planning / 10 easy to use eCommerce payment systems for 2020

10 easy to use eCommerce payment systems for 2020

Andy Thorne
retro payment system with piles of silver coins in graphic style collage

Start-ups and evolving e-retailers need reliable payment gateways for their eCommerce site that consumers trust. We identify 10 with the potential to underpin your lead conversion; offering good functionality and security, but differing cost implications.

Integrating the right eCommerce payment system into your website design is largely about finding the one most likely to offer excellent user experience. One of the first questions should always be, does it have a track record for building consumer trust and engagement?

However, you also need a payment gateway option that you’re confident with. One that keeps your online retail business running smoothly, providing a fee structure that’s clear and appropriate.

This is a competitive field, with a diverse choice of payment gateways available in 2020.

eCommerce payment systems

We’ve identified ten of the best online payment systems. Keep in mind that some of these points are generalisations and T&Cs apply and that many also require you to have an existing website and shopping cart software. They vary in their technical demands for setup too, but the easy ones are flagged.

Clear Pay

Clearpay payment method

Clearpay allows shoppers to purchase goods and spread their payment over 4 fortnightly installments.

Clearpay is one of the newer payment systems used on eCommerce sites, allowing shoppers to purchase their goods in 4 manageable fortnightly installments.

There is no catch here, with no interest rates and no contracts, Clearpay is vast becoming a popular payment method for not only customers but retailers too.

Clearpay provides customers with an app allowing them to track payments and when they are due, the app also shows you an account of all current orders as well as your history.

Could this payment system get any better? Yes. Clearpay has set rules which means no customer will be led into debt, no exceptions. How is this?

Spending limits are set per user, this is determined on the customers repayment history – simple. If you are regularly paying your monthly installments then you’re open to spending more on a future purchase, if you do not repay your monthly installments on time then your spending becomes limited.

Clear pay have received 4.5/5 with over 1,500 reviews on Trustpilot.

Shopify

Shopify payment system

Shopify charges a fee per purchase however with all the other features that come with the payment system, this outways the additional costs.

Shopify is the most used eCommerce payment platform in the UK. Not least, as its purpose designed is to provide payment management for online retailers.

Its complete service includes website hosting and easy integration with such things as Amazon and any Point of Sale (POS) equipment you use. You can even have a free 14-day trial and it has a very handy abandoned shopping cart recovery feature

The completeness of this solution – and easy setup – needs to be balanced with the fee structure. Shopify is not the cheapest online payment provider; it charges additional fees for payments coming in from other sources and it does clock up some poor reviews on Trustpilot.

Paypal

paypal payment system

Paypal is one of the most well known payment system which also accept international payment!

No list of eCommerce payment systems for 2020 would be complete without the best-known one! Paypal online payments are welcomed by 7 million businesses worldwide, and over 20 million UK shoppers a year use PayPal!

As with other easy to use payment gateways in our list, setting up a business account with Paypal is straightforward, especially if you already have an account. One of its advantages is how well it’s optimised for mobile transactions. Also, as so many people already have a PayPal account, they’re happy to use it to pay online.

Paypal accepts international payments and it has worked hard to ramp up fraud protection and data management.

The downside is that all this functionality and ‘fame’ comes at a cost and Paypal can prove especially expensive for low-level sales.

Reviews suggest it is not a ‘one size fits all’ online payment solution.

Amazon Pay

Amazon payment system

Amazon pay also incur fees pushing this payment system to the higher end of the scales but with its reliable systems the price does not cause doubt.

Amazon’s merchant services don’t just support payments from their own trader agreements. Amazon Pay is also a standalone payment gateway for eCommerce ventures.

Like PayPal, an existing relationship with this tech giant makes setting up your eCommerce payment system straightforward.

It’s a familiar and often well-respected name to reassure your customers, and they can make payments to you swiftly and with ease via their existing Amazon account.

You still receive the data you need from the transaction, and it’s possible to integrate Amazon Pay with other eCommerce payment gateways such as Shopify.

The disadvantages include relatively high fees and slow payments.

Payoneer

payoneer Payment system

Payoneer just like paypal can handle international transactions, worldwide payments are popular.

This online payment platform Payoneer claims to be the choice of 4 million users globally. It is similar to Paypal in many ways, as it offers an easy way to handle online transactions worldwide, including international currencies and bank transfers.

Set up is clear and payments are swift, and it promotes its ability to save users up to 90% on alternative payment fees.

However, it has been tarred with accusations of poor customer service, and its structure seems far better designed for freelances than eCommerce businesses.

SagePay

Sage pay payment system

Sage currently offers offline support management for their systems.

Another established name in payment systems is SagePay, it also provides off-line support for financial management.

The flat monthly fees they charge are reassuring simple to budget for, especially as in some options no transaction fees are involved. You can choose the level of regular cost and support that matches your likely transaction activity.

This clarity – and the high trust element in Sage products – is one of the reasons it gets excellent reviews online.

Be aware though, all calls to the provider (even support) result in charges and it requires a degree of technical ability to set up and run.

Stripe

Stripe payment systems

Like shopify, Stripe offer a fully integrated online payment system.

Like Shopify, Stripe is a fully integrated online payment solution – processing card payments but also your recurring bills and direct debits. Stripe also offers a clear pricing structure, with no hidden extras or set up fees, which is one of the main reasons so many eCommerce businesses chose it. You also get regular reports on fees and competitive rates for foreign card payments.

However, unlike Shopify, it’s something you bolt-on to an existing website. It requires eCommerce businesses to be reasonably tech-savvy to put it into place and your payments to account will come on a seven-day cycle, making it slower than alternative providers.

Klarna

Klarna payment system

Go crazy for Klarna, a popular payment method allowing you to purchase without payment being processed for a following 30 days!

Possibly an unfamiliar name in eCommerce payment platforms, Klarna is a Swedish Fintech product that is gaining ground in the UK. Not least as it’s the preferred gateway for online shops built using EKM.

One the reasons it’s worth considering is that it offers your customers three options; pay upfront for purchases; pay after delivery via invoice, or use flexible consumer credit to set up regular payments for purchases.

Be cautious, as there are concerns about the clarity of pricing for retailers, and terms for your customers too.

2Checkout

2checkout payment system

2Checkout have the ability to facilitate payments worldwide.

2Chekout is a well-established and internationally respected player in the online payment gateway sector, operating in around 196 countries.

Their advantages for UK eCommerce businesses include an ability to facilitate payments worldwide, and a system that can be a standard or inline hosted checkout, working with any online shopping cart software.

Set up is easy and you can choose your own service and payment level.

Keep in mind it does charge high and carry some accusations of poor customer service.

Authorize.net

eCommerce payment system

Authorize.net is the most experience payment system coming with a monthly price tag as well as fees per transaction.

One of the first online payment gateways to come on the to market, Authorize.net has a loyal customer base worldwide.

If you run an online retail business from the UK, you can opt for either a straightforward Payment Gateway or a Payment Gateway integrated into a Merchant Account.

Some valuable services are provided free within your contract, including automated recurring billing and advanced fraud detection. You also get a “Virtual Terminal”.

The downside is that the overall price of this is high and unlike other options in our list, it includes monthly fees and extra charges for foreign currencies.

How to choose between online payment platforms

This list of eCommerce payment gateways shows the different advantages and disadvantages of the main players, including different charging structures, Finding the right one to match your online retail business starts with finding ‘best fit’ for you, and then requesting quotes to drill down on specifics.

Alternatively, give us a call to use our expert guidance and keen eye on costs!