Which online payment methods to accept in the US? (2024)

FAQs

What is the most used online payment method in the US? ›

Take credit cards, a major payment method in the US. Cards are still the most-used payment method, with American Express, Mastercard, Visa as large global card schemes.

Apple Pay Cash, Google Pay, PayPal, Cash App, and Zelle all let you settle up with other people. With Apple Pay, you can only pay contacts who have iPhones, though, whereas Venmo and the rest are cross-platform services.

PayPal: PayPal is one of the most popular payment gateways in the world, and it is widely accepted in the USA. PayPal allows customers to pay with a credit or debit card, a PayPal balance, or a PayPal credit card.

But a cashier's check is generally regarded as the safer payment method because the funds are drawn against the bank's account, not an individual or business account. You should be familiar with the signs of a check fraud scam any time you're accepting one of these checks from someone you don't know.

As the USA is such a popular destination among Brits, it's worth knowing how to use your British credit card across the pond. Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards are all widely accepted in the USA, though you should be aware that payment methods differ slightly from those in the UK.

ACH payments

The Automated Clearing House (ACH) is a federally-regulated electronic network that facilitates money transfers from one bank to another. All U.S. banks can use ACH, and all you need to receive a transfer this way is a bank account and routing number.

What is a secure payment method? Debit or credit cards are generally regarded as the safest. If you are paying by card, it is important to verify that the provider of the payment gateway is a company who is regulated, and has the right accreditation such as PCI Level 1.

The top five online payment methods in the US: MasterCard, VISA, American Express, PayPal and Discover. Apple Pay, Google Pay and Amazon Pay are becoming more and more popular. Looking to accept these payment methods? Let us help you.

Why is Google Pay shutting down in the US? ›

In western regions like the US, other payment platforms like Apple's own Apple Pay are used more frequently. This is perhaps one of the reasons behind Google's latest decision to shut down its own Google Pay service in the US. As per the announcement, Google Pay will shut down in the US on June 4, 2024.

PayPal: PayPal is one of the popular payment gateways for overseas money transfer. It can process transactions in over 100 currencies. This application allows you to process both debit card as well as credit card transactions.

Credit and debit cards, mobile wallets, bank transfers, and cash are the four most popular payment methods for US consumers. While each option comes with its own benefits and drawbacks, it's clear that the thing shoppers value the most is convenience.

The top five online payment methods in the US: MasterCard, VISA, American Express, PayPal and Discover. Apple Pay, Google Pay and Amazon Pay are becoming more and more popular. Looking to accept these payment methods? Let us help you.

Credit/Debit Cards

Credit and debit cards are still the most commonly used method for payment worldwide. As every country has their own issuers, it can sometimes be difficult to make purchases internationally as not all cards are accepted in different regions!

Apple Pay is the most popular mobile payments service in the US, with 43.9 million people having used it at least once. Starbucks is surprisingly second, with 31.2 million people using it in the US, more than Google Play.