Shopify Payments Alternatives: Best Third-Party Gateways in 2026
Shopify Payments is not available or not ideal for your store? Compare the best third-party payment providers — including NYVA Pay via CartDNA — for global checkout.
NYVA Pay Team
NYVA Pay
When Shopify Payments Is Not the Answer
Shopify Payments is convenient when available in your country — one toggle, unified dashboard, no extra gateway fee on top of card rates. But many merchants need a Shopify Payments alternative because:
- Shopify Payments is not offered in their country or region
- Their business category is restricted or requires additional review
- They want a borderless processor with local bank withdrawals in multiple countries
- They need a backup gateway after issues with a previous provider
- They prefer transparent upfront verification over reactive account reviews
Shopify supports over 100 third-party payment providers. Choosing the right one affects conversion, payout speed, and how much of your margin stays in your pocket.
Direct vs External Providers on Shopify
Shopify distinguishes two integration types:
- Direct providers: Customers complete checkout on your store without leaving — better conversion, smoother experience
- External providers: Customers redirect to a hosted payment page — simpler setup but higher cart abandonment
Prioritize direct providers whenever possible. NYVA Pay connects through CartDNA as a direct-style checkout experience on Shopify.
1. NYVA Pay — Best for Borderless Shopify Stores
NYVA Pay lets Shopify merchants accept cards, Apple Pay, and NYVA balance payments across 195 countries — with upfront business verification and no surprise account freezes.
Setup via CartDNA (three steps):
- Create a CartDNA merchant account and contact support to enable the NYVA Pay Shopify app
- In CartDNA, go to Payment Gateway → select NYVA Pay → enter your Shopify store URL and NYVA API credentials
- Activate — NYVA Pay appears as a payment option at Shopify checkout
Full walkthrough: How to accept payments on Shopify without Shopify Payments.
2. Stripe — Best for Developer-Led Shopify Stores
Stripe integrates natively where Shopify Payments is available, and via third-party apps elsewhere. Strong for custom checkout flows and subscription apps — requires more technical configuration than embed-first processors.
3. PayPal — Best for Customer Trust
PayPal Express Checkout is ubiquitous — many customers expect it. Trade-off: account holds and dispute policies frustrate merchants. Pair with a primary processor rather than relying on PayPal alone.
4. Authorize.net — Best With Existing Merchant Accounts
If your bank already issued a merchant account, Authorize.net connects as the gateway layer on Shopify. Stable choice for established US businesses.
5. Mollie — Best for European Payment Methods
Mollie supports iDEAL, Bancontact, and other local European methods natively. Strong when your customer base is EU-heavy.
Choosing Checklist
- Is the provider available in your country and business category?
- Direct or external checkout — what does your conversion data tolerate?
- Does it support Apple Pay and the card brands your customers use?
- How fast are payouts to your local bank?
- What happens if your account gets flagged — reactive hold or upfront verification?
- Can you run it alongside a backup gateway?
Running WooCommerce Too?
Many merchants operate Shopify and WordPress stores in parallel. NYVA Pay offers a native WooCommerce plugin in addition to Shopify via CartDNA — one merchant account, multiple storefronts. See best WooCommerce payment gateways.
Also Compare Stripe and PayPal
Not sure which major processor fits? Read PayPal vs Stripe vs NYVA Pay and best Stripe alternatives.