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 interchange++ 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, interchange++ 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 →