Best UK online payment for WooCommerce 2026
Compare the UK shortlist below, then get matched quotes from the acquirers most likely to approve you and beat your current pricing.
For UK WooCommerce stores running on WordPress. Unlike Shopify, WooCommerce has no preferred-gateway monetisation, so you pick the cheapest UK acquirer outright. Stripe, Square, Adyen, PayPal, Klarna, Mollie all have first-party WooCommerce plugins. WooCommerce-specific extensions like WooCommerce Subscriptions add recurring billing.
Based on MerchantHQ terminal reviews and our ranking methodology.
The ranking
Ranked on fit for this use case. The score beside each pick is that terminal's overall review score across all uses, so a lower-scored terminal can rank higher here when it suits this job better. The rate, hardware and contract lines come from the same terminal data as the comparison table below.
1. Stripe Reader S700
Review score 4.0 / 5Best WooCommerce gateway overall
Touchscreen handheld smart terminal, 5.5in display, Android 10 (no built-in printer; external receipt printer via the optional dock or hub) · 1.4% + 10p EEA cards, 2.9% + 10p non-EEA (Stripe standard Terminal pricing) · No contract (Stripe standard pay-as-you-go terms)
Stripe Checkout via the WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway plugin (first-party). 1.5% + 20p UK online. Strongest developer ecosystem, best documentation. Pairs with Stripe Reader S700 for in-person omnichannel. WooCommerce Subscriptions integrates natively for recurring SaaS or membership.
2. Adyen for Platforms
Review score 4.0 / 5Best for high-volume WooCommerce
Range of Adyen terminals, usually supplied through a platform · Interchange-plus pricing, quoted per merchant · Quoted per merchant (not published)
Adyen Web via the official WooCommerce Adyen plugin. Bespoke interchange-plus pricing wins above £200k monthly card volume. Direct UK acquirer relationship, best-in-class SCA exemption flagging (preserves UK ecommerce conversion 2-5 percentage points). AMEX rate negotiable.
3. Square Terminal
Review score 4.1 / 5Best WooCommerce for click-and-collect
All-in-one countertop terminal with receipt printer · 1.75% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Square Online via the WooCommerce Square plugin. 1.4% + 25p UK online. Shared inventory between your WooCommerce store and Square Terminal POS in-person setup. Best for SMB retailers running both rails.
Quick comparison
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Stripe Reader S700 | 1.4% + 10p EEA cards, 2.9% + 10p non-EEA (Stripe standard Terminal pricing) | £229 excl. VAT | No contract (Stripe standard pay-as-you-go terms) |
| #2 | Adyen for Platforms | Interchange-plus pricing, quoted per merchant | Quoted per merchant; usually bundled by the platform | Quoted per merchant (not published) |
| #3 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 + VAT | No contract |
FAQs
What is the best payment gateway for a UK WooCommerce store?
Stripe Checkout via the first-party WooCommerce Stripe plugin is the strongest default at 1.5% + 20p UK online: best developer ecosystem, WooCommerce Subscriptions native support, omnichannel via Stripe Reader S700. Adyen for £200k+ monthly via the WooCommerce Adyen plugin. Square for click-and-collect retailers via the WooCommerce Square plugin.
Does WooCommerce charge extra for non-default payment gateways?
No. Unlike Shopify, WooCommerce has no transaction surcharge on alternative gateways. You pick whichever UK acquirer wins on TCA for your shape, plug in the gateway, and only pay the gateway's per-transaction rate. This is the structural advantage of self-hosted WooCommerce over Shopify.
How do UK WooCommerce stores handle subscription billing?
WooCommerce Subscriptions plugin (£200/year first-party) paired with Stripe Billing or Adyen Subscriptions handles recurring card-on-file via Merchant Initiated Transaction exemption. Customer SCA-authenticates at sign-up, recurring charges go through without challenge. Alternative: GoCardless via the WooCommerce GoCardless plugin for Bacs Direct Debit at 1% + 20p (capped £2), cheaper than card on recurring.
Can a UK WooCommerce store accept Klarna and Apple Pay?
Yes. Klarna via the WooCommerce Klarna plugin handles BNPL (Pay-in-3, Pay-in-30, Pay-Later). Apple Pay and Google Pay are supported by Stripe and Square automatically. Most UK WooCommerce stores run Stripe + PayPal + Klarna + Apple Pay simultaneously to maximise checkout conversion.
How we rank
Rankings are built by desk research from each provider's published rates, upfront costs, contract lengths and settlement terms, held in a dated record per terminal (last-reviewed date shown on this page) and re-checked when published pricing changes. We do not hands-on test every device; specs are taken from provider documentation and cited. No provider pays for inclusion or position. MerchantHQ is an introducer. Quote enquiries go to one card-payments broker, Merchant Advice Service, which pays us a fee for each introduction; acquirers do not pay us commission on quote enquiries. That fee never affects a ranking. See our methodology and how we are funded.
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MerchantHQ is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman. Last updated: