What Payment Methods Should You Offer on Your Shopify Store?

 

What Payment Methods Should You Offer on Your Shopify Store?

When someone reaches the checkout page on your Shopify store, the last thing you want is for them to leave because they cannot find a payment method they trust or prefer.

A customer may be ready to buy your product, have their delivery details filled in, and still abandon the purchase simply because the checkout does not support their preferred way to pay.

That is why choosing the right payment methods for your Shopify store is more important than simply accepting credit cards.

Depending on where your customers live, you may need to offer credit and debit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, local payment options, buy now pay later services, or even cash on delivery.

The right combination depends on your target market, products, average order value, customer preferences, and Shopify payment options available in your country.

In this guide, we will look at the main payment methods you can consider for a Shopify store and how to decide which ones make sense for your business.

Why Payment Methods Matter for Your Shopify Store

Payment is one of the final steps between a customer and a completed order.

If the checkout experience is complicated, unfamiliar, or doesn't offer a suitable payment option, customers may decide not to complete the purchase.

Offering several trusted payment methods can make checkout more convenient for different types of shoppers. 

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For example:

• A customer shopping from the United States may prefer a credit card or digital wallet.
• A customer in Kenya may be more comfortable using mobile money.
• A customer purchasing an expensive product may prefer a buy now, pay later option.
• A business customer may prefer an invoice or bank transfer.
• A customer who does not want to pay online may look for cash on delivery where available.

The goal isn't to offer every payment method available. The goal is to offer the payment methods your customers actually use.

1. Credit and Debit Cards

Credit and debit cards remain one of the most important payment options for online stores.

Depending on your location and payment provider, you may be able to accept cards such as:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express
• Other supported card networks

Card payments are particularly useful for international ecommerce because many online shoppers already understand how to use them.

Advantages of Card Payments

Card payments can provide:

• Familiar checkout experience
• Fast payment confirmation
• Support for international customers
• Convenient recurring payments where supported
• Easy integration with many ecommerce payment providers

However, card processing fees, availability, currency support, and settlement times vary between providers.

Before choosing a provider, check its fees and requirements for your country.

2. Digital Wallets

Digital wallets have become an important part of online shopping.

Examples include services such as:

• PayPal
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Other region-specific digital wallets

The major advantage is convenience.

Instead of manually entering card details, customers may be able to complete payment using information already stored in their wallet.

This can make checkout faster, particularly on smartphones.

Why Digital Wallets Can Be Useful

Digital wallets can help customers:

• Pay without repeatedly entering card details
• Complete purchases faster
• Use biometric authentication where supported
• Pay through a familiar service
• Avoid sharing card details directly with every merchant

If your target customers commonly use a particular digital wallet, consider making it available at checkout.

3. Shopify Payments

Where available, Shopify Payments can be a convenient option for merchants because it is integrated directly into the Shopify ecosystem.

Instead of setting up a completely separate card processor, eligible merchants can use Shopify's supported payment infrastructure.

Availability and supported features vary by country, so you should check what Shopify Payments supports in your specific market.

When evaluating it, look at:

• Supported currencies
• Payment methods
• Processing fees
• Payout schedules
• Business eligibility
• Available fraud protection features

If Shopify Payments is available to your business, it can simplify payment management because payments are managed within your Shopify admin.

4. PayPal

PayPal is another payment option worth considering if you sell internationally.

Many online shoppers are already familiar with PayPal, and some customers prefer using it because they don't have to enter their card information directly on every website.

PayPal can be especially useful if your Shopify store targets customers in countries where it is widely used.

When Should You Offer PayPal?

Consider PayPal if:

• You sell internationally.
• Your customers already use PayPal.
• You sell digital products or services where PayPal is commonly accepted.
• You want to provide another recognizable checkout option.

As with any payment provider, review its current fees, merchant terms, supported countries, and dispute policies before relying on it as a major payment channel.

5. Mobile Money Payments

For businesses serving customers in countries where mobile money is popular, mobile payments can be extremely important.

For example, M-PESA is widely used in Kenya for everyday payments and can be relevant for Kenyan ecommerce businesses.

If your Shopify store targets Kenyan customers, supporting a suitable local payment option may make more sense than relying entirely on international card payments.

Example for a Kenyan Shopify Store

Imagine you sell electronics online in Kenya.

Your customers may include:

• Students
• Small business owners
• Office workers
• Households
• Local retailers

Some customers may have debit cards, while others may prefer mobile money.

Offering a suitable local payment option alongside cards can give customers more flexibility at checkout.

The exact integration available to you depends on your Shopify setup and payment provider.

6. Bank Transfers

Bank transfers can be useful for certain types of customers and businesses.

They may be particularly relevant when selling:

• Expensive equipment
• Business products
• Bulk orders
• Wholesale products
• Professional services

For example, suppose your Shopify store sells office computers.

A business customer purchasing 20 laptops may prefer to pay through a company bank account rather than using a personal credit card.

The Main Disadvantage

Bank transfers can sometimes require manual verification.

Unlike an automatically processed card transaction, you may need to confirm that the payment has actually arrived before fulfilling the order.

If you accept bank transfers, clearly explain:

1. Where customers should send the payment.
2. What reference they should use.
3. How long confirmation normally takes.
4. What happens after payment is confirmed.

Never mark an order as paid based only on a screenshot or payment claim. Verify the transaction through the appropriate financial system.

7. Buy Now, Pay Later Options

Buy now, pay later services allow eligible customers to split the cost of a purchase into multiple payments or pay at a later date, depending on the provider and applicable terms.

These services can be relevant for stores selling relatively expensive products such as:

• Laptops
• Smartphones
• Furniture
• Appliances
• Electronics
• Fashion products

For example, a customer may hesitate to purchase a $1,000 laptop in one payment but may consider a payment plan if one is available.

However, merchants should understand the fees, eligibility requirements, customer terms, refund procedures, and settlement arrangements before adding a BNPL provider.

Don't promote installment payments as "free" or "interest-free" unless the actual terms support that description.

8. Cash on Delivery

Cash on delivery, commonly known as COD, allows customers to pay when their order is delivered.

This can be useful in markets where some customers are uncomfortable paying online.

COD can also help new stores build trust with customers who have never purchased from the business before.

However, it comes with additional risks.

A customer can place an order and later refuse to accept it.

That can leave the merchant responsible for delivery and return costs.

If You Offer COD

Consider setting clear rules such as:

• Confirming orders before dispatch
• Limiting COD to selected locations
• Setting a maximum COD order value
• Confirming the customer's phone number
• Explaining return and cancellation policies

COD should be treated as a business decision rather than automatically enabled for every customer.

9. Cryptocurrency Payments

Some Shopify merchants may consider accepting cryptocurrency.

Crypto payments can potentially appeal to customers who already use digital currencies, particularly for international ecommerce.

However, cryptocurrency introduces considerations that traditional payment methods may not have, including:

• Price volatility
• Regulatory requirements
• Tax implications
• Payment processor availability
• Refund procedures
• Customer familiarity

For most stores, cryptocurrency should be considered a supplementary payment method, not automatically a replacement for conventional options.

Always check the legal and tax requirements applicable to your business before accepting cryptocurrency.

10. Local Payment Methods

One of the biggest mistakes an international ecommerce business can make is assuming that customers everywhere prefer the same payment methods.

Payment habits vary significantly between countries.

For example, customers in one country may primarily use cards, while shoppers in another market may rely heavily on bank transfers, mobile money, digital wallets, or other local systems.

If you are selling internationally, research payment behavior in each major market you serve.

Ask These Questions

Before adding a local payment method, ask:

• Is it widely used by my customers?
• Is it supported by Shopify?
• Is it available to merchants in my country?
• What currencies does it support?
• What are the transaction fees?
• How quickly are payments confirmed?
• How are refunds handled?
• Does it support my type of business?

These questions can prevent you from adding payment options that create more complexity than value.

How Many Payment Methods Should Your Shopify Store Offer?

There is no universal number.

Adding more payment methods does not automatically create a better checkout.

Too many choices can make your checkout confusing, especially if some options are rarely used.

A small store might start with:

1. Card payments
2. One major digital wallet
3. One important local payment method

An international store may need several additional options depending on its customer base.

The best approach is to start with the payment methods your customers are most likely to use and expand based on actual demand.

How to Choose the Right Payment Methods

Use the following process when deciding what to offer.

Step 1: Identify Your Target Customers

Start with your customers rather than the payment providers.

Ask:

Where are my customers located?

Then consider their likely payment preferences.

A Shopify store targeting customers in Kenya may need a different payment mix from one targeting customers in Germany, the United States, or Australia.

Step 2: Check Shopify Availability

Not every payment provider is available in every country.

Before advertising a payment method, confirm that it can actually be used with your Shopify store and business location.

Check the current Shopify documentation and the provider's own requirements because availability can change.

Step 3: Compare Transaction Fees

Payment processing costs can affect your profit margin.

Don't look only at the advertised percentage.

Check whether the provider also charges:

• Fixed transaction fees
• Currency conversion fees
• International payment fees
• Withdrawal fees
• Refund-related fees
• Monthly fees

For a store with small margins, even relatively small processing costs can add up.

Step 4: Consider Payment Speed

Think about how quickly you need confirmation.

An automatically confirmed card payment is different from a bank transfer that may require manual checking.

If fast order fulfillment is important to your business, payment confirmation speed matters.

Step 5: Consider Customer Trust

A payment method is only useful if customers trust it.

Recognizable payment brands can make some shoppers feel more comfortable completing a transaction.

Make sure your checkout clearly communicates:

• What payment methods are accepted
• Whether payments are processed securely
• Which currencies are supported
• What happens after payment
• How customers can contact you

Payment Methods by Type of Shopify Store

Different businesses can have different needs.

Shopify Store Type	Payment Methods to Consider
Fashion store	Cards, digital wallets, local payments
Electronics store	Cards, wallets, local payments, BNPL where appropriate
Digital products	Cards, PayPal, digital wallets
Wholesale store	Cards, bank transfers, invoices where supported
Local Kenyan store	Cards, mobile money, COD where practical
International store	Cards, wallets, PayPal, local payment methods
High-value products	Cards, bank transfers, BNPL where suitable

This is a starting point rather than a fixed formula.

Your actual payment mix should be based on customer behavior and the markets you serve.

Don't Ignore Mobile Checkout

A large percentage of ecommerce activity happens on smartphones.

That means your payment options should work smoothly on mobile devices.

Test your Shopify checkout using an actual smartphone rather than assuming everything works because it looks correct on a desktop computer.

Check:

• How quickly the checkout loads
• Whether payment buttons are easy to tap
• Whether customers can enter information comfortably
• Whether digital wallets appear correctly
• Whether the payment process returns customers to the correct page
• Whether order confirmation works properly

A payment method that technically exists but creates friction on mobile may not be particularly useful.

Security Should Be a Priority

Payment security should never be treated as an afterthought.

Use established payment providers and keep your Shopify store, apps, themes, and connected services properly maintained.

You should also:

• Use HTTPS.
• Enable available security features.
• Protect your Shopify account with strong authentication.
• Limit staff permissions to what employees actually need.
• Monitor unusual orders.
• Keep your business contact information clear.
• Follow applicable payment and privacy requirements.

Never ask customers to send sensitive card information through WhatsApp, email, or ordinary text messages.

Watch for Fraud and Suspicious Orders

More payment options can also mean more payment-related risks.

Keep an eye on orders that contain unusual combinations such as:

• Very large quantities
• Unusually expensive purchases
• Mismatched billing and shipping information
• Multiple failed payment attempts
• Unusual shipping requests
• Customer information that does not appear consistent

These signs do not automatically mean an order is fraudulent, but they may justify additional verification.

Use the fraud-analysis and security features available through Shopify and your payment provider.

Make Your Checkout Easy to Understand

Payment options should be obvious without overwhelming customers.

For example, instead of presenting a confusing list of unfamiliar services, organize the checkout around recognizable choices.

You can communicate options such as:

Pay by card

Visa, Mastercard and other supported cards.

Pay with a digital wallet

Use your supported wallet for a faster checkout.

Pay using a local payment method

Available to customers in supported locations.

The exact options depend on your Shopify configuration.

Should You Offer Cash on Delivery and Online Payments?

For some businesses, offering both can make sense.

Online payment gives you payment confirmation before shipping, while COD can serve customers who prefer paying when their order arrives.

However, COD can increase operational costs because of failed deliveries and returns.

If you offer both, monitor the numbers.

Track:

• COD order acceptance rate
• Failed delivery rate
• Return costs
• Average order value
• Online payment conversion rate
• Payment processing costs

After a few months, you will have better data for deciding which payment methods are actually helping your business.

Common Payment Mistakes Shopify Store Owners Make

Offering Too Many Options

More isn't always better.

If customers see a long list of payment providers they don't recognize, checkout can become confusing.

Ignoring Local Payment Preferences

A payment strategy designed for one country may not work equally well in another.

Research the markets you actually serve.

Looking Only at Transaction Fees

A provider with a lower headline fee may not necessarily be cheaper after currency conversion, international charges, refunds, or other costs.

Calculate your actual cost.

Not Testing Checkout

Never assume your payment setup works perfectly.

Place test orders and check the complete customer journey.

Making Payment Instructions Unclear

If customers need to follow special instructions, explain them clearly.

Confusing instructions can lead to abandoned orders and unnecessary support requests.

How to Test Your Shopify Payment Setup

Before promoting your store heavily, test the checkout process from the customer's perspective.

Test 1: Desktop Checkout

Place a test order from a computer.

Check that the payment page, order confirmation, and email notifications work properly.

Test 2: Mobile Checkout

Repeat the process from a smartphone.

Look for buttons that are difficult to tap or forms that are uncomfortable to complete.

Test 3: Different Payment Methods

Test each important payment option rather than testing only one.

Test 4: Refund Process

Understand how refunds work before you need to process your first real customer refund.

Test 5: Failed Payment

Check what happens when a payment is declined or interrupted.

A customer should receive a clear message explaining what to do next.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best payment method for a Shopify store?

There isn't one payment method that is best for every Shopify store. The right options depend on your customers, location, products, currencies, transaction fees, and available payment providers.

Should I accept credit cards on Shopify?

For many ecommerce stores, accepting credit and debit cards is useful because cards are widely used for online purchases. Check which card networks and payment providers are available to your business.

Should I offer PayPal on my Shopify store?

PayPal can be useful if your customers commonly use it, particularly when selling internationally. Check current availability, fees, merchant requirements, and customer terms before adding it.

Can I accept mobile money on Shopify?

Depending on your country and Shopify setup, you may be able to integrate a supported mobile-money payment provider. Kenyan merchants, for example, may consider payment solutions that support M-PESA.

Should I offer buy now, pay later?

BNPL can be worth considering for stores selling higher-value products, but you should carefully evaluate provider fees, eligibility, customer terms, refunds, and the effect on your margins.

Is cash on delivery good for ecommerce?

COD can be useful in markets where customers prefer paying when goods arrive. However, merchants need to account for refused orders, delivery expenses, returns, and additional order verification.

How many payment methods should I offer?

Start with the payment methods most relevant to your target customers. You can add more options later if customer demand justifies them.

Final Thoughts

Choosing payment methods for your Shopify store is not about adding every option you can find.

It is about understanding how your customers want to pay and making that process as simple and trustworthy as possible.

For many stores, a combination of card payments, digital wallets, and relevant local payment methods can provide a solid starting point. Stores selling expensive products may also consider bank transfers or suitable installment-payment options, while businesses operating in markets where online payment adoption is lower may consider COD.

Most importantly, monitor your actual checkout data.

Look at which payment methods customers use, where abandoned checkouts occur, the fees you are paying, and whether particular payment options are helping or creating operational problems.

Start with the payment methods that match your customers, test the entire checkout experience, and improve your payment setup as your Shopify store grows. 

Check out How to Build a Shopify Store Using AI