Best payment gateways in South Asia [2026]

You can use payment gateways to accept online customer payments. Understand how payment gateways work, the payment methods they support, and options for South Asian businesses

Key takeaways

• Payment gateways allow businesses to accept online payments through cards, mobile wallets, bank transfers and QR payments.
• Payment gateways that support multiple currencies can help businesses accept foreign-currency payments through international cards and multi-currency checkout
• WorldFirst’s World Account is a multi-currency account with local receiving details that can receive payouts from supported payment gateways, allowing businesses to hold foreign-currency funds and convert them when needed

Payment gateways connect a business’s website, app or payment interface with payment networks and other payment methods. They process customer payments and provide businesses with tools for checkout, payment links, recurring payments, reporting and settlement.

For businesses in Pakistan and Bangladesh, the right gateway can depend on whether customers pay by card, mobile wallet, bank transfer or QR, as well as whether the business needs international payment acceptance. This guide covers nine such payment gateways, along with WorldFirst’s multi-currency account, which can help businesses receive international payment settlements in multiple currencies.

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is a technology platform that enables businesses to accept digital payments from customers. It connects the checkout experience with payment methods such as cards, bank accounts, mobile wallets and other supported payment channels.

A gateway can also provide APIs, plugins, hosted checkout pages, payment links, transaction reporting and tools for recurring payments or fraud monitoring.

Top payment gateways in South Asia

1. PayFast

PayFast is a Pakistani payment gateway for businesses accepting online payments.¹ Its features include hosted checkout and POS payment options, with support for cards and digital wallets.^1,2 It also provides e-commerce integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce and more.² PayFast supports QR and tap-and-pay transactions and provides payment links that can be shared without an e-commerce website.^1,2

Its billing solution also lets businesses issue invoices and collect payments through mobile and internet banking.^1,2 Its security tools include fraud and transaction monitoring.¹ PayFast also supports Raast payments and 1Click checkout.¹  PayFast also provides 24/7 customer support through email, chat and phone, along with a self-service digital onboarding process.¹

2. Safepay

Safepay is a Pakistani payment gateway providing online payment acceptance through hosted checkouts and payment links.³ It supports 8+ major currencies for international payments.³ Businesses can integrate payments using Shopify, plugins, SDKs and APIs.³  Safepay also provides embedded checkout for businesses that want payments integrated directly into their website or application.³

Safepay also supports recurring payments and payment routing across multiple gateways.³ Its platform includes Raast (Pakistan’s instant payment system) infrastructure and tools for viewing payment status, adding discounts, and more.³ It also provides checkout and subscription tools for businesses with payments to SaaS platforms, memberships, online courses and more.³ Its payment orchestration feature allows businesses to manage payments across multiple gateways and choose where to route each transaction based on set rules.³

3. PayPro

PayPro is a Pakistani payment gateway supporting card, online banking, digital wallet and over-the-counter payments.⁴ It provides checkout integrations for Shopify, WordPress and OpenCart, along with APIs for custom integrations.⁴ Features include payment links, recurring payments, invoicing, and more.⁴ PayPro also supports international payment acceptance for businesses selling to customers outside Pakistan.⁴

PayPro lets customers save their payment details and use them again for future payments.⁴ Only CVV and OTP are required for these later transactions.⁴ Businesses can also process customer refunds through the platform and receive payments directly into their business bank accounts.⁴

4. XPay

XPay is a Pakistani payment gateway offering online checkout for cards, wallets, bank transfers and Google Pay.⁵ Features include on-site checkout, payment links, fraud monitoring and more.^5,6 XPay also provides Shopify and WooCommerce integrations, SDKs for mobile development and APIs for custom platforms.⁵ Payment links can be shared through channels such as WhatsApp, email and SMS and can also generate QR codes directly from the dashboard.^5,6

Its tokenisation supports repeat transactions and recurring billing, while dynamic routing can direct payments through different channels.^5,6 Its XShield fraud engine can identify potentially risky transactions using signals including email, phone number, BIN, IP address and card fingerprint.^5,6

→ Go through this USD to PKR exchange rate guide

5. SSLCOMMERZ

SSLCOMMERZ is a Bangladeshi payment gateway offering more than 30 payment options, including cards, internet banking, e-wallets, mobile banking, and more.⁷ Features include hosted and embedded checkout, APIs, SDKs, plugins, reporting and international payment acceptance.^7,8 It also supports integrations with major e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce, Magento and more.⁹

Its merchant dashboard provides real-time transaction information and tools for managing refunds, disputes, settlements and reconciliation.⁷ The platform also supports EMI through 30+ banks and provides saved cards, campaign management and multi-currency payment links.^7,8

6. PortPos

PortPos is a Bangladeshi payment platform for e-commerce, social commerce, physical retailers, subscriptions, software platforms and marketplaces.¹⁰ It supports cards, mobile wallets and net banking, with APIs and integrations for platforms such as WooCommerce and PrestaShop.¹⁰ Businesses can also use its SendBill platform to create payment links and collect payments through channels such as email, SMS, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.¹⁰

PortPos also has a dashboard that shows payment status in real time.¹⁰ Businesses can search for customers using their phone numbers to help match and check transactions.10 Users can get paperless EMI facilities across multiple banks.¹⁰ The platform also reports 99.9%+ uptime, while its technology uses machine-learning-based optimisation for conversion, fraud prevention and revenue recovery.¹⁰

7. AamarPay

AamarPay is a Bangladeshi payment gateway supporting domestic and international cards, mobile financial services, wallets and net banking.¹¹ Its listed payment methods include VISA, Mastercard, UnionPay, bKash, and more.¹¹ Features also include payment links, invoicing, and APIs. It also supports international payments with settlement in BDT.¹¹

The gateway supports 15+ payment schemes and provides more than 13 CMS plugins and integration options.¹¹ Its merchant dashboard provides transaction, settlement and reconciliation reporting, while its QR solution supports payments at physical stores and social-commerce businesses.¹¹

8. ShurjoPay

ShurjoPay is a Bangladeshi payment gateway supporting online payments through cards and other payment channels.¹² It was among the first providers to receive a Payment System Operator licence from Bangladesh Bank.¹²

ShurjoPay supports 18+ payment channels and 21+ ready-made plugins.12 Businesses can use its services across web, Android, iOS and desktop applications.¹² The services also include QR-based payments and a payment link generator.¹² It also supports EMI payment options through 36+ banks and provides transaction reporting for merchants.¹²

9. 2Checkout (Verifone)

2Checkout is a global payment platform for digital businesses, supporting 45+ payment methods, 100+ currencies, and sales in 200+ countries and territories.¹³ It supports credit and debit cards, PayPal and other local payment methods, along with recurring billing and subscriptions.¹³

The platform supports businesses that use subscriptions and sell online internationally.¹³ It helps merchants manage payments and other business processes across different markets from a single platform.¹³ Businesses can also access online checkouts and payouts via wire transfer and ACH in USD, GBP and EUR.¹³

Credit and debit card payments are available in Pakistan and Bangladesh.¹⁴ The platform also provides tax and compliance tools for international digital sales and supports hosted checkout and invoicing for merchants selling across multiple markets.^13,14

WorldFirst: A multi-currency account that connects to payment gateways

Businesses using several payment gateways may receive settlements in different currencies. If those payouts go into a single-currency bank account, foreign-currency payments may be converted automatically. Repeated currency conversions across different gateways can add up over time, reducing the margin on each transaction.

The World Account is WorldFirst’s multi-currency account that can receive funds from supported payment gateways and marketplaces through local receiving details. This allows businesses to keep different currency balances in one account instead of receiving everything in local currency. For example, a USD settlement can be credited to the USD balance, while GBP and EUR settlements are credited to their respective balances. Businesses can then hold the funds in the original currency or convert them when required.

Key features of the World Account 

• 15+ supported currencies, including USD, GBP, EUR and more
• Payment gateway and marketplace collections from 130+ platforms, including Amazon, Stripe and Etsy.
• Zero cost and instant transfers between World Account holders
• International payments across 200+ countries
• Up to 20 virtual cards at no additional cost for eligible business payments. No fees when paying in any of the 15 supported currencies (with sufficient balance held in that currency)
• Payments to Chinese suppliers through World Pay (the authorised international payment provider for 1688.com). Learn how to source from 1688.com
• Xero and NetSuite integrations for accounting and reconciliation

FAQs

1. What is the best payment gateway for small businesses?

Small businesses can compare gateways based on supported payment methods, integration options, payment links, QR acceptance and the ability to accept payments without a full e-commerce website.

2. What is the best international payment gateway for South Asian businesses?

International card acceptance, supported currencies, local-currency checkout and settlement options are key considerations when choosing a payment gateway. Several Pakistan and Bangladesh-focused gateways provide international payment capabilities. WorldFirst also provides local receiving details in multiple currencies, allowing businesses to receive eligible payment gateway settlements directly into their World Account.

3. How does WorldFirst work with payment gateways?

WorldFirst provides a multi-currency account rather than a payment gateway. Supported payment gateways can connect with the World Account so businesses can consolidate eligible international payouts and handle multiple foreign currencies through one account.

4. Can payment gateways accept QR payments in Pakistan and Bangladesh?

Yes. Several payment gateways in Pakistan and Bangladesh support QR-based payments, although availability varies by provider. QR payments let customers scan a code with their banking or mobile wallet app to pay, while the payment gateway processes and confirms the transaction for the business.

Sources

1. https://gopayfast.com
2. https://gopayfast.com/checkout/
3. https://getsafepay.pk
4. https://paypro.com.pk/gateway/
5. https://xpay.postexglobal.com
6. https://xpay.postexglobal.com/payment-link
7. https://sslcommerz.com
8. https://sslcommerz.com/payment-gateway/
9. https://sslcommerz.com/services-of-online-payment-gateways/
10. https://portpos.com
11. https://www.aamarpay.com
12. https://shurjopay.com.bd
13. https://www.2checkout.com/products/2monetize/
14. https://docs.2checkout.com/payments/payments/payment-methods

This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or professional advice. This article should not be regarded as constituting an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any regulated or financial products or services. WorldFirst makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content, and readers are encouraged to consult with legal professionals or other professionals for advice tailored to their specific situation. WorldFirst does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this article and expressly disclaims any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance on this article.