5 Steps To Low Payment Gateway Fees

You are probably paying more than you need to. A few percentage points may seem minor on paper, but over hundreds or thousands of transactions, the cost difference can be staggering.

For most online businesses, accepting payments is non-negotiable. But what many merchants overlook is just how much payment gateway fees can eat into their profits. These payment gateway charges quietly accumulate, shaving off margins with every transaction. And the worst part?

Payment gateway charges are often misunderstood or underestimated. Between transaction fees, monthly costs, setup charges, and cross-border surcharges, it is easy to lose sight of the true payment gateway pricing structure. Worse still, many businesses get locked into outdated contracts or rely on legacy providers simply because switching feels overwhelming.

In this article, we will walk you through actionable steps to lower payment gateway fees for your business without compromising on quality, security, or support.

Before you can lower your payment gateway fees, you need to understand what you are truly being charged for. It is not just about the headline transaction fee, many businesses overlook the layers of costs hidden in their payment gateway pricing model. Payment gateway charges can include several different types of fees:

Setup fees	One-time charges to activate your account. Average payment gateway setup fee is about $0 to $200.
Monthly fees	Ongoing charges for access or account maintenance. Average payment monthly fee is between $0 to $25 per month.
Per-transaction fees	Often a fixed percentage plus a flat rate. Average payment gateway transaction fee is about 1.2% to 2.9%.
Cross-border fees	Additional costs for accepting payments from other countries.
Currency conversion fees	Hidden charges when dealing in multiple currencies.
Refund or chargeback fees	Costs incurred when disputes arise. Average gateway chargeback fee ranges between $15 to $25 per chargeback.
PCI DSS compliance fees	Compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is mandatory for businesses that process payment data. While some payment gateways may charge a fee to maintain this security standard, most no longer apply separate PCI DSS compliance fees.

Understanding these layers is critical. Not all online payment gateway charges are clearly stated upfront, and many merchants get trapped in contracts with unexpected costs.

Once you have mapped out your payment fee structure, the next step is to evaluate whether your current payment gateway (of course, if you have one 🙂) is still a good fit. The payments industry evolves quickly. Providers adjust pricing models, expand features, and enter new markets all the time. What may have been the best deal two years ago might now be costing you more than necessary.

To get a broader perspective, compare your payment gateway fees against others in the market. Utilizing smart filters can streamline the process of selecting a payment gateway. bilixe makes this easier by allowing you to use smart filters to streamline discovery and highlight gateways that fit specific pricing, regional, and technical needs instead of scrolling through generic search engines results.

For example, you might need a payment gateway with no setup fee that supports your operational region and integrates with your current tech stack. With the right filters, you can exclude providers that do not meet your criteria and focus only on those that align with your business model.

Well-known providers often dominate market share and search engine results due to strong brand recognition and effective SEO. However, this does not necessarily mean they offer the best value. In many cases, lesser-known or regional payment gateways provide more competitive pricing, responsive support, and features tailored to specific industries or regions.

Finding a payment gateway with competitive fees is only half the battle. What many merchants do not realize is that published pricing is not always set in stone. In fact, many providers are open to negotiation, especially when it comes to custom volumes, business models, or regional operations.

Negotiating is not just for big enterprises. Negotiating directly with payment gateway providers can be a powerful tool for reducing fees. Many providers are open to discussing volume-based discounts, waiving setup fees for growing businesses, or offering custom pricing packages tailored to specific needs. After shortlisting potential providers, reaching out directly allows you to ask the right questions:

• Are there volume-based discounts?
• Can setup fees be waived for growing businesses?
• Are there custom pricing packages for startups or high-volume merchants?

Bilixe offers built-in messaging features that streamline this process, allowing you to contact providers directly, without leaving the platform. It removes the hassle of scouring websites for the right contact information and opens a direct line of communication between you and your shortlisted vendors.

Low fees can be tempting but they do not always tell the full story. Before making the switch to a new payment gateway, it is crucial to do your due diligence. Reading merchant reviews offers firsthand insights into what it is really like to work with a provider, beyond what is promised in marketing materials.

Reviews often uncover the hidden costs that are not visible in standard payment gateway pricing tables. These might include things like inconsistent support, prolonged settlement times, or uncommunicated minimum volume requirements. In some cases, merchants may face charges for services they did not know they signed up for because the pricing documentation was vague or incomplete.

Learning from others’ experiences can save you both money and operational headaches. It helps to look for reviews from businesses in similar industries or regions, as their challenges are more likely to mirror your own.

Not all low-fee gateways are created equal. Here are a few common warning signs that often appear in negative reviews:

• Delayed payouts or withheld funds
• Non-transparent refund or chargeback fees
• Poor or unresponsive customer support
• Sudden fee increases without notice
• Technical issues with integration or reporting tools

These are not just inconveniences. They can disrupt cash flow and erode trust with your customers. A gateway that looks great on paper might end up costing more in time and frustration than a slightly more expensive, reliable alternative.

Trust, reputation, and clarity should weigh just as heavily as the numbers when comparing online payment gateway charges.

Choosing a payment gateway is not just about pricing. It is about making informed, long-term decisions based on both hard data and practical insights. While payment gateway fees comparison and reviews provide a strong foundation, additional context can help validate your final shortlist of providers.

By shortlisting providers that match your criteria, you create a focused space to compare payment gateway fees side by side. Features like favorites lists allow you to keep track of promising providers and revisit them as your business needs evolve. This is particularly helpful when you are evaluating multiple gateways for different regions or use cases.

Inconsistent or hidden fees are common in the payment industry. Comparing providers side by side, using hard data reduces risk and ensures your payment setup can scale with your business.

One often-overlooked tactic for reducing payment gateway fees is using more than one provider. While it may sound complex at first, a multi-gateway strategy can offer significant benefits, especially for businesses operating across regions, currencies, or payment methods.

Each gateway has its strengths:

• One might offer lower fees for domestic cards
• Another may specialize in international or high-risk transactions
• A third might excel at processing crypto payments

Consider implementing a multi-gateway strategy to further reduce fees. By routing transactions through different gateways based on geography, payment type, or currency, businesses can take advantage of lower fees and specialized services tailored to each transaction’s need.

Lowering your payment gateway fees is not about finding a magic provider with zero costs. It is about being intentional, informed, and proactive. Too often, businesses stick with legacy systems out of convenience or simply because they are unaware of better alternatives. But in a competitive market where every percentage point counts, optimizing your payment setup can yield meaningful savings over time.

Bilixe helps you:

• Discover and compare payment gateways globally
• Use smart filters tailored to your needs
• Save favorites, and track changes
• Stay on top of better options as they emerge

The more informed you are, the better decisions you will make!