In this guide · 7 sections
Short answer
For a local business taking PayNow and cards, HitPay usually has the lowest published fees. Stripe is the stronger choice for subscriptions, custom builds and overseas customers. PayPal suits buyers who insist on it, and Airwallex suits businesses that also need multi-currency accounts.
Payment gateway fees in Singapore: comparison table
Standard published rates for a Singapore business selling online, from each provider's Singapore pricing page. Approximate, as of October 2026, before GST and before any custom pricing.
| Gateway | Domestic cards | International cards | PayNow | Monthly fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HitPay | 2.8% + S$0.50 | 3.65% + S$0.50 | 0.65% + S$0.30 (S$100+); 0.9% under S$100 | None |
| Stripe | 3.4% + S$0.50 | 3.9% + S$0.50 | 1.3% | None |
| Airwallex | 3.3% + S$0.50 | 3.6% + S$0.50 | S$0.50 + method fee | Free plan; paid plans from S$79 |
| PayPal | 3.9% + S$0.50 | 4.4% + S$0.50 | Not offered | None |
| 2C2P | By quote | By quote | By quote | By quote |
Sources: HitPay pricing, Stripe pricing, Airwallex pricing and PayPal merchant fees. HitPay adds 0.2% for its plugins, payment links and invoices, and 0.5% on Shopify. PayPal's international rate applies when the buyer is outside Singapore. Our Stripe fees guide breaks down Stripe's extra charges in detail.
Which payment gateway suits which use case
| What you sell | Usually the best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One-off sales to local customers, many paying by PayNow | HitPay | Lowest published PayNow and domestic card fees, next-day non-card payouts |
| Memberships, classes or SaaS with several plans | Stripe | Stripe Billing handles trials, proration, retries and a customer portal |
| Overseas customers in several currencies | Stripe or Airwallex | Broad international methods; Airwallex adds multi-currency accounts |
| Buyers who expect PayPal (marketplaces, overseas consumers) | PayPal, alongside another gateway | Familiar to buyers, but higher fees and no PayNow |
| B2B invoices to Singapore companies | HitPay or Stripe invoicing, or bank transfer | PayNow on invoices is cheap; large B2B amounts often go by bank transfer |
| High volume across several Southeast Asian markets | 2C2P or a custom deal | Enterprise-focused, with pricing negotiated per merchant |
Our HitPay vs Stripe comparison goes deeper on the two most common choices. On Shopify the picture is different, because Shopify charges its own fee for outside gateways; see Shopify Payments vs HitPay.
The gateways one by one
HitPay
A Singapore company focused on local and regional methods: PayNow, GrabPay, ShopeePay, Atome and other wallets alongside cards. Its published rates are the lowest of the group for PayNow and domestic cards. Recurring billing, invoicing, payment links and plugins add 0.2% each. HitPay states non-card payouts reach your balance on T+1 calendar day.
Stripe
The most developer-friendly option, with extensive documentation, test mode and the most complete subscription tool (Stripe Billing, 0.7% of billing volume). PayNow is 1.3%, and customers see Stripe's name in their banking app. Stripe's first payout typically takes 7 to 14 days.
Airwallex
Best known for multi-currency business accounts and FX. Its card rates sit between HitPay and Stripe, local payment methods cost S$0.50 plus a per-method fee, and subscription management is listed at 0.5% per successful transaction. Worth a look if you already hold USD or other currencies.
PayPal
Many overseas consumers trust PayPal and will abandon a checkout without it. For Singapore merchants, PayPal lists 3.9% plus a S$0.50 fixed fee for domestic commercial transactions and 4.4% plus the fixed fee for international ones, with no PayNow. Most businesses offer it as an extra, not the main gateway.
2C2P
A Southeast Asian payment platform, now branded 2C2P by Antom, aimed at larger merchants and airlines. It does not publish a standard rate card for Singapore, so pricing comes from a sales quote. Usually only relevant once you have significant monthly volume across several markets.
What to check before choosing a payment gateway
Before you sign up
Chargebacks are part of taking cards. Our guide to Stripe disputes and chargebacks explains how they work and how to reduce them; the principles apply to every gateway.
MAS licensing and why it matters
Payment service providers in Singapore are regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Payment Services Act 2019, which commenced on 28 January 2020 and was amended on 4 April 2024. Licensed providers are subject to MAS requirements such as anti-money laundering checks and technology risk management.
Before you rely on any gateway, especially a lesser-known one offering very low rates, check that it or its Singapore entity appears in MAS's Financial Institutions Directory. The licence also explains why gateways ask for your ACRA details, director identification and bank statements during onboarding: they are required to verify the businesses they serve.
Do it yourself or get help?
Opening an account with any of these takes under an hour if your ACRA details, director ID and business bank account are ready. Verification is faster when your website clearly shows prices, refund terms and contact details. Before going live, make a real low-value payment through each method and refund it.
If you would rather hand it over, Online Payment Setup (S$290) sets up Stripe or HitPay in your name with checkout, payment links and test transactions. Subscriptions & Recurring Billing (S$490) builds plans and a customer portal in Stripe. IT Sorted takes no commission from any provider, and you pay their fees directly. Our guide to accepting PayNow on your website covers the PayNow options in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
On standard published rates as of October 2026, HitPay has the lowest domestic card rate (2.8% + S$0.50) and PayNow rate (0.65% + S$0.30 from S$100) among the major gateways. Its plugins and links add 0.2%, so compare the total for the way you sell.
Stripe is usually the strongest for subscriptions with several plans, trials, failed-payment retries and a customer self-service portal, at 0.7% of billing volume on top of payment fees. HitPay offers simpler recurring billing and GIRO collections, and Airwallex lists subscription management at 0.5%.
No. PayPal's Singapore merchant fees cover card and PayPal balance payments, with 3.9% plus a S$0.50 fixed fee for domestic commercial transactions as of October 2026. If your customers want PayNow, add a gateway such as HitPay or Stripe.
Payment service providers are regulated by MAS under the Payment Services Act 2019 and generally need a licence or exemption for the services they provide. Check the provider's Singapore entity in MAS's Financial Institutions Directory before signing up, especially if it is a lesser-known company.
Yes. Many businesses use one gateway for PayNow and another for card subscriptions or overseas buyers. The trade-off is extra dashboards, separate payouts and more reconciliation work in your accounts, so add a second gateway only when it saves money or wins sales.