What is a payment gateway?
A payment gateway is the online version of a card machine in a shop. The customer types card details, and the gateway checks them and moves the money. Magento is software for building online stores.
What comes with Magento?
Magento includes some payment methods you can switch on in settings. These are often:
- Check or money order, where the customer pays you outside the site.
- Bank transfer.
- Cash on delivery.
- Zero subtotal checkout, for orders that cost nothing.
The list of built-in methods changes between versions. Look in your own admin area to see what yours offers.
Which gateways can you add?
Many well-known companies offer a Magento add-on. An add-on, also called an extension, adds a new feature to your shop. Common ones include:
- PayPal
- Braintree
- Stripe
- Authorize.Net
- Adyen
- Amazon Pay
- Razorpay and similar local gateways
Availability depends on your Magento version and your country. Check the gateway's own website for the add-on that matches your version.
How to pick one
- Find out which gateways work in your country.
- Check which payment types your customers want, such as cards or wallets.
- Read the gateway's fees on its own website. Hostvento does not set them.
- Make sure it has an extension for your Magento version.
- Read reviews from other shop owners.
How to turn one on
- Install the extension, as its instructions say. Take a backup first.
- Log in to the Magento admin area.
- Go to Stores, then Configuration, then Sales, then Payment Methods.
- Open the gateway's section and set it to Enabled.
- Enter the keys the gateway gave you, and click Save Config.
Tip: Use the gateway's test mode and place a sample order before you accept real payments. Your shop should also use SSL.
Quick recap
- A gateway is the online card machine for your shop.
- Magento has basic methods built in.
- Many big gateways offer Magento extensions.
- Pick by country, fees and version support, then test.