10 Best Payment Gateways in Singapore: Fees Compared [2026] 2026
Compare fees, settlement times, and PayNow support for Stripe, HitPay, Airwallex, and 7 more Singapore payment gateways. Includes 2026 fee tables and quick-pick recommendations by business type.
by Raoul, Founder of OneCart
Apr 9, 2026
30 min read
Looking for the best payment gateway in Singapore? From Stripe and PayPal to regional specialists like HitPay, 2C2P, and cross-border leaders like Airwallex, each gateway handles fees, settlement speeds, and PayNow support differently — and your choice directly affects your margins and conversion rates.
Below, we compare the 10 best payment gateways for Singapore businesses in 2026 with real fee breakdowns, settlement timelines, and integration guidance for Shopify, WooCommerce, and marketplace sellers.
How to Choose the Right Singapore Payment Gateway
When reviewing payment gateways in Singapore, think about your specific business needs. A new online store has different requirements than a large enterprise processing thousands of transactions daily. The best solution must match your sales volume, technical setup, and customer base.
Singapore’s digital payments market reached USD 23.53 billion in 2025 and is projected to hit USD 37.28 billion by 2030, according to Mordor Intelligence. Digital payment penetration reached 57% in 2024 — the highest in Southeast Asia — with PayNow used by 80% of consumers and businesses. This growth makes your payment gateway the foundation of your online operations.
Key Decision Factors for Your Business
To simplify your choice, let’s break it down into a few core factors:
Business Stage: Are you a startup needing a simple, low-cost setup? Or an established business seeking advanced features and better rates for high volume? For example, a startup might choose a gateway with no monthly fees to keep initial costs low. A larger company might negotiate a lower per-transaction rate to save money on thousands of sales.
Payment Methods: Your customers expect choices. You must support credit/debit cards, PayNow, and popular digital wallets like GrabPay. Offering these local payment methods is essential if you want to maximize sales in Singapore.
Integration Ease: How smoothly will the gateway connect to your e-commerce platform? Whether you’re on Shopify or WooCommerce, check for ready-made plugins. The alternative is a custom API integration, which can be complex and expensive for a developer to implement.
This decision tree infographic can help you visualize the best path forward, depending on whether you’re just starting out or already established.
As the flowchart shows, new businesses should prioritize low setup costs and easy integration. Established businesses should focus more on scalability, robust security, and offering a wide variety of payment options.
Quick Guide to Top Payment Gateways in Singapore
To give you a head start, we’ve put together a quick-reference table. This is designed to help you quickly compare some of the leading payment gateways at a glance, focusing on who they’re best for, the payment methods they support, and their typical pricing.
Gateway
Best For
Key Payment Methods
Typical Pricing
Settlement
Stripe
Tech-savvy businesses, startups, global sellers
Cards, PayNow, GrabPay, Apple Pay, Google Pay
3.4% + S$0.50 per txn
2-7 business days
Airwallex
Cross-border sellers, multi-currency businesses
Cards, PayNow, bank transfers, 160+ currencies
From 1.0% + S$0.20
T+1 to T+2
HitPay
SMEs, multi-channel sellers, POS + online
PayNow QR, Cards, GrabPay, WeChat Pay, AliPay
Pay-per-txn, no monthly fees
T+1 (PayNow), 2-3 days (cards)
PayPal
International sales, freelancers, brand trust
PayPal balance, Cards, BNPL
3.9% + fixed fee
Instant to balance
2C2P
Enterprises, airlines, regional expansion
Cards, bank transfers, regional e-wallets
Custom pricing
3-5 business days
Adyen
Omnichannel retailers, large corporations
250+ global/local payment methods
Interchange++ pricing
2-3 business days
FomoPay
SG SMEs, food & retail, QR payments
PayNow, SGQR, Cards, WeChat Pay, AliPay
Pay-per-txn, low rates
Real-time (PayNow)
iPay88
MY-SG cross-border sellers
Malaysian banking, Cards, e-wallets
Custom pricing
3-5 business days
WorldFirst
Cross-border sellers, marketplace payouts
Cards, bank transfers, multi-currency
From 0.75% (domestic)
T+1
Fiuu
SEA marketplace sellers, subscription billing
Cards, FPX, e-wallets, BNPL
From 1.5% per txn
2-3 business days
This table gives you a starting point. We cover each gateway in detail below, including fees, settlement times, and integration options.
Quick Pick: Best Payment Gateway by Business Type
Not sure where to start? Here’s our recommendation based on your business type:
Startup or side hustle (< S$5,000/month):HitPay — no monthly fees, PayNow support, and you can add a POS terminal if you sell at weekend markets. Simplest setup for new sellers.
Shopify or WooCommerce store (domestic focus):Stripe — best developer documentation, one-click plugin install, and the broadest feature set for customisation. The standard choice for a reason.
Cross-border or multi-currency seller:Airwallex — lowest domestic card rates among major players (from 1.0% + S$0.20), plus built-in multi-currency accounts that save 1-2% on FX. Ideal if you sell on international marketplaces or invoice overseas clients.
Marketplace seller (Shopee, Lazada, Amazon):WorldFirst — marketplaces handle customer payments, so your main need is collecting payouts in foreign currencies at competitive FX rates. WorldFirst’s multi-currency holding accounts and T+1 settlement are built for this.
Enterprise or omnichannel retailer:Adyen — unified online + in-store payments with Interchange++ pricing that rewards high volumes. Overkill for SMEs, perfect for large operations.
F&B, hawker, or physical retail:FomoPay — SGQR-compliant single QR code covers PayNow, GrabPay, WeChat Pay, and AliPay. Built specifically for Singapore’s walk-in payment culture.
Key Evaluation Criteria for Payment Gateways
Choosing the right payment gateway requires more than just finding the lowest headline rate. You must find a partner that helps you grow, keeps costs manageable, and gives your Singaporean customers a smooth checkout. A poor choice will affect your cash flow and daily operations.
First, you need to understand the true cost of every transaction. A low percentage fee can look appealing but often hides other charges. It’s crucial to break down the entire pricing model before you sign anything.
Unpacking Transaction Fees and Pricing Models
Payment gateway fees are rarely a single number. The most common structure is a percentage of the sale plus a fixed fee. You must calculate how this structure affects your business, especially based on your average order value (AOV).
Let’s use a typical fee structure like 3.4% + S$0.50 to see how it works for two different businesses:
Business A (Low AOV): Sells stickers, with an AOV of S$10. The fee per sale is (0.034 * 10) + 0.50 = S$0.84. This represents 8.4% of the total sale.
Business B (High AOV): Sells electronics, with an AOV of S$500. Their fee is (0.034 * 500) + 0.50 = S$17.50. This is just 3.5% of the sale.
This example shows how flat-rate models can be costly for businesses with smaller transaction sizes. Also, look for other costs in the fine print, such as setup fees, monthly account charges, or penalties for chargebacks.
Actionable Insight: Always model the total cost using your own sales data. Before committing, ask any potential provider for a complete fee schedule. This is the only way to avoid surprises and ensure the pricing works with your profit margins.
Supported Payment Methods
Your customers in Singapore expect payment choices. If you limit those options at checkout, you increase the chances of cart abandonment. A good payment gateway needs to accept more than just standard credit and debit cards.
Here are the local payment methods you should look for:
PayNow QR: This is essential for the Singapore market. It offers instant, seamless bank transfers and is very popular.
Digital Wallets: For anyone shopping on a mobile phone, services like GrabPay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are necessary.
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL): Options from providers like Atome or Grab PayLater can attract younger shoppers and help increase conversions on higher-priced items.
Offering these localized methods helps prevent lost sales. It also shows you understand the Singaporean market, which builds trust and can increase your revenue.
Settlement Times and Cash Flow
“Settlement time” refers to how long it takes for the money from a customer’s purchase to arrive in your bank account. This can range from one business day to over a week and has a significant impact on your cash flow.
A gateway that offers T+2 settlement means money from a Monday sale will be in your account by Wednesday. In contrast, a provider with a T+7 schedule can create a major lag, tying up your working capital for a full week. For a small business, that kind of delay can make it difficult to pay suppliers or restock inventory. Always get the payout schedule in writing before you sign up.
Global Payment Solutions for Singapore Businesses
When you look beyond Singapore to attract international customers, partnering with a globally recognized payment gateway is a wise move. These major international players offer robust infrastructure, powerful developer tools, and a brand name that builds instant trust with buyers worldwide. This section focuses on the global giants that have a strong local presence in Singapore.
These platforms are known for their scalability and deep feature sets, making them a popular choice for startups and large enterprises. They provide the tools to accept local payments and expand confidently into cross-border e-commerce.
Stripe: The Developer-First Powerhouse
For tech-savvy businesses and startups needing deep customization, Stripe is often the first choice. Its well-documented and powerful APIs allow you to build a tailored checkout experience, recurring billing systems, and handle complex payment flows.
Stripe excels at making complicated processes simple. For example, a local Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) startup can use Stripe’s API to build a subscription model that automatically manages monthly charges, handles different pricing tiers, and follows up on failed payments. This allows the startup to focus on developing its product instead of managing payment logistics.
Stripe supports a wide range of payment methods essential for the Singapore market:
All major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
PayNow QR, a must-have for most Singaporean shoppers
Digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay
This screenshot from Stripe’s Singapore homepage shows their focus on being a single, unified platform for various payment needs.
As you can see, Stripe presents itself as a full-stack financial infrastructure platform for businesses of any size, not just a payment processor.
Its standard pricing is a straightforward pay-as-you-go model, typically around 3.4% + S$0.50 for each successful card transaction. There are no setup or monthly fees, making it accessible for new businesses, while they also offer custom pricing for merchants with high transaction volumes.
PayPal: The Global Trust Signal
PayPal is one of the most recognized payment brands in the world. If you’re a Singaporean e-commerce store selling to customers in the US or Europe, adding a PayPal button at checkout can significantly boost your conversion rates. This is because millions of international shoppers already have a PayPal account and trust its security.
Its main strengths are its simplicity and global reach. For instance, a freelance graphic designer in Singapore can send a PayPal invoice to a client in Australia in minutes. The client can pay instantly with their PayPal balance or a linked card, and the money appears in the designer’s account almost immediately.
PayPal’s Seller Protection program is a significant advantage. It adds a layer of security against fraudulent chargebacks and claims, providing comfort when dealing with unfamiliar international buyers. This helps reduce the risk of selling globally.
Setting it up on major e-commerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce is simple. For merchants selling across borders, understanding different market nuances is key. To learn more, check out our guide on navigating cross-border e-commerce challenges for practical insights.
Adyen: The Enterprise-Grade Omnichannel Solution
Adyen is designed for large, established enterprises that need a single, unified platform to handle payments across all channels: online, in-app, and in physical stores. It is a powerful solution for major retailers with a presence on Orchard Road and a thriving e-commerce site.
Consider a large fashion retailer with boutiques across the island and a busy online shop. Adyen allows them to consolidate all their payment data into one system. This enables true omnichannel strategies, like “buy online, return in-store,” to work seamlessly because the transaction data is consistent and accessible everywhere.
Adyen uses a pricing model called Interchange++, which is more complex but can be more cost-effective for businesses with high volumes. It breaks the cost into three transparent parts: the interchange fee (which goes to the customer’s bank), the card scheme fee (to Visa/Mastercard), and Adyen’s processing fee. This transparency allows large merchants to see exactly what they’re paying for. While powerful, its complexity and pricing make it less suitable for smaller businesses.
Airwallex: The Cross-Border Payments Specialist
Airwallex has grown rapidly in Singapore and is now one of the strongest options for businesses that sell across borders. Founded in Melbourne and licensed by MAS, it combines a payment gateway with multi-currency accounts and foreign exchange capabilities in a single platform.
What sets Airwallex apart is its pricing for international transactions. While most gateways charge 3-4% for cross-border card payments, Airwallex offers rates starting from 1.0% + S$0.20 for domestic transactions and competitive FX rates for multi-currency settlements. For a Singapore seller receiving payments in USD, EUR, or GBP, this can mean significant savings compared to Stripe or PayPal.
Key features for e-commerce sellers:
Multi-currency accounts in 60+ currencies — hold, convert, and pay out without unnecessary FX conversions
160+ payment methods across 180+ countries
PayNow support for Singapore domestic payments
Shopify and WooCommerce plugins for easy integration
Borderless cards for managing business expenses in multiple currencies
Actionable Insight: If you sell on international marketplaces like Temu or Amazon, or accept payments in multiple currencies, Airwallex’s combined gateway + FX platform can save you 1-2% per transaction compared to using separate payment and forex providers.
Leading Local and Regional Payment Gateways
While global giants are solid choices, the advantages of local and regional payment gateways should not be overlooked. These providers have a deep understanding of the Southeast Asian market. They are attuned to the specific preferences of shoppers in Singapore and across the region, which often translates to better features and payment methods for your business.
Providers like HitPay, 2C2P, and iPay88 excel in this area. They are proficient at supporting local e-wallets and bank transfer systems that are popular across ASEAN. Integrating these familiar payment options can significantly boost your conversion rates, especially if you plan to sell beyond Singapore into markets like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
HitPay: The All-in-One SME Solution
HitPay has become a popular choice for Singaporean SMEs because it bundles everything a multi-channel seller needs into one package. You get online payment processing combined with a powerful Point of Sale (POS) system, creating a unified setup for businesses that sell both online and in-person.
Its main strength is its excellent support for local payment methods. For example, a local café using HitPay’s POS can instantly generate a dynamic PayNow QR code for a customer’s order at the counter. It’s fast, cashless, and uses a system Singaporeans already know and trust, making the checkout process smoother.
HitPay is designed to be accessible. It offers straightforward, pay-per-transaction pricing with no setup or monthly fees. This makes it an excellent starting point for new businesses and SMEs who need a robust solution without a long-term commitment.
2C2P: The Enterprise Choice for Regional Expansion
For larger businesses aiming to expand into Southeast Asia, 2C2P is a strong contender. Founded in 2003, it has built an impressive payment network that covers the entire region. They specialize in complex industries like airlines, travel, and large-scale retail that require sophisticated cross-border payment capabilities.
The main attraction is its extensive list of country-specific payment methods. For instance, if you’re a Singapore-based online retailer expanding into Thailand, 2C2P allows you to seamlessly accept payments via popular Thai options like TrueMoney Wallet or local bank transfers. This localized experience is crucial for building trust and securing sales in new territories.
2C2P is packed with enterprise-grade features, including:
Advanced fraud monitoring to manage risks across diverse markets.
Customizable payment routing to optimize transaction success rates.
Detailed reporting and analytics for tracking regional sales performance.
Given its enterprise focus, 2C2P’s pricing is usually customized based on transaction volume and specific business needs, so expect setup and monthly fees.
iPay88: A Malaysian Powerhouse with a Strong Singapore Presence
Originating from Malaysia, iPay88 is another well-established regional player with a significant presence in Singapore. It is particularly strong in facilitating online banking transfers and supports a wide variety of payment options popular in both Malaysia and Singapore.
This makes iPay88 a smart choice for businesses with many customers in both countries. For example, an e-commerce store selling to Malaysian shoppers can use iPay88 to easily accept payments through Malaysian online banking systems like Maybank2u or CIMB Clicks. This removes a major point of friction for those customers.
Actionable Insight: When choosing a regional gateway, examine its strengths in the specific markets you want to enter. A provider with deep ties to the Malaysian banking network is invaluable if that’s your next move, while another might be better connected in Indonesia.
WorldFirst: The Cross-Border Payments and Payouts Specialist
WorldFirst (now part of the Ant Group) has established itself as a go-to payment solution for Singapore e-commerce sellers who receive payouts from international marketplaces. Licensed by MAS and operating in Singapore since 2004, it specialises in multi-currency accounts, competitive FX rates, and direct integrations with Amazon, eBay, Shopee, and Lazada.
Its standout feature is marketplace payout collection. Instead of receiving each marketplace’s payout in foreign currency and paying bank conversion fees, WorldFirst lets you collect in local currency accounts (USD, GBP, EUR, CNY, and more) and convert at interbank-level rates when you’re ready.
Key features for Singapore sellers:
Multi-currency accounts in 19+ currencies — hold funds until the FX rate is favourable
Marketplace integrations with Amazon, eBay, Shopee, Lazada, Etsy, and Walmart
Domestic payment gateway from 0.75% per transaction — competitive for local card payments
Free international transfers between WorldFirst accounts
MAS-regulated with segregated client funds
Actionable Insight: If you sell on Amazon US or EU and receive regular payouts in USD/EUR, WorldFirst’s multi-currency holding accounts can save you 1-3% on FX conversions compared to letting Amazon auto-convert to SGD. Time your conversions to favourable rates instead.
Fiuu: The Southeast Asian Payment Gateway (formerly MOLPay)
Fiuu — formerly known as Razer Merchant Services and MOLPay before that — is one of the longest-established payment gateways in Southeast Asia, with coverage across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. With over 295 referring domains to its site, it has significant brand recognition in the region.
What makes Fiuu distinctive is its deep integration with Southeast Asian banking and e-wallet systems. It supports FPX (Malaysia’s direct bank transfer system), local e-wallets across multiple countries, and Buy Now Pay Later options — payment methods that global gateways like Stripe often lack.
Key features for e-commerce sellers:
Transaction fees from 1.5% for domestic card payments — lower than Stripe’s 3.4%
FPX and DuitNow support for Malaysian bank transfers
Subscription billing with automated recurring payments
BNPL integrations with regional providers (Atome, Grab PayLater)
Multi-country coverage — one integration covers 6 SEA markets
PCI DSS Level 1 compliance with 3D Secure support
For marketplace sellers managing cross-border operations across Shopee and Lazada in multiple countries, Fiuu’s regional coverage means you can use a single payment gateway across all your markets rather than managing separate integrations per country.
FomoPay: The Singapore QR Payments Pioneer
FomoPay is a Singapore-headquartered fintech that specialises in QR code payments and the unified SGQR standard. Licensed by MAS, it has built a strong position among food & beverage outlets, retail shops, and SMEs across the island.
Its standout feature is deep integration with Singapore’s QR payment ecosystem. FomoPay supports PayNow, NETS QR, GrabPay, WeChat Pay, AliPay, and UnionPay QR — all through a single SGQR code. For a hawker stall or retail shop accepting payments from both local customers and Chinese tourists, this is invaluable.
FomoPay offers:
SGQR-compliant unified code — one QR code for all payment methods
Online payment gateway for e-commerce sites
POS integration for physical retail
Real-time settlement for PayNow transactions
Low transaction fees competitive with larger players
For small businesses that primarily serve walk-in customers but also sell online, FomoPay bridges both channels effectively.
This strategic focus on local payment habits is essential. In 2024, digital payment penetration in Singapore reached 57%, the highest in Southeast Asia, with 80% of consumers and businesses using PayNow. Credit cards still lead e-commerce transactions, but digital wallets have become the most popular payment method as of 2024. You can explore more about this shift in Antom’s Singapore e-commerce payment trends report.
What’s Changed for Singapore Payment Gateways in 2026
The payment gateway landscape in Singapore has shifted noticeably since 2025. Here are the key changes sellers should know:
Airwallex’s aggressive expansion — Airwallex has been steadily lowering its domestic card processing rates to compete with Stripe, now offering from 1.0% + S$0.20 for local transactions. This makes it the most cost-competitive gateway for domestic card payments among the major players.
PayNow is now table stakes — In 2025, PayNow support was a differentiator. By 2026, virtually every payment gateway in Singapore supports it. The differentiator has shifted to PayNow QR generation speed and real-time settlement capabilities.
BNPL integration growing — More gateways now offer native Buy Now Pay Later options (Atome, Grab PayLater) without needing separate plugins. This matters because BNPL usage in Singapore grew 24% year-over-year.
FX rates under pressure — Competition between Airwallex, WorldFirst, and Wise has driven down cross-border conversion fees. Sellers receiving international payouts can now find FX markups as low as 0.3-0.5% above interbank rates, compared to 1.5-2.5% with traditional banks.
MAS compliance requirements tightened — Updated technology risk management guidelines mean all payment gateways must now meet stricter audit and incident reporting standards. Smaller gateways may face higher compliance costs, potentially leading to consolidation.
AI-powered fraud detection becoming standard — Stripe, Adyen, and Airwallex now use machine learning models to flag suspicious transactions in real time. This reduces manual review workload and cuts chargeback rates, particularly for sellers with high international transaction volumes.
Embedded finance expanding — More gateways are bundling working capital loans, insurance, and accounting integrations alongside payment processing. HitPay’s partnership with financing providers and Stripe’s Treasury product mean your payment gateway is increasingly becoming a full financial platform.
If you’re still on a gateway you chose in 2024 or earlier, review whether the competitive landscape has shifted enough to justify switching — especially if you’re paying above 3% for domestic transactions. For sellers managing finances across multiple channels, connecting your payment gateway to accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero can automate reconciliation and save hours of manual bookkeeping each month.
Comparing Transaction Fees and Total Costs
The headline transaction rate for a payment gateway is just the beginning. That prominent number, like 3.4% + S$0.50, doesn’t tell the whole story. To understand what you’ll actually be paying, you must investigate all the other costs that contribute to the total price.
Many businesses are surprised by extra charges that were not initially obvious. These can significantly reduce your profits, especially as your sales volume increases. It is crucial to look beyond the basic per-transaction fee and get a clear picture of the entire fee schedule.
Uncovering Hidden Costs
Beyond the standard processing fee, various other charges can appear on your monthly bill. When comparing payment gateways in Singapore, you need to ask about these specific costs to get an accurate understanding.
Keep an eye out for these common extra fees:
Monthly Account Fees: Some gateways charge a flat monthly fee for maintaining an account, regardless of your sales volume.
Setup or Integration Costs: While less common with modern gateways, some enterprise-level solutions may charge a one-time setup fee.
Chargeback Penalties: If a customer disputes a charge, you will face a penalty fee (often S$15-S$25), even if you win the dispute.
Currency Conversion Fees: For international sales, gateways will take an extra percentage (usually 1-2%) on top of the standard exchange rate to convert foreign currencies to Singapore Dollars.
Failing to account for these costs is a common mistake. A gateway with a low transaction rate can become more expensive than an all-in-one option once you add up all the monthly fees and other penalties. Always run the numbers based on your own sales projections.
Modelling Your Total Monthly Expenses
Let’s make this practical. Imagine a small e-commerce store in Singapore with S$10,000 in monthly revenue from 200 separate sales (an average of S$50 per order). This example shows how different pricing models can affect your bottom line.
Here’s a practical breakdown comparing real gateway pricing for a Singapore e-commerce store.
Monthly Cost Comparison for a S$10,000 E-commerce Store
This table uses actual 2026 pricing from the gateways reviewed above. Assumes 200 transactions at an average of S$50 per order.
Gateway
Pricing Model
Transaction Fees
Monthly Fee
Total Monthly Cost
Stripe
Pay-as-you-go
S$10,000 x 3.4% + (200 x S$0.50) = S$440
S$0
S$440
HitPay
Pay-as-you-go
S$10,000 x 3.25% + (200 x S$0.00) = S$325
S$0
S$325
Airwallex
Pay-as-you-go
S$10,000 x 2.8% + (200 x S$0.20) = S$320
S$0
S$320
PayPal
Pay-as-you-go
S$10,000 x 3.9% + (200 x S$0.50) = S$490
S$0
S$490
WorldFirst
Pay-as-you-go
S$10,000 x 0.75% + (200 x S$0.00) = S$75
S$0
S$75
Fiuu
Pay-as-you-go
S$10,000 x 1.5% + (200 x S$0.00) = S$150
S$0
S$150
The difference between the cheapest and most expensive option is S$415/month — or S$4,980/year. For marketplace sellers who already pay platform commission fees on Shopee or Lazada, these gateway costs stack on top. Use our markup calculator to factor payment gateway fees into your pricing, and check our guide on how to calculate profit percentage to ensure your margins account for all transaction costs. For more on how OneCart handles billing, see our billing and payments help section.
This is the kind of analysis you need to do. Plug your own sales figures into these calculations before you commit to a gateway. It’s the only way to be sure it’s the right fit for your business and your budget.
Integrating Gateways with Your E-commerce Platform
Connecting a payment gateway to your online store can seem like a major technical challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. For most businesses using popular platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, the process is designed to be straightforward.
The key is to know what you’re looking for and understand the different integration methods. Your goal is a smooth checkout for your customers without needing a team of developers. A solid integration ensures that payments are processed reliably, which is crucial for building trust and securing revenue.
Plug-and-Play vs. API Integrations
Most payment gateways in Singapore offer two main options for connecting to your store. The easiest is using plug-and-play apps or extensions. These are pre-built connectors that you install directly from your e-commerce platform’s marketplace, often in just a few clicks.
For example, if you’re on Shopify, you can search for “HitPay” or “Stripe” in the Shopify App Store, install their official app, and follow the on-screen instructions to link your gateway account. This method is ideal if you want a fast, reliable setup without dealing with code.
The second method involves using an Application Programming Interface (API). This is a more hands-on approach, typically used for custom-built websites or when you need specific payment features that an app cannot provide. An API is a set of rules and tools that allows your website to communicate directly with the payment gateway.
Actionable Insight: If you’re considering an API integration, always review the gateway’s developer documentation first. A provider like Stripe is known for its clear, comprehensive docs, complete with code examples and testing tools. This makes a significant difference for your development team and can save them time and frustration.
Checklist for Evaluating Integration Support
Before committing to any provider, you need to assess its technical fit for your business. A little research here will prevent major headaches later. For more specific advice, our detailed guides on platform integrations can provide extra clarity.
Use this quick checklist to ensure a gateway is right for you:
Official Platform Support: Does the gateway have an official, well-maintained app or plugin for your platform (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce)? Look at user reviews and check when it was last updated. An outdated plugin is a red flag.
Documentation Quality: For an API integration, is the documentation clear, complete, and easy for a developer to follow? A good sign is the availability of a “sandbox” or testing environment where you can experiment safely without processing real money.
On-Site vs. Off-Site Checkout: Does the integration keep customers on your website for the entire checkout (on-site), or does it redirect them to the gateway’s page to pay (off-site)? An on-site experience generally leads to higher conversion rates because it feels more professional and trustworthy.
Technical Support: What kind of technical help is available? Find out if they provide responsive developer support through email, chat, or phone. You’ll be grateful for it if you encounter issues during setup.
Essential Security and Fraud Prevention Features
With the growth of online shopping, robust security is a fundamental requirement for any business in Singapore. Choosing a payment gateway with strong, built-in security and fraud prevention tools is essential. It is your first line of defense, protecting your revenue, reducing chargebacks, and earning your customers’ trust.
This focus on security is more critical than ever. In Singapore, scam losses are increasing. The median loss per case rose 36.4% to S$1,500 in the first half of 2025, and e-commerce fraud alone reached S$7.6 million. Gateways are enhancing their security, especially with MAS regulations in place. You can read more about regional payment methods and security trends to get the bigger picture.
Core Security Standards Explained
Before diving into specific gateways, it is helpful to understand a few key security terms. These are the foundations of secure payment processing and are frequently mentioned.
PCI DSS Compliance: This stands for the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. It is a set of rules that any business handling credit card information must follow. A compliant gateway manages this for you, ensuring sensitive card data is handled securely.
Tokenization: This is a method to avoid storing a customer’s actual card number. Tokenization replaces it with a unique, non-sensitive string of characters (a “token”). This token can be used for future payments without exposing the real card details, which is ideal for recurring subscriptions and repeat customers.
3D Secure (3DS): You have probably encountered this. It is an extra layer of security for card payments, often branded as “Verified by Visa” or “Mastercard SecureCode.” It usually requires customers to enter a one-time password (OTP) sent to their phone, which significantly reduces the risk of someone using a stolen card.
Actionable Fraud Prevention Tools
Beyond basic standards, modern payment gateways provide customizable tools to actively combat fraud based on your business’s specific risks. This allows you to be proactive.
Here’s a practical tip: Use your gateway’s fraud rules to automatically flag or block transactions that fit high-risk patterns. For example, you could set a rule to manually review any order over S$500 that originates from a high-risk country. This can help prevent a potential chargeback before it occurs.
This hands-on approach puts you in control. You can create rules that flag transactions based on IP location, multiple failed payment attempts from the same card, or unusually large order sizes. This empowers you to protect your business without manually reviewing every single order.
Managing Payments Across Multiple Sales Channels
If you sell on more than one platform — say, your own Shopify store plus Shopee and Lazada — you are dealing with multiple payment systems simultaneously. Each marketplace has its own payment processing and payout schedule, while your website uses whichever gateway you have chosen from this list.
This creates operational complexity:
Different settlement timelines across each platform
Separate reconciliation for marketplace payouts vs gateway deposits
Multiple fee structures eating into margins differently per channel
For multichannel sellers, the payment gateway choice for your own website is just one piece of the puzzle. You also need a system that consolidates orders from all channels into a single dashboard, so you can track revenue regardless of which payment method the customer used. Our guide to multichannel inventory management covers how to bring this together operationally.
If you sell on Amazon using FBA, your payment processing is handled by Amazon — but understanding the full fee breakdown matters for your margins. Use our Amazon FBA Calculator to model referral fees, fulfilment costs, and storage charges alongside your payment gateway costs for your own website.
Got Questions About Payment Gateways?
Exploring Singapore’s payment gateway options often raises common questions. Let’s answer them.
Do I Need a Merchant Account to Use a Payment Gateway?
Not always. Most modern providers like Stripe, PayPal, and HitPay operate as payment aggregators. They use their own master merchant account and set up your business as a sub-merchant, so you can start accepting payments within minutes.
If you are processing very high volumes (above S$100,000/month), obtaining a dedicated merchant account directly from a bank can sometimes provide more competitive transaction rates.
What Is the Best Gateway for Accepting PayNow QR Payments?
Nearly every serious gateway in Singapore has integrated PayNow. The “best” one depends on your business setup:
For multi-channel sellers (online + physical): HitPay or FomoPay — both offer PayNow across online checkout and physical POS terminals.
For online-only businesses: Stripe — solid PayNow support, simple toggle to add to your checkout flow.
For QR-heavy retail (hawkers, F&B): FomoPay — its SGQR integration covers PayNow, NETS QR, GrabPay, and Chinese payment apps in a single code.
How Long Does It Take to Receive My Funds?
Settlement times vary significantly and directly affect your cash flow:
Gateway
Typical Settlement
Stripe
2-7 business days (rolling)
Airwallex
T+1 to T+2 for domestic
HitPay
T+1 for PayNow, 2-3 days for cards
PayPal
Instant to PayPal balance, manual withdrawal
2C2P
3-5 business days (varies by method)
WorldFirst
T+1 for marketplace payouts
Fiuu
2-3 business days for cards
A shorter settlement time means you get your working capital back faster, allowing you to pay suppliers or restock inventory without delay. Always get the payout schedule in writing before you commit.
Which Payment Gateway Is Best for Cross-Border E-commerce?
If you sell internationally, Airwallex offers the best combination of competitive FX rates and multi-currency accounts. Stripe is also strong for cross-border, with support in 135+ currencies. PayPal remains the most recognised brand for international buyers but charges higher fees. 2C2P is the best choice specifically for Southeast Asian regional expansion.
Which Payment Gateway Is Best for Marketplace Sellers?
If you primarily sell on marketplaces like Shopee, Lazada, or TikTok Shop, your marketplace already handles customer payments — so your gateway needs are different from a standalone store. You need a gateway for:
Your own website (if you have one alongside marketplace shops)
Payout collection from international marketplaces in foreign currencies
B2B payments from wholesale or pre-order customers
For payout collection, WorldFirst and Airwallex lead with multi-currency accounts and low FX fees. For your own website, HitPay offers the simplest setup for SMEs. The key is ensuring your order management system can reconcile payments from all channels — marketplace payouts, website gateway deposits, and offline payments — in one place.
Can I Use Multiple Payment Gateways at the Same Time?
Yes, and many successful e-commerce businesses do. For example, you might use Stripe as your primary gateway for card payments while adding HitPay for PayNow QR at your physical store. Most platforms like Shopify support multiple payment providers simultaneously. The key is ensuring your inventory and order management system can reconcile payments from all sources.
What Is the Cheapest Payment Gateway in Singapore?
For domestic card payments, Airwallex currently offers the lowest rates among major gateways — starting from 1.0% + S$0.20 per transaction. Fiuu (formerly MOLPay) is also competitive at 1.5% with no fixed per-transaction fee. However, “cheapest” depends on your transaction profile. If most of your sales are under S$20, gateways with fixed per-transaction fees (like Stripe’s S$0.50) will eat into your margins more than percentage-only models. Use the cost comparison table above with your own numbers.
For PayNow transactions specifically, HitPay and FomoPay offer lower rates than card-based gateways because PayNow bypasses the card networks entirely.
How Do I Switch Payment Gateways Without Losing Customers?
Switching gateways is less disruptive than most sellers expect. Here’s how to do it cleanly:
Set up the new gateway in parallel — most platforms allow multiple active gateways, so add the new one before removing the old.
Migrate recurring subscriptions — if you use tokenised card storage for repeat customers, coordinate with both providers to minimise payment interruptions. Some gateways offer migration tools.
Update your checkout — switch the default gateway to the new provider once testing confirms it works.
Keep the old gateway active for 30 days — this catches any delayed settlements, refunds, or chargebacks from prior transactions.
Notify customers if stored cards are affected — if switching tokenisation providers, customers may need to re-enter their payment details on their next purchase.
Do Singapore Payment Gateways Support Recurring Billing?
Yes, most major gateways support recurring payments and subscription billing. Stripe has the most mature subscription management system, with built-in tools for usage-based billing, trial periods, proration, and automatic retry for failed payments. Fiuu also supports recurring billing natively. HitPay offers recurring invoicing that works well for simpler subscription models.
If you sell subscription boxes or offer monthly service plans, check whether your gateway supports automated dunning (recovering failed payments) — this can recover 5-10% of otherwise lost revenue from expired or declined cards.
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