Integrating payments into your platform is one of the most important decisions you'll make. Here's a practical comparison of the major options.
Types of Payment Gateways
Hosted gateways redirect users to the provider's page (PayPal, Flutterwave). Easy to integrate, but users leave your site.
Integrated gateways embed the payment form in your site (Stripe). Seamless UX but more complex setup.
Crypto gateways accept BTC, ETH, USDT (NOWPayments, CoinGate). Global, low fees, no chargebacks.
Comparing Popular Options
Stripe
- Fees: 2.9% + $0.30
- Availability: 47 countries
- Best for: SaaS, e-commerce, subscriptions
- Developer-friendly API, extensive documentation
PayPal
- Fees: 2.9% + $0.30 (varies)
- Availability: 200+ countries
- Best for: International sales, buyer trust
Flutterwave
- Fees: 1.4% local, 3.8% international
- Availability: Africa-focused
- Best for: African markets, mobile money
Crypto
- Fees: 0.5-1%
- Availability: Global
- Best for: Digital products, privacy, no chargebacks
Multi-Gateway Strategy
Don't limit yourself to one:
- Primary: Stripe or Flutterwave for fiat
- Secondary: PayPal for preference
- Crypto: For crypto-savvy customers
Security Essentials
- Always use HTTPS
- Never store card numbers on your server
- Use tokenization
- Verify webhook signatures
- Log all payment events
- Handle refunds and disputes promptly
