A website can connect to the major payment processors and gateways like Stripe, PayPal, Square, Authorize.Net, Shopify Payments, Braintree, and Adyen, most often via a plug-in, hosted checkout page, or an API connection.
In plain terms, you are picking how money moves from your customer to your bank account. Some options are all-in-one (processor plus gateway), which is common for small businesses because setup is faster and the checkout experience is already built. Others are gateway-first, where you connect the gateway to a separate merchant account through your bank or a processing partner, which can be a fit for certain industries or higher-risk categories.
Common website payment options
| Processor or gateway | Best fit | Payment types you can offer | Typical website connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Service businesses, ecommerce, subscriptions | Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank payments, buy now pay later (varies by setup) | Hosted checkout, embedded fields, WooCommerce plug-in, custom API |
| PayPal (Checkout) | Fast checkout for shoppers who already use PayPal | PayPal, Venmo (US), Pay Later options, major cards | PayPal buttons or checkout SDK, platform plug-ins |
| Square | Businesses that sell online and also take payments in person | Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App Pay, Afterpay, bank transfer options (where available) | Square Checkout or Web Payments SDK, platform plug-ins |
| Authorize.Net | Gateway-style setups, phone orders, ecommerce with eCheck | Cards, eChecks (ACH), plus wallet options through supported setups | Gateway integration, shopping cart plug-ins, hosted payment forms |
| Shopify Payments | Shopify stores | Cards plus accelerated checkouts like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay | Built into Shopify admin, minimal external setup |
| Braintree (PayPal) | Brands that want PayPal plus card fields in one build | Cards, PayPal, Venmo (US), Apple Pay, Google Pay | SDK plus server-side integration, platform plug-ins |
| Adyen | Larger catalogs, multi-country payment needs | Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and many local methods (by region) | API integration, drop-in checkout components |
For most Orlando service businesses (dentists, med spas, law firms, pest control, real estate), the real decision is less about the brand name and more about the workflow: do you need deposits, full prepayment, invoices, recurring memberships, or a simple pay-by-link for estimates. The right processor is the one that matches that flow without adding extra steps for the customer.
Here is how we typically narrow it down during a build: (1) If you want the fastest, lowest-code checkout, pick a hosted checkout like Stripe Checkout, PayPal Checkout, or Square Checkout. (2) If you need subscriptions or saved cards for repeat billing, Stripe or Braintree is often a clean fit. (3) If you take payments at the front desk and online, Square is a common match because it can cover both worlds. (4) If your platform is Shopify, Shopify Payments is usually the default starting point because it is native to the platform.
Two practical items to plan for no matter which processor you choose: first, use HTTPS and keep card details with the processor through tokenized checkout fields so your site is not storing sensitive payment data; second, confirm how Florida sales tax applies to what you sell (tangible goods are commonly taxable, and some services can be taxable depending on category) so your checkout and receipts stay consistent.
If you want us to map the right checkout flow and connect it cleanly on mobile and desktop, that is part of our web design service.
If you are on WordPress, your payment setup usually runs through WooCommerce or a payment plug-in, so the platform choice matters; our FAQ on what WordPress is and why businesses use it breaks down the tradeoffs in plain language.
