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- 10 Best Payment Gateways for Hong Kong Businesses
10 Best Payment Gateways for Hong Kong Businesses in 2025
- Modified: 24 July 2025
- 9 min read
- Ecommerce, Money Talk
Rodney Wong
Author
Rodney helps customers in Hong Kong navigate the details and benefits of our products and services, showing how technology can be a game changer for their business. A strong advocate for the power of the written word, he makes tech topics accessible, relevant, and, above all, practical—empowering entrepreneurs to pursue their big ideas.
As more Hong Kong businesses go digital, offering the right payment options has become essential. Customers expect fast, secure, and flexible checkout experiences – and if their preferred method isn’t available, they may abandon the purchase. That’s why choosing the right payment gateway is critical to converting browsers into buyers and building trust online.
Key Takeaways
- A seamless payment experience helps convert more sales. Customers are more likely to complete purchases when the checkout process is smooth and convenient.
- Offering a range of local and international payment options builds trust. Supporting popular methods like FPS, AlipayHK, and major credit cards ensures you don’t lose sales at checkout.
- The right gateway saves time and costs. A reliable provider offers secure transactions, fast settlement times, and transparent fees, helping your business run more efficiently.
What Is a Payment Gateway?
A payment gateway is a secure service that enables businesses to accept digital payments, both online and offline. It acts as a middleman between your customer, your business, and the financial institution, handling the authorisation and encryption of payment details. Whether customers pay with credit cards, digital wallets, or bank transfers, the gateway ensures the transaction is processed safely and efficiently.
Some gateways offer a simple, all-in-one setup, while others may require additional technical integration. Choosing the right payment gateway depends on your business model, target market, and the types of payment methods your customers prefer.
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Types of Payment Gateways
Payment gateways come in different setups, each offering varying levels of control, complexity, and customer experience. Understanding how they work can help you choose the right one for your business.
- Redirect Gateways: These gateways send your customers to a third-party site (like PayPal) to complete the payment. They’re easy to set up and maintain but offer less control over branding and user experience.
- Hosted Gateways: The payment form appears on your site but is securely hosted by the payment provider. This offers a smoother checkout experience while keeping security and compliance in the provider’s hands.
- Self-Hosted Gateways: You collect payment data on your own website and then send it to the gateway for processing. This gives you full control over the user experience but also makes you responsible for security and compliance.
- API (or Integrated) Gateways: These allow full integration of the payment process directly into your website or app via APIs. They offer the most seamless and branded experience, but require technical expertise and strong security practices.
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How Do Payment Gateways Work?
Payment gateways play a crucial role in facilitating secure and seamless transactions between your business and your customers. Whether online or in-store, they handle several key functions behind the scenes:
- Secure Transactions: Payment gateways encrypt sensitive information (like credit card details) to keep data safe during transmission.
- Authorisation and Processing: They verify transaction details with the payment processor and authorise the payment in real-time.
- Communication: Gateways serve as a bridge between the customer, the business, and the financial institutions involved in the transaction.
- Online and Offline Use: While they’re essential for ecommerce, payment gateways also support offline payments through point-of-sale (POS) systems.
Top 10 Payment Gateways to Consider
1 Stripe
Tech-savvy businesses that require a highly customisable payments system with international support.
Stripe is a top-tier global payment platform offering full API-based integration for smooth checkout experiences. It's perfect for local Hong Kong businesses with plans for growth or those already selling overseas.
Main features:
- Accepts payments in over 135 currencies and multiple payment methods (credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay China, WeChat Pay China)
- Supports seamless integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, custom-built stores, and mobile checkout flows
- Includes tools for fraud protection, recurring billing, invoicing, and in-depth payment analytics
Fees:
- Domestic cards (Hong Kong‑issued): 3.4% + HK$2.35 per transaction
- International cards: 3.4% + HK$0.30 (payable in USD) + additional 0.5% international card surcharge
- Currency conversion (if conversion to HKD/SGD/USD is needed): 2% FX fee
- Chinese wallets (Alipay China, WeChat Pay China): 2.2% + HK$2 per transaction
No setup or monthly fees. (Refunds do not return the original transaction fee)
2 PayPal (Hong Kong Business Account)
Freelancers, small businesses, and international sellers who want a trusted, easy-to-set-up payment solution with global reach.
PayPal enables Hong Kong businesses to accept credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and PayPal payments – even if the customer doesn’t have a PayPal account. With strong encryption, buyer and seller protection, and multi-currency support, it’s a popular choice for businesses looking to start immediately with minimal setup.
Main features:
- Accepts 20+ currencies, including HKD, USD, EUR, JPY, SGD, GBP, and others.
- Flexible checkout: customers can pay via credit/debit cards, PayPal balance, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and QR codes.
- No-code setup options: payment links, buttons, or QR codes that can be shared via social media or websites.
- Recurring billing, invoicing, analytics, and platform integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce, and more.
Fees:
- Domestic commercial transactions: 3.90% + HK$2.35 per transaction; QR code transactions: 2.90% + HK$2.35.
- International payments: 3.90% + HK$2.35, plus an additional 0.50% surcharge for overseas transactions; QR code international: 3.90% + fixed fee.
- Withdrawals: No fee for withdrawals from HK$1,000; HK$3.50 fee for amounts < HK$1,000; USD withdrawals incur ~2.5% fee when moving to USD account.
- Micropayments (for very low-value transactions): 5.00% + HK$0.39 per transaction (Hong Kong dollar) — subject to application approval.
3 Adyen
Medium to large businesses and enterprises that need global payment infrastructure and advanced local payment method support in Hong Kong.
Adyen is an enterprise-grade payment platform and acquirer licensed in Hong Kong, enabling businesses to accept payments across ecommerce and in-store channels. Its unified technology stack supports local and international sales with a single integration.
Main features:
- Wide payment method coverage: Accepts credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), as well as local options like AlipayHK, WeChat Pay HK, and PayMe by HSBC, which Adyen began supporting in April 2024.
- Global payouts & multi-currency settlement: Ideal for businesses operating across borders.
- Built-in risk & fraud management: Includes tools like RevenueProtect to minimise chargebacks. Adyen also offers POS terminals for contactless in-store payments.
- Developer-friendly API and platform integrations: Connects with ecommerce platforms, ERP systems, and POS solutions seamlessly.
Fees:
- No setup or monthly fees—pay per transaction. Fees comprise a fixed processing charge (~€0.11 or US $0.13) plus a percentage depending on payment type.
- AlipayHK & PayMe (Hong Kong wallets): ~€0.11+ 3% (~HK$0.13+ 3%) per transaction.
- International cards (Visa/Mastercard): ~0.60% + €0.11+ interchange fees; American Express charges are higher (~3.95% + €0.11)
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4 Airwallex
SMEs and growing businesses that operate in multiple currencies, need low-cost cross-border payments, or want integrated banking and card tools.
Airwallex is a licensed fintech platform offering business accounts, payment gateways, and multi-currency payment tools. It enables seamless global transactions with a strong presence in Hong Kong and beyond.
Main features:
- Multi-currency global accounts in 20+ currencies (e.g. USD, EUR, CNY, HKD) for receiving and holding funds.
- Local payment acceptance, including FPS and Hong Kong cards.
- Global payment gateway supporting international cards and wallets.
- API and plug‑and‑play integrations with platforms like Shopify, Xero, and more.
- Borderless Visa corporate and employee cards with real-time spend tracking.
Fees:
- No setup or monthly account fees.
- Receiving payments: 0.3% on non-owner accounts.
- Domestic card transactions: ~3.3% + HK$2.35 per transaction (additional 0.3% surcharge for international cards).
- AlipayHK: ~2.8% + HK$2 per transaction; WeChat Pay: ~1.0% + HK$2 per transaction.
- Local payouts and transfers: free.
- SWIFT transfers: HK$120–HK$200 per transfer.
- Currency conversion: FX mark-up from 0.2% above interbank rates.
- Company card: Free; Employee cards: ~HK$109/month per cardholder.
Airwallex is licensed as a Money Service Operator by the Customs and Excise Department in Hong Kong and is widely adopted by SMEs looking for affordable cross-border payment solutions. It supports Faster Payment System (FPS) integration, making it easy to receive and send local HKD payments.
5 PayDollar (AsiaPay Limited)
Businesses in Hong Kong and across APAC that require a unified solution for multi-channel and multi-currency payment acceptance in one platform.
PayDollar, developed by Hong Kong–based AsiaPay, is an all-in-one payment gateway trusted across Asia since 2000. It supports ecommerce, in-store, and mobile payments, offering flexible options for merchants of any size.
Main features:
- Accepts credit/debit cards, internet banking, digital wallets like AlipayHK, Alipay China, UnionPay, and WeChat Pay – all within one account.
- Supports multi‑channel processing: online, in-store, on‑the‑go, and even call-centre orders.
- Multi‑language support (e.g. English, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai) to cater to diverse customer groups.
- Multi‑currency acceptance and settlement – handles up to 144 currencies with local settlement options in multiple APAC markets.
- Built-in fraud management tools, including real-time fraud detection alerts and tokenisation support.
- Generate payment links or QR codes for ordering via email, social media, or offline channels.
- Dashboard with analytics and reporting tools for real-time sales insights and transaction monitoring.
Fees:
- Setup & monthly fees: Low or none; often bundled with local merchant account services
- Transaction fees: Vary based on payment method and region; AlipayHK, UnionPay, and card payments typically come with competitive rates, though precise pricing requires direct inquiry.
- Settlement: Fast settlement available in several APAC currencies (e.g., HKD, USD) with minimal remittance charges
PayDollar is headquartered in Hong Kong and operates across 17 APAC markets with local customer support and tailored settlement options
6 PayMe (HSBC)
Small and medium businesses seeking fast, QR‑code-based payment acceptance tailored for Hong Kong consumers.
PayMe for Business is HSBC’s locally built mobile payment gateway used by over 3 million Hong Kong users and accepted in more than 100,000 merchant outlets including retailers, restaurants, and e-commerce sites.⁴ It enables seamless connections with local customers via PayCode and PayLink, without the need for card-swiping terminals.
Main features:
- Accept PayMe via merchant-presented QR codes in-store or PayCodes/PayLinks for online, social media, or remote payments.
- Instant payout to your bank account with no transfer fee and no minimum withdrawal amount.
- Easy onboarding via HSBC Business Internet Banking – with setup completed in minutes.
- Real-time reporting and refund capability directly within the PayMe for Business portal or app.
Fees:
- 1.2% per transaction via the PayMe for Business mobile app.
- 1.5% per transaction for PayMe API integration or POS terminal use.
- No setup fee or monthly charges.
PayMe operates on Hong Kong’s Faster Payment System (FPS) ecosystem and is uniquely suited for SMEs targeting local customers. Its lightweight setup, growing merchant adoption, and instant settlement make it a highly practical solution where card terminal infrastructure isn’t required.
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7 AlipayHK (Alipay Payment Services HK)
Hong Kong merchants serving both local customers and mainland Chinese users, especially those relying on QR code payments.
Operated by a local joint venture between Alibaba's Ant Group and CK Hutchison, AlipayHK is a Hong Kong wallet and payment gateway with over 3.3 million active users. It enables fast, QR-based payments in HKD and supports funds from both Hong Kong and mainland Alipay users. Widely accepted at retail chains, markets, and even public transport, it’s ideal for businesses targeting local and mainland demand.
Main features:
- Supports payments from AlipayHK and mainland Alipay users via merchant or customer-presented QR codes, ideal for omnichannel use.
- Integrates via Alipay+, allowing merchants to accept other e‑wallets (e.g. LINE Pay, ShopeePay, GCash) and credit cards via a single interface.
- Dashboard and reporting features allow real-time transaction monitoring, sales-data export, and multi-language support.
- Fast settlement: payments exceeding HK$20 are settled to your linked bank account within 1–2 working days, typically arriving in 2–3 business days depending on your bank.
Fees:
- In-store (QR-code) transactions: As low as 0–2.5% depending on volume and merchant agreement. Physical store transactions can be zero‑fee for high-sales merchants.
- Online ecommerce (API/PC2Mobile): Typically 0.8–2.2% per transaction depending on service and transaction volume.
- No setup or monthly fees for standard merchant onboarding.
AlipayHK is fully licensed and regulated in Hong Kong (SVF license), and became a designated issuer in the city’s Consumption Voucher Scheme. It also supports cross-border redemption in the Greater Bay Area via "一碼通深港", enabling seamless payment for Shenzhen–Hong Kong commuters.
8 Octopus App for Business (Octopus Cards Limited)
Businesses in Hong Kong serving local walk-in customers, marketplaces, food stalls, taxis, and MSMEs looking to accept Octopus card or wallet payments easily.
Octopus is the most widely used payment method in Hong Kong, with over 98% population penetration. The Octopus App for Business lets merchants accept Octopus card or wallet payments using their smartphone or a free Octopus Mobile POS – with no hardware integration needed.
Main features:
- Zero setup or hardware cost; approved merchants receive a free Mobile POS (worth HK$228).
- Instant in-app onboarding, generating QR codes or using NFC on iPhones or Android phones to accept payments.
- Funds can be transferred instantly to your bank account via FPS – no transfer fees for most MSMEs, including a first HK$10,000 per month fee waiver.
- Real-time transaction alerts, summary reports, exportable CSV records, cashier & owner modes.
- Online payment support via Checkout.com integration – enabling Octopus checkout for your ecommerce site.
Fees:
- Handling fee: Free for the first 6 months, then a special rate of 1.3% (standard 1.5%) of transactions.
- FPS transfer to bank accounts: Free for eligible MSMEs (subject to ongoing promotional terms).
Octopus is fully licensed in Hong Kong and omnipresent in both retail and transit. Its tight integration with the FPS network and support for mobile-native onboarding makes it exceptionally well-suited to local SMEs and high-footfall merchants looking for fast, contactless payment solutions without traditional card infrastructure. Recent integration with Checkout.com also enables Octopus acceptance in ecommerce checkout flows.
9 2Checkout (Verifone)
Businesses that need a global payment solution supporting multiple currencies, languages, platforms, and subscription billing – especially if Stripe is unavailable in their region.
2Checkout by Verifone is a fully managed payment gateway and merchant account platform available in Hong Kong, enabling businesses to accept payments in over 87 currencies across 200+ countries. It supports ecommerce, subscriptions, and digital goods sales – ideal for internationally oriented merchants.
Main features:
- Accepts credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, UnionPay, JCB) and digital wallets (PayPal, Alipay, Skrill, WeChat Pay) across multiple currencies and regions.
- Supports recurring billing, subscription management, and tax/VAT compliance features.
- Offers built-in fraud protection and PCI Level 1 compliance.
- Integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and other ecommerce platforms.
- Provides global checkout experiences in 15+ languages.
- Available pricing plans include 2Sell, 2Subscribe, and 2Monetize/2Comply, with varying levels of functionality for general sales, subscription billing, and digital goods.
Fees:
- 3.5% + US $0.35 per transaction (2Sell plan).
- 4.5% + US $0.45 per transaction (2Subscribe plan).
- Up to 6% + US $0.60 per transaction (2Monetize/2Comply plan).
- Additional 2% cross-border fee for international transactions.
- Chargeback fees range from US $15 to US $20.
- No setup, monthly, or early termination fees.
- Currency conversion typically includes a 2–5% margin above the base FX rate.
2Checkout is a viable option in Hong Kong, especially for businesses selling internationally or offering subscription services. However, some users have reported occasional delays with payouts or account verification, and local support may not be as responsive as regional providers.
10 WeChat Pay
Businesses in Hong Kong that want to tap into the Chinese consumer market and offer mobile-first payment options both online and offline.
WeChat Pay is one of China’s most widely used mobile payment platforms, integrated within the WeChat app. It enables customers to make quick and secure payments using their mobile phones. For Hong Kong businesses, WeChat Pay can be an effective way to attract mainland Chinese consumers, tourists, and local users who prefer QR code-based payments.
Main features:
- Enables in-store and online payments via QR codes or integrated checkout.
- Offers seamless integration with WeChat Official Accounts and Mini Programs for marketing and customer engagement.
- Real-time payment notifications and settlement tracking.
- Supports both cross-border payments (settled in HKD) and local transactions.
- Available through local acquiring partners or directly via WeChat Pay HK for domestic payments.
Fees:
- Typically 1%–2% per transaction for local merchants (via acquiring partners).
- Cross-border transactions may include additional fees, depending on the payment provider.
- No setup or monthly fees in most cases, but terms can vary based on the acquiring partner.
To accept WeChat Pay in Hong Kong, you’ll need to apply through an authorised acquiring bank or payment service provider. Many businesses pair WeChat Pay with AlipayHK to offer a full range of mobile payment options preferred by Chinese customers. While WeChat Pay HK (the local version) supports HKD payments, cross-border functionality is subject to additional compliance requirements.
Summary
Selecting the right payment gateway is crucial for ensuring smooth, secure transactions and meeting your customers’ expectations. In this guide, we’ve covered some of the most popular local and international options — from Stripe and PayPal to PayMe and Octopus — to help you compare features, fees, and suitability for your business needs.
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Rodney helps customers in Hong Kong navigate the details and benefits of our products and services, showing how technology can be a game changer for their business. A strong advocate for the power of the written word, he makes tech topics accessible, relevant, and, above all, practical—empowering entrepreneurs to pursue their big ideas.
