Best Shopify Payment Gateway Alternatives for UK Stores in 2026

Every UK Shopify store needs a payment gateway. Most start with Shopify Payments, and many stick with it. But the UK payment landscape has shifted considerably, and there are now some genuinely strong Shopify payment gateway alternatives that are worth knowing about, whether you are looking to reduce processing costs, offer more payment methods, or give customers a faster checkout experience.

Here is a rundown of the best options for UK merchants in 2026.

Shopify payment gateway alternatives for UK stores

Let’s compare the following payment providers on fees, features, and checkout flexibility in 2026.

Atoa

Atoa is a UK-based, FCA-authorised payment provider offering Pay by Bank and card payments from a single platform. Pay by Bank lets customers approve payments directly in their Bank app, with money arriving instantly. It is built specifically for the UK market and integrates into Shopify via the App Store.

• Pay by Bank fees are up to 50% lower than standard card processing rates
  
  
• Instant settlement with no multi-day wait for funds
  
  
• No chargebacks, as every payment is authenticated by the customer’s own bank
  
  
• Card payments also supported, so customers always have a choice
  
  
• No hidden fees, no contracts, one-click refunds
  
  
• ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certified

Best for: UK merchants wanting lower processing fees, instant payouts, and a flexible checkout that supports both Pay by Bank and card.

Stripe

Stripe is one of the most widely used payment providers globally and integrates directly into the Shopify checkout. It supports over 135 currencies and a broad range of payment methods, with strong developer tools for custom setups.

• UK card rates from 1.5% + 20p per transaction
  
  
• Supports cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more
  
  
• Excellent API and developer documentation
  
  
• Best-in-class fraud detection tools

Best for: Stores with international customers or developer-heavy setups needing flexibility and global reach.

PayPal

PayPal is a default option on all Shopify stores and carries strong consumer recognition. It gives customers the option to pay without entering card details, which can improve conversion for certain audiences.

• UK transaction fees from around 1.29% + 30p (varies by plan)
  
  
• Trusted by a large share of UK online shoppers
  
  
• Easy to set up alongside existing payment methods
  
  
• Supports Pay Later options for eligible transactions

Best for: Adding as a supplementary checkout option to capture customers who prefer PayPal.

Klarna

Klarna is a buy now, pay later provider rather than a traditional gateway, but it is widely used on UK Shopify stores. Merchants receive the full payment upfront while customers spread the cost.

• Can meaningfully increase conversion, especially for higher-value orders
  
  
• No risk to the merchant if the customer defaults
  
  
• Well-recognised by UK shoppers, particularly younger demographics
  
  
• Straightforward Shopify integration

Best for: Stores with higher average order values where flexible payment options help close sales.

Opayo

Opayo, formerly Sage Pay, is a long-established UK payment provider with a strong presence in British ecommerce. It handles card payments securely and suits merchants who want a familiar, UK-rooted option.

• Over £40 billion processed annually in the UK
  
  
• Handles PCI compliance through a hosted payment page
  
  
• Trusted by a large number of UK retailers
  
  
• Setup is more involved than cloud-native alternatives

Best for: Established UK merchants already in the Opayo or Elavon ecosystem.

Worldpay

Worldpay is the UK’s largest payment provider by merchant volume, supporting over 120 currencies and a wide range of payment methods. It is particularly well suited to high-volume stores where negotiated rates can make a real difference.

• Over 250,000 UK businesses use Worldpay
  
  
• Competitive rates available for high-volume merchants
  
  
• Strong international currency support
  
  
• Enterprise-grade fraud protection and reporting

Best for: High-volume UK stores needing robust international payment infrastructure.

How to choose the right one

There is no single best answer here. The right gateway depends on your customers, your order volumes, and what you want to optimise for. According to Shopify’s own pricing page, third-party transaction fees apply on top of gateway fees for merchants not using Shopify Payments, so understanding the full cost of each option is important before making a decision.

For UK merchants serving primarily domestic customers and looking to get more from every transaction, Shopify payment gateway alternatives that include Pay by Bank, like Atoa, offer a meaningfully different cost structure alongside the card options customers already expect.

Want to see how Atoa works for your Shopify store? Get in touch with the team and experience it first-hand.