Once you decide to sell online, whether that is products, tickets, bookings or memberships, choosing the right payment provider becomes one of the most important decisions you will make.

A payment provider, often referred to as a payment gateway or payment processor, securely handles card transactions and transfers funds to your business bank account.

For Irish small and medium sized businesses, the market has shifted towards providers that are quick to set up, transparent in pricing and straightforward to integrate with platforms such as WordPress, WooCommerce and other eCommerce systems.

Below is an overview of the most commonly used payment gateways in Ireland today, along with notes on suitability and indicative costs. Fees do change periodically, so always check directly with the provider before making a final decision.

Stripe has become the default choice for many Irish businesses, particularly those using WordPress and WooCommerce.

Merchant account required: No
Setup: Free
Monthly fee: None
Transaction fees: Typically around 1.5 percent plus 25c for European cards (higher for non EU cards)
Fraud protection: Advanced tools included
Other notes: SSL required, but no dedicated IP needed

Stripe supports card payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, subscriptions, and recurring billing. It is developer friendly but also very usable for non technical site owners once set up.

Best suited to businesses that want flexibility, subscriptions, or future scaling.

Visit www.stripe.com/ie

PayPal remains extremely well known and trusted by customers, particularly for one off purchases.

Merchant account required: No
Setup: Free
Monthly fee: None
Transaction fees: Typically between 1.9 percent and 3.4 percent plus a fixed fee
Fraud protection: Basic buyer and seller protection

PayPal can be used as a standalone checkout or alongside Stripe. Many customers like having it as an option, even if they pay by card elsewhere.

Best used as a secondary payment option rather than the only gateway.

Visit www.paypal.com/ie

Square is increasingly popular with businesses that sell both online and in person.

Merchant account required: No
Setup: Free
Monthly fee: None
Transaction fees: Typically around 1.75 percent to 2.9 percent depending on the method
Fraud protection: Included

Square is strong where physical card terminals and online payments need to work together. Its online offering is improving, though it is not as flexible as Stripe for complex websites.

Best suited to retail, cafes, and service businesses with physical locations.

Visit www.squareup.com/ie

Revolut Business has become a serious contender for Irish SMEs.

Merchant account required: Revolut Business account
Setup: Free or low cost depending on plan
Monthly fee: Depends on business plan
Transaction fees: Competitive card processing rates
Fraud protection: Built in

Revolut offers online payments, payment links, and increasingly good integrations. It is particularly attractive to businesses already using Revolut for banking.

Best suited to simple ecommerce, invoices, and payment links.

Visit www.revolut.com/en-IE

Both Realex and Worldpay are now part of Global Payments, which remains widely used in Ireland.

Merchant account required: Yes
Setup: Usually free or low cost
Monthly fee: Typically charged
Transaction fees: Fixed per transaction with volume tiers
Fraud protection: Included

This option is often chosen by more established businesses or those already tied into bank merchant accounts.

Visit https://www.globalpayments.com/en-gb

For most Irish small businesses today:

• Stripe is usually the first recommendation for flexibility and future-proofing.
• PayPal works well as an additional option for customer trust.
• Square makes sense if you also sell in person.
• Revolut Business is a strong option for simpler setups and payment links.

The right choice depends on how you sell, what platform your website uses, and whether you need features like subscriptions, bookings, or ticketing.

If you are unsure, it is often best to start with Stripe and add PayPal later if customers request it.

Last Updated: 9th February 2026