Shopify Payments & beyond. Navigating payment solutions for every business type, including High-Risk

When launching or scaling an eCommerce brand, payment processing isn't just a backend task, it's a critical part of your customer experience, legal compliance, and cash flow.

Shopify makes this seamless for many businesses through its built-in system, Shopify Payments.

But what happens if:

➜ Your business is considered high-risk (e.g., supplements, adult, vape, or CBD)?
➜ Or are you located in a country where Shopify Payments isn't supported?

This guide will walk you through the essentials, from how Shopify Payments works to what to do if your business isn’t eligible and which third-party processors can support you when Shopify can’t.

What Is Shopify Payments?

Shopify Payments is Shopify’s built-in gateway that lets merchants accept credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay, and more, without relying on third-party providers.

As of May 2025, Shopify Payments is available in 🇺🇸 United States, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic, 🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇨🇾 Cyprus, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇸🇮 Slovenia, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, and 🇬🇮 Gibraltar.

The All-in-One convenience

No need to sign up with external providers like Stripe or PayPal separately. Shopify Payments is built right into your Shopify admin, so setup takes minutes, not days.

✅ Lower overall fees with Shopify Payments

When using Shopify Payments, you avoid the 0.5% to 2% additional transaction fee that Shopify charges for using third-party payment providers. That’s on top of your standard card processing fees, so the savings can be significant.

✅ Faster Payouts

Funds are typically deposited into your bank account within 1–3 business days (depending on your region), which helps maintain steady cash flow, especially for newer businesses.

✅ Simplified Compliance & Security

Shopify handles PCI compliance, fraud detection, and chargeback responses for you. You don’t have to worry about managing your own SSL certificates or encryption protocols.

✅ Integrated with Shop Pay & Wallets

Shopify Payments includes Shop Pay, which can boost conversions by up to 1.72x (source: Shopify). It also works seamlessly with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Meta Pay, making it easier for customers to check out in just a few taps.

✅ Multi-Currency & Local Payments

If you sell internationally, you can accept payments in over 130 currencies, display prices in local currency, and offer local payment methods like iDEAL, Sofort, and Bancontact, depending on your region.

✅ Transparent Reporting

You get detailed insights into your orders, payments, refunds, and chargebacks directly in your Shopify dashboard, no need to log into third-party tools.

But it comes with strict rules. Shopify Payments prohibits high-risk industries such as:

❌CBD and hemp products

❌Adult content and toys

❌Online gambling

❌Certain supplements or “nutraceuticals”

The strongest & most trusted payment providers in eCommerce

These five payment processors are considered the “classics”, widely supported, highly secure, and deeply integrated into most major eCommerce platforms, including Shopify. Each has its own edge depending on your audience, business model, and region.

Stripe, the developer's favorite

✅ Best for: Custom setups, SaaS, subscription models, marketplaces

✅ Strengths
✔ Powerful API and extensive integrations
✔ Used in 45+ countries
✔ Supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, ACH, and more ✔ Shopify Payments is powered by Stripe under the hood

Mollie, Europe’s payment powerhouse

✅Best for: European merchants with local payment needs

✅Strengths ✔ Offers iDEAL (🇳🇱 Netherlands), Bancontact (🇧🇪 Belgium), SEPA, Sofort (🇩🇪 Germany), and more
✔ Transparent pricing, no contracts or monthly fees
✔ Seamless Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento integrations

PayPal, the global leader

✅Best for: Universal trust, fast setup, global customer base

✅Strengths
✔ Accepted in over 200 countries
✔ Built-in buyer and seller protection
✔ PayPal Express Checkout improves mobile conversions
✔ Easy fallback or secondary option alongside other gateways

Klarna, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) pioneer

✅Best for: Increasing conversions and AOV with flexible financing

✅Strengths
✔ Offers BNPL options like “Pay in 30 days” or “Pay in 3–4 interest-free installments”
✔ Klarna takes the credit risk—you get paid immediately
✔ Integrated directly with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, etc.
✔ Boosts conversion rates by as much as 44%

Popular in: 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇬🇧 UK, 🇺🇸 USA, 🇦🇺 Australia

Adyen, the enterprise giant

✅Best for: Global, high-volume businesses needing advanced customization

✅Strengths
✔ Accepts over 250 payment methods in 150+ currencies
✔ Combines in-store, online, and mobile into one unified system
✔ Advanced fraud prevention (RevenueProtect) and smart transaction routing
✔ Transparent interchange-plus pricing

What if you run a High-Risk business?

These providers specialize in industries that are often excluded from Shopify Payments. If you're selling CBD, supplements, adult products, or digital goods, these are worth exploring:

🌐 Worldpay
Best for: Adult content, high-risk products
➜ Global coverage; widely used by adult industry merchants

🧪 PayKings
Best for: CBD, kratom, vape, supplements
➜ Dedicated to high-risk businesses; helps with compliance and approvals

💊 Instabill
Best for: Pharmaceuticals, adult, online gaming
➜ Known for global reach and custom high-risk merchant accounts

💼 PaymentCloud
Best for: Supplements, firearms, digital goods
➜ Works with Shopify via authorized third-party gateway integrations

🌱 SMB Global
Best for: CBD, SaaS, e-cigarettes
➜ High approval rate and strong support for international merchants

You’ll usually need to

⚠️ Apply for a merchant account directly through the provider

⚠️ Use a Shopify-approved payment gateway integration (like NMI or Authorize.net)

⚠️ Expect higher processing fees (typically 4–6%) and rolling reserves

Also, be transparent. 

If Shopify flags your store as high-risk and you haven’t declared it, you risk getting shut down or losing access to funds.

Can you still use Shopify for high-risk payments?

Yes, absolutely.

Shopify allows you to disable Shopify Payments and instead enable manual or third-party payment gateways. Here’s how you can make it work:

✔︎ Choose a high-risk-friendly payment provider

✔︎ Connect via a supported third-party gateway like NMI, Authorize.net, or eMerchant Broker

✔︎ Make sure the provider offers an integration with Shopify or provides you with custom gateway credentials

Some high-risk merchants also choose to run multiple stores

✔︎ One on Shopify (with limited product range or content)

✔︎ Another on a more flexible platform like WooCommerce or Magento for restricted products

Whether you're building a straightforward online store or navigating the complexities of a high-risk vertical, having the right payment solution in place is non-negotiable. 

Shopify Payments offers a seamless, secure, and fully integrated experience for many businesses, but it’s not the only option.

From alternative gateways like Mollie, Stripe, and PayPal, to specialized providers like Worldpay or PayKings, the right fit depends on your products, region, and risk profile.

💬  Have questions about setting up payments in Shopify or scaling a high-risk eCommerce brand? 

I’m always happy to connect and share what I’ve learned through hands-on experience.