Payment Gateways on Shopify

7. 8. 2026
Platební brány na Shopify

Payment gateways on Shopify decide whether a customer completes their purchase – and a Czech e-shop today can choose from several good options. The good news is that Shopify Payments is available in the Czech Republic, so you can enable cards and fast payments directly in Shopify. Alongside it, you can use local gateways such as Comgate or GoPay, the international Stripe, and add QR payments or cash on delivery.

In this article, we'll look at which payment methods Czech customers expect, how the individual gateways differ in fees and features, and how to choose the right mix for your e-shop.

Key takeaways

  • Shopify Payments is available in the Czech Republic – you can enable cards, Shop Pay and other methods directly in Shopify.
  • Comgate and GoPay are popular local gateways with competitive fees.
  • Stripe is a strong choice for international sales.
  • Czech customers also expect QR payments, bank transfers and cash on delivery.
  • Offer 2–4 methods – more options reduce the number of abandoned carts.

Table of contents

Which payment methods Czech customers want

Czech shoppers are used to a combination of modern and traditional methods. Card payments and fast online payments (bank payment buttons) are the standard, but cash on delivery and bank transfers, often with a QR code, are still very much alive. Offering the right mix of methods is one of the most effective ways to reduce abandoned carts – every customer prefers something different, and a missing favourite method can put them off buying. Payment is the very last step of the purchase, so any friction here costs the most: a customer who clicks all the way through to checkout has decided to buy – and it would be a shame to lose them because they can't find a way to pay.

Shopify Payments (available in the Czech Republic)

Shopify Payments is Shopify's own native payment gateway, and it is available in the Czech Republic. Its main advantage is that it brings payment processing, order management and reporting together in a single system – you just switch it on in Shopify, with no need to integrate another service. It accepts card payments, accelerated checkouts (Shop Pay) and selected local methods.

For many e-shops, Shopify Payments is the easiest start: less setup, one admin and a smooth checkout experience. Check the current terms and supported methods for the Czech Republic, as the offering keeps expanding.

Comgate

Comgate is a popular Czech payment gateway with competitive fees – for most consumer cards from the EU, the rate is around 1% per transaction. It offers cards, online bank-button payments and other local methods, and it knows the Czech environment well. It's a common choice for e-shops that want a local gateway with good support.

GoPay

GoPay is one of the most widely used local gateways in the Czech Republic and offers a transparent price list. Card payment rates are roughly 0.95–1% depending on card type and volume, and the monthly fee can be waived at higher turnover. GoPay supports cards, bank buttons and other methods, and is well established among Czech and Slovak customers.

Stripe

Stripe is an international payment gateway valued for its reliability and developer flexibility. It's particularly suited to e-shops with ambitions to sell abroad, as it handles many currencies and payment methods. For purely local sales, Czech gateways tend to be more cost-effective, but for international projects Stripe is a strong choice.

QR payments, bank transfers and cash on delivery

Besides card gateways, Czech customers often use bank transfers with a QR code (quickly scanned and paid from a mobile banking app) and cash on delivery. QR payments can be added to Shopify through custom development, while cash on delivery is handled via carriers (e.g. Balíkobot or Packeta (Zásilkovna)). These methods increase trust, especially among customers who don't like paying by card upfront.

Fee comparison (indicative)

Gateway Indicative fee (EU cards) Strength
Shopify Payments depends on Shopify plan native, one admin
Comgate approx. 1% + CZK 0 local, low fees
GoPay approx. 0.95–1% local, well established
Stripe per price list international sales

Fees change and depend on card type, volume and individual agreements – always check the gateway's current price list before deciding.

How to choose and what to set up

For a purely Czech and Slovak e-shop, the simplest combination is usually Shopify Payments (or a local gateway) for cards, plus cash on delivery and QR/bank transfer. If you're targeting foreign markets, consider Stripe for its currencies and methods. The key is to test the entire payment process on mobile, verify that prices and cash on delivery are correctly reflected in the order, and offer enough options – but not so many that they overwhelm the customer.

Accelerated checkouts: Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay

Alongside classic card payments, accelerated checkouts play a big role today. Shop Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay let customers pay in a few clicks, without filling in their details manually – these are securely stored on their device or account. Especially on mobile, where most purchases happen, this significantly shortens the path to completing an order.

Shop Pay is Shopify's own solution and one of the highest-converting checkouts – it's enabled as part of Shopify Payments. Apple Pay and Google Pay then cover customers in their respective ecosystems. Offering these fast methods alongside standard card payment is one of the simplest ways to reduce abandoned carts, as they remove last-minute friction just before payment.

How payment processing and fees work

When a customer pays by card, the payment goes through the payment gateway and the processor to your bank. You pay a fee for this service – usually a percentage of the transaction, sometimes plus a fixed amount. With Czech gateways, fees for standard consumer cards from the EU are roughly around one percent; for business or non-European cards, they tend to be higher.

When choosing a gateway, don't just look at the per-transaction rate, but also at the monthly fee, payout terms and any other charges. At lower turnover, the monthly fee may be decisive; at higher turnover, it's the percentage rate itself. So always calculate the total costs based on your real volume, not just the advertised percentage – one percent across thousands of transactions makes a big difference.

Step by step: setting up payments on Shopify

  1. Choose payment methods based on your market – cards, accelerated checkouts, cash on delivery, bank transfer.
  2. Enable Shopify Payments or connect a local gateway (Comgate, GoPay) or Stripe.
  3. Set up cash on delivery and QR payments according to what your customers use.
  4. Check that prices and fees are reflected in the order, including any cash on delivery surcharge.
  5. Test the entire payment process on desktop and mobile, so you know what it looks like from the customer's point of view.

Properly configured payments are the last step before the customer spends their money – any friction here costs you orders, so it pays to set them up carefully and test them.

Payments for the Czech vs international market

Your payment method mix should match who you sell to. For the Czech and Slovak market, the foundation is cards and fast online payments, plus cash on delivery and bank transfers with a QR code – methods local customers are used to. Local gateways such as Comgate or GoPay tend to be cost-effective and well established here.

Once you target foreign markets, the priorities change. International cards, accelerated checkouts and methods popular in the target country come to the fore, and multi-currency support becomes more important. Stripe is often a strong choice here, or Shopify Payments with Shop Pay. The key is not to stick with a purely Czech setup if you actually sell elsewhere too – a missing local method in the target country lowers conversion just as a missing cash on delivery option does in the Czech Republic.

Cash on delivery: pros and risks

Cash on delivery is still deeply rooted in the Czech Republic – many customers trust it more than paying upfront, because they only pay when they receive the goods. For an e-shop, this means a lower barrier to purchase, especially for new or lesser-known brands where the customer hasn't built up trust yet. Offering cash on delivery can therefore noticeably boost conversion.

But it also comes with risks. It increases the number of uncollected parcels, because the commitment to pay only on collection feels less binding to some customers. That means shipping costs both ways and stock tied up. The solution is to offer cash on delivery while encouraging upfront payment – for example with a small cash on delivery surcharge or, conversely, a perk for paying by card. The goal is to leave the choice to the customer while gently steering them towards a less risky payment method.

How to build your payment mix

The ideal payment mix isn't about having as many methods as possible, but having the right ones. For a typical Czech e-shop, a combination of cards and accelerated checkouts (fast and modern), cash on delivery (trust and habit) and bank transfer with a QR code (for those who don't like paying by card) works well. Three to four methods cover most preferences without overwhelming the customer.

When building your mix, start from who your customers are and how they actually pay, and keep an eye on the data – which methods are really used and which only add costs. Then keep fine-tuning the mix over time. Well-chosen payment methods are a quiet but effective growth tool: they unobtrusively remove the reasons a customer might abandon a purchase.

The most common payment setup mistakes

  • Too few methods. Offering only cards without cash on delivery and fast payments needlessly puts off some Czech customers.
  • Too many methods. Ten options overwhelm the customer; two to four well-chosen ones are ideal.
  • Hidden or late-displayed fees. A cash on delivery surcharge that only appears at checkout increases the number of abandoned carts.
  • Untested mobile checkout. Most purchases are made on phones – paying has to be smooth there.
  • Poor gateway economics. Choosing based on the advertised percentage without calculating total costs on your real turnover.

A simple rule prevents most of these mistakes: start from how and with what your customers actually pay, offer them exactly that, and test the entire process on desktop and mobile before launching it.

Security and checkout conversion

Payment security is not only an obligation but also a trust factor. Card processing is subject to strict standards (PCI DSS), and modern gateways as well as Shopify Payments meet them, so sensitive data never passes through your server. For the customer, this means confidence that the payment will go through securely – and that confidence translates directly into their willingness to complete the purchase.

Checkout conversion is boosted by a combination of several things: offering popular methods (including cash on delivery), fast checkouts without unnecessary form-filling, transparent prices and a smooth experience on mobile. Conversely, conversion is killed by too few payment options, hidden fees or a slow and confusing checkout. Payments are therefore not just a technical detail, but a direct factor in how many visitors become customers.

Payouts and cash flow

When choosing a gateway, don't forget to check how quickly the money from payments reaches your account. Different gateways have different payout cycles – with some you get the money within a few days, with others after a longer delay. For a growing e-shop that needs to keep buying stock and paying for ads, payout speed is important for healthy cash flow.

Likewise, consider the terms for cash on delivery: the money from the carrier only arrives after the parcel has been delivered and collected, which can be noticeably later than with an online payment. Mapping out these cycles in advance helps you avoid unpleasant swings in cash. Payments aren't just about fees and conversion, but also about when you actually have the money available – and that's crucial for running an e-shop.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is Shopify Payments available in the Czech Republic?

Yes, Shopify Payments is available in the Czech Republic. It lets you accept card payments, accelerated checkouts (Shop Pay) and selected local methods directly in Shopify.

Which payment gateway should a Czech e-shop choose?

For local sales, Shopify Payments or Czech gateways such as Comgate or GoPay. For international sales, Stripe is a good fit. The ideal combination is cards + cash on delivery + QR/bank transfer.

Can I add QR payments to Shopify?

Yes, QR payments (bank transfer) can be added through custom development. Cash on delivery is then handled via carriers, for example Balíkobot or Packeta.

How much does a payment gateway cost?

Roughly around 1% per transaction with Czech gateways, but fees vary depending on card type, volume and individual agreements. Always check the current price list.

How many payment methods should I offer?

Ideally two to four well-chosen methods. More options reduce the number of abandoned carts, but too many will overwhelm the customer.

Does Shopify support Apple Pay and Google Pay?

Yes. Accelerated checkouts such as Shop Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay can be offered on Shopify and, especially on mobile, make paying much simpler and faster.

Can I have several payment gateways at once?

Yes, combinations are common – for example Shopify Payments for cards and accelerated checkouts, plus cash on delivery via a carrier. The important thing is not to overwhelm the customer with too many options.

Which gateway pays off at which turnover?

At lower turnover, the monthly fee matters; at higher turnover, it's the percentage rate per transaction itself. Calculate the total costs based on your real volume, not just the advertised percentage.

Want your Shopify payments set up right?

We'll set up your payment gateways, cash on delivery and QR payments so that your checkout runs smoothly and converts. Take a look at our Shopify e-shop development and customization or book a free consultation.

Sources

Author: Miroslav Volovec, CEO of 3NODE Software s.r.o. — specialists in e-shop development on the Shopify platform.