How payments work in Shopify
Shopify's help center lists third-party payment providers for online checkout, including Authorize.Net, and says third-party transaction fees apply on third-party gateways. A gateway is the connection that passes each sale from your store to the company that settles your card money. NMI also publishes a Shopify plugin.
In person it is different. Shopify's requirements for its POS Go hardware say third-party gateways are not supported, and name Authorize.Net as an example. So an outside provider is an online option.
What a switch involves
- The extra fee. Compare Shopify's third-party transaction fee for your plan with what you pay now.
- Which of your sales are online and which are in person. Only the online part can use an outside provider.
- If you take cards in person, new hardware is likely if you move away from Shopify Payments there.
- Authorize.Net required Shopify stores to move to its newer Shopify plugin by August 31, 2025. If you use Authorize.Net, confirm you are on the newer plugin.
Questions merchants ask
Do I have to use Shopify Payments?
Online, no: Shopify lets you use third-party providers, with extra transaction fees. In person with POS Go, yes: Shopify's requirements say third-party gateways are not supported.
Will I pay extra to use an outside provider?
Shopify's help center says third-party transaction fees apply on all third-party gateways. Check your plan page for the percentage on your plan.
Can I use Authorize.Net or NMI with Shopify?
Both connect to Shopify for online checkout. Authorize.Net requires its newer Shopify plugin. In person they are not an option with POS Go.
How do I see what I pay now?
Open your monthly processing statement and add up every fee. Divide that total by your card sales for the month. The result is your effective rate, the real percentage you pay after every fee. Our free statement review walks you through it.
See what you pay, for free
A person reads your statement with you and tells you what each fee means and whether a different processor is even possible with Shopify. There is no pressure to switch.