To set up Shopify Payments in 2026, go to your Shopify admin, open Settings > Payments, and click Activate Shopify Payments. Add your business details, personal verification information, and bank account details. Once approved, you can accept cards and supported payment methods directly through Shopify.
It goes without saying that if you want to make money on Shopify, you need a payment system to receive funds.
Search "payment gateway" on the Shopify App Store, and 120+ solutions pop up. It's flush with options, from PayPal to Stripe, Apple Pay, and more. What you decide to go with depends on your business's unique requirements and your target audience's preferences.
No surprise that the built-in Shopify Payments is the most popular solution.
After all, it's the default option and cuts out the hassle (and cost) of a third-party system. This article will provide an easy Shopify Payments setup guide. But first, an overview.
What is Shopify Payments?
Shopify Payments is the built-in payment gateway on the eCommerce platform. It's the default gateway and integrates with the merchant dashboard for seamless online payments.
It works as a PHP type, behind-the-scenes conduit for processing payments.
Stripe powers Shopify Payments. The renowned payment processor provides the technology and infrastructure that enables the secure handling of credit card and other payment information. Its powerful fraud prevention mechanism maintains the integrity of transactions, protecting merchants from fraudulent customers.
Through Shopify Payments, your store can accept payments via many popular methods, including credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and gift cards. Even cryptocurrency is included. Overall, it accepts payments in 130 currencies.
Shopify Payments requirements
It would be best if you met specific criteria to use it. Here's a shortlist.
- Shopify Store: You need a Shopify store to use the Shopify Payment Gateway. This involves signing up for a Shopify subscription and setting up your online store.
- Supported country: Shopify Payments isn't available everywhere. As of 2026, it's live in around 39 countries.
A list that has expanded steadily from the original 23, with most recent additions across Europe (Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Slovenia) plus Mexico.
Supported markets now include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
For US territories, it's available in Puerto Rico. Because Shopify adds new regions regularly, always confirm against Shopify's official supported countries page before you start.
- Valid/supported business: Shopify is strict about its business requirements. For one, you must have a registered business name and tax identification number.
But more than that, your business must not be on its exhaustive prohibited list. That ranges from regulated or illegal products to crypto services, adult content, and gambling services.
- Bank account: You need an account based in the same country as your Shopify store. Shopify Balance and full checking accounts qualify. A current account will do if you're in the UK or Ireland. That said, your account must be set to your country or region's currency.
Checking accounts that only receive wire payments need to be fixed. That's also the case with money-transfer apps that mimic bank accounts.
On top of that, it has country-specific requirements. For instance, in the US, your account must be eligible for ACH transfers.
- Set up two-step authentication: Two-step authentication provides extra security to prevent unauthorized persons from accessing your account using your credentials. It requires you to provide your email address and a password and then authenticate login attempts using a text message, authentication app, or passkey.
How to Set Up Shopify Payments
Let's get down to business. If you meet the requirements for setting up Shopify Payments, here's a tutorial that will have you ready to go in a couple of steps:
Step 1: Choose a store currency
1. Go to Settings in the Shopify admin.
2. In the Store currency category, click the drop-down box to select a currency.
3. Click Save in the top-right corner.
Your store currency is the currency you price your products in and what you see in your admin. It can be different from your bank account currency. Say you regularly receive payments for your log forwarders tool from US-based shoppers while you're based in Europe. You can set your store currency to USD while receiving payouts in Euros.
Step 2: Activate Shopify Payments
This step involves two scenarios. In one, you're just starting out and have yet to activate a payment provider previously. Alternatively, you may be looking to switch to Shopify Payments from a different gateway.
Step 3: Set up a payment provider
1. On the home screen, click Set up payments.
2. Click Set up Shopify Payments.
3. In the Payments section, click Complete account setup.
Step 4: Switch to Shopify Payments
1. In the Settings sidebar, click on Payments.
2. Under Payment Provider, click on Shopify Payments.
3. Click on Activate Shopify Payments.
Step 5: Complete verification and add your details
After activating Shopify Payments, Shopify needs to verify your identity and business before payouts can begin. You'll be asked for:
- Personal information: Your legal name, date of birth, home address, and the last four digits of your SSN (in the US) or the equivalent national ID for your country.
- Business information: Your registered business name, business address, and your EIN or Taxpayer Identification Number. Sole proprietors can usually use their personal details.
- Bank account: An account in your store's country and currency that supports the right transfer type (in the US, it must accept ACH transfers). Checking accounts that only receive wire payments, and money-transfer apps that mimic bank accounts, won't work.
Shopify may also request documents to confirm these details. These typically include a government-issued ID, a business registration document, and proof of business address.
In my experience, uploading clear, full-page scans where the name and address exactly match what you typed is the single biggest factor in getting approved on the first try.
Verification is usually quick, but it can take a few business days if documents need a manual review.
Shopify Payments has now been set up. Once it's done, you can fill in the required information if you still need to do so.
For instance, you could add your personal and banking information, Business or Taxpayer Identification Number (depending on your country), and so on.
Test Shopify Payments
You've set up Shopify Payments to receive payouts from your customers. But how are you sure it works properly? To avoid delays or expensive mistakes, you could test it out first.
The aptly named Test Mode feature uses test credit card information to simulate payments on the system. Once you've activated this mode, you can't use real credit card details for orders. Moreover, you must refrain from fulfilling any test orders, as you will be charged shipping labels.
You can simulate successful and failed credit card payments on Test Mode. It provides test credit card details you can use for either purpose.
Common issues when activating Shopify Payments
These are the Shopify Payments activation problems merchants run into most often, and how to clear them:
"This store can't accept payments right now."
This is usually a verification or banking detail that doesn't match, or a pending document review.
Application on hold or rejected
This typically means your business category falls on Shopify's prohibited list (regulated products, certain crypto services, adult content, gambling), or the details you entered don't match your official documents.
Re-check your business name, tax ID, and address against your registration paperwork.
Bank account not accepted
The account must be in your store's country and currency and support the correct transfer type. Swap a wire-only or app-based account for a standard checking account.
Payouts paused after going live
Shopify can hold payouts if it flags unusual or high-risk orders. Reviewing suspicious orders and learning how to block a customer on Shopify helps you reduce fraud-related holds.
How to configure your Shopify Payments settings
Once Shopify Payments is active, spend two minutes tuning a few settings so payouts and checkout behave the way you want:
- Payout schedule: Choose how often funds land in your bank account (daily, weekly, or monthly) under Settings → Payments → Payouts.
- Customer statement descriptor: Set the name that appears on your customers' card statements. A recognizable name cuts down on "I don't recognize this charge" chargebacks.
- Additional payment methods: Shop Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are included with Shopify Payments. I would prefer Apple Pay. If you want a one-tap mobile checkout through it, see how to add Apple Pay to Shopify in simple steps.
- Fraud prevention: Shopify Payments includes built-in fraud analysis that flags high-risk orders. Review flagged orders before fulfilling them.
What does Shopify Payments cost?
You're not required to pay any setup or monthly fees for Shopify Payments. Plus, it waives third-party transaction fees, which could add up to substantial amounts.
That said, you'll pay standard credit card processing fees on each transaction. The rates depend on your Shopify plan, and Shopify refreshed both its plan names and rates. The old mid-tier "Shopify" plan is now called Grow.
Here are the current US online rates with Shopify Payments (2026):
- Basic: 2.9% + $0.30 online, 2.6% + $0.10 in person
- Grow: 2.7% + $0.30 online, 2.5% + $0.10 in person
- Advanced: 2.5% + $0.30 online, 2.4% + $0.10 in person
The higher your plan, the lower your processing rate.
Advanced now lands well below the flat 2.9% + $0.30 that gateways like Stripe charge for online payments.
The big advantage of Shopify Payments is that it waives the extra third-party transaction fee Shopify otherwise adds (roughly 0.5%–2% depending on your plan) when you use an external gateway.
Chargebacks cost $15 in the US, fully refunded if the dispute is resolved in your favor, and international sellers receiving payouts in USD pay a 1.5% currency conversion fee.
Stay default with Shopify Payments
Third-party providers are often pitched as superior to default options, but for most merchants, the built-in gateway is the stronger starting point.
It offers seamless integration with the platform, competitive fees that drop as you scale, no extra transaction surcharge, and a setup process that, as you've seen, takes only a few steps.
FAQs
1. How long does Shopify Payments take to activate?
Activation itself is instant once you click Activate Shopify Payments. Verification of your identity and bank details is usually quick, but it can take a few business days if Shopify needs to manually review your documents.
2. What are the requirements to use Shopify Payments?
You need an active Shopify store based in a supported country, a registered business name and tax ID, a bank account in your store's country and currency, a business category that isn't on Shopify's prohibited list, and two-step authentication enabled on your account.
3. How do I activate Shopify Payments if I'm switching from another gateway?
Go to Settings → Payments, select Shopify Payments under Payment Provider, click Activate, and complete your account details. Your previous gateway is deactivated automatically once Shopify Payments goes live.
4. Can I use Shopify Payments outside the supported countries?
No. If your business isn't registered in a supported country, you'll need a third-party gateway instead.
5. Why was my Shopify Payments application put on hold?
The most common reasons are a business category that isn't supported or details that don't match your verification documents.
6. Does Shopify Payments cost extra?
There are no setup or monthly fees. You only pay standard credit card processing rates (from 2.5% to 2.9% + $0.30 online, depending on your plan), and it waives the third-party transaction fee that applies to external gateways.
7. How to set up Shopify Payments?
To set up Shopify Payments in 2026, go to your Shopify admin, open Settings > Payments, and click Activate Shopify Payments. Add your business details, personal verification information, and bank account details. Once approved, you can accept cards and supported payment methods directly through Shopify.
About the author
Vineet Nair
Vineet is an experienced content strategist with expertise in the ecommerce domain and a keen interest in Shopify. He aims to help Shopify merchants thrive in this competitive environment with technical solutions and thoughtfully structured content.