Means of payment
Configure the essential payment gateways to accept all types of payments on your WooCommerce online store.
In this chapter :
Key statistic - Offering 3+ payment methods increases conversion rate by 15-25%. 23% of customers abandon if their preferred method is not available.
Payment gateways
A payment gateway connects your store to bank processors to accept transactions.
What is a payment gateway?
The payment gateway acts as a technical intermediary between your site, the customer and the banks. It secures the transmission of banking data, authorizes the transaction and transfers the funds to your account.
Without a gateway, it's impossible to accept online payments. It's the essential infrastructure for any e-commerce business.
Major gateways
Stripe is the world leader, with a modern interface and fees of 1.4% + €0.25 per transaction in Europe. Its native WooCommerce integration is excellent and recognized for its reliability.
PayPal is a very popular solution, charging 2.9% + €0.35 per transaction. The brand inspires a high level of trust among consumers and combines the dual function of gateway and digital wallet.
Square appeals mainly to the United States and the United Kingdom, with a simple solution charging 1.75% per transaction. It is particularly well suited to small, start-up stores.
Authorize.Net is a robust American veteran, charging 2.9% + €0.30 per transaction. Its interface, however, is dated compared to more modern solutions.
Mollie offers a European solution with variable fees depending on the payment method chosen. It is particularly strong in Benelux and Germany.
For France, Stripe or PayPal (ideally both in parallel) cover 95% of an e-commerce store's needs.
Gateway installation
The WooCommerce > Settings > Payments menu lists all gateways installed on your store.
To activate a gateway, simply check Stripe, PayPal or any other option to make it available at checkout.
To configure a gateway, click on the "Manage" button to enter API keys, link your merchant account and set advanced options.
If the desired gateway is not listed, go to Extensions > Add, search for "Stripe" or "PayPal" and install the corresponding official plugin.
Each gateway requires the prior creation of a merchant account (on Stripe.com, PayPal.com or other) and its connection to WooCommerce via the API keys provided.
Credit cards 🔺
Credit cards are the world's number 1 payment method, accounting for 60-70% of all e-commerce transactions.
Via Stripe
Stripe is the leading modern solution for credit card acceptance. It automatically supports Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
Installation** follows these simple steps: first create an account on Stripe.com (free, validation in less than 24 hours). Then go to WooCommerce > Extensions and search for "WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway". Install and activate the plugin. Copy your API keys from the Stripe Dashboard (menu Developers > API keys). Paste them into WooCommerce > Payments > Stripe > Public and secret keys. Finally, activate the gateway.
The advantages of Stripe are many and significant. Checkout is fully integrated, which means the customer stays on your site without redirection. 3D Secure works automatically to ensure European SCA compliance. Apple Pay and Google Pay are natively included in the offer. The analytics dashboard provided is comprehensive and detailed. Refunds are made in a single click from the administration interface.
The fees are 1.4% + €0.25 per successful transaction in Europe, with no fixed monthly fee to pay.
Via PayPal
PayPal Checkout also accepts credit card payments, not just PayPal accounts.
Installation** is straightforward: create a PayPal Business account (free). Go to WooCommerce > Extensions > "WooCommerce PayPal Payments". Connect your PayPal account via OAuth by clicking on the "Connect" button. Finally, activate the "Credit cards" option in the PayPal settings.
The advantages include trust-inspiring brand recognition, ultra-fast checkout for PayPal users (1 click is all it takes) and protection for both buyer and seller.
The disadvantages include higher fees (2.9% + €0.35 vs. 1.4% for Stripe) and occasional funds blockages, as PayPal is particularly conservative when it comes to risk management.
Accepted cards
Visa and Mastercard are universally accepted cards. They are mandatory for all serious e-commerce stores.
American Express often charges higher fees (around 3.5%), but attracts a premium clientele with greater purchasing power. Activate it if you're targeting the high-end segment.
Local cards** such as Carte Bleue (France) or Maestro (Europe) are handled automatically by Stripe and PayPal without additional configuration.
Systematically display accepted card logos at checkout. This simple measure reassures customers that their card will actually work.
PayPal 🔺
Beyond cards, PayPal as a digital wallet is a popular option.
PayPal standard vs. PayPal checkout
PayPal Standard - The customer is redirected to PayPal.com, makes the payment, then returns to your site. It's free, but the experience is broken (risk of abandonment).
PayPal Checkout - A PayPal popup appears on your site and the customer never leaves the page. The experience is fluid. This is the recommended solution.
Always use PayPal Checkout (official "WooCommerce PayPal Payments" plugin).
PayPal advantages
Trust - PayPal has 400 million users worldwide. Many prefer PayPal to credit cards (perceived security).
Speed - A customer connected to PayPal can check out in 3 clicks (no need to enter an address or card).
Protection - The buyer protection program reassures customers. Seller protection program protects against fraudulent chargebacks (if you have proof of delivery).
International - PayPal is accepted worldwide and supports multi-currency payments.
PayPal disadvantages
High fees - Fees are 2.9% + €0.35 (vs. 1.4% for Stripe). On large volumes, the difference is significant.
Funds blocking - PayPal can block your funds if suspicious activity is detected (sales peaks, sensitive products). Reserves are sometimes imposed (20% of funds blocked for 90 days).
Customer support - PayPal is notoriously slow and hard to reach. A technical problem generates a lot of stress.
Despite these drawbacks, PayPal is still the preferred choice of 15-25% of customers.
Optimum configuration
Offer Stripe AND PayPal - This combination covers 95% of customer preferences.
At checkout, display :
- "Credit card" (via Stripe)
- PayPal" (via PayPal Checkout)
The customer chooses. Stripe is cheaper for you, PayPal is preferred by some customers. It's a win-win situation.
Wire transfers and checks 🔺
These are traditional methods that are still relevant depending on the context.
Bank transfer (bacs/sepa)
The customer receives the RIB/IBAN by email after his order, makes a manual transfer, you validate receipt and dispatch.
Go to WooCommerce > Payments > Bank transfer to activate this option, enter your IBAN/BIC and follow the instructions.
Benefits:
- Zero charges (SEPA transfers are free in Europe)
- No intermediaries
- Secure (banking system)
Disadvantages :
- Slow (1 to 3 working days)
- Manual (you have to check receipt and match payment with order)
- Friction for the customer (he has to connect to his bank)
When to use it :
- For B2B orders (companies are used to bank transfers)
- For large amounts (over €500, percentage charges are avoided)
- For customers allergic to credit cards or PayPal (it's a niche, but it does exist)
Credit transfers account for 5-10% of B2C payments and 30-50% of B2B payments.
Cheque
It's ultra-rare online, but legally possible.
Go to WooCommerce > Payments > Payment by check to activate this option and enter your mailing address.
The customer orders, sends a postal check, you cash it and ship.
Problems:
- Delay of 5 to 10 days
- Risk of bounced cheques
- Processing cost (bank charges for collection)
- Almost obsolete method (less than 1% of payments)
Keep this option deactivated unless you have a very elderly or rural clientele who require this option.
Payment on delivery (cod)
The customer pays cash to the deliveryman when he receives the parcel.
The "Cash on Delivery " extension is free and can be installed via WooCommerce.
Benefits :
- Zero risk for the customer (cash on delivery)
- Popular in emerging countries (trust in e-commerce is low)
Disadvantages :
- Carrier must manage cash (3-5% fee + complex logistics)
- High refusal rate (15-30% of customers change their mind)
- Return of a parcel generates double costs (round trip)
In France and Europe, this is rare (less than 2%). In some countries (India, Middle East), it represents over 40% of transactions.
Activate this option if your target market requires it, otherwise avoid it (it's a logistical nightmare).
Digital portfolios 🔺
Apple Pay, Google Pay and Amazon Pay are growing fast and offer ultra-fast checkout.
Apple Pay
Payment is made via iPhone or Mac by touching TouchID or FaceID. No typing is required.
Stripe includes Apple Pay automatically. If Stripe is enabled and your site is HTTPS, Apple Pay appears on Safari (iPhone and Mac).
Conversion: +30% increase over conventional card entry (zero friction).
Limitation: Only on Safari (which accounts for 40% of mobile traffic). Chrome and Firefox do not support Apple Pay.
Google pay
This is the Android equivalent. Payment is made via an Android phone with minimal friction.
Stripe also includes Google Pay. It works on Chrome for Android.
Adoption: Adoption is growing, but currently represents less than 5% of payments in Europe. In the US: 10-15%.
Amazon pay
Amazon customers pay with their Amazon account. Checkout is a 1-click process (pre-registered address and payment).
The "WooCommerce Amazon Pay " extension is Amazon official. Fees are 2.7% + €0.30.
Advantage: 300 million Amazon accounts worldwide. A loyal Amazon customer converts easily.
Disadvantage: Fees are similar to PayPal and you create a dependency on Amazon.
This is relevant if your target has a strong overlap with Amazon shoppers (electronics, books, etc.).
Recommendation
Activate Apple Pay + Google Pay via Stripe (it's free and included). You get a significant conversion boost for the minority of customers who use it, with zero activation effort.
Amazon Pay: test it if your Amazon audience is strong. Otherwise, Stripe + PayPal will suffice.
Split payment 🔺
Paying 2x, 3x or 4x without fees increases the average basket and conversions on large amounts.
Why split payment?
A shopping basket over €100 represents a psychological challenge. Paying €300 in one go is painful. Paying €100 in 3 instalments is manageable.
Split payments increase conversions by 20 to 40% on items over €150 (electronics, furniture, premium fashion).
Younger customers (18-35 years old) are particularly fond of it: they have low savings and prefer to spread out their payments.
French solutions
Alma - The leader in France. It offers 2x/3x/4x at no cost to the customer. Merchant fees range from 1.9 to 2.9% depending on the due date.
Installation: "Alma for WooCommerce" extension, account on Alma.eu, validation in 24-48 hours.
Klarna - A European giant. It offers "Pay in 30 days" or fractional payment. Fees range from 2.5% to 4.5%.
Scalapay - Italian solution expanding in France. It offers 3 free instalments. Charges are 3.9% + €0.25.
Oney/Cofidis - These are traditional banking solutions. The process is cumbersome, with fees of 3 to 7% and validation delays.
alma configuration (example)
- Create a merchant account on Alma.eu
- Go to Extensions > Add > "Alma for WooCommerce ".
- Connect your account via the API
- Activate plans: 2×, 3×, 4× (select the ones you're interested in)
- Set minimum and maximum amounts (e.g. €50-3000)
- Activate gateway
At checkout, a customer with a basket over €50 sees the "Pay in 3×" option. He clicks, Alma validation is instantaneous (soft credit check), the approved customer pays the first monthly installment and you receive the total amount less 2.5% within 24 hours.
Alma or Klarna collect the 2nd and 3rd instalments. The risk of non-payment is borne by them, not you (this is their added value).
ROI split payment
The cost is 2 to 3% on split transactions (typically 15 to 25% of orders over €100).
If fractional payment increases conversions by +30% in the segment over €100, here's the calculation:
Before: 100 orders × €150 = €15,000
After: 130 orders × €150 = €19,500
Fractional cost: 25% use (33 orders) × €150 × 3% = €148.50
Net gain: 4500 - 148.50 = +4351.50€
The ROI is massive. Activate this option if your average basket is over €80.
Alternative options 🔺
Depending on your niche and geography, some specific options are relevant.
Crypto-currencies
Bitcoin and Ethereum via CoinGate or BitPay.
Niche: Tech early-adopters, libertarians and cross-border without bank fees.
Benefits: 1% fees, frictionless international transactions and partial anonymity.
Disadvantages: Volatility (Bitcoin can fluctuate by ±20% per week), less than 0.5% adoption by the general public and complexity for the user.
Activate this option if your audience is crypto-native. Otherwise, ROI is low (setup and support time vs. transaction volume).
Gift cards and vouchers
Customers pay with gift cards issued by YOU or by partners.
The "WooCommerce Gift Cards " extension ($99/year) lets you issue, sell and accept gift cards.
Use cases :
- Gift card sales generate immediate cash and are sometimes never used (15% breakage = pure profit).
- Loyalty programs: reward your customers with gift cards
- Partnerships: accept partner cards
Invoicing (b2b)
Companies pay on 30-60 day invoices (merchant credit).
Use the "WooCommerce Pay Later " extension or manage manually via the "Pending payment" status.
Risk: Customer never pays. Check solvency (SIRET, Infogreffe) before granting credit.
For established B2B, this is common. For new B2B customers, demand immediate payment or a 50% deposit.
In a nutshell
Offer at least 2-3 payment methods to maximize conversions: credit card (Stripe recommended), PayPal and bank transfer for large amounts. Avoid checks and cash on delivery, which are time-consuming and a source of disputes. Compare transaction fees: Stripe (1.4% + €0.25), PayPal (1.8% + €0.35), WooCommerce Payments (simplified integration but similar fees). Set up 3D Secure to secure payments and reduce fraud, while remaining PSD2 compliant. Regularly test your payment tunnels to detect bugs that cause lost sales.
Next steps 🔺
- Payment - SSL, PCI-DSS, 3D Secure
- Shipping - Geographic configuration
- Carriers - Optimum logistics
- Return - Overview
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