With the growing number of online businesses in Uganda, it’s essential to have a payment gateway that meets your needs. Your gateway of choice should ensure that your customers can pay you easily and securely from anywhere in the world. However, with so many payment gateways available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.
This blog post takes you on a journey through the top payment gateways for receiving international payments in Uganda. We’ll explore their features so you can make an informed decision on which payment gateway is right for you.
What are payment gateways and how do they work?
A payment gateway is a software application or platform that facilitates the transaction of payments between a customer and a merchant’s website. Essentially, it acts as a bridge between the customer’s bank account and the merchant’s account.
Payment gateways are a secure way of executing transactions across borders. During transactions, the system encrypts sensitive information, such as credit card details. This is to ensure that it protects the data from fraud and other security risks. Once the system approves the payment, it transfers the funds to the merchant’s account. After this, the gateway sends a confirmation message to the customer.
Payment gateways play a crucial role in facilitating international payments. They are particularly useful between countries where currency exchange affects cross-border transactions. These gateways enable merchants to accept payments in different currencies and simplify the payment process for customers.
Why Your Website Needs a Payment Gateway.
If you’re running a website or online business that caters to a global audience, you need to be able to receive international payments. Not only can this help increase your customer base, but it can also help tap into new markets. This is where payment gateways are important.
Below are some of the reasons why your website or online business needs a payment gateway.
Expanded customer base
Accepting international payments means a wider customer base and new markets around the world. By tapping into new markets, you can increase your sales and revenue potential.
A payment gateway enables you to accept payments from customers in other countries. Having and using one can help you tap into new markets and grow your customer base. Without a payment gateway, you can only accept payments from only customers in Uganda or other neighbouring countries. This can restrict your growth potential.
Security
One of the main benefits of using a payment gateway is that it provides a secure and reliable way to process transactions. Payment gateways typically use advanced encryption and fraud detection technologies to protect sensitive information. By doing this they protect credit card details and personal data from unauthorized access or theft. Your customers can make payments on your website with confidence because they know that the system protects their information.
Streamlined payments
Another advantage of using a payment gateway is that it can help to streamline the payment process for both the customer and the business. Customers can easily make payments online using their preferred payment method, whether it’s a credit card, debit card, or e-wallet. Businesses, on the other hand, can receive payments quickly and efficiently. Without a payment gateway, you may have to rely on manual payment methods like bank transfers, which can be time-consuming, expensive, and prone to errors.
Top Payment Gateways for International Payments in Uganda
Here are some of the top payment gateways that you can consider for receiving international payments in Uganda:
Flutterwave
Flutterwave is a leading payment gateway that offers secure and reliable online payment solutions to businesses and individuals in Uganda and across the globe. It enables businesses to accept payments from customers all over the world through multiple payment channels, including credit/debit cards, bank transfers, mobile money, and other local payment methods. It accepts over 30+ currencies and operates in up to 20 African countries.
Founded in Nigeria in 2016 in Nigeria Flutterwave has expanded its operations to other African countries, including Uganda. The platform’s popularity in Uganda has grown rapidly, especially among businesses that operate in the e-commerce, travel, education, and hospitality sectors.
One of the key advantages of using Flutterwave as a payment gateway for international payments in Uganda is the wide range of payment options it offers. With Flutterwave, businesses can accept payments from customers using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and other popular credit/debit cards. Additionally, customers can pay using mobile money services such as MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, and M-Pesa. This ensures that businesses can cater to customers who prefer different payment methods, which in turn can help to increase their sales and revenue.
Furthermore, Flutterwave’s platform is easy to use and integrate with existing business systems. The platform provides businesses with a range of developer tools and APIs that enable them to customize their payment solutions to suit their specific needs. This makes it easy for businesses to accept payments online and manage their transactions efficiently.
PesaPal
Founded in 2009, Pesapal has become a leading payment gateway in Uganda, serving thousands of merchants across the country. The platform offers a wide range of payment solutions for businesses of all sizes, including e-commerce businesses, travel agencies, utility companies, and government institutions.
One of the major advantages of using Pesapal as a payment gateway for international payments is its ability to process payments from multiple payment channels. This means that merchants can accept payments from customers using different payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, mobile money, and bank transfers. The platform supports multiple currencies, making it easy for businesses to transact with customers from different countries.
Pesapal also ensures a secure payment environment, which guarantees the safe and secure processing of all transactions. The platform is PCI-DSS certified, meaning that it meets the highest security standards for payment processing. This helps to protect both the merchant and the customer from fraud and other security threats.
In addition to its payment processing services, Pesapal also offers value-added services such as invoice management, e-commerce solutions, and mobile payment solutions. These services aim to help businesses streamline their payment processes and enhance their overall payment experience.
2Checkout
2Checkout is a global payment gateway that supports a range of payment methods and currencies. It offers a range of payment options, including credit and debit cards, PayPal, and bank transfers, and supports over 45 different payment methods in over 200 countries.
One of the key benefits of 2Checkout is its flexibility – it can be easily integrated with a wide range of website platforms and shopping carts, including WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento. This makes it a great option for businesses in Uganda that are looking for a payment gateway that’s easy to set up and use.
2Checkout charges a transaction fee of 3.5% + $0.35 per successful transaction. There are no setup or monthly fees, and businesses can start using the payment gateway immediately after signing up.
In addition to its payment processing capabilities, 2Checkout offers a range of other features and tools to help businesses manage their payments. This includes features such as recurring billing, fraud detection and prevention, and chargeback management.
DPO Pay
DPO Pay is the largest and fastest-growing African payment gateway that provides businesses of all sizes with the technology, solutions, and support to make and receive online payments. Developed in-house, their solutions allow fast and secure payments across all currencies and methods, including credit and debit cards, mobile money, and e-wallets.
With over 100,000 merchants and partnerships with over 50 African banks, including Standard Bank Group, EcoBank, and Equity Bank, DPO Pay is dedicated to driving Pan-African commerce, financial inclusion, and economic development. Their clientele spans various sectors, including airlines, hotels, restaurants, e-commerce, schools, insurance, car rental, and travel agents across Africa.
One of the key advantages of DPO Pay is its local expertise and knowledge of the African market. The company has a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that businesses face in Africa and has tailored its solutions to meet the needs of local businesses.
DPO has received numerous awards and accolades for its innovative payment solutions and commitment to driving financial inclusion in Africa.
PayPal
Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, Elon Musk, Luke Nosek, and Ken Howery founded PayPal in 1998, and millions of people around the world use it as a widely recognized and trusted payment gateway. PayPal is known for its fast transaction processing times, ease of use, and security. PayPal allows you to receive payments from customers in over 200 countries through credit/debit cards, PayPal balance, and bank transfers. It supports over 25 currencies.
One of the main advantages of PayPal is its ease of integration with most website platforms. This makes it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes. Additionally, PayPal offers a range of features and tools to help businesses manage their payments. These include customizable checkout pages, invoicing tools, and the ability to set up recurring payments.
However, it’s important to note that PayPal has high transaction charges of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. These are higher than most payment gateways. Additionally, some people have raised concerns about PayPal’s customer service and dispute resolution processes.
As a Ugandan, when using PayPal as a payment gateway, it’s important to carefully review and understand the fees and policies associated with the service since it has limited business support in Uganda. Additionally, it’s important to ensure that your customers are comfortable using PayPal and that it supports the currencies they will be using.
Payoneer
Payoneer was founded in 2005, is based in New York City and has offices around the world. it has grown rapidly in recent years and serves more than four million users. It also supports over 150 currencies in 200 countries.
One of the key advantages of using Payoneer is its low transaction fees. The company charges a flat fee of $3.00 for bank transfers, with a minimum transfer amount of $50. For e-wallet transfers, Payoneer charges a fee of 1% of the transaction amount. For prepaid debit card transactions, the fee is 2% of the transaction amount. These fees are competitive with other payment gateways and make Payoneer an affordable option for online businesses in Uganda.
Another key benefit of Payoneer is its multiple payment options. Businesses can choose to receive payments via bank transfer, e-wallets, or prepaid debit cards, depending on their preference.
Additionally, Payoneer provides payment processing solutions specifically designed for freelancers. This makes it easier for them to receive payments worldwide. The platform also integrates with several popular marketplaces, such as Amazon, Upwork, and Fiverr. It also has several measures in place to protect users’ funds and data, including two-factor authentication, encryption, and fraud monitoring. Overall, Payoneer is a reliable and trusted choice for businesses and freelancers in Uganda.
However, it is important to note that similar to Paypal, Payoneer functions in Uganda but has limited support for accounts in Uganda.
How to Integrate Payment Gateways with Your Website
Ever wondered how you can integrate or receive online payments or donations on your website? Let’s get started. Now that you have known the best payment gateways to choose from, here is how to integrate them with your e-commerce, charity or travel website.
Integrating a payment gateway with your website can seem like a daunting task, but it’s quite simple if you follow a few steps. The exact process will depend on the payment gateway you choose, but in general, here are the steps you can follow:
Sign up for the payment gateway
First, you’ll need to sign up for the payment gateway of your choice. This typically involves creating an account and providing basic information about yourself or your business. Some of the common business information required is KYC documents like company certificate of incorporation, company form 20, national IDs or passports of the company directors, and verifying the company or business address.
Verify your account
Depending on the payment gateway, you may need to verify your account by providing additional documentation or completing a verification process which may vary for the different service providers.
Choose your integration method
Most payment gateways offer several integration methods, such as API, hosted payment pages, or plugins for popular content management systems like WordPress or Shopify. Choose the method that works best for your website and technical expertise.
Follow the integration instructions
The payment gateway will provide detailed instructions on how to integrate their service with your website using the chosen method. Follow these instructions carefully, as even a small error can cause issues with payments.
Test the integration
Once you’ve completed the integration, it’s important to test it thoroughly to ensure that payments are processed correctly and that there are no technical issues.
In conclusion
When choosing a payment gateway, it’s important to compare the features and fees of each option and consider how well it integrates with your website and other business tools. Make sure to also check the reputation of the payment gateway, as well as the level of customer support they provide.
By selecting the right payment gateway for your business, you can streamline your payment process, increase your revenue, and expand your reach to customers around the world. With the right payment gateway, receiving international payments on your website in Uganda can be a simple and seamless process.
We at Othware understand the importance of integrating these payment gateways with your website. Talk to our website experts today in our free consultation sessions to learn more about payment gateways and choose the best for your website or online business.
Passionate about tech, a better writer than talker. Also a Content writer @ Othware.
