The most popular online payment methods in 2025

The right online payment methods can help your business build trust, boost conversion, and reduce cart abandonment. With customers expecting speed and flexibility, offering multiple payment options is essential for better customer satisfaction.

To help you choose the best online payment methods, here’s a breakdown of the top platforms.

Quick comparison: Top online payment methods (US/Global)

Payment System	Standard US Online Fee	Best For	Key Differentiator
PayPal	2.99% + fixed fee	Maximum brand trust & global reach	Buyer & Seller Protection
Stripe	3.4% + 30¢	Customization & tech-focused businesses	Buyer & Seller Protection
Square	2.9% + 30¢	Omnichannel retail (online + in-person)	All-in-one business ecosystem
Apple/Google Pay	(Processor fees apply)	Frictionless mobile checkout	One-click biometric payments
Amazon Pay	2.9% + 30¢	Leveraging Amazon’s user base	Checkout with Amazon login
BNPL Services	4-6% (to merchant)	Increasing average order value	Customer installment plans

PayPal

Best for: Businesses seeking maximum brand recognition and trust with a global customer base.

Overview: As one of the oldest and most recognized names in online payment methods, PayPal is accepted by millions of merchants and trusted by consumers worldwide. Its widespread acceptance makes it a foundational option for many ecommerce stores.

Key Features & Benefits:

• Global Trust: The familiar brand name can increase conversion rates, especially with international shoppers.
• Buyer and Seller Protection: Offers robust policies that protect both parties from fraud and disputes.
• Versatile Tools: Supports one-touch payments, invoicing, and recurring billing.

Things to Consider:

• Potentially Higher Fees: Transaction fees can be higher than other online payment methods, particularly for international transactions.
• Account Holds: PayPal is known to be cautious and may freeze funds or accounts if its algorithm detects unusual activity, which can cause cash flow disruptions.
• Off-site Checkout: The classic checkout experience redirects customers to PayPal’s site, which can feel jarring compared to other fully integrated online payment methods.

Integration: Offers straightforward integration with all major ecommerce platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce via pre-built plugins. APIs are also available for custom solutions.

Stripe

Best for: Tech-savvy businesses, startups, and platforms needing highly customizable, developer-friendly online payment methods.

• Overview: Stripe is a leading ecommerce payment method often considered the best payment gateway for its powerful API and comprehensive feature set. It’s built for flexibility and scale, making it a favorite among startups and large enterprises alike.
• Key Features & Benefits:
  • Extensive Payment Options: Supports credit/debit cards, digital wallets, ACH transfers, and dozens of international payment methods.
  • Developer-First: A well-documented, flexible API allows for deep customization of the checkout experience.
  • Advanced Features: Includes best-in-class tools for recurring billing (Stripe Billing) and fraud detection (Stripe Radar).
• Things to Consider:
  • Technical Barrier to Entry: While powerful, leveraging its full potential can require developer knowledge, making it less suitable for non-technical users.
  • Support Model: Support has historically been chat and email-first, which may be slower than a dedicated phone support line for urgent issues.
  • Complex for Simple Needs: For a basic store with simple transaction needs, Stripe’s vast feature set might be overkill.
• Integration: Seamlessly integrates with all major platforms. Its strength lies in its extensive documentation and software development kits (SDKs) that enable custom integration into any website or application.

Square

Best for: Small to medium-sized businesses seeking unified online payment methods for both online and in-person (POS) sales.

• Overview: Originally known for its iconic point-of-sale hardware, Square has evolved into a comprehensive commerce ecosystem. It’s particularly popular with businesses that operate both a physical and online store.
• Key Features & Benefits:
  • Omnichannel Excellence: Syncs online sales, in-person sales, inventory, and customer data in one unified platform.
  • Ease of Use: Known for its user-friendly interface and straightforward setup.
  • Business Tools: Offers a full suite of services including invoicing, recurring payments, and robust reporting.
• Things to Consider:
  • Less Ideal for Online-Only: If you don’t have a physical retail component, a more specialized online gateway like Stripe might offer more powerful web-focused features.
  • Merchant Account Stability: Similar to PayPal, there are reports of a business’s merchant account being suspended due to sudden changes in sales patterns or risk profiles.
  • Limited International Support: Its multi-currency and international capabilities are less extensive than those of Stripe or PayPal.
• Integration: Integrates seamlessly with its own ecosystem and major ecommerce platforms like WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Wix.

Learn more: 11 best ecommerce alternatives to Square or Stripe

Apple Pay & Google Pay (digital wallets)

Best for: Optimizing mobile conversion rates by offering a fast, frictionless, and secure checkout experience.

• Overview: This type of digital wallet, native to iOS and Android respectively, allows users to store their payment information securely on their devices. These online payment methods enable one-click mobile payments on websites and in apps, dramatically speeding up the checkout process.
• Key Features & Benefits:
  • Reduced Friction: Eliminates the need for customers to manually enter card and shipping details.
  • Enhanced Security: Uses tokenization and biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint), which is more secure than traditional card entry.
  • How Fees Work: They do not charge any additional fees. As a merchant, you simply pay the standard transaction fee to your primary payment processor (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) that is processing the underlying card.
• Things to Consider:
  • Not a Standalone Processor: They are not a complete payment solution. You must have a primary payment gateway (like Stripe or Square) to offer them.
  • Device-Dependent: Apple Pay only works for customers using an Apple device and the Safari browser, while Google Pay is tied to the Google ecosystem. You need to offer both for broad coverage.
• Integration: Easily enabled within the settings of most major payment gateways and ecommerce platforms.

Amazon Pay

Best for: Retailers who want to leverage the trust and convenience of Amazon’s massive user base.

• Overview: Amazon Pay allows hundreds of millions of Amazon customers to check out on third-party websites using the payment and shipping information already stored in their Amazon account.
• Key Features & Benefits:
  • Streamlined Checkout: Customers use their familiar Amazon login, reducing friction and building trust.
  • Leverages Amazon’s Security: Transactions are protected by Amazon’s advanced fraud protection infrastructure.
  • Voice-Enabled: Supports voice-activated payments through Alexa for added convenience.
• Things to Consider:
  • Dependent on Amazon: This method is only useful for customers who have and are willing to use their Amazon account for the purchase.
  • Promotes Amazon’s Brand: The checkout flow prominently features Amazon’s branding, which may detract from your own brand experience.
• Integration: Plugins are readily available for major ecommerce platforms.

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) services (e.g., Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm)

Best for: Retailers looking for online payment methods that will help increase average order value and improve conversion rates, especially on higher-ticket items.

• Overview: This payment option have surged in popularity by allowing customers to split their purchases into several interest-free installments, making larger purchases more manageable.
• Key Features & Benefits:
  • Increased Sales: Proven to reduce cart abandonment and increase the average amount a customer spends.
  • Enhanced Affordability: Removes the price barrier for customers, encouraging them to purchase immediately.
  • Merchant Gets Paid Upfront: You receive the full payment amount immediately (minus the BNPL fee), while the provider assumes the risk of collecting customer installments.
• Things to Consider:
  • Higher Transaction Costs: Merchant fees are significantly higher than standard credit card rates, typically ranging from 3% to 6%, which can impact profit margins.
  • Potential for Checkout Clutter: Adding another payment button requires careful design to avoid overwhelming the customer.
  • Brand Association: Some businesses may not want to be associated with consumer debt, even if it’s interest-free.
• Integration: Most BNPL providers offer easy integration with major ecommerce platforms.

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*Disclaimer: Payment processing fees vary by region, business size, sales volume, and risk category. The rates listed are standard online transaction fees for the U.S. and are subject to change.

A word on cryptocurrencies: The 2025 perspective

You might be wondering where cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum fit as far as online payment methods go. As of 2025, accepting crypto is best viewed as a niche strategy, not a mainstream requirement. 

While adoption has grown, it has not replaced traditional payment methods and is still used by a relatively small segment of online shoppers.

For a merchant, the decision to accept crypto comes with a distinct set of high-impact trade-offs.

The case for accepting crypto (the benefits)

For certain businesses, offering crypto as one of their online payment methods can be a powerful move. You should consider it if your brand is tech-forward, you sell high-value goods, or you have a significant international customer base.

• Dramatically Lower Transaction Fees: Crypto transaction fees are often around 1%, compared to the 2.5% – 3.5% charged for credit cards. On large purchases, this difference is substantial.
• Elimination of Chargebacks: Crypto transactions are irreversible. This eliminates the risk of fraudulent chargebacks, which are a major source of lost revenue for many online merchants.
• Access to a New, Global Market: It allows you to tap into a growing, affluent, and tech-savvy customer segment that may prefer to pay with their digital assets.

The risks and realities

However, the reasons crypto hasn’t gone fully mainstream, unlike other online payment methods, are significant and should be carefully considered.

• Price Volatility: The value of cryptocurrencies can swing wildly. A payment received in the morning could be worth 10% less by the afternoon. This poses a direct risk to your profit margins.
• Regulatory Uncertainty: The legal and tax landscape for cryptocurrency is still evolving in many countries, including the U.S. This creates potential compliance and accounting headaches.
• Customer Perception and Complexity: Many mainstream consumers still associate cryptocurrency with scams, complexity, and risk. Offering it could alienate less tech-savvy customers if not positioned carefully. For the customer, the lack of buyer protection and the finality of a transaction are also major deterrents.

The verdict: should you accept crypto?

For most ecommerce businesses in 2025, accepting cryptocurrency comes with more risk than benefit. Your efforts are better spent optimizing your checkout with the mainstream online payment methods detailed above.

However, if you have a clear business case for it, don’t attempt to handle it manually. Use a reputable crypto payment processor such as BitPay or a primary gateway that supports crypto conversions. 

These services act as a bridge, allowing the customer to pay in crypto while you, the merchant, receive the exact purchase amount settled instantly in your currency (e.g., US Dollars).

This approach gives you the benefits of accessing the crypto market while completely eliminating the risk of price volatility. 

How to choose the right online payment methods

Choosing the right online payment methods requires balancing your business needs, technical capabilities, and customer expectations. 

To find the perfect fit, use this checklist and ask these five key questions when evaluating your options.

1. How easily will these online payment methods integrate with my tech stack?

A clunky or complicated integration can lead to lost sales, frustrated customers, and ongoing technical headaches. A seamless payment process is critical to providing a good customer experience.

• Platform Compatibility: Does it offer a reliable, pre-built plugin for my ecommerce platform (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento)?
• Technical Expertise: How much developer knowledge is required for setup and maintenance? Is it a simple “plug-and-play” solution or will it require custom coding?
• API Quality: If you plan on custom work, is the provider’s API documentation clear, comprehensive, and well-supported?

2. How will these online payment methods handle security and compliance?

Security is non-negotiable. A data breach can destroy customer trust and result in severe financial penalties. The online payment methods you provide should be secure and have a good cybersecurity track record.

• PCI Compliance: Does the provider adhere to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)? Using a compliant gateway drastically reduces your own PCI compliance burden.
• Fraud Protection: What tools does it offer to detect and prevent fraudulent transactions? Look for features like address verification (AVS), CVV verification, and advanced AI-powered monitoring.
• Data Security: Does it use modern security practices like tokenization to replace sensitive card data with a unique, non-sensitive token?

3. What is the true cost of each transaction?

Don’t be swayed by the headline rate alone. The total cost of payment processing can have a significant impact on your bottom line, so it’s important to understand the complete fee structure.

• Transaction Fees: What is the standard percentage and fixed fee for each transaction?
• Recurring Costs: Are there any monthly or annual subscription fees for using the gateway?
• Hidden Fees: What are the charges for international transactions, currency conversions, and handling chargebacks?

4. Do these online payment methods align with my target customer preferences?

Offering the online payment methods your specific audience wants and trusts is one of the most effective ways to increase conversion rates.

According to Josh Guthrie, UK Country Manager for MOLLIE, “Different countries are so different in terms of the payment methods that have a high share of checkout… If a retailer had initially expanded into one country offering only cards relevant in their original country, bringing in European payment methods later really rapidly takes over share of checkout.”

• International Reach: If you sell globally, does it support multiple currencies and popular payment methods in key regions (e.g., iDEAL in the Netherlands, Giropay in Germany)?
• Demographic Appeal: Does it include options preferred by your target audience, such as BNPL services for younger demographics or PayPal for security-conscious buyers?
• Frictionless Options: Does it support digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay to provide a one-click checkout experience?

5. What level of support and reliability can I expect?

When payments go down, your business stops. You need to tend to issues quickly especially when a customer has an issue. Reliable service and responsive support are essential factors when choosing the right online payment methods.

• Support Channels: What kind of customer support is offered (e.g., 24/7 phone, live chat, email)? What are the typical response times?
• Service Uptime: Does the provider have a public-facing system status page? Check their history for reliability and uptime.
• Knowledge Base: Is their online help documentation clear, comprehensive, and easy to navigate for resolving minor issues on your own?

Ultimately, the goal isn’t to find a single “best” payment system, but to build the ideal payment stack by offering multiple payment options for your business.

A strategic mix—for instance, using Stripe for primary card processing, PayPal to build trust, and a BNPL option to boost conversions—ensures you meet every customer’s needs. 

Your choice of online payment methods is a foundational piece of your overall commerce operation, directly impacting everything from customer satisfaction to your bottom line.

A seamless payment process is just the beginning

Choosing the right online payment methods is the first step, but what happens next is what defines a great customer experience. The data from that transaction kicks off a complex workflow from your warehouse to the customer’s doorstep. 

If that process relies on manual data entry and disconnected systems, you risk shipping delays, stock errors, and unhappy customers—erasing the goodwill you just earned with a smooth checkout.

This is where a Total Commerce platform like Linnworks becomes essential. Linnworks connects your sales channels, inventory, warehouses, and shipping carriers into a single, automated system, ensuring your operations can scale as fast as you grow.

Stop letting operational bottlenecks limit your success. Explore our solutions further or book a demo today to see how Linnworks can power your growth.