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What We Look For in the Best International Payment Gateways1. Stax: Subscription-Based Pricing for High-Volume E-Commerce Businesses2. Leaders Merchant Services: Low Rates for SMEs With a Global Clientele3. Paysafe: Over 70 International Payment Methods4. Helcim: Transparent Payment Processing for International Transactions5. Pay.com: Reduce Failed International Payments With 3 Resolution Tools6. ProMerchant: Accept International Payments Through BigCommerce and MagentoOther Notable International Payment GatewaysThese Are the Best Payment Gateways for International TransactionsFAQ
Short on Time? These Are the Best Payment Gateways for International Transactions
- Stax – Subscription-based pricing that can save your high-volume businesses up to 40% on fees.
- Leaders Merchant Services – Industry-low rates and negotiable pricing to enhance the profitability of your SMEs.
- Paysafe – 70+ international payment methods in over 45 countries and 40 currencies.
What We Look For in the Best International Payment Gateways
To identify the best payment gateways for international transactions, I focused on the features and benefits US-based businesses require to successfully accept payments overseas.- Low transaction fees. Higher fees on international transactions can eat into your profits, meaning you need a payment gateway that’ll offer you the best rates without sacrificing features or usability.
- Accepts foreign currency: If your business caters to a global customer base in various countries, you’ll want to accept as many currencies as possible. Most payment gateways accept 50+ currencies, with some even accepting over 150.
- Variety of payment options: Offering your customers local and international payment methods is essential when attempting to meet their varied preferences. Because of this, you need a payment gateway that accepts major credit and debit cards like Visa and Mastercard, digital wallets like Google Pay, cryptocurrency, ACH transfers, and more.
- Customization: The ability to tailor your checkout using APIs allows you to stand out among competitors. Plus, most payment gateways allow you to change the color and branding of your pages and forms, even without coding experience.
- Security: PCI compliance, fraud detection and monitoring, end-to-end encryption, and tokenization are non-negotiable when accepting international transactions. Better yet, some payment gateways offer advanced features like IP detection, AVS, and more.
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Save Up to 40% on Credit Card Processing Fees
Monthly Fee:
From $99
Transaction Fee:
From 8¢
Pricing Model:
Subscription
Subscription
With subscription-style pricing, you’ll pay a fixed monthly fee instead of a percentage-based markup on each credit and debit card transaction. While this will considerably reduce your per-transaction fees, you’ll typically still pay a small flat fee on each transaction. This amount is unaffected by the variable interchange fees charged by the different card networks (e.g. Visa, Mastercard), helping to keep your payment processing fees more predictable.
Features and Benefits
- Business management software. Stax’s integration with Zapier offers a variety of options for custom integrations, including project management, marketing, and accounting software tailored to your business’s needs.
- Live chat. If you need instant support, you can contact Stax outside regular business hours using its live chat. You can also contact its support team by email, phone, and fax or check out its comprehensive knowledge base with detailed articles on various topics.
- Payment methods. Stax accepts several payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, ACH transfers, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Venmo. Thus, you’ll have no problem accepting local and international payments, enhancing your potential for profitability.
- Optional same-day payouts. For businesses that handle numerous ACH transactions or prefer quick access to funds, Stax offers same-day payouts for an additional fee.
Gateway | Stax |
Number of countries and currencies accepted | Over 100 currencies in 150 countries |
E-commerce integrations | BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Shift4Shop, SalesForce, Magento |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 8¢ + interchange (in-person) |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $99.00 |
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Negotiable Low Credit Card Processing Rates
Monthly Fee:
$9
Transaction Fee:
From 0.15% + $0
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
Features and Benefits
- Dedicated account manager. You’ll have a dedicated account manager at LMS who provides specialized support and a consistent point of contact. This means you won’t need to constantly brief new representatives, giving you time to focus on your business.
- Shopping cart. LMS’ shopping cart integration simplifies e-commerce activities, featuring options like an “add to cart” button, automatic tax and shipping calculations, and access to customer statistics.
- Business funding. With LMS, you can access a merchant cash advance to cover the costs of selling overseas. Better yet, it is repaid through a commission on future sales, meaning you won’t have the usual pressures of strict deadlines or putting up collateral.
- High approval rate. Despite the challenges often faced by businesses handling international transactions, LMS boasts a 98% approval rate, increasing your chances of being approved.
Gateway | Authorize.Net |
Number of countries and currencies accepted | Accept payments from anywhere in the world in 11 currencies (1 per account) |
E-commerce integrations | WooCommerce and Shopify |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | ~0.15% + $0 |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $9.00 |
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Top Global Payment Processor With Industry-Specific Merchant Accounts
Monthly Fee:
$7.95
Transaction Fee:
From 0.50% + $0.10
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
Features and Benefits
- Multichannel payments. Paysafe offers several payment channels, including digital invoicing, MOTO transactions, pay-by-link, subscription-based billing, and even QR code payments through its partnership with Applova.
- Comprehensive dashboard. The Merchant Back Office dashboard allows you to view your entire transaction history, take orders through a virtual terminal, generate reports, and process refunds, centralizing the management of your transactions.
- Compliance and security. Paysafe maintains the highest level of PCI compliance and offers end-to-end encryption and tokenization to protect your online transactions. Plus, its GDPR compliance ensures its standards align with current regulations.
- Account manager. After opening a merchant account, you’ll receive an account manager that you can reach via email or phone outside regular business hours.
Gateway | Authorize.Net |
Number of countries and currencies accepted | Over 40 currencies and 45 countries |
E-commerce integrations | WooCommerce and Magento |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 0.99% + 25¢ (debit cards) |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $16.00 |
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Budget-Friendly Credit Card Processing Ideal for New or Low-Volume Businesses
Monthly Fee:
None
Transaction Fee:
From 0.30% + 8¢
Pricing Model:
Interchange plus
Interchange plus
Interchange-plus pricing involves two fees for each credit or debit card transaction. The first is the interchange fee, a variable amount set by the card network (e.g. Visa, Mastercard). The second is a markup fee charged by the payment processor, typically a percentage of the transaction amount plus a small flat transaction fee. This allows you to see exactly how much of what you pay goes to the card networks and how much to the payment processor.
Features and Benefits
- Easy to use software. Helcim’s software is intuitive and simple, allowing you to set up new tax regions and add currencies for international payments. Its design focuses on security, keeping your data well protected.
- Fully hosted website builder. You only need a domain name, and Helcim’s platform does the rest. Plus, it syncs with your main Helcim account, automatically copying products to your online store to save you time and effort.
- Built-in CRM. Offering a customer portal to ensure 24/7 relationship management, Helcim gives your customers access to their transaction history and pending invoices. Better yet, you can securely store all your customers’ payment details in its card vault.
- 3 customer service channels. Helcim provides email, phone, and ticket support from Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. EST, and on weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. However, ticket support is exclusive to Helcim merchant account holders.
Gateway | Helcim |
Number of countries and currencies accepted | Almost any currency and country |
E-commerce integrations | WooCommerce and Magento |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 0.50% +25¢ (online) |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | N/A |
5. Pay.com: Reduce Failed International Payments With 3 Resolution Tools
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Optimized Payment Processing Solutions for Small E-Commerce Businesses
Monthly Fee:
None
Transaction Fee:
2.9% + 29¢
Pricing Model:
Flat rate
Flat rate
Flat rate pricing simplifies your payment processing bill by charging the same percentage markup on every credit or debit card transaction you receive. The payment processor still pays the variable interchange fee set by the card network (e.g. Visa, Mastercard) on each transaction, but you always pay the same fixed rate regardless.
Features and Benefits
- Dynamic fraud detection and prevention tool. Pay.com utilizes the PSD2 security protocol, 3DS2, to authenticate each transaction and add an extra layer of security depending on their estimated risk level.
- Customizable checkout. You can tailor your checkout page’s text, colors, and overall design with Pay.com. You can also use your domain name and its built-in A/B testing tool to optimize your checkout.
- Powerful analytics. Pay.com provides comprehensive analytics, giving you real-time visualizations of data, transactions, consumer behavior, and more. Plus, you’ll be able to predict trends and handle refunds.
- Compliance and security. Regular audits and tests ensure Pay.com’s Level 1 PCI DSS compliance while tokenization conceals your customer’s financial information.
Gateway | Pay.com |
Number of countries and currencies accepted | Over 180 currencies in over 200 countries using Visa and Mastercard |
E-commerce integrations | BigCommerce, Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, and more |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 2.9% + 29¢ |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | N/A |
6. ProMerchant: Accept International Payments Through BigCommerce and Magento
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Interchange-Plus & Zero Cost Processing Plans Ideal for Restaurants and Retail
Monthly Fee:
$7.95
Transaction Fee:
From 3% + 10¢
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
Features and Benefits
- Next-day payouts. ProMerchant offers merchants next-day payouts free of charge, an uncommon feature on this list. Due to limited processing time, you have the money to cover expenses and ensure the smooth running of your business.
- Fraud mitigation tools. ProMerchant provides additional features through Authorize.Net that you can use to reduce the chances of fraudulent activity and chargebacks. Such features include filters, alerts, and IP blocking.
- Over 50 POS systems. You can choose between 50 different POS systems – a boon for businesses accepting national and international transactions. Plus, you get a free Verifone, Payanywhere, Pax, or Ingenico terminal when you open a merchant account.
- Subscription management. Because of Authorize.Net, ProMerchant is a great choice for international transactions as it allows you to set up digital invoicing, create subscription plans, and receive recurring payments.
Gateway | Authorize.Net |
Number of countries and currencies accepted | 100 currencies in up to 150 countries |
E-commerce integrations | BigCommerce and Magento |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 3% + 10¢ (credit) |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $7.95 |
Other Notable International Payment Gateways
7. Flagship Merchant Services
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Fast Onboarding & Quick Payouts With Same-Day Funding
Monthly Fee:
From $15
Transaction Fee:
From 1.58% + 19¢
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
8. CreditCardProcessing.com
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Competitive Credit Card Processing Fees for High-Volume Businesses
Monthly Fee:
From $15
Transaction Fee:
From 0% + 0.05¢
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
9. PAYARC
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Custom Payment Processing Plans With No Hidden Costs
Monthly Fee:
From $69
Transaction Fee:
From 0% + 15¢
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
10. PayPal
Our Score
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Save up To 40% on Credit Card Processing Fees
Monthly Fee:
None
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
These Are the Best Payment Gateways for International Transactions
Every US-based business processing international transactions has unique needs, but certain payment gateways stand out due to their specific features and benefits. For high-volume businesses processing international transactions, Stax offers the best payment gateway. It can save you up to 40% on your processing fees if you make more than $8,000/month and offers a customized checkout experience through its API. LMS is the best choice for budget-conscious SMEs processing international transactions, especially if you’re looking for cost efficiency and dedicated support. It offers industry-low rates, negotiable pricing, flexible contracts, and dedicated fraud and chargeback teams. If you’re a low-volume business aiming to offer your customers various payment methods, Paysafe is an excellent option. It allows you to accept over 250 payment methods in 40 currencies, including 70 international payment methods like BACS, EFT, iDEAL, and more.Here’s a recap of everything we looked at so far:
Best Feature | Best For | Monthly fee on cheapest plan | Transaction fees on cheapest plan | ||
Stax | Save up to 40% of your processing costs | Large US-based e-commerce businesses processing over $8,000/month | $99.00 | 8¢ + interchange (in-person) | |
Leaders Merchant Services | Industry-low rates and minimal monthly fees | Budget-conscious SMEs processing fewer international transactions | $9.00 | ~0.15% + $0 | |
Paysafe | Accepts over 70 international payment methods | Low-volume businesses aiming to provide popular payment methods for international customers | $16.00 | 0.99% + 25¢ (debit cards) | |
Helcim | Full transparency regarding pricing and fees | Startups requiring hassle-free payment processing | N/A | 0.50% +25¢ (online) | |
Pay.com | Multiple resolution tools reduce the chances of failed transactions | Subscription-based businesses susceptible to declined payments from expired payment methods | N/A | 2.9% + 29¢ | |
ProMerchant | Access e-commerce platforms like BigCommerce and Magento | High-risk businesses struggling to get accepted by a payment processor | $7.95 | 3% + 10¢ (credit) |