Regional Payment Methods
Cards work everywhere. But in many countries, customers prefer local payment methods. Adding the right regional methods can increase conversion by 20-60% in those markets.
The question is: which methods are worth implementing, and when?
On this page
When to Add Regional Payment Methods
Add regional methods when:
- 10%+ of your customers are from that region
- Conversion data shows cart abandonment from lack of local methods
- You're serious about that market (not just testing)
- Your processor supports it (check before committing)
Skip regional methods when:
- Under 5% of customers from that region
- You're using a processor that doesn't support it (Square, most US processors)
- Implementation cost exceeds expected revenue lift
- You can't handle refunds/disputes in local method
Processor Support Reality Check
Which processors support regional methods:
| Processor | Regional Methods Supported | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 40+ methods across EU, LATAM, Asia | Enable in dashboard + add to checkout |
| Shopify Payments | Same as Stripe (powered by Stripe) | Enable in settings |
| Adyen | 250+ methods globally | Full integration required |
| Square | None (US, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan cards only) | Not applicable |
| PayPal | PayPal wallet in 200+ countries | PayPal button |
| Braintree | PayPal + Venmo + some regional | API integration |
Bottom line: If you're on Stripe or Shopify Payments, you can add regional methods easily. If you're on Square, you can't (cards only).
Regional Methods by Market
Europe
When to add: 10%+ EU customers, especially Netherlands/Belgium/Germany
Latin America
When to add: 10%+ LATAM customers, especially Brazil/Mexico
Asia-Pacific
When to add: Selling to China or SEA, 5%+ customers from region
Quick Decision Framework
Implementation Effort by Processor
On Stripe/Shopify Payments
Effort: Low (1-2 days)
Steps:
- Enable method in Stripe dashboard (Payment methods → Regional)
- Add method to checkout (Stripe Elements auto-detects customer location)
- Test with test cards
- Go live
Cost: $0 additional (same rates as cards, or published rates per method)
On Square
Not possible. Square doesn't support regional payment methods beyond cards.
Workaround: Use Stripe for international, Square for US card-present.
On Adyen
Effort: Medium-High (2-6 weeks)
Steps:
- Negotiate rates for each payment method
- Integration per method (API differs)
- Certification if required
- Regional compliance review
- Go live
Cost: Negotiated per method
Cost Comparison: Regional Methods
Stripe Pricing by Method
| Method | Region | Stripe Fee | vs Card Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| iDEAL | Netherlands | 0.29€ flat fee | Often cheaper than cards |
| Bancontact | Belgium | 0.29€ flat fee | Often cheaper than cards |
| SEPA Direct Debit | EU | 0.8% (capped at 5€) | Much cheaper than cards |
| Klarna | EU, US | 3.3% + $0.30 | More expensive (Klarna takes cut) |
| Boleto | Brazil | 2.95% + R$2 | Similar to cards |
| OXXO | Mexico | 1.85% + MX$11 | Cheaper than cards |
| Pix | Brazil | 1.4% + R$0.45 | Cheaper than cards |
| Alipay | China | 3.1% + $0.30 | Similar to cards |
| WeChat Pay | China | 3.1% + $0.30 | Similar to cards |
Insight: Many regional methods are cheaper than cards, not more expensive.
Conversion Impact Data
When you add regional methods in their home markets:
| Region | Method | Conversion Lift | Adoption Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | iDEAL | 30-50% | 55-65% of checkouts |
| Belgium | Bancontact | 25-40% | 40-50% of checkouts |
| Germany | SEPA/Giropay | 15-25% | 20-30% of checkouts |
| Brazil | Pix | 40-60% | 50-70% of checkouts |
| Brazil | Boleto | 20-30% | 15-25% of checkouts |
| Mexico | OXXO | 20-35% | 25-40% of checkouts |
| China | Alipay + WeChat | 50-80% | 70-90% of checkouts |
Reality: In some markets, local methods are preferred over cards. Not offering them = lost sales.
Test to Run
Regional method ROI calculator:
Week 1: Analyze your geography
- Pull last 3 months of sales by customer country
- Identify top 5 countries outside US
- Calculate % of revenue from each
Week 2: Identify applicable methods 4. For each top country, check which regional methods exist 5. Check if Stripe/your processor supports them 6. Estimate adoption rate (use table above)
Week 3: Calculate ROI 7. Example: 15% of revenue from Netherlands (€100K/month) 8. iDEAL adoption: 60% of Dutch customers 9. Potential additional revenue: €100K × 60% × 30% conversion lift = €18K/month 10. Implementation cost: 8-16 hours dev time 11. Payback: Immediate
Success criteria: If potential monthly revenue lift > $5K and implementation < 40 hours, add the method.
Common Mistakes
1. Adding Methods Too Early
Wrong: "We might sell to Brazil someday, let's add Boleto"
Right: "We have 500 Brazilian customers and 40% abandon at checkout. Let's add Pix and Boleto."
Rule: Don't add regional methods until you have material volume from that region.
2. Adding Methods Your Processor Doesn't Support
Wrong: "We want to add iDEAL" (while on Square)
Right: "We're on Square for US, we'll use Stripe for EU sales" or "We'll switch to Stripe for iDEAL support"
Reality: Check processor support BEFORE committing to a market.
3. Ignoring Refund/Dispute Complexity
Some regional methods have different refund flows:
- Boleto: Can't refund (must issue new payment)
- OXXO: Cash-only, complex refunds
- SEPA Direct Debit: Chargeback windows differ from cards
Understand the operational impact before enabling.
4. Not Localizing the Entire Experience
Adding iDEAL but:
- Checkout is in English only
- Prices are in USD not EUR
- Shipping doesn't work to that country
Payment method is the last mile. Localize pricing, language, and shipping first.
Scale Callouts
Under $50K/month total:
- Don't add regional methods yet
- Focus on US market optimization
- Cards work for international customers
$50K-$250K/month, 10%+ international:
- Add regional methods for your top country
- Start with easiest: iDEAL (EU) or Pix (Brazil)
- Use Stripe for easy implementation
$250K-$1M/month, 20%+ international:
- Add regional methods for top 3 countries
- Consider Klarna for EU (BNPL)
- Optimize method mix by country
Over $1M/month, 30%+ international:
- Full regional method suite
- Consider Adyen for global optimization
- Local acquiring for better rates
Next Steps
Just starting international sales?
- Read Going Global first
- Set up multi-currency pricing
- Add regional methods once you have 10%+ from a region
Ready to add regional methods?
- Check your processor supports them
- Start with your largest international market
- Read region-specific guide:
- Europe - iDEAL, Bancontact, SEPA, Klarna
- Latin America - Boleto, Pix, OXXO
- Asia-Pacific - Alipay, WeChat Pay
High-volume international?
- Consider Adyen for 250+ methods
- Implement payment method optimization (route to cheapest)
- Monitor adoption rates by country
See Also
- Going Global - International expansion strategy
- International Payment Methods - Overview
- Stripe - Easiest for SMBs to add regional methods
- Adyen - Enterprise global payment methods
- Checkout Conversion - Method optimization
- FX and Settlement - Multi-currency considerations