PayPal
PayPal is one of the world’s foremost online payment services and is a well trusted brand that the majority of your customers will be familiar with. There are no set up fees, annual fees or recurring fees and buyer protection gives customers added confidence in the service. Setting up an account is easy and integrating payment processing with your website is uncomplicated, allowing for smooth customer transactions.
However PayPal has been widely known to freeze accounts with no warning and the levels of support are not substantial. It is also important to be aware that there are transaction fees to pay of 2.9% per transaction and because the service is owned by eBay most disputes are heavily biased towards the customer.
RBS WorldPay
WorldPay is seen to be a more professional service than eBay which might suit your preferences if you are trying to create a more professional image for your business. If you do choose to use WorldPay you’ll be able to take advantage of the fact that payment by PayPal is also still available to users. The initial application process is quick and fees are reduced for large volumes of sales, which could be advantageous if you are selling in bulk.
On the downside it can take a while for your account to be set up and authorised whilst payment can take several weeks to reach you in some cases. And the cost of application can grow if you require additional options such as more than one currency or recurring fees.
Sage Pay
Sage Pay is another well trusted and recognised brand and like WorldPay, allows payment by PayPal to give users more choice. There is no percentage charge on transactions and multiple currencies are available at no extra cost, an important feature if your business is one that sells beyond the shores of the UK. There are no monthly fees and the customer support is the best amongst the largest payment gateway services. Sage Pay also offer a virtual terminal which allows you to process telephone payments, giving you added flexibility in terms of how customers can purchase your product.
With several options available it is important to do your research before making a decision. Amazon Payments, Google checkouts, Braintree and 2Checkout are all noteworthy options also worth a look. When choosing a gateway it is important to consider a range of factors including fees, recurring billing, and the use of multiple currencies in order to get the right fit for you and your company.
