What Is a Payment Gateway?
A payment gateway is a secure technology used by merchants to accept debit or credit card purchases from customers. It acts as a middleman between the customer, the merchant, and the financial institutions involved.
If you’re building a website or mobile app that involves transactions, selecting the right payment gateway is crucial.
Comparison Table of Top Payment Gateways
| Gateway | Website | Charges | Rating (out of 5) | License Type | Compatibility | Support Quality |
| Stripe | stripe.com | 2.9% + $0.30/txn | ⭐ 4.8 | Commercial | Web, Mobile (iOS/Android) | Excellent |
| PayPal | paypal.com | 2.9% + Fixed Fee | ⭐ 4.6 | Commercial | Web, Mobile | Good |
| Razorpay | razorpay.com | 2% per transaction (India) | ⭐ 4.7 | Commercial | Web, Mobile | Very Good |
| Authorize.Net | authorize.net | $25/month + 2.9% + $0.30/txn | ⭐ 4.4 | Commercial | Web, Mobile | Good |
| Square | squareup.com | 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction | ⭐ 4.5 | Commercial | POS, Web, Mobile | Excellent |
| Braintree | braintreepayments.com | 2.9% + $0.30/txn | ⭐ 4.5 | Commercial | Web, Mobile | Very Good |
Integration Flow Example (Stripe)
Step-by-Step:
- Sign Up & Get API Keys
- Install SDK (e.g., stripe-node or stripe-react-native)
- Create Checkout Session or Payment Intent
- Collect Payment via UI Component (Card Element)
- Handle Webhooks for Confirmation
- Test & Go Live
✅ HT Business Group can implement this entire flow seamlessly with security and performance in mind.
📱 Platform Compatibility
| Gateway | iOS | Android | Web | POS | SaaS Apps | CMS (WordPress, Shopify) |
| Stripe | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| PayPal | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Razorpay | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Square | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Braintree | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
💡 Benefits of Each Platform
Stripe
- Modern APIs and high customizability
- Great for SaaS businesses
- Strong global reach
- Detailed developer documentation
PayPal
- Widely trusted by users
- Easy setup and global currency support
- Excellent fraud protection
Razorpay
- Localized Indian payment methods
- Great UI and fast onboarding
- Smart analytics dashboard
Square
- Best for retail/POS-based businesses
- Powerful analytics and employee tracking
- Hardware integrations available
Braintree
- Supports recurring billing and split payments
- Advanced fraud protection
- Supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal
🚫 Limitations of Some Gateways
- Stripe: Not available in all countries
- PayPal: Limited UI customization for hosted pages
- Razorpay: Limited to Indian users
- Square: Stronger for POS than online use
- Authorize.Net: Slightly outdated interface, costly for small businesses
💻 Programming Languages & SDKs Used
- Stripe: Node.js, PHP, Python, Java, Ruby SDKs
- PayPal: REST APIs with SDKs in PHP, Java, Node.js
- Razorpay: PHP, Python, Node.js, Java
- Square: JavaScript, Java, .NET, iOS, Android SDKs
- Braintree: PHP, Java, Python, Ruby, .NET
- Authorize.Net: .NET, Java, PHP, Python
📊 Additional Comparison – Gateway Capabilities
| Feature/Service | Stripe | PayPal | Razorpay | Square | Braintree | Authorize.Net |
| Recurring Payments | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Multi-Currency Support | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Crypto Payments | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Mobile SDKs | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| International Coverage | ✅ | ✅ | Limited | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Fraud Protection | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Built-in Dashboard | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
🌐 Gateway Usage & Support Comparison
| Gateway | Global Usage | 24/7 Support | Knowledge Base | Chat Support | SLA/Guarantee |
| Stripe | 47+ countries | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| PayPal | 200+ countries | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Razorpay | India | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Square | US, CA, AU | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Braintree | Global | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Authorize.Net | US only | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
🔧 Example Use Cases
- SaaS Platforms: Stripe for subscription billing
- E-Commerce Websites: PayPal or Braintree for customer trust
- Mobile Wallets in India: Razorpay for UPI and local cards
- Retail/POS: Square for physical store integration
- Custom Enterprise Solutions: Authorize.Net for traditional merchants
💼 How HT Business Group Can Help
HT Business Group provides expert-level integration services for all major payment gateways.
We offer:
- Custom-built APIs for Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, and more
- Platform-specific SDK setup (React Native, Flutter, Laravel, etc.)
- Secure, PCI-DSS-compliant integration
- Post-integration support and reporting dashboards
- Compatibility with Web Development solutions
📩 Contact us today to share your project requirements and book a free consultation!
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Which payment gateway is best for a startup?
A1: Stripe or Razorpay are great for startups due to low setup time and flexible APIs.
Q2: Can I use multiple payment gateways in one app?
A2: Yes, it is common to integrate multiple gateways for redundancy and flexibility.
Q3: What is PCI-DSS and do I need it?
A3: PCI-DSS ensures secure card transactions. Most platforms ensure this via hosted solutions.
Q4: Can I use Stripe in India?
A4: Stripe has limited availability in India. Razorpay or PayPal may be better for local businesses.
Q5: What are the hidden charges in payment gateways?
A5: Some gateways charge for currency conversion, international cards, or dispute handling.
Q6: Do you offer post-integration support?
A6: Yes. HT Business Group offers maintenance, analytics, and troubleshooting support.
Q7: Can I build my own payment gateway?
A7: It’s possible but requires heavy licensing, banking partnerships, and PCI compliance.
Q8: How fast can I integrate a payment gateway?
A8: With HT Business Group, you can go live in as little as 2–3 days.
Q9: Which gateway is best for global transactions?
A9: Stripe and PayPal have extensive international reach and currency support.
Q10: What do I need to integrate payments into my mobile app?
A10: SDKs from the gateway provider, API keys, secure backend, and front-end implementation.
Choosing the right payment gateway ensures a smooth user experience and builds trust with your customers. Whether you’re launching a mobile app, e-commerce platform, or SaaS product, HT Business Group can handle every aspect of your integration.
👉 Ready to simplify payments? Book your free consultation now with our expert team.
Explore our full Application Development services or Web Development services to scale your product with confidence.
