The best international payment methods for online stores in 2026 (and how to choose)

The best international payment options are cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, real-time networks, local methods, and global solutions like Whop. Here’s how to choose the right mix for 2026.

The best international payment options for online stores in 2026 are credit and debit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers and real-time payment networks, local payment methods, and all-in-one global payment platforms.

Each option has different fees, conversion rates, and levels of global coverage, so the right choice depends on where your customers live and how they prefer to pay.

There's a lot to consider - but I've trawled through the guides so you don't have to.

Here, I'll break down how each method works, when to use it, and how to choose the mix that gives you the highest conversion at the lowest cost.

But first, a word on international vs domestic payments.

International payments vs domestic payments - why does it matter for your business?

Domestic payments are simple. The buyer and seller are in the same country, using the same currency, and the money moves through one banking system. Everything settles quickly, and the fees stay predictable.

International payments are different. The moment a customer is in another country or wants to pay in another currency, the process slows down.

Now there’s foreign exchange, cross-border fees, extra fraud checks, and banking networks that don’t always talk to each other. And if they don't work - you lose the sale.

If you don’t offer the payment methods people in that country actually trust, they drop off instantly.

That’s why accepting international payments takes more planning than domestic ones.

It’s not harder - it just requires the right setup.

International payment methods for your online store

Here are the top ways to get paid online, no matter where your customers are:

Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)

Credit and debit cards are still the default way people pay online, even as alternative methods grow.

If you’re selling internationally, cards give you near-instant access to global customers because almost everyone has one - and almost every checkout supports them.

They’re simple, familiar, and fast. But they also come with higher fees and a higher chance of chargebacks, especially when you start selling outside your home market.

The tradeoff: broad reach in exchange for higher operating costs.

Pros:

• Global acceptance
• Familiar and trusted checkout experience
• Easy to set up through major providers

Cons:

• Higher fees (especially cross-border)
• Fraud and chargebacks
• Not the preferred option in some countries

Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo)

Digital wallets are fast becoming the default payment option because they remove friction. Customers don’t want to type long card numbers anymore - they want to tap, verify, and be done.

That’s why wallets convert so much better on mobile, especially in markets where phones are the primary shopping device. Nothing stops a purchase like having to go find your physical card details (I've abandoned plenty of carts at this point).

Still, not every wallet dominates everywhere. Apple Pay rules in the US and Europe. Alipay and WeChat Pay run China. You need to offer the right mix depending on who you're selling to.

Pros:

• Faster checkout = higher conversion
• Strong built-in fraud protection
• Trusted by customers when buying from foreign stores

Cons:

• Region-specific availability
• Fees vary widely
• Some wallets still redirect customers off-site

Bank transfers and real-time payments (SEPA, ACH, PIX, Faster Payments)

Bank transfers used to be slow and annoying. Back in my day (yes, I'm that old) I would need to visit the bank in-person to send a transfer.

Not anymore.

Real-time payment networks like PIX in Brazil or Faster Payments in the UK have made bank transfers simple. These methods are cheap (sometimes free), secure, and increasingly instantaneous.

They’re perfect for high-value transactions and markets where trust in cards is low.

But they don’t fit every business, because customers typically need to leave checkout to approve the payment (again, if it takes an extra step will you actually checkout?), and adoption varies by country.

Pros:

• Low fees
• High security
• Ideal for large purchases or markets where cards aren’t popular

Cons:

• Slower in certain countries
• User experience isn't as smooth as wallets
• Not universally supported in ecommerce platforms

Local payment methods (iDEAL, Klarna, Bancontact, Boleto, GrabPay)

If you want the highest conversion in international markets, you need local payment methods.

"When we route a payment through a local entity, everything improves — approval rates, fees, even chargeback outcomes. It just looks ‘right’ to the customer’s bank." - Derek Wilmer, Whop

Customers in the Netherlands don’t want cards - they want iDEAL. Germans love Klarna. Brazilians love Boleto. Southeast Asia is all about GrabPay and GCash.

But if you only offer cards, you’ll lose a ridiculous amount of otherwise qualified customers in these regions.

Pros:

• Highest conversion rates in their home markets
• Lower fraud risk
• Often lower fees than cards

Cons:

• You must support the right ones by region
• Complex integrations unless you use a global platform
• Some settle slower than cards or wallets

All-in-one global payment solutions

All-in-one global payment platforms (Stripe, Adyen, Shopify Payments, Whop)

These platforms exist because managing international payments yourself is a nightmare. One API or one dashboard gives you cards, wallets, local methods, fraud protection, FX handling, and compliance.

Through thousands of conversations, we’ve learned our customers really only care about two things: getting paid and paying out. Our mission is to be the best in the world at solving those problems.

— Hunter Dickinson, Head of Partnerships at Whop

If you want to scale globally, this is usually where you start.

Stripe

Great for global currency support, local methods, and strong fraud tools. Developer-friendly and widely supported.

Adyen

Built for enterprises. Huge global coverage, deep risk tools, unified commerce. Powerful - but complex.

Shopify Payments

Seamless if you’re on Shopify. Limited outside the Shopify ecosystem, but solid inside it.

Whop

Whop Payments is the platform layer that handles international payments for you.
You get global payments, multi-currency checkout, recurring billing, access control, fraud tools, and customer management without setting up Stripe, PayPal, or local methods yourself.

If you’re selling anything online - memberships, communities, coaching, downloads, bookings - Whop does the heavy lifting behind the scenes.

How to choose the right international payment methods for your business

Choosing the right mix isn’t about picking the 'best' payment method overall, it’s about picking the best method for the people buying from you.

Here’s the simplest way to get it right without overthinking it:

1. Start with where your customers live

Every country has a preferred way to pay. If you ignore that, your conversion rate tanks - even if your product is great.

• Netherlands = iDEAL
• Brazil = PIX and Boleto
• Germany = Klarna
• China = Alipay and WeChat Pay
• US/UK/AUS = cards + wallets

2. Layer in the methods that boost conversion

Cards are a must, but they’re not enough. When creating your payment stack, choose:

• 1–2 major wallets
• The top local payment method in your target region
• A gateway/platform that ties it all together

This makes your minimum viable global stack.

3. Compare total cost, not just the transaction fee

All payment methods come with fees, but cross-border payments come with hidden costs like:

• FX markup
• Cross-border fees
• Chargebacks
• Wallet or local method surcharges

Sometimes a method with higher fees converts way better, which means it’s cheaper overall.

4. Check settlement speed (it matters more than you think)

International payments can take anywhere from seconds (PIX) to days (some bank transfers) to a week (certain card settlements).

Slow settlement = slow cash flow = slower growth.

So if you rely on fast reinvestment, prioritize methods that pay out quickly.

5. Use a platform that makes global payments easier

If you try to manage every payment method manually, you’ll drown in integrations and compliance headaches. Most stores use:

• Stripe for maximum global coverage
• Adyen for enterprise-level international volume
• Whop if you want to sell globally and let the platform handle payments, access control, fraud, and recurring revenue for you (though you can use Whop just for payments too)

Yes, you can duct tape together 10 tools… or use one platform that has packaged it all up for you.

6. Don’t aim for everything. Aim for the methods that actually matter.

You don’t need 15 payment options. In fact, that might put your customers off buying. Instead, only use the ones your customers trust.

If you support cards and wallets and the right local method, you’re already ahead of 90% of online stores trying to sell globally.

Whop: a faster way to accept international payments

Accepting international payments isn’t hard, but it gets messy fast when you’re managing currencies, local methods, FX fees, fraud rules, and banking networks that don’t always cooperate.

You can set up every method yourself… or you can let Whop Payments handle the entire stack for you.

When you use Whop, you don’t need to integrate Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, or any local method manually.

You don’t need to configure FX settings or worry about whether customers in Brazil or Germany can actually pay you.

All you need to do is turn on Whop Payments, and you’re instantly able to accept customers from around the world with multi-currency checkout, recurring billing, access control, fraud protection, and all the cross-border plumbing handled behind the scenes. And if you want, you can run your entire business on Whop.

If you want the simplest way to sell globally, and get paid without thinking about payment rails ever again, Whop Payments is the easiest way to do it.

International payment FAQs

What is the most popular international payment method?

Cards are still the default globally, but digital wallets now outperform them in many markets. In some countries, local methods dominate, like iDEAL in the Netherlands or Klarna in Germany.

Which payment method gives the best conversion rate?

Local payment methods almost always win. If customers can pay the way they’re used to, conversion rates jump immediately.

Are international payments safe?

Yes, as long as you use trusted providers with fraud protection. Wallets (Apple Pay, PayPal) and major solutions (Stripe, Adyen, Whop) all include strong security features by default.

How fast do international payments settle?

It depends on the method:

• Real-time networks: seconds
• Wallets: usually instant
• Cards: 1–3 days
• Bank transfers: 2–5 days

Settlement speed directly affects your cash flow, so pick methods that match your growth pace.

Do I need to offer every payment method?

No. You only need:

• Cards
• One or two major wallets
• The main local method for any region you serve

Can Whop handle international payments for me?

Yes. Whop handles global payments, FX, recurring billing, fraud tools, and customer access in one place. You don’t need to set up or manage individual gateways yourself.