How To Get Started With WooPayments

WooPayments lets WooCommerce stores accept credit cards, debit cards, and other supported payment methods. Payments, refunds, disputes, and payouts can all be managed from the WordPress dashboard.

This guide explains how WooPayments works, what it costs, and whether it’s right for your online store.

What Is WooPayments?

WooPayments is WooCommerce’s built-in payment processing solution. It lets customers pay by credit card, debit card, and supported local payment methods without leaving your store.

Store owners can manage payments, refunds, disputes, and payouts directly from the WordPress dashboard. WooPayments is free to install, with no setup or monthly fee, but transaction fees apply.

Is WooPayments The Same As Stripe?

WooPayments is built by Woo in partnership with Stripe, which provides the underlying payment infrastructure. However, WooPayments and a standard Stripe account are separate products with different dashboards, features, availability, and pricing.

WooPayments offers a simpler WooCommerce setup because it is designed specifically for the platform. Stripe’s separate WooCommerce extension may offer more flexibility for businesses that want to use an existing Stripe account or access Stripe features outside WooCommerce.

Like Stripe, WooPayments is a third-party payment processor. Some businesses and products are prohibited or restricted, so high-risk merchants should review its eligibility policies before applying.

What Payment Methods Can WooPayments Accept?

WooPayments supports credit and debit cards, along with several other payment methods depending on the merchant’s country and the customer’s location.

Supported options may include:

• Apple Pay and Google Pay
• WooPay and Link by Stripe
• Amazon Pay
• ACH or bank debit payments
• Affirm, Afterpay/Clearpay, and Klarna
• Local payment methods such as Alipay, Bancontact, EPS, GrabPay, iDEAL, Multibanco, Przelewy24, and WeChat Pay

Not every payment method is available in every country, and some options have separate eligibility requirements or transaction fees. Check the WooPayments settings and country-specific fee schedule to see what your store can offer.

How Much Does WooCommerce Payments Cost?

WooPayments has no setup or monthly account fee. Instead, merchants pay transaction fees that vary by country, payment method, card origin, and currency.

For US businesses, common fees include:

• Online card payments: 2.9% + $0.30
• In-person payments: 2.7% + $0.10
• International cards: An additional 1.5% online or 1% in person
• Currency conversion: An additional 1%
• Disputes: $15
• Instant payouts: 1.5% of the payout
• Active card readers: $5 per reader for each month in which it processes a transaction

Alternative payment methods, including ACH, buy now, pay later services, and local payment methods, have their own rates.

An additional 1% applies to orders containing subscription payments only when the optional Stripe Billing engine is used. WooCommerce Subscriptions and other store extensions may also have separate costs.

How To Use WooPayments

Here’s a quick rundown of how to set up and use WooPayments.

Step 1: Check The Requirements

Make sure your business is based in a supported country and that your site:

• Uses current versions of WordPress, WooCommerce, and PHP
• Has an SSL certificate and uses HTTPS
• Is accessible to the public
• Is operated by someone who is at least 18

Step 2: Install WooPayments

Go to WooCommerce > Payments and select the option to install WooPayments.

You can also install it manually by going to Plugins > Add Plugin, searching for WooPayments, and selecting the plugin published by WooCommerce.

Step 3: Complete Account Setup

Open Payments and select Complete setup. You’ll choose your payment methods, connect a WordPress.com account, and provide personal, business, tax, and payout information.

WooPayments is built in partnership with Stripe, so part of the verification process takes place through Stripe. This creates a Stripe Express account for WooPayments, not a separate standard Stripe account.

Step 4: Configure Your Settings

From the WooPayments settings, you can:

• Enable payment methods
• Set up express checkout
• Choose a payout schedule
• Configure fraud controls
• Enable multicurrency features
• Allow customers to save payment details

You can also use test mode to place simulated orders. Turn test mode off before accepting real payments.

Step 5: Start Accepting Payments

Once onboarding is complete, your store can begin accepting payments. Payout timing depends on your country, payout schedule, account history, and any verification requirements.

WooPayments applies an initial seven-day waiting period after your first transaction before you can change your payout schedule.

Is It Possible To Take Recurring Payments Through WooPayments?

WooPayments supports recurring payments when used with the WooCommerce Subscriptions extension. Automatic renewals are generally available for saved cards and supported express checkout methods.

US merchants can also choose the optional Stripe Billing engine. This option requires WooCommerce Subscriptions and adds an extra fee to qualifying subscription orders.

Alternatives To WooPayments

WooPayments is convenient for WooCommerce stores, but another payment extension may be a better fit if you already use a different provider or need specific payment methods.

Stripe For WooCommerce

The official Stripe extension lets you connect an existing Stripe account to your store. If you use Stripe outside WooCommerce or want to manage payments directly through the Stripe dashboard, this may be a better fit.

Setup remains relatively straightforward, but payments are not managed as fully within the WooCommerce dashboard as they are with WooPayments.

PayPal Payments

The official PayPal extension supports PayPal, credit and debit cards, Venmo for eligible US merchants, Pay Later options, Fastlane, and other regional payment methods.

PayPal may be useful if your customers prefer its wallet or financing options, though rates and available features vary by country and payment method.

Amazon Pay

Amazon Pay lets customers check out using payment and address information stored in their Amazon accounts.

Eligible WooPayments and Stripe for WooCommerce users can now enable Amazon Pay directly. A separate Amazon Pay extension is also available for merchants who prefer a standalone integration.

Square For WooCommerce

Square may be a better option for businesses that sell both online and in person. Its WooCommerce extension can sync products, prices, inventory, and orders between WooCommerce and Square.

Square also offers a broader selection of POS hardware and in-person business tools than WooPayments.

PayPal Enterprise Payments

PayPal Enterprise Payments is designed for larger or more technically complex businesses. It supports cards, PayPal, digital wallets, ACH debit, saved payment methods, and recurring payments.

This option is generally better suited to businesses that need more customization than a standard WooCommerce payment extension provides.

Is WooPayments Right For Your Business?

WooPayments is a convenient choice for WooCommerce stores that want to manage payments, refunds, disputes, and payouts from the WordPress dashboard. It supports cards, digital wallets, local payment methods, and in-person payments, with no monthly account fee.

It’s best for eligible, low-risk businesses that primarily sell online through WooCommerce. However, fees vary by payment method and country, subscription payments require an additional extension, and some merchants may prefer Stripe, PayPal, or Square for more features or existing integrations.

Before signing up, compare WooPayments’ total costs, supported payment methods, country availability, and account restrictions with the alternatives.