How to Accept WooCommerce Payments in the United States
If you run a WooCommerce store in the United States, you have the opposite problem from most of the world: not too few gateway options, but too many. Stripe, Square, PayPal, and WooCommerce's own WooPayments are all fully available to US merchants, all mature, and all capable of running a store's checkout well. The question is not "what works here" but "what fits my business."
That makes this guide different from the ones we write for markets where the big processors do not operate. HandyPay is available in the United States, and this page explains honestly where it fits alongside gateways that are also excellent choices, rather than pretending they are not on the table.
The short version: if you are a high-volume store optimizing every basis point of processing cost, a mainstream US gateway is probably your best rate. If you are a smaller seller who wants one simple account that covers a WooCommerce checkout, payment links for invoices and chat sales, QR codes, and subscriptions, with no monthly fee and no hardware, HandyPay is worth a look.
The Gateway Choices US Stores Actually Have
Stripe is the developer favorite, with deep customization and an official WooCommerce plugin. Online card fees for US merchants across the mainstream processors typically land in the high 2 percent range plus a small fixed fee per transaction.
Square pairs online checkout with strong in-person hardware, which suits stores that also sell at markets, fairs, or a physical counter.
PayPal brings buyer familiarity. Some shoppers simply convert better when a PayPal button is present, which is why many stores offer it as a second method.
WooPayments is WooCommerce's house gateway, managed from the WordPress dashboard, and is a low-friction default for US stores.
All four onboard US businesses without drama. Nothing in this guide claims otherwise.
Where HandyPay Fits for US Merchants
HandyPay's free plan charges 4.9% plus US$0.40 per transaction, and the Pro plan at US$29 per month lowers that to 4.2% plus US$0.40. On headline rate alone, that is higher than what mainstream US processors typically charge for online cards. If your store does serious volume and rate is your deciding factor, a mainstream gateway is the rational pick, and we would rather say that plainly than win a customer who churns in a month.
The case for HandyPay is consolidation and simplicity rather than rate:
One account, several ways to get paid. The same account that powers your WooCommerce checkout also creates payment links you can share by WhatsApp, SMS, or email, QR code payments for in-person sales, and recurring subscriptions. Sellers who close sales in DMs, invoice by email, and sell at weekend markets can run all of it from one balance.
No monthly fee, no hardware. The free plan has no fixed costs, which suits side businesses and seasonal sellers where a monthly software bill never quite pays for itself.
Simple onboarding and tools. Sign-up is online with identity verification, there are iOS and Android apps plus a web Merchant Portal, and payouts go to your bank account on a daily schedule, typically arriving within 2-4 business days.
Multi-country operations. HandyPay is available in markets across the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia, many of which Stripe and Square do not serve as of 2026. A US seller working with partners or a second business in the Caribbean, West Africa, or Bangladesh can keep both sides on one platform.
Setting Up HandyPay for WooCommerce
The gateway plugin is HandyPay for WooCommerce, free on WordPress.org. There is no extra plugin fee; standard HandyPay transaction fees are the only cost.
Step 1. Create a HandyPay account and complete the online identity verification, then connect the bank account for payouts.
Step 2. In the WordPress admin, go to Plugins, then Add New, search for HandyPay, and install and activate HandyPay for WooCommerce.
Step 3. Go to WooCommerce, then Settings, then Payments, enable HandyPay, and connect the plugin using your account credentials from the Merchant Portal.
Step 4. Place a small live order to confirm the checkout works, the order status updates, and the payment appears in the Merchant Portal. Refunds are handled straight from the WooCommerce order screen, so reversing that test takes seconds.
WooCommerce supports multiple gateways at once, so you can run HandyPay alongside another processor and let checkout behavior tell you what your customers prefer.
Comparing the Options for US Merchants
| Gateway | US availability | Monthly fee | Hardware option | Also does links, QR, subscriptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Yes | None for standard use | Yes | Yes, with per-feature setup |
| Square | Yes | None for standard use | Yes, extensive | Yes, within the Square ecosystem |
| PayPal | Yes | None for standard use | Limited | Links and subscriptions |
| WooPayments | Yes | None | No | Store-focused |
| HandyPay | Yes | None on free plan | None needed | Yes, all included in one account |
Rates across the mainstream options are broadly similar in structure, a percentage plus a fixed fee, and exact pricing shifts with volume, card type, and negotiated deals, so compare current published rates for your own mix before deciding.
Who Should Pick What
Pick a mainstream gateway if you process high volume, need the lowest possible rate, or rely on a specific ecosystem feature like Square's retail hardware or Stripe's developer tooling.
Pick HandyPay if you are a smaller or newer store, a service business that invoices as often as it sells through the cart, a maker who sells at markets on weekends and online during the week, or an operator with businesses in both the US and another market HandyPay supports.
Pick both if you want to test. Running two gateways at checkout costs nothing and produces real data about what your buyers choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HandyPay cheaper than Stripe or Square for a US store?
On the headline per-transaction rate, typically no. Mainstream US processors usually charge less per online card transaction than HandyPay's 4.9% plus US$0.40 free plan rate. HandyPay competes on having no monthly fee, no hardware, and payment links, QR codes, and subscriptions bundled into one simple account.
Why would a US merchant choose HandyPay at all?
Simplicity and consolidation. One account covers the WooCommerce checkout plus links for invoices and chat sales, QR for in-person payments, and recurring billing, with iOS and Android apps and a web Merchant Portal. It also helps operators who need a processor that works across the other markets HandyPay supports.
Does the plugin cost anything?
No. HandyPay for WooCommerce is free on WordPress.org and adds no plugin fee on top of standard transaction rates.
Can I run HandyPay next to my existing gateway?
Yes. WooCommerce supports multiple payment methods at checkout, so adding HandyPay does not require removing anything.
How do refunds work?
From the WooCommerce order screen. Open the order, refund it, and the plugin reverses the charge through your HandyPay account.
How fast are payouts?
Payouts to your bank account run on a daily schedule and typically arrive within 2-4 business days after the transaction.
Related Guides
- How to Accept Payments in the United States
- WordPress Payments in the United States
- How to Accept Payments in Canada
- Payment Links vs Payment Gateways