerce startups to fast-scaling platforms.

• Multi-Currency Support: 160+ payment methods available, accepted in 180+ countries

• Fees & FX: Pricing varies by transaction type. 1.3% + 20p for UK card transactions. When sending funds, currency conversions at interbank rate + 0.5% - 1%

• Payment Methods: Accept Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, bank transfers, and digital wallets.

• Security & Compliance: FCA-regulated, PCI DSS certified, enterprise-grade infrastructure.

• Integrations: Native plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, Xero, NetSuite. Developer-friendly API for custom builds.

• Support: UK-based support team with onboarding and scaling assistance.

2. PayPal

PayPal is a household name that provides a fast way for UK businesses to accept payments from overseas customers. With good buyer trust, it’s especially popular for DTC ecommerce and marketplaces.

• Multi-Currency Support: 25+ currencies, instant wallet conversion.

• Fees & FX: 3.4% + fixed fee per transaction; additional FX fees apply (up to 4% markup).

• Payment Methods: PayPal balance, credit/debit cards, direct debit.

• Security & Compliance: PCI DSS compliant, two-sided buyer/seller protection.

• Integrations: Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, WooCommerce.

• Support: Help centre, live chat; limited strategic support for smaller businesses.

3. Checkout.com

Checkout.com offers modern, API-first payment processing used by global brands. It’s designed for developers and large-volume merchants needing to manage every stage of the payment flow.

• Multi-Currency Support: 150+ currencies with local acquiring.

• Fees & FX: Custom pricing, typically based on volume and region.

• Payment Methods: Credit/debit cards, APMs, mobile wallets, bank transfers.

• Security & Compliance: PCI DSS Level 1, advanced fraud protection, PSD2 compliance.

• Integrations: Custom API, SDKs, and plugins for Magento, Salesforce, more.

• Support: Dedicated technical and commercial support for enterprise users.

4. Stripe

Stripe offers an helpful API and global capabilities, ideal for SaaS, marketplaces, and modern eCommerce. It has a wide range of integrations and developer tools.

• Multi-Currency Support: 135+ currencies with automatic FX.

• Fees & FX: 1.4% + 20p UK cards, 2.9% + 20p international cards. FX fees around 2%.

• Payment Methods: Cards, wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), bank debits, BNPL.

• Security & Compliance: PCI DSS, strong fraud detection, tokenisation.

• Integrations: Shopify, WooCommerce, Webflow, HubSpot; extensive API access.

• Support: 24/7 chat and email, developer documentation, premium support tiers.

5. Adyen

Adyen delivers a unified payment solution across channels and markets. Its strength lies in real-time data, compliance, and scalability.

• Multi-Currency Support: 150+ currencies with dynamic currency conversion.

• Fees & FX: Interchange pricing, enterprise contracts.

• Payment Methods: Over 250 methods – cards, local APMs, wallets.

• Security & Compliance: PSD2, PCI DSS, risk control tools, in-house acquiring.

• Integrations: API-first platform, POS, and eCommerce plugins.

• Support: Regional account teams and tailored onboarding.

6. Worldpay (by FIS)

Worldpay has an established presence in the UK and offers both online and in-store payment processing. It supports global payments, but often via legacy contracts and systems.

• Multi-Currency Support: 120+ currencies; support for DCC and local acquiring.

• Fees & FX: Blended pricing model, setup fees may apply, contracts vary.

• Payment Methods: Cards, wallets, POS, bank transfers.

• Security & Compliance: PCI DSS, tokenisation, fraud tools.

• Integrations: Hosted checkout, legacy API, POS integrations.

• Support: UK-based account managers; reputation for slower onboarding.

At a glance: Compare international payment gateways

Check out the end of this article on how we source the information.

How to choose the best international payment gateway for your UK business

Here are five quick questions to guide your decision:

Where are your customers or suppliers located?

Choose a provider with strong coverage and local payment methods in your key markets.

How important is FX cost?

Even small markups can impact margins over time. Look for transparent, real-time FX rates.

Do you need to accept or send payments (or both)?

Some gateways focus only on collection, others also support global payouts.

How do you plan to integrate it?

Hosted checkouts work fast. APIs offer more control. Match it to your technical capacity.

What’s your growth outlook?

If you plan to expand internationally, choose a gateway that can scale with you.

Read more: Top 6 WooCommerce Payments Gateways in the UK [in 2025]

Why choose Airwallex for international payments?

Airwallex isn’t just a payment gateway. It’s a full-stack platform built for global business from day one.

With Airwallex, UK businesses can:

• Accept payments in 130+ currencies, and open accounts in 60+ countries with local bank details.

• Pay overseas suppliers in 120+ countries through local routing networks – faster and cheaper than traditional SWIFT transfers (95% arrive same-day or within hours).

• Access market-leading FX with no hidden fees and transparent interbank rates, ideal for businesses managing international margins.

• Automate reconciliation with direct integrations into Xero, QuickBooks, and NetSuite.

• Manage spending and approvals with built-in tools like Bill Pay, employee cards, and expense tracking.

• Use modern APIs or no-code workflows to build custom payment journeys or deploy quickly without engineering help.

• Keep control with team permissions, audit trails, and real-time visibility across Global Accounts.

• Get UK-based support backed by an FCA-regulated financial infrastructure.

Grow and protect your global revenue with a modern payments platform

With the right gateway, you can offer a better experience to customers abroad, simplify operations, and reduce costs.

Use this guide to assess your options and pick a platform that supports where your business is going next.

If you want one solution to collect, convert, and pay – with full visibility and control – Airwallex has you covered.

FAQs: International payment gateways for UK businesses

What is an international payment gateway?

An international payment gateway helps UK businesses accept payments from overseas customers. It processes multi-currency transactions, converts currencies, and ensures payment security and compliance.

What is the difference between a domestic and international gateway?

Domestic gateways handle GBP payments and UK methods. International gateways support foreign currencies, global payment types, and overseas settlements.

Which is the best international payment gateway for UK businesses?

It depends on your needs. Airwallex suits global businesses with built-in FX and multi-currency accounts. PayPal is trusted for ecommerce.  

Can I accept multiple currencies with these gateways?

Yes. Platforms like Airwallex, Stripe, and Adyen support many currencies. They also let you hold or settle funds locally.

How much do international payment gateways cost?

Fees vary. Some charge monthly or setup fees. Others use transaction-based pricing. FX fees can range from 0.3% (Airwallex) to 4% (PayPal). Always check for hidden costs.

What payment methods do international gateways support?

Most support cards, bank transfers, mobile wallets (like Apple Pay), and local methods (like Klarna). Some also support crypto or BNPL.

Are these platforms secure and compliant?

Yes. Most are PCI DSS certified. They offer fraud tools, tokenisation, and 3D Secure. Adyen and Checkout.com provide enterprise-grade protection.

Do these gateways integrate with ecommerce platforms and accounting tools?

Yes. Leading gateways connect with Shopify, WooCommerce, and more. Many also integrate with Xero, NetSuite, or QuickBooks.

How do I choose the right international payment gateway?

Look at where you sell, which currencies you need, and how you want to connect your systems. Check fees, FX transparency, security, and support quality.

Disclaimer and references

The information in this article is based on our own online research in Q2 2025. 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. 

1. https://www.airwallex.com/uk/pricing 

2. paypal.com/uk/business

3. checkout.com/solutions/international-coverage

4. stripe.com/

5. adyen.com/en_GB

6. worldpay.com/en/products/online