Independent stores · Brazil focus
Shopify Payments alternatives that actually pay out
Shopify Payments, the built-in gateway powered by Stripe, isn't available in most of the world, Brazil included. So the real question isn't "which gateway looks nicest," it's "which one will reliably settle my money into a local bank account I can use." Here's the practical map.
The short version
- Where Shopify Payments is unavailable, you use a third-party gateway, and Shopify adds a transaction fee on top unless you're on Shopify Payments. Factor that in.
- In Brazil, local gateways (e.g. Mercado Pago, PagBank/PagSeguro, Ebanx) settle in BRL and handle local methods like Pix and boleto, which most foreign gateways can't.
- If you sell internationally and collect USD/EUR, you still face the repatriation and FX steps. A local gateway alone doesn't solve cross-border conversion.
- Budget IOF and the need for a contrato de câmbio on inbound foreign currency. An informal shortcut around them is a false economy.
Why Shopify Payments isn't an option for you
Shopify Payments is Stripe under the hood, and Stripe's availability defines it. In countries where Stripe doesn't offer full local acquiring (Brazil, Indonesia, Nigeria and many others), Shopify Payments simply isn't in the dashboard. You can still run a Shopify store; you just connect an external gateway to take card payments and settle them.
This matters because it changes the economics. With Shopify Payments you'd pay one card-processing rate. Without it, you pay the third-party gateway's rate plus a Shopify third-party transaction fee, and then you still have to get the settled money home.
The third-party transaction fee trap
Shopify charges an extra fee (commonly around 0.5%–2% depending on your plan) on every order processed through a non-Shopify-Payments gateway. It's small per order and easy to forget, but it stacks on top of the gateway's own cut. On thin-margin products this is the difference between a viable store and a leaky one.
Desk tip
When you compare gateways, add Shopify's third-party fee to each gateway's rate to get the true cost per order. A "cheaper" gateway can lose to a pricier one once you account for plan-level fees and payout/FX on the back end.
Gateways that actually pay out, compared
| Gateway | Settles to | Local methods | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercado Pago | BRL bank account | Pix, boleto, cards, installments | Selling to Brazilian buyers |
| PagBank / PagSeguro | BRL bank account | Pix, boleto, cards | Domestic Brazil stores |
| Ebanx / dLocal | BRL (and other LATAM) | Local methods across LATAM | Foreign brands selling into Brazil |
| PayPal | PayPal balance → bank | Cards, PayPal | International buyers; watch FX margin |
| 2Checkout / others | Varies, often USD | Cards globally | Cross-border, then repatriate |
Notice the split: local gateways settle in BRL and make the payment methods available Brazilian customers actually use (Pix is now dominant, and installments (parcelamento) drive conversions). Global gateways like PayPal are convenient for foreign buyers but settle in a foreign currency, leaving you the repatriation-and-FX problem covered in our settlement costs guide.
The Brazil specifics: Pix, boleto and IOF
Three things shape every Brazilian store's settlement:
- Pix: the instant-payment system is now the default for many buyers. A gateway without good Pix support will quietly cost you conversions. Pix settles fast and cheap domestically.
- Boleto: a bank-slip method still used widely; it settles slower (buyers pay later), so it affects your cash-flow timing, not just fees.
- IOF: the financial-operations tax applies to FX and certain credit operations. When foreign currency comes into Brazil through a regulated channel, IOF and a contrato de câmbio are part of the deal. Build IOF into your pricing; don't treat it as a surprise.
Compliance & scam check
Be sceptical of any service promising to bring foreign revenue into Brazil while "avoiding IOF" or skipping the exchange contract. Informal FX (the so-called dólar paralelo route) can expose you to legal risk and account freezes that cost far more than the tax. A regulated landing at a documented rate is the cheaper choice once risk is priced in.
Selling abroad from Brazil (or anywhere)
If your store sells internationally and collects USD or EUR, a Brazilian gateway alone won't help; you need a receiving account and a conversion plan. The clean chain is: collect in the buyer's currency, hold it in a USD/EUR receiving account (Payoneer/Wise), then convert to BRL deliberately through a transparent rail. That keeps the FX margin visible and lets you convert when the rate and your cash-flow line up (see the multi-currency guide) for the real options, including an exchange route.
Installments (parcelamento): the quiet conversion lever
One feature deserves its own section because it moves revenue more than most sellers expect: installments. Brazilian shoppers routinely split a purchase into several monthly card payments, and on higher-ticket items the option to pay em 6x or em 12x can be the difference between a sale and an abandoned cart. A gateway that handles installments cleanly, and displays them well at checkout, lifts conversion in a way a slightly lower fee never will.
The trade-off is cost and timing. Installments carry higher fees, and you can usually choose between receiving the full amount up front (the gateway fronts the risk, for a bigger cut) or receiving each instalment as the customer pays (cheaper, but slower for your cash flow). There's no universally right answer; it depends on whether you value cash now or margin. The mistake is not deciding, and letting the default quietly tax every order. Pair this with Pix, which pulls in the opposite direction (instant and cheap), and you cover both ends of the buyer spectrum.
Setting it up, step by step
- Pick your primary local gateway (Mercado Pago or PagBank are the common Brazil choices) and a secondary for international buyers if you sell abroad.
- Connect it in Shopify under Settings → Payments, or install the gateway's official Shopify app, and complete the gateway's business verification.
- Enable Pix, boleto and card installments, and make Pix prominent; it's your cheapest, fastest method.
- Set your installment policy deliberately: up-front vs. as-paid, and how many instalments to offer.
- Run a small live test order for each method and confirm it settles to your account as expected.
- Reconcile monthly: total gateway fee + Shopify's third-party fee + any payout/FX, so you always know your true cost per order.
Go deeper on Pix
For a focused walkthrough of wiring up Pix and boleto on Shopify, plus the IOF and contrato de câmbio when money arrives from abroad, see our dedicated Shopify + Pix in Brazil guide.
How to choose, in one paragraph
If your customers are Brazilian, lead with a local gateway that supports Pix and installments and settles in BRL: conversion rate beats everything for domestic sales. If your customers are global, optimise the back end: collect in their currency, hold it, and convert once through a transparent rail. Either way, add Shopify's third-party fee to your math, keep your business name consistent across store, gateway and bank, and document your FX so a future review never stalls your cash.
FAQ
Can I use Shopify in Brazil at all?
Yes, Shopify the platform works fine in Brazil. Only Shopify Payments (the built-in gateway) is unavailable, so you connect a third-party gateway like Mercado Pago or PagBank and accept Shopify's extra transaction fee.
Does PayPal count as a Shopify Payments alternative?
It can take payments, but it settles to a PayPal balance in a foreign currency and its conversion margin is often high (~3–4%). Fine as a secondary option for international buyers; weak as your only rail for a Brazil-focused store.
What's the cheapest overall setup?
There's no universal answer; it depends on your buyer mix. Domestic Brazil: a local gateway with strong Pix support. International: a global gateway plus a transparent receiving/conversion rail. Always total gateway fee + Shopify fee + payout + FX before deciding.
Do I owe IOF on every sale?
IOF applies to FX operations and certain credit transactions, not to a domestic Pix sale. It's most relevant when foreign currency enters Brazil. We're not tax advisers, so confirm your situation with a Brazilian contador.
Source check
Fees, payout rules and product availability change by country and account type. Before moving money, verify the live provider pages: Shopify Payments supported countries, Stripe global availability, PayPal business fees, OKX Terms of Service. This page was last checked in June 2026.