Payment gateway is the bridge between your store and banks. Processes card, PIX, bank slip and other method transactions. Choosing the right gateway impacts conversion, costs and security. This guide tells you everything about gateways.
What is Payment Gateway
Definition
System that processes and authorizes electronic transactions.
Role in the Flow
Store → Gateway → Acquirer → Flag → Bank → Approval (or not).
Gateway vs Acquirer
Gateway connects and processes. Acquirer communicates with flags.
How It Works
Transaction Flow
- Customer enters payment details
- Gateway encrypts and sends
- Purchaser requests authorization
- Issuing bank approves or denies
- Response returns to the gateway
- Store receives results
Weather
Seconds. Experience must be instantaneous.
Types of Integration
Redirect
Redirects to the gateway page. Less control, simpler.
Transparent Checkout
Payment on the website itself. Better UX, more complex.
###API
Backend integration. Maximum control.
SDK
Mobile-ready libraries.
Main Gateways in Brazil
Mercado Pago
Popular. Easy integration. Good for starters.
PagSeguro
Traditional. Multiple products.
Pay me
Focused on developers. Modern API.
Cielo/Rede/Getnet
Traditional acquirers. Large volumes.
###Stripe
International. Excellent developer experience.
Adyen
Enterprise. Global operations.
Iugu
Recurrence and marketplaces.
Fees and Costs
Fee per Transaction
Percentage over value. 2-4% typical.
Fixed Rate
Fixed amount per transaction. Impacts low tickets.
Anticipation
Cost to receive before the deadline.
Monthly fee
Some charge a monthly fee.
Chargeback
Cost of disputes.
Choice Criteria
Supported Methods
Cards, PIX, bank slips, wallets. Everyone you need?
Fees
Compare total cost, not just percentage.
Integration
Quality of documentation, SDKs, support.
Stability
Uptime, redundancy, history.
Security
PCI DSS compliance.
Receipt Deadline
When money arrives in the account.
Support
Quality and availability.
PIX at the Gateway
Integration
Specific API for generating QR codes.
Advantages
Lower rate (~0.5-1%), instantaneous.
Reconciliation
Webhook notifies payment.
Boleto
Integration
Generation via API.
Compensation
1-3 business days.
Rate
Fixed by bill.
Risk
Non-payment is common.
Recurrence
Subscriptions
Periodic automatic billing.
Management
Plans, upgrades, downgrades.
Retry
Failed attempts.
Dunning
Communication about failed payment.
Multi-Acquirer
What is it
Route transactions between multiple acquirers.
Benefits
Better approval, redundancy, negotiation.
Complexity
More integration, more management.
Security
PCI DSS
Security standard for card data.
Tokenization
Real data replaced by tokens.
3D Secure
Additional authentication. Reduces fraud.
Anti-fraud
Integrated risk analysis.
Optimized Checkout
Few Fields
Minimum data required.
Instant Feedback
Real-time validation.
Multiple Methods
Visible options.
Mobile-Friendly
Optimized experience.
Payment Errors
Common Types
Balance, limit, expired card, suspected fraud.
Treatment
Clear messages, alternative suggestions.
Retry
Automatically retry on technical failures.
Analysis and Reports
Approval Rate
Percentage of approved transactions.
Chargebacks
Volume and value of disputes.
Reconciliation
Conference of values.
Insights
By method, flag, time.
Technical Integration
Test Environment
Sandbox for development.
Webhooks
Event notifications.
Idempotence
Avoid duplication of charges.
Logs
Full logging for debugging.
Conclusion
Payment gateway is critical infrastructure for e-commerce. Choose based on methods, rates, integration and reliability. A good gateway increases conversion and reduces operational problems.
##FAQs
1) Which gateway is better? It depends on size, volume and needs. Pagar.me and Stripe for devs, Mercado Pago for ease.
2) Can I use more than one gateway? Yes. Multi-acquirer improves approval.
3) Does PIX have a fee at the gateway? Yes, but smaller than card. ~0.5-1%.
4) How long does it take to integrate? Hours to days, depending on complexity.
5) Does the gateway need to be PCI compliant? If it processes card data, yes. Use transparent checkout with tokenization.