What Is a Payment Gateway?
A payment gateway records and transfers payment data entered from a customer onto the website from which they are making a purchase.
It validates and authenticates the financial information a customer provides to ensure that the right amount of funds is available for the merchant to receive a payment successfully.
In doing so, the payment gateway acts as an interface between a merchant’s website and its acquirer. All payment details and personal information are passed securely from the customer to the acquiring bank via a merchant account.
Using the technology involved, the customer is then notified whether their payment has been accepted or declined.
If the payment is declined, the funds are transferred back to the customer.
Many merchants and ecommerce business owners prefer to use a payment gateway as it allows them to increase their sales, boost their level of innovation, and drive business growth.
Having a variety of payment methods available for customers to choose from your website gives them more flexibility and convenience, encouraging them to make a purchase.
📖 Want to learn more? Discover the different types of payment gateways and discover how it is different from a payment service provider
What Are the Best Payment Gateways for Hong Kong Businesses?
Payment Gateway | Most Suitable For | Key Benefits | Key Fees |
SMEs to large corporations, International scale business | Customisable UI toolkit, global reach | 2.2% - 3.4% plus HKD 2 - HKD 3.95 flat fees | |
Businesses of all sizes | Widely recognised, global reach | 1.20%-3.90% plus a flat fee based on currencies | |
Digital businesses, mobility, retail, platforms, marketplaces, food & beverage, hospitality, and subscription services | Integrated payments, omnichannel solutions | 3% - 3.95% plus a flat fee of USD 0.13 | |
Businesses targeting Chinese consumers, cross-border transactions | Popular in both China and Hong Kong, mobile-first solutions, a wide range of payment methods | 1.60% -2.2% transaction rate plus other applicable fees disclosed after registration | |
Businesses appealing to WeChat users, local and tourist payments in HK | Integrated with a widely used social network and chat app in both China and Hong Kong | We cannot find information | |
SMEs to large corporations, International scale business | Customisable UI toolkit, global reach | 2.2% - 3.4% plus HKD 2 - HKD 3.95 flat fees | |
Businesses of all sizes | Widely recognised, global reach | 1.20%-3.90% plus a flat fee based on currencies | |
Digital businesses, mobility, retail, platforms, marketplaces, food & beverage, hospitality, and subscription services | Integrated payments, omnichannel solutions | 3% - 3.95% plus a flat fee of USD 0.13 | |
Businesses targeting Chinese consumers, cross-border transactions | Popular in both China and Hong Kong, mobile-first solutions, a wide range of payment methods | 1.60% -2.2% transaction rate plus other applicable fees disclosed after registration | |
Businesses appealing to WeChat users, local and tourist payments in HK | Integrated with a widely used social network and chat app in both China and Hong Kong | We cannot find information |
1. Stripe
Stripe is an Irish-American multinational financial and SaaS company that extends their services to over 47 countries, enabling companies of various sizes to accept payments easily.
They announced their launch in Hong Kong in 2017, forging new global partnerships with Alipay and WeChat Pay.
Stripe is a leading payment gateway in Hong Kong thanks to their customisable nature.
Through Stripe, you can tailor the payment gateway provided so it is easy to navigate, aligns with your website's aesthetic and branding, and integrated into your site.
This feature is a significant selling point compared to other types of payment gateways that have a structured checkout template or send customers to another website to make their payment and complete the order.
Other benefits of using Stripe include its subscription management and recurring payment processing features.
Stripe also assists companies in tackling fraud, sending invoices, getting finance, and managing business spending.
As of 2024, Stripe has over 2,000 websites in Hong Kong using their payment solutions, ranging from SMEs to large corporations.
🔍 Tip: Check out our Stripe integration guide to learn how to link Stripe to your website
Stripe Key Features
- Support 135 currencies+
- Local payment methods
- Payment links
- Embeddable checkout
- Customisable UI toolkit
- Tailored, visually precise checkout experiences for both desktop and mobile platforms
Currently, the in-person payment feature, Stripe Terminal, has not been made available in Hong Kong.
Stripe Accepted Payment Methods in Hong Kong
- Cards - Visa, Mastercard®, JCB, American Express, Union Pay, Maestro, Link
- Chinese wallets - Alipay, WeChat Pay
- Others - Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bancontact, EPS, iDEAL, SEPA Direct Debit and more.
Please refer to this Stripe Hong Kong payment methods page for more information.
Stripe Key Fees
Type | Fees |
Monthly fee | Free |
Transaction fees for domestic card payments | 3.4% + HKD 2.35 |
Transaction fees for cards settled in USD | 3.4% + USD 0.30 An additional 0.5% fee for international cards A 2% charge in case currency conversion is involved |
Transaction fees for Chinese wallets | 2.2% + HKD 2.00 |
Alternative payment methods | From HKD 3.95 |
Checkout page for accepting one-time and recurring payments | Free |
Custom domain option for the checkout page | USD 10 per month |
Please refer to this Stripe Hong Kong pricing page for a full list of fees.
2. Paypal
PayPal Commerce Platform is used to process payments for ecommerce businesses for millions of companies, including those in Hong Kong
A major advantage of using PayPal is that regardless of the size of your business, the PayPal Commerce Platform can be used and integrated into your website.
Over the past few years, PayPal has also developed a reputation for being a trusted payment processing company.
With strong data encryption, real-time monitoring, and PayPal's buyer and seller protection policies, using PayPal as a payment gateway gives customers the confidence that they are entering their personal and financial information onto a secure payment platform.
According to Statista, PayPal has over 428 million active accounts as of the third quarter of 2023.
🔍 Tip: Explore the details of PayPal fees and requirements.
PayPal Key Features
- Supporting transactions in 25 currencies.
- Payment options in person, online, by phone, or via email.
- Seamless integration for on-platform payments without needing to leave the website.
- Recurring payments and subscription support.
- Quick payments with PayPal.Me links are shareable through text, email, chat, and social media.
- Customisable invoicing
PayPal Accepted Payment Methods
- Major cards, such as Visa and Mastercard®
- Payment links
- PayPal balance
- QR code
You can arrange alternative payment methods with PayPal, please refer to the PayPal Alternative Payment Methods Agreement for more information.
PayPal Key Fees
Type | Fees |
Receiving commercial transaction | 3.90% + fixed fee based on currency received plus another 0.50% for international transaction |
Receiving QR Code transactions of 80.01 HKD and above. | 1.20% + fixed fee for QR Code payment of above HKD 80.01, based on currency received Plus another 0.50% for international transactions |
For QR Code transactions of 80.00 HKD and below. | 1.70% + fixed fee for QR Code payment of below HKD 80.00, based on currency received No additional fee for international transaction |
3. Adyen
Adyen is a global payment gateway established in the Netherlands in 2006, extending its services to numerous countries, including Hong Kong since 2017.
Through Adyen, international merchants can use domestic payment methods without having to be a company set up domestically.
This is extremely beneficial for more prominent merchants that have an international brand and customers from all over the world.
Adyen has also built a reputation for being a secure payment gateway.
Presently, Adyen boasts a workforce of over 3,000 employees, operates from 27 offices worldwide and has processed a volume of Euro 767.5 billion in 2022. They have served several industries, including digital businesses, mobility, retail, platforms & marketplaces, food & beverage, hospitality, subscription services, and businesses seeking an omnichannel solution.
🔍 Tip: Adyen is also on our list of 5 Best Payment Gateways in the US
Adyen Key Features
- Support HKD, SGD, GBP, USD, EUR, JPY
- In-browser payments for any device.
- Mobile payment experiences on iOS, Android, and React Native.
- Personalised payment links.
- Local payment methods and location-based options.
- Versatile integration options: Drop-in, pre-built components, API, or plugins.
- In-person payments with terminals.
- Centralised storage of all payment data.
Adyen Accepted Payment Methods in Hong Kong
- Cards: Visa, Mastercard®, Union Pay, JCB, American Express (AMEX), Diners, Discover.
- Chinese wallet: Alipay, AlipayHK, WeChat Pay
- Others: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal
Please refer to this page about Adyen’s Available Payment Methods in Hong Kong for more information
Adyen Key Fees
For every transaction, Adyen imposes a fixed processing fee along with a fee determined by the selected payment method. The following details the main fees.
Type | Fees |
Monthly fee | Free |
Transaction fees for Alipay, AlipayHK, WeChat Pay and UnionPay | USD 0.13 + 3% |
Transaction fees for Diners and Discover | USD 0.13 + 3.95% |
Transaction fees for JCB | USD 0.13 + 3.75% |
Transaction fees for Visa and Mastercard® | USD 0.13 + variables interchange fee (0.3% - 2%) |
Transaction fees for American Express | USD 0.13 North America plus 3.3% + USD 0.10 Global plus 3.95% |
Transaction fees for Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay | USD 0.13 + determined by the type of card used. |
4. Alipay
Alipay is a digital payment platform founded in 2004 by Alibaba Group. It was created to facilitate online transactions and enable people to make payments virtually.
They are one of the world's largest mobile payment apps, with users ranging from more than one billion worldwide.
Alipay's popularity in Hong Kong stems from its connection with the mass Chinese consumer market. Additionally, they offer "Alipay HK," specifically tailored to the Hong Kong market.
For merchant-focused services, Alipay provides "Alipay for Global Business" and "Alipay Plus Global Payments." Alipay Plus, in particular, serves as a payment gateway for businesses, accommodating Alipay e-wallet, AlipayHK, major credit card providers, and various popular payment methods worldwide.
Alipay has a simple and user-friendly interface, allowing users to have a stress-free experience when making purchases.
💡 Did you Know? Alipay is a preferred payment choice for many Chinese consumers allowing for easier purchases
Alipay Key Features
- Support GBP, HKD, USD, SGD, JPY, CAD, AUD, EUR, NZD, KRW, THB, CHF, SEK, DKK, NOK, MYR, IDR, PHP, MUR, ILS, LKR, RUB, AED, CZK, ZAR, CNY
- QR Code and scan-to-link functionality.
- Auto debit with pre-authorization and auto-renewing user access tokens to encourage repeated purchases.
- Support subscription payment
- Combined payment feature consolidating orders from different merchants into a single transaction for improved payment flow.
- In-store payment capabilities.
- Payment marketing and Alipay+ Rewards to enhance customer satisfaction.
- Compatibility with various devices, including mobile, PC, and TV.
- API and SDK available
Alipay Accepted Payment Methods
- Cards: Visa, Mastercard®, UnionPay, American Express, Discover, Diners
- Chinese wallets: Alipay, AlipayHK,
- QR Codes
- Bank transfer
- Online banking
Please refer to this Alipay Payment Methods page for a full list
Alipay Key Fees
The pricing and fees can be accessed through your Alipay Merchant Account in the Merchant Portal.
However, for cross-border payment products, the standard fees for website and app access to Alipay's payment services are as follows:
Transaction Amount (RMB) | Transaction Rate |
Below 1 million yuan | 2.2% |
Between 1 million and 3 million yuan | 2% |
Between 3 million and 10 million yuan | 1.8% |
Equal to or exceeding 10 million yuan | 1.6% |
Please note that the above price is for reference. The actual costs involve additional applicable fees, such as merchant processing fees, and may vary from these figures.
Quotations will be provided upon successful registration with Alipay.
5. WeChat Pay
WeChat Pay is another single, global platform that accepts multi-currency payments from anywhere in the world and on any device.
It allows users to make direct payments from their WeChat Account, a widely used multipurpose mobile app in mainland China and Hong Kong.
Here's how it works: WeChat is connected to a linked bank account, allowing users to make payments by scanning a QR code—a popular payment method in Hong Kong widely accepted by most merchants. The payment amount is then deducted directly from the linked bank account.
Not only does this simplify a business’ payment tools stacks, but also appears attractive to the vast user base of WeChat.
WeChat Pay also has excellent security features such as facial recognition, fingerprint authentication, and real-time transaction monitoring.
Nowadays, WeChat Pay is another household payment gateway in Hong Kong. They also offer a localised version, WeChat Pay HK, which enables payments in Hong Kong Dollars within the Chinese mainland.
WeChat Pay is the first choice for Hong Kongers to spend in mainland China, accounting for 69% in terms of transaction volume and 76% in terms of transactions.
💡 Did you Know? WeChat has more than 1.3 billion active users and has a 51.8% penetration rate in Hong Kong.
WeChat Pay Key Features
- Supports settlement in 16 foreign currencies, including HKD, USD, GBP, JPY, CAD, AUD, EUR, NZD, KRW, THB, SGD, RUB, DKK, SEK, CHF, and NOK.
- Quick Pay via QR Code Payment
- Web-based payment
- In-app payment
- Seamless integration with the WeChat platform.
- Merchants can provide customers with loyalty cards and coupons, accessible and managed directly within the WeChat app.
- APIs
WeChat Pay Accepted Payment Methods
- WeChat app balance
- QR Code for quick payment
Users can top up the WeChat app using their cards or bank transfers.
WeChat Pay Key Fees
We cannot find information regarding WeChat Pay fees. Kindly reach out to WeChat through the WeChat Pay Contact Us page for further assistance.
💡 Tip: Learn about all the popular payment methods in Hong Kong.
6. Octopus App for Business
Octopus for Business is another popular payment platform in Hong Kong. Octopus was first introduced in 1997 as a contactless smart card used for public transportation.
Over the years, the Octopus card has gained widespread usage in Hong Kong, spanning public transportation, convenience stores, supermarkets, and fast food franchises. With over 20 million Octopus cards and products in circulation, there is a remarkable 98% penetration rate in Hong Kong.
They have expanded to include a wide range of payment options such as online B2B payments, retail purchases, Faster Payment Service (FPS), QR code payments, Octopus card payments, and even donations.
For merchants, leveraging Octopus for Business or Octopus App for Business allows them to accept payments from consumers, especially for in-person transactions.
Value-added services such as loyalty programs, promotions, and data analytics help businesses increase customer engagement and loyalty.
💡 Did you Know? There are over 180,000 acceptance points for Octopus cards in Hong Kong.
Octopus for Business Key Features
- Swift in-person transactions with Retail Reader less than 0.3 seconds..
- Seamless POS integration, with a choice of a standalone model.
- Online shops can generate QR codes and payment links.
- All-in-one taxi payment platform for local and tourist payments.
- Retailers can benefit from in-app payments in a video shopping platform.
Octopus for Business Accepted Payment Methods
- Octopus cards: Octopus Card users can conveniently top up their cards using Visa card, Mastercard® card, Union Pay card, bank transfer, and cash
- QR Codes
Octopus for Business Pay Key Fees
The charges for Octopus transactions include a percentage fee, Octopus equipment costs, and a type approval test fee. For specific details on these fees, please contact Octopus directly.
Other service fees include bank transfer fees and bank settlement fees, outlined as follows:
Type | Fees |
Bank account fund transfer fee for non-transport business | 1.5% of the amount or HKD 1, whichever is higher |
Bank account fund transfer fee for transport business | 1 % of the amount or HKD 1, whichever is higher |
Bank settlement fees for designated banks including BOCHK, Standard Chartered, HSBC, Hang Seng, and Citibank | Free |
Bank settlement fees for non-designated banks (via autopay) | HKD 1 for settlement |
Bank settlement fees for non-designated banks (via CHATS) | HKD 30 for settlement |
7. Checkout.com
Checkout.com has become a well-known payment gateway as the company has raised 1 billion and reached an extremely impressive valuation of 40 billion.
This payment gateway provides a one-stop shop for all things payment related ranging from accepting and processing transactions to detecting fraud and processing refunds.
So what makes Checkout different compared to other payment gateways?
Checkout focuses on enterprise-level partnerships, collaborating with large merchants, and operates exclusively through online platforms.
Since Checkout only works with a small number of big companies, it allows bigger enterprises to benefit from specialised customer service and tailored payment solutions.
Examples of Checkout.com customers include Nord Security, Financial Times, and Delivery Hero.
Checkout.com Key Features
- International checkout with 150+ processing currencies and 20+ settlement currencies.
- Tailored for big enterprises
- Accept one-off or subscription payments via web, mobile, social, and email.
- Local payment methods supported.
- Mobile SDKs and APIs for easy integration.
Checkout.com Accepted Payment Methods
- Cards: Visa, Mastercard®, American Express, Diners
- Chinese wallet: Alipay, WeChat Pay
- Others: Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Kakao Pay, Dana, GCash, Touch 'n Go, TrueMoney
To view a full list, please refer to this page on Checkout.com’s accepted payment methods in Asia Pacific
Checkout.com Key Fees
Type | Fees |
Monthly maintenance fee | Free |
Payment processing for registered charities | Free |
Transaction fees | Customised fully flat-rate based on business profile and risk category. Please send an inquiry to Checkout.com to get a quote |
8. AsiaPay
AsiaPay is a leading payment processor based in Hong Kong, primarily catering to businesses operating within the region.
They use Paydollar, their proprietary payment gateway, as ecommerce payment processing service. The service enables payments in nearly 144 currencies and accommodates regular payment methods, including credit and debit card payments from local banking services like China UnionPay, AliPay, buy now pay later, and over-the-counter payments.
Since preferred payments in Hong Kong and mainland China are accepted, AsiaPay is another great choice for businesses that sell to locals in Hong Kong and mainland China.
💡 Did you Know? According to Statista, AsiaPay is one of the top payment gateway providers in Hong Kong.
AsiaPay Key Features
- Support for 100+ payment types and nearly 144 currencies.
- Real-time currency conversion based on card choice.
- Payment link and QR Code.
- Support for recurring payments and instalment payments.
- Multi-level report with multiple user levels and access.
- AsiaPay AppPay, transforms smart devices into an integrated POS for digital payments.
- Integration via API and SDK library.
AsiaPay Accepted Payment Methods
- Cards: Visa, Mastercard®, UnionPay, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discovers, RuPay
- Chinese wallet: Alipay, AlipayHK, WeChat Pay
- Net Banking
- Over the counter
- Others: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal, Octopus, Touch 'n Go, etc.
Please refer to the AsiaPay payment options page for the full list
AsiaPay Key Fees
Following our research, we were unable to locate information regarding AsiaPay's pricing. Kindly reach out to AsiaPay directly for quotes.
9. Eway
Eway is another payment gateway that has been operating in Hong Kong since 2009.
Originally an Australian company serving primarily local businesses, they have now expanded to Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, and Macau.
The process to register for Eway is extremely quick, allowing you to start taking payments within the next couple of days.
Eway Key Features
- Accept online payments.
- An option to request payments in multiple currencies
- Support recurring or subscription payments.
- Support mobile payments.
- Enable automated payments with voice recognition.
- Token payments: Customer information is securely saved for future transactions.
- Fast settlement: Payments deposited within 1-3 business days, subject to approval.
- Robust API and simple SDKs.
- Integrate with over 50 shopping cart & software solutions, including WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop, and OpenCart.
Eway Accepted Payment Methods in Hong Kong
- Cards - Visa, Mastercard®, JCB, American Express, Discover
Eway Key Fees
Type | Fees |
Setup Fee | Free |
Transaction fees | 3.4% + 2.35 dollars* |
The page we found does not specify the currency (HKD or USD) for the listed price. Eway Australia also lists the same pricing at 2.35 dollars without clarifying whether it's in USD or AUD.
10. JETCO Pay
JETCO Pay is another payment service and infrastructure in Hong Kong supported by JETCO, a cooperation of five banks in Hong Kong, including Bank of China (Hong Kong), The Bank of East Asia, OCBC Bank (Hong Kong), Shanghai Commercial Bank, and CMB Wing Lung Bank.
JETCO Pay provides a safe and convenient solution for users to make payments using their mobile devices, with an easy-to-use user interface. They are widely accepted by merchants in Hong Kong, including transportation providers, restaurants, and retailers.
To safeguard user data and prevent fraudulent transactions, JETCO Pay has strict and advanced security measures.
💡 Did you Know? JETCO Pay has one of the largest ATM network in Hong Kong and Macau
JETCO Pay Key Features
- Support HKD, USD, JPY, MOP, GBP, and CNY(RMB)
- Support in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Portuguese
- Multi-Channel: Online, Mobile (Android and iOS), Offline (MOTO – mail-order-telephone-order)
- Support recurring payment
- Simple Integration using client and server-side post
- Branding customisation, with an option to include company logo and name on the payment page
- Local customer service
- 24/7 operations, 365 days a year.
JETCO Pay Accepted Payment Methods
- Cards: Visa, Mastercard®, UnionPay
JETCO Pay Key Fees
After conducting our research, we couldn't find information on JETCO Pay's pricing. Please contact JETCO Pay directly for details.
Final Words
We hope this list has given you some insight into the possibilities for payment gateways in Hong Kong.
FAQs
What is a payment gateway?
A payment gateway is a digital software or system that instructs payments from a customer to a merchant's bank account.
What are the types of payment gateways?
What payment gateways are preferred by locals in Hong Kong?
What are payment gateway examples?
Is PayPal a payment gateway?
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