The way it tends to work is that when someone really wants something and they need to buy it in order to obtain it they’re rather eager to get the payment part over with. If that person is buying something on line they’re not going to be passing cash or a card to a cashier or anything of the sort. Instead they’ll be at the checkout page for an eCommerce website but they’ll be just as determined to pay and be on their virtual way with the order being placed. If you’re the person who’s the seller and operating that website you’re going to want to make that possible for them, and you definitely don’t want anything making their payment less easy. This leads to us looking at Managed WordPress hosting for payment gateways.
WordPress sites for small e-commerce stores are quite common, and as is the case with any of them it is going to be plugins that give the site the bulk of its desired functionality. That’s going to be same for gateway plugins, and chances are you’re going to be using one of them if you want to make the checkout and payment process as smooth and simple as possible for your customers. That’s going to be a consideration when you’re looking at the best managed host for Stripe and PayPal WordPress integration and as is the case for any user interest you have a solid a choice as any with us here at 4GoodHosting. All aspects of our managed WordPress hosting are right in line with having an online store with the options to pay with both credit cards and other means.
This is an important consideration, because every online store manager will agree that even just one instance of someone not completing an order despite making it to checkout is going to be unacceptable. And it’s entirely true that some people will abandon a cart at just the slightest ounce of frustration or displeasure with things not working like they expect them to. You’ll probably agree with the age-old maxim that the customer is always right, and in this case it’s equally true that the customer always needs to be accommodated exactly as they like.
Using the right payment gateway plugin for WordPress makes that doable for you and so what we’re going to do with this blog entry is provide our choice for the top 4 of them that will deliver a seamless checkout experience for every one of those valuable customers who are ready to place their order and then get on with their day.
Needed Bridge
A WP payment plugin functions as a bridge between your WordPress website and payment processors like Stripe, PayPal, and others. It will allow you to securely collect payments while not redirecting customers away from the site. These plugins transform regular WordPress sites into fully-functional payment-accepting platforms through deep integration with managed WordPress hosting for payment gateways payment gateways.
These plugins enable direct integration with other payment processors too, and authorize.net being the most notable of them. The need that is being met here is for secure handling of sensitive payment information with proper data encryption, along with processing of multiple payment types including one-time purchases, recurring payments, or donations. Collection of customer information through customizable payment forms may also be a possibility, and in some instances sites may also be adding automatic calculations of taxes, shipping, and other order components.
The most primary function of these plugins and where their greatest value lies is in their ability to handle complex payment processes while still maintaining a seamless experience for customers. There needs to be no requirement for them to navigate away to complete a transaction, and with right plugin users will remain on your WordPress site throughout the entire payment process. This will result in fewer abandoned carts and greater numbers of completed checkouts. All something to consider as you evaluate the best managed host for Stripe and PayPal WordPress integration with your eCommerce site.
What To Look For
There are key features you should look for as you choose between different WP payment plugins, and certain features serve as non-negotiable requirements in today’s complex payment landscape. The first of them is multiple payment gateway support. The best WordPress payment plugins support several payment gateways, giving your customers payment options that match their preferences:
- Credit and debit cards processing through major providers
- Digital wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Bank transfer and direct debit options
Local payment methods relevant to your target markets are also important, and it is best if the plugin you go with will be supporting multiple payment gateways. This both improves the customer experience but also provides redundancy in case one processor experiences downtime. And it’s usually something you can set up quite easily with managed WordPress hosting for payment gateways. Confirm that any plugin has the right security and compliance features too, as payment security is paramount when handling financial transactions on your WordPress website. Here’s what you’ll want to see:
- PCI DSS compliance: Ensure your plugin follows Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards for protecting card details
- SSL integration: Secure Sockets Layer encryption is essential for all payment data transmission
- Tokenization: Advanced plugins store tokens rather than actual card details
- Fraud protection: Look for plugins that include real-time transaction validation and fraud detection systems
Another consideration is the ability to customize your payment process and integrate with other systems to enhance site functionality. Useful additions here will include custom form fields that allow you to collect additional information during checkout, branding options with match payment forms to your website design, and email automation to configure payment confirmations and receipts. Mobile responsiveness may be a priority too, as mobile commerce continuing to grow. Payment forms built for mobile web browsers must function flawlessly on smartphones and tablets with responsive design that adapts to screen sizes, touch-friendly interface elements, streamlined mobile checkout experience, and support for mobile payment methods
Best WordPress Payment Plugins 2025
There are now more options with WordPress payment plugins for users and there are several standout solutions that address different business needs while maintaining the security and reliability required for financial transactions. Here are the 4 we like best:
WooCommerce : WooCommerce is best for full online stores and stands as the most comprehensive e-commerce solution for WordPress, and with over 8 million active installations it is very likely the most popular one.
Key features:
- Complete online store functionality supporting physical and digital product sales
- Integration with 100+ payment gateway extensions including PayPal, Stripe, and Square
- Advanced inventory management, shipping calculation, and tax handling
- Built-in security features including SSL-encrypted transactions
While the WooCommerce plugin is free, there will be transaction fees determined by your chosen payment processors, and premium add-ons may be needed for advanced functionality based on the type of website you have.
WP Simple Pay – Best for Quick Payment Forms : WP Simple Pay is best for quick payment forms and this plugin is the leading Stripe payment one with over 14,000 active installations. It has an impressive balance of simplicity and functionality.
Key features:
- 5-minute setup with no shopping cart required for immediate payment acceptance
- Support for 10+ payment methods including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and ACH direct debit
- Drag and drop builder for creating customizable payment forms
- Purchase restrictions based on inventory, time limits, or user roles
- Robust payment flexibility with support for both one-time and subscription payments
The free version includes basic features with a 3% transaction fee. Go with the premium plans and they start at $49.50/year with additional features like custom fields and payment form templates.
WPForms – Best Payment Form Builder : WPForms is the best payment form builder. It’s been installed over 5 million times and offers exceptional form-building capabilities plus solid integrated payment processing.
Key features:
- Integration with several payment gateways including PayPal, Stripe, Square, and Authorize.net
- Smart conditional logic for dynamic payment forms that automatically calculate totals
- Specialized templates for donation forms, event registrations, and booking payments
- User-friendly interface requiring minimal coding knowledge
WPForms’ Lite version includes Stripe payments functionality, but if you need to move up to th Pro version it starts at $49.50/year and this version makes more advanced payment options and integrations available to you.
Easy Digital Downloads : Easy Digital Downloads is best for digital products and will often be the default choice for those who are selling digital files. It offers specialized functionality with over 50,000 active installations.
Key features:
- Purpose-built for selling digital products like software, eBooks, and audio files
- Automatic file delivery when payment completion is successful
- Flexible licensing options for software vendors
- Comprehensive discount codes and promotional tools
- The core EDD plugin is free, with premium extensions available for additional functionality like recurring payments and content restrictions.
