Unfortunately, Kartra does not have its own payment gateway available. Therefore, you must integrate with an external provider.
Kartra has five payment gateways available for integration, and some are much better than others.
Key Takeaways:
- Stripe is the best option overall and has cheaper fees
- PayPal is more suited to users outside the US
- Square is a great option for those requiring point-of-sale services
5 Kartra Payment Gateway Options
1. Stripe
- Supported countries: 46
- Supported currencies: 135
- Customer payment options: Credit and debit cards, digital wallets, bank debits, and transfers, buy now pay later, pay in installments
- Kartra integration process: Very easy
Stripe can facilitate pretty much any type of payment method (except PayPal and Venmo). It’s the best option on this list if you live in the US and Europe, and it has lower transaction fees than other gateways on this list.
It has super-robust infrastructure, which means you can offer your customers a secure way to pay on Kartra.
I’ve found that it’s quick to set up and pretty easy to use, but customer service can be somewhat lackluster. I’ve sometimes waited days to get a decent response out of someone.
Additionally, its geographical limitations will mean that some folks can’t use it.
2. PayPal
- Supported countries: Over 200
- Supported currencies: 25
- Customer payment options: Credit and debit cards, digital wallets, bank debits, and transfers, buy now pay later, pay in installments
- Kartra integration process: Easy
PayPal has been around for a long time and is well-established as a reliable payment gateway. It offers an easy and secure way for customers to pay for their purchases, and from your end, it’s pretty quick and easy to set up an account.
Since the gateway is supported in so many countries, this makes it the next-best option if you live somewhere that Stripe doesn’t support.
On the downside, the fees are higher than Stripe’s, and there are additional fees to pay if you have a business account.
Additionally (and speaking from experience), I’ve found that PayPal has an annoying habit of suspending your account for no reason, and it can be a pain to get it reinstated.
3. Square
- Supported countries: US, Canada, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, France and Spain
- Supported currencies: 6
- Customer payment options: Credit and debit cards, Apple, Google, and Samsung Pay, buy now pay later, pay in installments
- Kartra integration process: Very easy
Square was initially developed as a point of sale (POS) payment service and is, therefore, more geared toward businesses with a physical presence.
However, it has expanded into online payments and facilitates these well, although the options are more limited than Stripe or PayPal. It’s also worth noting that Square can only charge in the currency according to the country where the account was set up.
Given its primary purpose, I recommend using this option if you have a brick-and-mortar business and want to expand into online sales using Kartra.
4. Authorize.net
- Supported countries: USA, Canada, Australia
- Supported currencies: 5
- Customer payment options: Credit and debit cards, Apple and Google Pay, PayPal
- Kartra integration process: Complicated
Given the limitations of this payment gateway, I wouldn’t recommend using it unless you’re determined to not use Stripe.
However, the platform is simple to use and set up. Therefore, this is a good option if you don’t want a complicated payment gateway and primarily intend to do business in your own country.
There is also a $25 per month fee, regardless of usage.
5. Braintree
- Supported countries: USA, Canada, Australia, Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, and New Zealand
- Supported currencies: 153
- Customer payment options: Credit and debit cards, digital wallets (including Venmo), bank debits and transfers, buy now pay later, payment installments
- Kartra integration process: Complicated
Since PayPal owns Braintree, you can be forgiven for thinking they are one and the same. However, they are different platforms, with Braintree offering more customization and integration options than PayPal.
Really, if you already have PayPal, there’s no reason to use Braintree, unless you require a more complex setup. The user interface is also more technical than PayPal’s.
Kartra Payment Gateway Transaction Fees and Costs
Here’s a quick comparison of what you’ll pay per transaction, depending on the gateway you choose:
| Fee type | Stripe | PayPal | Square | Authorize.net | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transactions (US) | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.59% + $0.49 |
| International transactions | 3.9% + $0.30 | 4.4% + fixed fee based on currency received | 3.9% + $0.30 | 4.4% + $0.30 | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Currency conversions | 1% | 1.5% | Not available | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Disputes and chargebacks | $15 | $20 | $25 | $25 | $15 |
| Monthly fee | None | None | None | $25 | None |
How to Connect a Payment Gateway to Kartra (A Quick Guide)
- Log into Kartra.
- Head to Settings > Integrations and then click the + Integration button in the top-left corner.
- You’ll now see the payment gateways listed. Click to read and follow the specific technical instructions for your preferred option.
When you’re ready, click on the logo of your preferred gateway and click Next. You will now be taken through the setup process to complete the integration.
The process for integrating each gateway will differ slightly. However, here’s a brief overview of what you need to do.
After clicking Next:
- Stripe: You will be taken to the Stripe login screen. After logging in, select which Stripe account you want to use and click to authorize the connection.
- PayPal: Check that all permissions are granted before authorizing access. Once authorized, head to PayPal, grab the PDT token, and enter it into Kartra.
- Square: Click to connect Square and then allow all permissions.
- Authorize.net: You will need to copy and paste several keys from Authorize.net into Kartra, then use a webhook to connect the two platforms. Definitely read the technical instructions for this one!
- Braintree: Follows a similar process to Authorize.net and uses several keys and a webhook.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Payment Gateways Can I Use with Kartra?
You can integrate five payment gateways with Kartra. These are Stripe, PayPal, Square, Authorize.net, and Braintree. You can integrate more than one gateway into a single Kartra account.
Are Payment Gateways Available on All Kartra Pricing Plans?
Yes, all payment gateways are available on all Kartra pricing plans.
Does Kartra Charge Transaction Fees?
No, Kartra does not impose transaction fees on any of its plans. The only transaction fees you’ll pay are the ones imposed by the payment gateway you opt to use.
