Payment methods explained
An overview of the payment methods available in WooCommerce and how to choose the right ones for your store.
Your payment methods are what allow customers to pay you. WooCommerce supports a wide range of options — from credit cards to PayPal to bank transfers. This guide explains what's available and how to choose.
Quick summary
WooCommerce comes with a few basic payment methods built in (bank transfer, check, cash on delivery). For card payments and PayPal, you need a payment gateway plugin. The most common choices are WooCommerce Payments (powered by Stripe) and PayPal. Payment methods are managed under WooCommerce → Settings → Payments.
Built-in payment methods
WooCommerce includes these methods out of the box — no extra plugin needed:
| Method | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Direct bank transfer (BACS) | Customer pays via bank transfer. You manually confirm receipt. | B2B, large orders |
| Check payments | Customer mails a check. You manually process it. | Rare; mostly US-only |
| Cash on delivery | Customer pays in person on delivery or pickup. | Local businesses |
These methods are manual — you handle payment outside of WooCommerce and must update the order status yourself.
Payment gateway plugins
To accept credit cards and online payments automatically, you need a payment gateway plugin. The gateway connects your store to the payment network and handles the transaction securely.
Most popular options
WooCommerce Payments
Official WooCommerce payment solution, powered by Stripe. Built into WooCommerce and available for free (transaction fees apply). Supports cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more. Manage payouts from your WooCommerce dashboard.
Stripe (via plugin)
Stripe's own WooCommerce plugin. Highly flexible, supports many payment methods globally, excellent developer tools. Great for stores with complex needs.
PayPal
PayPal's official WooCommerce plugin. Many customers prefer PayPal because they don't have to enter card details. Can be used alongside another gateway.
Square
Good for businesses with both online and in-person sales. Syncs inventory between your physical and online stores.
How to enable/disable payment methods
Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments. You'll see a list of all installed payment methods.
Toggle each method on or off using the toggle switch in the Enabled column.
Click Set up (or the method name) to configure the settings for each method — like your API keys.
Drag methods to change the order they appear at checkout. Put your most popular option at the top.
Choosing the right payment methods
We recommend offering at least two options
Offering credit card payments plus PayPal covers the vast majority of customers. Some customers prefer PayPal for security reasons; others prefer cards. More options = fewer abandoned carts.
Consider these factors when choosing:
- Transaction fees — every gateway charges a percentage and sometimes a flat fee per transaction. Compare costs for your typical order size.
- Supported countries — not all gateways are available in every country.
- Payout speed — how quickly money lands in your bank account (typically 2–7 days).
- Customer experience — some gateways offer smoother checkout (like Stripe's embedded forms) while others redirect customers to an external page (like classic PayPal).
Common questions
Related guides
- Accepting credit cards (Stripe & more)
- Accepting PayPal
- Understanding the checkout experience
- Troubleshooting payment problems
- PCI compliance, in plain English
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