With the increasing tendency of consumers toward digital payment solutions, it becomes imperative for businesses to grasp the fundamental terminology associated with virtual transactions. In online payments, three main elements come into play: Payment Gateways, Payment Service Providers (PSPs), and Merchant Accounts.
Let’s get a clear understanding of crucial components, and two key players in this landscape are the merchant account vs payment gateway.
What is a Payment Gateway?
In the intricate web of financial transactions, a payment gateway stands as the technological bridge, enabling merchants to smoothly accept payments via debit or credit cards from their clients.
This element also serves as the technological foundation for a Payment Service Provider. Such companies either develop these products independently or opt for the best white-label payment gateway to expedite the launch of their business.
This term not only encompasses the tangible card-reading devices often seen in traditional brick-and-mortar retail establishments but also extends to the virtual payment processing portals prevalent in the vast landscape of online commerce.
In the physical retail sphere, payment gateways take the form of point-of-sale (POS) terminals. These terminals serve as the hub for inputting credit card information and accommodating various payment methods such as swiping, inserting, or utilizing smartphones equipped with the requisite technology. Their indispensable role lies in ensuring in-store transactions unfold seamlessly and reliably, playing a critical and non-negotiable role in the smooth processing of financial data.
On the digital frontier, the online payment gateways, commonly referred to as “checkout” portals, reign supreme. These virtual gateways empower customers to input credit card details or login credentials for diverse services, thereby facilitating a secure and convenient payment process within the expansive realm of e-commerce.
Hosted vs Self-Hosted Payment Gateways
A hosted payment gateway operates as a third-party solution where a service provider hosts the payment system for businesses.
Incorporating this payment system into websites or mobile apps offers customers a seamless pathway to kickstart their purchases via a designated ‘buy now’ link. This link smoothly guides them to the hosted payment gateway or Payment Service Provider (PSP) page.
Once a customer begins a payment, the hosted payment gateway takes charge, securely navigating the transaction on its servers. It adeptly handles payment details and relays the transaction status back to the originating business’s website or app. This system involves the merchant’s site, the hosted payment gateway service, and the payment processor.
This approach is particularly beneficial for online stores, ensuring secure transaction processing on the gateway’s servers and simplifying compliance efforts, providing a user-friendly solution for businesses.
On the other hand, a self-hosted payment gateway empowers businesses to retain full control over the payment process. Merchants manage payment transactions directly within their infrastructure, ensuring a secure, customized, and accountable payment journey.
In a self-hosted setup, the gateway processes the transaction within the business’s environment, from collecting payment details to transmitting them to the payment processor. Components include the merchant’s site, self-hosted payment gateway software, and a connection to the payment processor.
This method is preferred by large enterprises prioritizing security and compliance, allowing them to maintain control over payment data and minimize data exposure risk. While offering customization aligned with company requirements, it may involve higher initial costs for infrastructure and ongoing maintenance expenses, making it less user-friendly for merchants without extensive IT knowledge.
What is a Payment Service Provider (PSP)?
Having delved into the concept of a hosted payment gateway, we smoothly transition to the understanding of a payment service provider (PSP).
A payment service provider plays a behind-the-scenes role in processing online payments on a merchant’s website. Opting for a payment service provider, also known as a payment aggregator, is often considered the quickest way to commence online payment acceptance. Essentially, the provider operates its own merchant account, consolidating transactions from all clients using that single account.
Collaborating with a payment service provider means sharing the merchant account with numerous other businesses. Credit card networks don’t distinguish between your business and others. Consequently, if fellow merchants encounter chargebacks or fraudulent activities, your business may face similar consequences and the risk of refused charges.
Moreover, flexibility in terms and conditions is limited, with little room for negotiation, including pricing (although it’s usually favorable for smaller merchants). Popular providers like PayPal and Stripe are common choices within the payment service provider realm if you opt for this route.
What is a Merchant Account?
Now, let’s figure out the clear difference between a merchant account and a payment gateway.
Setting itself apart from a conventional business account, a merchant account specializes in orchestrating cashless transactions, predominantly centered around credit and debit card payments. The business engages with a merchant acquiring bank to establish and manage the merchant account. When processing card payments, funds are deposited into the merchant account, requiring the business to subsequently transfer them to its operational account.
A merchant account exclusively handles card payments, restricting the business to cash transactions and bank transfers without one. Unlike a business account, it doesn’t support general business operations, such as employee payments and fund storage. International businesses must ensure their funds are withdrawn to a globally compatible business account.
How do PSPs, Payment Gateways, and Merchant Accounts Collaborate?
Although specifics may differ among businesses, the general process involving these components remains consistent.
Here’s a brief glimpse into their synergy in a typical online transaction.
- The customer initiates the transaction
It all begins when a customer, set on purchasing through a business’s website or app, enters their credit or debit card details on the checkout page.
- The payment gateway secures the data
The payment gateway encrypts the customer’s payment information, ensuring secure transmission from the business’s platform to the payment processor.
- Payment provider verifies the transaction
The payment provider receives the encrypted data, engaging with the customer’s bank or card issuer to confirm the transaction’s validity. This involves checking for sufficient funds and verifying that the card is not reported as stolen or fraudulent.
- Card issuer authorizes the transaction
If the payment provider verifies the transaction, an authorization code is sent from the customer’s bank or card issuer to the payment provider. This code is then relayed to the payment gateway, which forwards it to the business’s platform. The business receives confirmation that the transaction has been approved.
- Merchant account holds the funds
Once authorized, the funds are temporarily transferred from the customer’s bank account to the merchant account.
- The payment provider settles and transfers the funds
As the day wraps up, the payment provider takes action, consolidating all approved transactions submitted by the business into a single batch for settlement, and orchestrating the transfer of funds from the merchant account to the business’s standard bank account.
Understanding the nuances of payment gateway vs payment processor vs merchant account is important for navigating the intricacies of electronic transactions. Each plays a distinct role in facilitating seamless and secure payment processes, ensuring a comprehensive comprehension of these elements is vital for businesses aiming to optimize their financial operations.
With over a decade in the tech field, Bogdan blends technical expertise with insights on business innovation in technology.
A regular contributor to TMS Outsource's blog, where you'll find sharp analyses on software development, tech business strategies, and global tech dynamics.
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