Payments and checkout

Checkout is where a visitor becomes a customer, and it is also where small problems cost the most sales. The tools in this category process payments and add the payment options shoppers expect: cards, digital wallets and pay-later plans.

Stripe and PayPal process card payments and pay the money out to your bank account. Many store builders use one of them behind the scenes, or offer their own processing built on a partner. Shop Pay and Apple Pay are wallets that let shoppers check out without typing card details. Klarna, Afterpay and Affirm let shoppers pay in installments while the store receives the full amount up front, minus the provider's fee.

For a first store, start with what your store builder offers and turn on one or two familiar options. Cards plus a wallet or PayPal cover most buyers. Pay-later plans can help with higher-priced items, and they carry their own merchant fees, so check whether they make sense for your order size.

Read the fees and payout terms before you launch. Processors charge per transaction, and fees differ by payment type and country. New accounts sometimes have payout delays or holds while the provider gets to know your business. Know how refunds and chargebacks work, and keep records of each order and its delivery so you can answer a dispute.

Finally, test the checkout yourself. Place a real order with a low-priced item on a phone, refund it, and check the emails the customer receives. It is the quickest way to find a missing shipping rule or a confusing step.

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7 online store tools in payments and checkout

Stripe

Payment processor used by many store builders and custom sites, with hosted checkout pages and payment links.

  • Free plan or free tier

PayPal

Online payments and checkout button that many buyers already use, with options for cards and pay later.

  • Works with Shopify
  • Mobile app

Shop Pay

by Shopify

Accelerated checkout from Shopify that saves buyers' details for faster repeat purchases across stores.

  • Works with Shopify

Klarna

Pay-later service that lets shoppers split a purchase into installments while the store is paid up front.

  • Works with Shopify
  • Mobile app

Afterpay

by Block

Buy now, pay later service that splits a purchase into installments, offered at checkout by many stores.

  • Works with Shopify
  • Mobile app

Affirm

Pay-over-time financing at checkout, often used for higher-priced items, with the store paid up front.

  • Works with Shopify
  • Mobile app

Apple Pay

by Apple

Digital wallet that lets shoppers pay on iPhone, iPad and Mac without typing card details, if your checkout supports it.

  • Works with Shopify

Keep the checkout short. Ask only for the details you need to ship and contact the buyer, show the total including shipping and tax before the last step, and avoid surprise fees at the end, which is one of the most common reasons shoppers leave a cart.

Trust signals matter for a store nobody knows yet. Show your contact details, return policy and delivery times near the checkout, and use payment options buyers recognize. A small shop that answers questions plainly can feel as safe to buy from as a large one.

If you sell internationally, check which payment methods are common in each country you ship to, and if your processor supports local currencies.

Turn on email receipts and order notifications so you and the buyer both have a record of every payment.

Questions about payments and checkout

Do I need both Stripe and PayPal?

Not always. One card processor covers most buyers, and many stores add PayPal as a second option because many shoppers already use it. Start with what your store builder supports well and add more options if customers ask.

How do pay-later services like Klarna or Afterpay work for the seller?

The shopper splits the purchase into installments with the provider, and the store is paid the full amount up front minus a merchant fee. The provider handles the installment payments. Check the fee and the provider's rules before you turn it on.

Why was my first payout delayed?

Payment providers often hold or delay early payouts while they verify a new account and watch for fraud. Completing your business details and verification early, and shipping orders promptly, usually shortens these holds.

What happens if a customer disputes a charge?

The customer's bank opens a dispute, and your payment provider asks you for evidence such as the order, tracking and messages. Keep these records for every order so you can respond within the deadline.

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