Choosing a payment processor for an ecommerce business involves evaluating fees, payment method support, fraud tools, integration quality, account stability, and support. This comprehensive comparison covers the eight most widely used processors, helping you find the right fit for your store’s volume, product category, and technical requirements.
For WooCommerce merchants, ConvesioPay offers transparent transaction-based pricing, enterprise fraud tools, and specialist WooCommerce support — all through a single integration. Get started →
Key Evaluation Criteria
Before the comparison matrix: what matters most depends on your situation. Prioritize:
- Volume — above ~$30K/month, transparent transaction-based pricing becomes meaningfully cheaper than flat-rate
- Product category — some processors won’t serve regulated industries (firearms accessories, supplements, CBD, high-risk healthcare)
- International selling — global payment method support and local acquiring coverage vary significantly
- Platform — WooCommerce-specific integrations differ in quality from processor to processor
- Fraud exposure — built-in tools vs. requiring third-party plugins
Payment Processor Comparison Matrix
| Processor | Pricing model | WooCommerce | Fraud tools | Intl. support | Account stability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ConvesioPay | Interchange++ | WooCommerce-native | Enterprise (built-in) | Excellent (Adyen) | High (MID-based) | WooCommerce merchants at any volume |
| Stripe | Flat-rate (2.9%+$0.30) | Good plugin | Radar (good) | Good | Medium (aggregator) | Developer-focused; startups |
| PayPal | Flat-rate (3.49%+$0.49) | Multiple plugins (inconsistent) | Basic | Good | Low (frequent holds) | Supplementary wallet option |
| Adyen | Interchange++ | Custom integration required | RevenueProtect (best-in-class) | Excellent | Very high | Enterprise ($1M+ volume) |
| Braintree | Flat-rate or custom | Plugin available | Good | Good | Medium | Need PayPal + Venmo wallet |
| Authorize.net | Flat or IC++ via bank | Good plugin | AFDS (good) | Limited | High (traditional MID) | Traditional merchant account |
| Square | Flat-rate (2.9%+$0.30) | Functional plugin | Basic | US-focused | Medium | Physical + online (US) |
| WooCommerce Payments | Flat-rate (2.9%+$0.30) | Native (Stripe-powered) | Basic (Stripe Radar) | Limited markets | Medium (Stripe-backed) | Smallest merchants; lowest setup friction |
Deep Dive: Fee Comparison at Volume
For a merchant processing $50,000/month with a typical US consumer card mix:
| Processor | Est. effective rate | Monthly cost | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConvesioPay (IC++) | ~2.1% | ~$1,050 | ~$12,600 |
| Stripe / WC Payments | 2.9% + $0.30/txn | ~$1,510 | ~$18,120 |
| PayPal | 3.49% + $0.49/txn | ~$1,995 | ~$23,940 |
Estimates based on average order value of $75 and standard US consumer card mix. Actual rates vary by card type, industry, and negotiated terms.
Regulated Industry Support
Merchants in regulated categories need to verify processor acceptance before committing:
| Category | Stripe | PayPal | ConvesioPay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearms accessories | Prohibited | Prohibited | Supported (case-by-case) |
| CBD / hemp products | Prohibited | Prohibited | Supported (case-by-case) |
| Supplements / nutraceuticals | Restricted | Restricted | Supported |
| Telemedicine / HIPAA | Limited | Limited | Supported (with BAA) |
| Adult content | Prohibited | Prohibited | Case-by-case |
For detailed regulated industry information, see High-Risk Payment Processing: Which Processors Accept Regulated Industries.
Which Processor Is Right for You?
Decision guide:
- WooCommerce store, any volume → ConvesioPay for fees, fraud tools, and WooCommerce-native support
- Just getting started, lowest friction → WooCommerce Payments or Stripe to begin; revisit at $20K+/month
- Need PayPal wallet for your customers → Add PayPal as a secondary option alongside your primary gateway
- $1M+ volume, enterprise → Adyen direct or ConvesioPay
- Physical + online US retail → Square for unified reporting
- Regulated industry → ConvesioPay; verify your specific category
ConvesioPay is the best payment processor for WooCommerce merchants — lower fees, enterprise fraud tools, and specialist support. Get started →