Choosing the right payment gateway is one of the most important decisions for your WooCommerce store. A complicated or untrustworthy checkout experience is a top reason customers abandon purchases. Here’s how to set up the best payment options for local and international customers — including bKash, Stripe, and PayPal integration.
Payment Gateway Setup? Here’s Your Complete Configuration Guide
Understanding WooCommerce Payment Options
WooCommerce supports four types of payment integrations: built-in gateways (PayPal Standard, direct bank transfer, cheque, cash on delivery), official WooCommerce extensions (Stripe, PayPal Pro, Square), third-party plugins (SSLCommerz, bKash, SSLCOMMERZ for Bangladesh), and custom gateway plugins. Start with what your customers already trust and use.
Setting Up Stripe (International Cards)
Stripe is the most developer-friendly gateway and supports cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and 135 currencies. It’s the best choice for international sales.
- 1Go to Plugins → Add New and install “WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway” (official, free).
- 2Create a free account at stripe.com and verify your business details.
- 3In Stripe Dashboard → Developers → API Keys, copy your Publishable Key and Secret Key.
- 4In WordPress, go to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments → Stripe and paste both keys.
- 5Enable “Test Mode,” run a test payment with card number 4242 4242 4242 4242, then disable test mode to go live.
⚠️ Important
Never paste your Stripe Secret Key in any public-facing location. Store it only in WooCommerce settings. If your secret key is ever compromised, revoke it immediately from the Stripe dashboard and generate a new one.
Setting Up SSLCommerz (Bangladesh Local Payments)
SSLCommerz is Bangladesh’s most widely used payment gateway, supporting bKash, Nagad, Rocket, DBBL Nexus, and all major credit/debit cards in a single integration. It’s the recommended choice for Bangladesh-based stores targeting local customers.
- 1Register for a merchant account at sslcommerz.com (requires trade license and bank account).
- 2Download the official SSLCommerz WooCommerce plugin from their website or GitHub.
- 3Upload via Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin and activate.
- 4Enter your Store ID and Store Password from your SSLCommerz merchant panel.
- 5Enable Sandbox mode first, test payments across each method, then switch to Live mode after approval.
Local payment methods like bKash dramatically increase checkout completion for Bangladeshi customers
Setting Up PayPal
PayPal is essential if you’re selling to customers in the USA, UK, Europe, or Australia. Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments → PayPal. Enter the email address linked to your PayPal business account. For advanced features (credit cards without a PayPal account required), install the WooCommerce PayPal Payments plugin and connect via the OAuth flow.
Cash on Delivery (COD) for Local Orders
COD is still king for many Bangladeshi shoppers who distrust online payments. Enable it under WooCommerce → Settings → Payments → Cash on Delivery. Restrict it to specific shipping zones (only within Dhaka, for example) if your delivery logistics don’t cover all areas.
| Gateway | Best For | Transaction Fee | Setup Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSLCommerz | Bangladeshi customers, all local methods | 1.5% – 2.5% | Moderate |
| Stripe | International cards, recurring payments | 2.9% + $0.30 | Easy |
| PayPal | International buyers, buyer protection | 3.49% + fixed fee | Easy |
| Cash on Delivery | Local delivery, trust-building | None | Built-in |
| Bank Transfer | Large orders, B2B sales | None | Built-in |
✅ Recommended Stack
For a Bangladesh-based store: SSLCommerz (for local buyers) + Stripe (for international buyers) + Cash on Delivery (for trust-building with new customers). This three-gateway setup covers nearly every customer scenario.
