7 Best Payment Gateways in the US for 2025 (Fast & Secure)

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Jan 9, 2025

Jan 9, 2025

Are you aiming to find the best payment gateways that can keep up with skyrocketing online sales and ever-advancing security requirements in the United States? By 2025, US payment gateways are poised to handle even higher transaction volumes, with the global payment gateway market expected to reach USD 47.0 billion in that same year—up from USD 37.0 billion in 2024 [3].

In this article, you’ll discover fast payment gateways built for speed, secure payment gateways designed to protect customer data, and forward-thinking solutions ready to serve you as top payment processors 2025 approaches. If you’re looking for more insights into fast and secure US payment gateways, check out our in-depth Best Payment Gateways in the US (Fast & Secure).

Below, you’ll find seven standout gateways. Each offers unique advantages for businesses of all sizes, from small online shops to large-scale enterprises. We’ll then look at how to determine the right fit and close with key takeaways for choosing the best option. Let’s dive right in.

1) Mural Pay

Mural Pay is a business-first global payments platform positioned as an alternative to providers like Wise and Payoneer—yet it’s far more than a standard gateway. Instead of focusing solely on simple card transactions, Mural Pay places an emphasis on cross-border transactions, stablecoin on/off-ramps, and specialized business features.

Mural Pay Payment Services

One of the platform’s most robust offerings is its payments solution, which supports local currencies in over 40 countries. You can send payments to global contractors, vendors, or partners rapidly—often in minutes. Mural Pay applies compliance-ready (KYB/KYC) processes, helping businesses reduce risk. Setup is straightforward, and the platform is known for transparent FX rates, especially when compared to older options in the market.

Key Features:

  • Speeds typical bank transfers can’t match

  • Competitive currency conversion rates

  • Tailored for recurring business transactions

  • Ideal for batch payouts to multiple recipients

Compare It To: Stripe might excel at developer customizations, but Mural Pay’s business-centric design (with instant batch payouts) can be a stronger fit for teams handling large volumes of cross-border payments.

2) Stripe

Stripe dominates the conversation about developer-friendly payment gateways. With robust APIs, it integrates easily into websites, mobile apps, and subscription services. Stripe supports more than 135 currencies, making it a global favorite for online businesses.

Notable Advantages:

  • Extensive documentation and quick-start guides

  • Advanced fraud detection powered by machine learning

  • Straightforward pricing, typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the United States

  • Scalable for high transaction volumes

Consider This: If you want to compare multiple providers’ features and fees, have a look at our Top Wise Alternatives for Businesses (Compare Features & Fees). Although it focuses on Wise, it highlights key points—like multi-currency functionality—that similarly matter for Stripe.

How It Stacks Up to Mural Pay: While both handle large volumes, Stripe is more geared toward developer flexibility, whereas Mural Pay emphasizes business-ready bulk features and local payout infrastructures.

3) PayPal

A household name, PayPal offers flexible tools for online payments. PayPal’s gateway services include Payflow for more advanced needs, though many small businesses stick with the standard PayPal checkout. The company’s UI is simple, and they maintain a large global user base of over 400 million.

Highlights:

  • Easy to set up for new merchants

  • Low barrier to entry (no monthly fee in its most basic form)

  • Accepts major credit cards, PayPal balance, and various local payment methods

Transaction Fees: Typically 2.9% + $0.30 per online transaction in the US. International transactions may involve conversion fees.

How It Stacks Up to Mural Pay: PayPal stands out for brand recognition and fast signups. But for multi-currency payouts or crypto on/off-ramp solutions, Mural Pay is more specialized—especially for businesses focusing on new markets or stablecoin usage.

4) Square

Square gained attention through its point-of-sale (POS) hardware for in-person sales, but it also offers an increasingly popular online payment suite. From e-commerce plugins to contactless payment options, Square is an attractive pick for small to midsize retailers needing an all-in-one setup.

Top Benefits:

  • Quick acceptance of credit and debit cards at 2.6% + $0.10 (in-person) or 2.9% + $0.30 (online)

  • Built-in inventory management and sales tracking

  • User-friendly dashboards for transaction analytics

  • Integrations with major e-commerce platforms

What to Note: Square thrives in a combined in-person and online sales environment. If you’re expanding from a physical shop to an online store, Square can unify your system fast. However, for advanced cross-border transactions, it may be less flexible than Mural Pay.

5) Authorize.Net

Authorize.Net has been a go-to choice for many established businesses and is backed by Visa. It supports major credit cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay, and a suite of powerful fraud detection tools.

Important Features:

  • Advanced Fraud Detection Suite (AFDS) to reduce chargebacks

  • Ideal for recurring billing and subscription models

  • Straightforward developer integrations

  • Flat rate of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for their all-in-one plan, plus a $25 monthly fee

Security Edge: Authorize.Net’s robust fraud protection systems can be beneficial for higher-risk product categories or bigger transactions. If you’re curious about additional ways businesses protect themselves, read our more general article on Key Factors for Choosing a Payment Service Provider.

6) Adyen

Adyen prioritizes enterprise-level solutions and consolidated management of transactions across regions. It’s the backbone for global brands such as Spotify and Uber. Through a single platform, Adyen offers local acquiring in a growing list of markets.

Reasons Adyen Shines:

  • Local payment methods across multiple continents

  • Powerful analytics that unify sales data from various channels

  • Transparent “Interchange++” model for cost-competitive rates

  • AI-driven risk management

Potential Downsides: Small businesses might find the setup a bit intense. Adyen’s sweet spot is mid- to large-scale companies needing cross-border integration. If you seek broad local coverage on a budget, Mural Pay can be a simpler alternative.

7) Braintree

Owned by PayPal, Braintree appeals to merchants wanting a flexible developer API combined with PayPal’s broad acceptance. The platform handles credit and debit cards, PayPal, and local wallets, all unified under one umbrella.

Standout Points:

  • Built-in PayPal functionality

  • Tokenization for advanced security

  • Straightforward subscription billing

  • Rates typically match PayPal’s (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in many countries)

Comparison: Braintree provides more developer-centric customization than standard PayPal solutions. It also excels at subscription billing for SaaS companies. However, it may not address specialized cross-border or stablecoin requirements as thoroughly as Mural Pay.

Which Gateway Is Right for You?

Selecting the perfect gateway depends on your operational goals, transaction flows, and expansion plans. For example, if you expect surges in international sales, you’ll want strong multi-currency tools—and possibly a provider that can handle local deposits or stablecoin conversions. If you’re scaling fast, you might also want to review our Essential Steps to Handle High Transaction Volumes. This guide breaks down best practices to keep growth manageable without putting your finances at risk.

Key Considerations:

  • Fee Structure: Compare flat vs. interchange-plus pricing.

  • Security Setup: PCI compliance, tokenization, and fraud prevention are vital.

  • E-commerce Integration: Does your gateway plug into your existing cart or website builder?

  • Customer Experience: Fast checkout flows reduce cart abandonment.

  • International Needs: If you ship globally, confirm local payment capabilities.

Wrapping Up

Payment gateways in the US are evolving with new features like AI-driven fraud detection, unified commerce dashboards, and even stablecoin support. For businesses seeking immediate cross-border solutions, Mural Pay stands out thanks to its batch payouts and specialized stablecoin on/off-ramps. Meanwhile, Stripe and Square excel at user-friendly onboarding, and Authorize.Net or Adyen may be better for large enterprises needing extra layers of sophistication.

Wherever you land, keep service flexibility, compliance, and technical integration at the forefront of your decision. To see more about structuring payment solutions from an operational standpoint, explore our guide on Invoice Payments 101: How They Work & Expert Tips. Having an efficient system not only enhances customer satisfaction but also positions your operations for steady growth into (and beyond) 2025.

References

  1. Scoop Market. (2022). Payment Gateway Statistics: Global Trends and Market Growth. Available at: https://scoop.market.us/payment-gateway-statistics/

  2. Deloitte. (2024). Shaping the Future of Payments: Trends and Insights for 2025. Available at: https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/financial-services/us-shaping-the-future-of-payments-trends-and-insights-for-2025.pdf

  3. Statrys. (2023). Best Payment Gateways in the US. Available at: https://statrys.com/blog/best-payment-gateways-in-the-us

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Invoice customers and pay contractors globally

Join Mural Today for Free

Invoice customers and pay contractors globally

Join Mural Today for Free

Invoice customers and pay contractors globally