The best e-commerce payment gateways for startups help you accept payments across markets without adding friction at checkout. Compare global options such as Stripe, PayPal, and Airwallex with Hong Kong-focused choices such as PayMe, AlipayHK, WeChat Pay HK, and AsiaPay. Look at fees, setup ease, and payout speed to find the right fit for your business.
Nearly 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned before the purchase is completed. You can have a customer all the way to the final step, only to lose the sale when the payment process feels too long or complicated. 17% of shoppers even say they have left an order unfinished for this reason.
Selling in multiple markets makes this even harder to manage. A customer in Hong Kong might reach for a local wallet, a buyer in Singapore might expect a different option, and another might simply want to use a card. Your payment setup has to bridge those differences without creating another reason to leave.
To help you do that, this article covers the 7 best e-commerce payment gateways for startups. Compare the costs, reach, payout speed, and features to see which option earns its place in your business.
Comparing the Top 7 Payment Gateways
Choosing a payment tool comes down to how you sell, where your customers are, and how much control you need over checkout. If you’re evaluating options for your store, this global and Hong Kong payment gateway comparison brings together tools suited to both international and local sales.
1. Stripe
When you’re getting your online store off the ground, you need payments to align with the rest of your setup. Stripe gives you the pieces to get your checkout moving, from card payments and digital wallets to multiple payment methods. Here are its details:
Setup ease
With Stripe’s standard pricing, you don’t pay a setup fee or monthly subscription fee. Its prebuilt checkout tools help you move from setup to sales faster, without building the checkout from scratch. Or if you need more control, its APIs lets you shape the experience around your business.
Transaction fees
Stripe uses a pay-as-you-go model, so you pay a fee when a transaction goes through. The rate depends on the payment method, card type, and whether currency conversion is involved.
Say you are using Stripe in Hong Kong. The transaction fee for debit and credit card payments can factor in:
- HKD settlement: 3.4% + HK$2.35 per successful charge
- USD settlement: 3.4% + US$0.30 per completed payment + 0.5% for international cards + 2% for currency conversion, if needed.
For digital wallet payments, Stripe charges 2.2% + HK$2.00 per successful charge for Alipay and WeChat Pay. A 2% currency conversion fee applies when required.
Local vs. global reach
Stripe supports 195+ countries, 135+ currencies, and 100+ payment methods, giving you multiple options for different markets.
Payout speed
Your first payout typically takes 7-14 days. After that, Stripe sends your funds based on the payout schedule you choose, such as daily, weekly, or monthly, with manual payouts available in applicable cases.
2. PayPal
PayPal has been a familiar name in online payments for years. Adding it to your checkout gives customers an option they already recognize. The following is how it typically works:
Setup ease
PayPal keeps the initial configuration light, with no monthly or setup fees. It has two checkout options: one is PayPal checkout, which requires less coding. The other is expanded checkout, which puts more of the control in your hands, letting you decide how customers pay and which payment methods you offer.
Transaction fees
PayPal’s standard transaction fee for PayPal Checkout is 3.49% + a fixed fee per transaction. International commercial transactions add 1.50% to the rate.
Local vs. global reach
PayPal supports payments across 200+ markets and 130+ currencies, giving you broad international coverage. It also supports local payment methods, including bank-based options such as iDEAL and Bancontact.
Payment speed
PayPal can hold your initial payments for up to 21 days for new sellers. It reviews seller accounts each month to decide whether sales proceeds can be released immediately. Once your account has built a solid sales track record and your identity is verified, the hold on your funds can start to loosen, giving you faster access to your money.
Startupr provides a direct introduction to a dedicated PayPal Sales Representative, supplies the PayPal Business Account Guide, and grants an exclusive partner perk: a 10% rebate on PayPal processing fees for the first 3 months.
3. Airwallex
Airwallex provides payments, money movement, and checkout tools in one platform. It gives you different ways to handle payments, so you can keep the setup matched to how your store actually works. Here’s how it works:
Setup ease
Airwallex has no sign-up or setup fee. You can connect it to Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, or BigCommerce through ready-made plugins, so you don’t have to handle all the technical work. Payment links let you collect money without writing code. Airwallex also offers pre-built checkout options, plus APIs if you want to create your own payment setup.
Transaction fee
Airwallex charges 2.80% + US$0.30 for domestic card payments and 4.30% + US$0.30 for international cards. Local payment methods carry a US$0.30 fee plus the payment method fee.
Local vs. global reach
The platform supports 160+ global and local payment methods, including cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and regional payment methods. Its payment-method directory also lets you check which methods are available based on the customer’s location, your business location, and the payment currency.
Payment speed
Airwallex’s payout timing comes down to the payment method and your account’s reserve plan. Which means no single clock applies to every payment. In T+0 settlement, for example, funds are normally added to your Airwallex wallet on the same day, often within minutes. However, batch processing and risk checks can change the exact timing.
Startupr provides direct application assistance, reviews your filing before submission, and unlocks an exclusive partner benefit:
- Complimentary Airwallex Account Opening: Once your Airwallex account is approved, receive USD 99 credited back to your Startupr company account to offset future invoices—making your setup effectively FREE ($0 net fee). (Valid Oct 1 – Nov 30, 2026)
- FX Savings: 0% margin and $0 fees on your first HK$100,000 in FX conversions.0% margin and $0 fees on your first HK$100,000 in FX conversions.
4. PayMe
PayMe from HSBC brings Hong Kong’s everyday payment culture into the checkout. For your business, that means a payment experience built around how local shoppers already transact. Here’s what you need to know about the platform:
Setup ease
To use PayMe for Business, you first need an HSBC Business Internet Banking account. You’ll normally need your mobile number, email address, security device, and bank details to register. Once that’s done, you can accept payments on your website or app through the API or a pre-integrated e-commerce option.
Transaction fee
PayMe for Business app transactions carry a 1.2% fee. API transactions, such as payments through an integrated website or mobile app, have a 1.5% charge. POS terminal transactions cost you 1.5%.
Local vs. global reach
PayMe has more than 3 million customers in Hong Kong, giving your business a sizeable local audience to sell to. You can use PayCodes for website checkouts, social media sales, invoices, and in-store payments.
Payout speed
Customer payments move into your PayMe for Business wallet instantly. You can then transfer it to your designated bank account, which comes with a limit on how much you can transfer. An automatic schedule helps you keep the money moving at the frequency you choose.
5. Alipay HK
AlipayHK is a digital wallet and mobile payment app based out of Hong Kong. It supports local payments and lets users make certain cross-border payments in HKD. Let’s look at the details:
Setup ease
You get started with an online application, with your company and bank account documents going in for review. Once approved, the Merchants Service Team will help with the installation process. Then you can add AlipayHK to your e-commerce store through its online payment solution, putting the wallet directly into your checkout flow.
Transaction fee
AlipayHK doesn’t offer a single fixed merchant rate for every online payment setup. The fee you pay can vary based on the payment service you choose.
Local vs. global reach
AlipayHK has more than 3.3 million active users in Hong Kong, and its online payment channel can also cover funds from Alipay’s mainland wallet.
Payout speed
Once your approved settlement amount reaches HKD20, AlipayHK sends it to your registered bank account within a working day. Bank processing can then take roughly 2 to 3 working days.
7. WeChat Pay HK
WeChat Pay HK works within WeChat, so your customers can complete their purchase without leaving the app. You can also add it to your online store, which makes sense if your customers already use WeChat when they shop.
Setup ease
You can apply for a WeChat Pay HK merchant account regardless of your business size. The beneficial owner or someone authorized to act for the company can submit the application. You’ll need to provide your company and bank documents, proof of your business and products, and the applicant’s ID.
For e-commerce, email your application and select Online Payment as your preferred payment method. You’ll also provide your merchant name, contact details, address, industry, and number of operating stores. You can also apply through the WeChat mobile app.
Transaction fee
WeChat Pay HK does not publish a single standard online merchant rate publicly. Your actual cost can depend on how the payment is set up and which payment provider or integration handles the transaction. The fee can therefore look different from one setup to another.
Local vs global reach
WeChat Pay HK has a strong Hong Kong base, with its merchant network extending into Macao and Mainland China. Its network covers more than 150,000 merchants in Hong Kong, 20,000 in Macao, and tens of millions in Mainland China.
Payment speed
Payout speed depends on the payment provider handling your WeChat Pay HK account. So check the settlement terms for your specific setup.
7. AsiaPay
AsiaPay is a payment service provider headquartered in Hong Kong. It helps businesses accept online payments across Asian markets. The platform supports cards, digital wallets, buy now pay later, and other local payment methods. This lets you offer customers familiar ways to pay through your online store. Here’s what you can expect from the platform:
Setup ease
AsiaPay gives you three ways to plug payments into your store: Client Post through Browser, Direct Client Side Connection, and Server Side Direct Connection. You can also refer to its API documentation, sample integration code, and testing URLs to check your payment flow before going live.
Transaction fee
AsiaPay does not publicly list a standard merchant transaction rate. Fees can vary depending on your market.
Local vs. global reach
AsiaPay has 17 operating offices across Asia-Pacific. Its payment services cover markets including Hong Kong, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. It also provides multi-currency and multi-channel payment options.
Payment speed
AsiaPay does not publicly state a fixed merchant settlement timeframe. Regular settlement timing sits with the acquiring bank.
StartupRegistry Experts Say: “A point we’ve picked up from working with Hong Kong startups is that your payment checkout issues often show up after the store is already taking orders. Our advice is to check your payment gateway’s supported methods, currencies, transaction fees, and settlement terms before you commit. Choosing a solution that fits how you actually plan to sell can save you from having to rethink your setup later.”
How to Set Up Your Checkout for Maximum Conversions
When you sell to customers in other countries, the payment page should feel familiar and easy to use. Small things can make the difference between someone finishing the order and leaving halfway through. Pay attention to these areas:
- Show prices in local currencies: If your payment gateway and store support multi-currency pricing, display the price in the buyer’s local currency so they know what they will pay before reaching the checkout screen. This can reduce confusion around conversion costs and unexpected bank charges.
- Offer popular local wallets: For cross-border payment processing in Asia, add familiar methods commonly used in your target markets so customers can pay through options they already know.
Scale Your Online Store Globally with Hong Kong
Selling from Hong Kong gives you plenty of ways to reach customers across Asia and into international markets. Your payment setup should keep pace with that reach.
Global tools such as Stripe and Airwallex can handle international payments, and local wallets such as AlipayHK, WeChat Pay HK, and PayMe can keep your checkout in step with local payment preferences. Choose the one that fits your markets, products, and sales process.
Keep fees and settlement times in view, too. Both can affect your cash flow and the amount you spend on processing transactions as your order volume increases.
