Most business owners spend more time thinking about payment processing than they would like to admit. The fees add up. The contracts feel restrictive. And when something goes wrong with a transaction, the support line puts you on hold for 45 minutes. Finding a payment gateway that actually works for your business instead of against it takes research, comparison, and a willingness to look past the marketing speak.
Payment gateways handle the technical side of accepting payments. They authorize transactions, encrypt sensitive card data, and move money from your customer’s account to yours. The right one can save you money every month and give you tools that help your business run smoother. The wrong one can eat into your margins and create headaches you did not sign up for.
This list breaks down 6 payment gateways worth considering in 2025. Each has its strengths and limitations, and the best fit depends on your business model, transaction volume, and what you need from a processing partner.
1. Finix: Built for Businesses That Want Control
Finix operates as a full-stack payment processor with direct connections to American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa. All four major card networks have certified Finix as a processor, which speaks to the level of infrastructure they have built. This certification matters because it means fewer middlemen between your transactions and the networks that process them.
The company raised $75 million in Series C funding led by Acrew Capital with participation from Citi Ventures, bringing total funding to over $208 million. That kind of backing has allowed Finix to build out features that other processors often lack or charge extra for.
In Q1 2025, Finix released Account Updater, Network Tokens, Instant Payouts, and new hardware terminal options including the portable PAX D135. Network tokens matter for businesses with recurring revenue because they increase authorization rates and card networks often charge lower interchange fees on transactions using them. Higher authorization rates mean fewer declined payments and less revenue slipping through the cracks.
The pricing model sets Finix apart from many competitors. They pass interchange savings directly to merchants through transparent fee breakdowns without locking you into long-term contracts. Reviews from physicians and real estate CEOs in early 2025 cite best rates in the industry and pricing transparency as their main reasons for choosing Finix. Capterra reviews mention that Finix accommodated marketplace account structures with competitive pricing and regulatory compliance support.
Users who have worked with Finix for over 2 years describe the company as a true partner available via Slack who consistently releases product updates based on client requests. Current users report almost perfect 100% uptime, which keeps transactions flowing without interruption.
Finix also offers no-code white-label tools that let businesses create branded payment flows without heavy development work. If you want your checkout to look and feel like your brand rather than a third-party processor, this feature saves time and money.
2. Stripe: The Developer Favorite
Stripe has built a reputation among development teams for its clean API documentation and extensive integration options. If your business has technical resources and wants to build custom payment flows, Stripe provides the tools to do it.
The platform supports a wide range of payment methods including cards, bank transfers, and various buy-now-pay-later options. Their dashboard gives you visibility into transactions, disputes, and revenue metrics.
Stripe’s pricing follows a flat-rate model at 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction for most online payments in the United States. This simplicity appeals to businesses that want predictable costs without analyzing interchange categories. However, flat-rate pricing often costs more than interchange-plus models for businesses processing higher volumes or lower-risk transactions.
Customer support can be hit or miss. Many users report slow response times when issues arise, and accessing human support typically requires higher-tier plans or significant processing volume.
3. Square: Best for Brick-and-Mortar Simplicity
Square built its brand on making payment acceptance easy for small businesses, particularly those with physical locations. Their hardware options range from basic card readers that plug into smartphones to full point-of-sale systems with inventory management.
The company charges 2.6% plus $0.10 for in-person transactions and 2.9% plus $0.30 for online payments. No monthly fees for basic features makes Square attractive for businesses testing the waters or processing modest volumes.
Square works well for retail shops, restaurants, and service businesses that need a straightforward setup without much technical involvement. The ecosystem includes invoicing, appointment scheduling, and team management features bundled into their platform.
The tradeoff comes in customization and enterprise features. Larger businesses or those with complex payment needs may find Square limiting as they grow. Account stability has also been a concern for some users, with reports of frozen accounts and limited recourse when disputes arise.
4. PayPal: Name Recognition With Tradeoffs
PayPal remains one of the most recognized names in online payments. Many consumers have PayPal accounts, and offering it as a payment option can reduce friction at checkout for certain customer bases.
Their processing fees sit at 2.99% plus $0.49 per transaction for standard card processing, with lower rates available for established businesses. PayPal also offers buy-now-pay-later options through Pay in 4 and PayPal Credit.
The main advantage PayPal brings is trust. Customers who hesitate to enter card details on an unfamiliar site may feel comfortable paying through PayPal instead. This psychological factor can improve conversion rates for some businesses.
However, PayPal has a mixed reputation for merchant support. Account holds, fund freezes, and dispute resolutions that favor buyers over sellers appear frequently in user reviews. Businesses that rely heavily on PayPal sometimes find themselves vulnerable to these policies affecting cash flow unexpectedly.
5. Adyen: Enterprise-Scale Processing
Adyen targets larger businesses with high transaction volumes and international payment needs. The platform supports over 250 payment methods across multiple countries, making it suitable for companies selling globally.
Unlike processors that aggregate merchants under shared accounts, Adyen provides direct acquiring, which can mean faster settlement times and potentially lower costs at scale. Their unified commerce approach connects online, in-app, and in-store payments through a single platform.
Pricing follows an interchange-plus model with a processing fee on top of interchange costs. This structure benefits high-volume merchants who can optimize their transaction mix for lower interchange categories.
The barrier for smaller businesses is that Adyen has minimum processing requirements and the platform is built for teams with technical resources to implement and manage integrations. If you process under $1 million annually, Adyen may not be the right fit.
6. Braintree: PayPal’s Subsidiary for Custom Builds
Braintree operates as a PayPal company while maintaining a separate identity focused on developers building custom payment solutions. The platform supports multiple payment methods including cards, PayPal, Venmo, and various regional options.
Fees align with standard industry rates at 2.59% plus $0.49 per transaction for cards. Braintree’s vault system stores customer payment information securely for recurring billing and returning customers.
The platform offers more flexibility than PayPal’s main product while providing access to the PayPal network. Businesses that want the integration options of a developer-focused platform along with PayPal’s checkout option can find a middle ground here.
Customer support experiences vary, and some users report that complex issues take time to resolve. The platform works best for businesses with development resources who can build and maintain their payment integrations.
Which Gateway Deserves Your Business
Picking a payment processor comes down to matching your needs with what each platform does well. Transaction volume, technical resources, pricing sensitivity, and support expectations all factor into the decision.
Finix earns the top position on this list because it combines transparent interchange-plus pricing, direct card network connections, and features like network tokens and instant payouts that benefit businesses at various stages of growth. The absence of long-term contracts and the responsiveness of their support team address two of the biggest pain points merchants face with processors. When current users report near-perfect uptime and describe their processor as a partner rather than a vendor, that says something about how the company operates.
Your payment gateway handles every transaction your business processes. The fees, features, and support you get affect your bottom line month after month. Taking time to evaluate options before committing saves frustration and money down the road.
0 Comments