Online payments: how to accept them without losing customers at checkout
Accepting online payments is the easy part. Doing it without scaring the customer off at the last step is the hard one.
Every euro a customer can't pay you online is, statistically, a euro that never comes back. The moment of payment is when all the trust built throughout the visit is decided in a few seconds. Here's how to accept online payments so those seconds work for you, not against you.
The payment methods you need to offer, not just cards
Credit and debit cards remain the most used method, but pairing them with digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) reduces friction for those who don't want to type in card numbers.
Instant bank transfer and account-to-account payment solutions are growing, especially for higher-value purchases where card fees weigh more.
Security without feeling like an interrogation
Strong customer authentication (3D Secure) is legally mandatory for most European payments, but a good gateway handles it smoothly, without extra steps that feel suspicious.
Showing recognisable security badges near the payment button reduces customer anxiety at the decisive moment, even though the technical security is the same with or without badges.
The practical steps to get started
Choose a gateway compatible with your platform (WooCommerce, Magento, or a custom solution) to avoid unnecessary technical development.
Activate the payment methods your specific audience actually uses first: you don't need to offer everything from day one, just what your typical customer expects.
Test the entire payment flow yourself, as a customer would, before going live: it's the fastest way to spot friction points a developer might miss.
- Offering only credit cards isn't enough anymore: digital wallets reduce checkout friction.
- 3D Secure is legally mandatory, but a good gateway makes it smooth, not an obstacle.
- Activate the methods your specific audience expects first, not every method that exists.
- Always test the payment flow as a real customer would, before launch.
- Offering only credit cards, ignoring increasingly demanded digital wallets.
- A checkout with too many fields to fill in before paying is possible.
- Never testing the payment flow from the customer's point of view.
Frequently asked questions
The main cost is the per-transaction fee, usually a percentage plus a fixed amount. Always compare providers based on your real sales volumes.
With native plugins for the most popular e-commerce platforms, often just a few hours of setup, provided you already have your company documentation ready.
Yes, if you use a PCI DSS certified gateway with 3D Secure support, security standards are high and regulated at European level.
Accept online payments without friction
Daevon's checkout is built to convert: multiple methods, smooth 3D Secure, fast integration with your site.
