TL;DR: Stripe and PayPal publish transparent per-transaction and optional monthly fees. Square publishes clear rates for online and in-person. Adyen and global enterprise gateways are typically quote or volume-based. Order follows published $0 / list prices first.
Payment gateway software (and closely related payment processors) accepts card and alternative payments, routes funds, handles fraud tools, and settles to merchant accounts. In 2026 buyers evaluate transparency of fees, global coverage, developer experience, and support for subscriptions or marketplaces.
Every entry uses the same fields: published pricing, free plan or trial, core focus, and the main limitation. The order below is not a quality ranking. Public $0 / published price first, quote-led last.
Payment gateway software compared at a glance
| Provider | Published pricing | Primary strength | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Published per-transaction rates; no monthly on standard | Developer experience and global payments platform | SaaS, marketplaces, and product teams that integrate via API | Visit β |
| PayPal / Braintree | Published transaction fees; Braintree for advanced | Consumer trust and broad buyer reach | Merchants who want PayPal button and wallet coverage | Visit β |
| Square | Published online and in-person rates | Unified online + POS and simple onboarding | Omnichannel small and mid-size merchants | Visit β |
| Adyen | Primarily volume / custom pricing | Global acquiring and unified commerce | Larger international brands and platforms | Visit β |
| Authorize.net / legacy gateways | Gateway + processor fees often published or quoted | Established gateway model for some verticals | Businesses with existing merchant accounts needing a gateway | Visit β |
Stripe, PayPal, Square, Adyen, and Authorize.net models were reviewed on 27 September 2026. Confirm current card rates, international fees, and any monthly charges on the live vendor pages.
Transaction-percentage pricing dominates public list pages; true blended cost depends on card mix, chargebacks, and add-on products.
Transparent rates vs volume contracts
Stripe, PayPal, and Square publish standard rates that many SMBs can start on immediately. Enterprise and global platforms often negotiate interchange-plus or volume-based pricing. Factor in not only the headline percentage but also monthly fees, currency conversion, chargeback costs, and the cost of any required fraud or billing products.
The 5 providers in detail
1. Stripe
Best for: Product and engineering teams that need a modern payments API, subscriptions, marketplaces, and global payment methods under one platform.
| Published pricing | Standard card rates published; no mandatory monthly on core processing |
| Free plan / trial | No platform fee for standard use; pay only for successful payments |
| Core focus | Online payments, Billing, Connect, Radar, global methods |
| Main limitation | Additional products (Billing, Radar, etc.) add their own fees |
- Clear published pricing page with standard rates by region.
- Excellent developer documentation and tooling.
- Strong fit for SaaS, platforms, and businesses that build payment flows in-house.
2. PayPal (and Braintree)
Best for: Merchants who want PayPal and Venmo buyer reach plus a familiar checkout, or who need Braintree for more advanced gateway needs.
| Published pricing | Transaction fees published for PayPal products; Braintree rates available |
| Free plan / trial | No monthly platform fee on many standard merchant products |
| Core focus | PayPal Checkout, wallets, Braintree gateway, invoicing |
| Main limitation | Buyer experience and brand association differ from pure card gateways |
- Published fee schedules for standard business products.
- High consumer recognition and one-click wallet options.
- Braintree provides a more developer-oriented gateway under the same family.
3. Square
Best for: Merchants that sell both online and in person and want one account for payments, POS hardware, and basic invoicing.
| Published pricing | Clear published rates for online, in-person, and invoicing |
| Free plan / trial | No monthly software fee for core processing on many plans |
| Core focus | Omnichannel payments, POS, online checkout, hardware |
| Main limitation | Less emphasis on complex marketplace or global acquiring than pure platforms |
- Transparent published rates across channels.
- Simple onboarding and hardware ecosystem for physical retail.
- Good default for small and mid-size omnichannel businesses.
4. Adyen
Best for: Larger international brands and platforms that need unified commerce, global acquiring, and a single technical integration across many markets.
| Published pricing | Primarily custom / volume-based; public overview available |
| Free plan / trial | Sales-led; trials or pilots arranged commercially |
| Core focus | Global payments, unified commerce, acquiring, risk |
| Main limitation | Not a self-serve list-price product for most SMBs |
- Strong global coverage and single-platform model for multi-country brands.
- Expect volume discussion and commercial terms rather than pure self-serve rates.
- Often compared with Stripe at the higher end of platform needs.
View Adyen pricing overview β
5. Authorize.net and classic gateway models
Best for: Businesses that already have a merchant account and need a separate payment gateway, or that operate in verticals where this model is still common.
| Published pricing | Gateway fees often published; processor rates may be separate |
| Free plan / trial | Trials or starter options vary by reseller |
| Core focus | Gateway services, virtual terminal, recurring billing modules |
| Main limitation | Two-party model (gateway + processor) can be less seamless than modern platforms |
- Established option when a merchant account is already in place.
- Pricing transparency varies by how the gateway is sold (direct vs reseller).
- Evaluate total cost against all-in-one platforms like Stripe or Square.
View Authorize.net pricing β
Kurums Match
I am building a SaaS or marketplace and need strong APIs
Stripe publishes standard rates and is designed for developer-led integration, subscriptions, and platforms.
I want PayPal and wallet coverage for my buyers
PayPal (and Braintree when needed) publishes fee schedules and delivers high consumer recognition at checkout.
I sell both online and in a physical store
Square publishes clear rates for both channels and ties payments to POS hardware and software.
I am a larger multi-country brand
Adyen is typically volume- or contract-based and focuses on global acquiring and unified commerce.
I already have a merchant account and only need a gateway
Classic gateways such as Authorize.net remain relevant; compare total gateway + processor cost carefully.
Buying tip
Model your actual card mix (consumer vs commercial, domestic vs international) and expected chargeback rate. Headline percentages can look similar while effective cost diverges once volume, currency, and risk tools are included.
How this comparison was put together
Official pricing and product pages for Stripe, PayPal, Square, Adyen, and Authorize.net were reviewed on 27 September 2026. Only publicly stated free or list models are shown; volume or quote-led offerings are labeled. Order follows published accessibility.
FAQ
What is the difference between a payment gateway and a processor?
A gateway is the technical interface that captures and routes payment data. A processor (or acquirer) moves the funds and settles with the card networks. Many modern platforms combine both roles.
Are inter change-plus rates better?
Interchange-plus can be more transparent for high volume, but the effective rate still depends on your card mix and any monthly or gateway fees. Compare apples-to-apples on your own volume.
Do I need a separate fraud tool?
Most platforms include basic fraud tools. Higher-risk or high-volume merchants often enable paid machine-learning or rules products (for example Stripe Radar) and should include those fees in the comparison.
Can I use more than one gateway?
Yes. Some merchants route by geography, risk, or payment method. Multi-gateway setups add operational complexity and reconciliation work.
Related: Best Subscription Billing Software in 2026 Β· Best Ecommerce Platforms in 2026 Β· Best POS Software in 2026
Last updated: 27 September 2026. Pricing and features change; always verify on the vendor site.
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