Accepting online payments is no longer optional — it’s essential for every business, nonprofit, and entrepreneur running a WordPress site. In fact, digital payments are projected to exceed $12 trillion globally by 2025 (Statista). Whether you sell physical products, digital downloads, subscriptions, or accept donations, your website needs a secure and reliable WordPress payment plugin to process transactions smoothly.
WordPress offers a wide variety of plugins that integrate with trusted payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, Square, and Authorize.Net. These tools make it easy to collect payments directly on your website without complex coding or expensive development.
In this guide, we’ll review the best WordPress payment plugins, explore their features, pros and cons, and ideal use cases so you can choose the right solution for your site.
Eduma – Education WordPress Theme
We provide an amazing WordPress theme with fast and responsive designs. Let’s find out!
What Is the WordPress Payment Plugin?
A WordPress payment plugin is an extension that allows you to accept and manage online payments directly through your WordPress website. Instead of sending users to a third-party processor, these plugins integrate secure checkout functionality into your site.
Key Functions:
- Accept one-time and recurring payments
- Connect to multiple gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Square, Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.)
- Automate billing, refunds, and receipts
- Manage donations, subscriptions, or memberships
- Offer security features (PCI compliance, encryption, anti-fraud)
In short: A payment plugin is the bridge between your WordPress site and your customer’s wallet.
WPForms – Best for Payment Forms
WPForms is one of the most beginner-friendly WordPress payment plugins, known for its drag-and-drop form builder. It supports Stripe, PayPal, Square, and Authorize.Net integrations, making it versatile for different businesses.
Key Features:
- Payment-ready form templates (donations, subscriptions, service fees)
- Conditional logic for smarter checkout flows
- Multi-page forms with progress tracking
- hCaptcha & reCAPTCHA anti-spam
- GDPR compliance + user journey analytics
Best For: Small businesses, nonprofits, and service providers who need simple forms + payments in one solution.
Pricing: Starts at $49.50/year (Lite), with advanced payment add-ons in Pro plans.
Pros:
✅ Super easy for beginners
✅ Supports multiple gateways
✅ Mobile-friendly forms
Cons:
❌ Limited advanced eCommerce tools
❌ Best features locked in higher plans
Easy Digital Downloads
If you sell ebooks, software, courses, or music, EDD is your best friend. It’s built specifically for selling digital downloads.
Key Features:
- Custom checkout process
- Unlimited product listings
- Discount codes & email receipts
- 1-click payments with Stripe/PayPal
- File protection with download limits
Best For: Digital creators, educators, and software businesses.
Pricing: Free core plugin, premium extensions from $99/year.
Pros:
✅ Tailored for digital sales
✅ Strong reporting tools
✅ Lightweight, easy to use
Cons:
❌ Not ideal for physical products
❌ Some add-ons require extra purchase
GiveWP
GiveWP is the leading WordPress donation plugin, powering thousands of nonprofit and fundraising websites.
Key Features:
- Custom donation forms (single or recurring)
- Donor dashboard & CRM integration
- Multiple payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, offline)
- Tiered donations + tribute gifts
- GDPR compliant with reporting tools
Best For: Nonprofits, charities, churches, and crowdfunding campaigns.
Pricing: Free core plugin, add-ons from $149/year.
Pros:
✅ Optimized for fundraising
✅ Transparent donor management
✅ Works with email marketing tools
Cons:
❌ Advanced features require paid add-ons
Gravity Forms
Gravity Forms isn’t just a payment plugin — it’s a powerful form builder with payment integration.
Key Features:
- Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.Net support
- Multi-page checkouts with conditional pricing
- Partial payments & subscriptions
- Inventory management + file uploads
- Zapier integration for automation
Best For: Developers and businesses needing custom payment workflows.
Pricing: Starts at $59/year.
Pros:
✅ Extremely flexible
✅ API for developers
✅ Scales for complex websites
Cons:
❌ Steeper learning curve
❌ No free version
WP Simple Pay
If you just want Stripe payments without WooCommerce, WP Simple Pay is the lightweight solution.
Key Features:
- Standalone checkout pages
- Apple Pay & Google Pay support
- Subscription billing
- Coupon & tax options
- PCI compliance built-in
Best For: Freelancers, consultants, and small businesses.
Pricing: Free version available, Pro starts at $49/year.
Pros:
✅ Easy to set up
✅ Focused on Stripe integration
✅ Clean checkout experience
Cons:
❌ No PayPal or alternative gateways
❌ Limited eCommerce features
MemberPress
MemberPress combines payment processing + membership management, making it perfect for subscription websites.
Key Features:
- Recurring billing with Stripe, PayPal, Square
- Content restriction & dripping
- Course builder included
- Free trial & tiered pricing options
- Advanced reporting + ACH payments
Best For: Online course creators, subscription services, private communities.
Pricing: Starts at $179/year.
Pros:
✅ All-in-one membership solution
✅ Strong content protection
✅ Integrates with Mailchimp, ConvertKit
Cons:
❌ Higher upfront cost
❌ May be overkill for simple sites
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is the #1 eCommerce plugin for WordPress, powering over 30% of all online stores.
Key Features:
- Accepts credit cards, Stripe, PayPal, Alipay, & more
- Inventory tracking & shipping calculators
- Coupons, subscriptions, & digital downloads
- Tax automation + sales reports
- 1,000+ extensions for flexibility
Best For: Full online stores selling physical or digital products.
Pricing: Free core plugin, paid extensions vary.
Pros:
✅ Most powerful eCommerce tool
✅ Huge ecosystem of add-ons
✅ Highly customizable
Cons:
❌ Can be heavy on performance
❌ Requires configuration & add-ons
Formidable Forms
Formidable Forms combines advanced form-building with built-in payment processing.
Key Features:
- Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.Net integration
- Donation, quote, and event registration forms
- Conditional logic + recurring payments
- Tax calculation + spam protection
- API hooks for developers
Best For: Nonprofits, service-based businesses, and membership sites needing flexible form payments.
Pricing: Starts at $39.50/year.
Pros:
✅ Advanced customization
✅ Strong security features
✅ Developer-friendly
Cons:
❌ Requires some setup time
❌ Best features in premium plans
Comparison Table: WordPress Payment Plugins
| Plugin | Best For | Gateways Supported | Free Version | Pricing (Pro) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPForms | Payment forms | Stripe, PayPal, Square | ✅ Yes | $49.50/year |
| EDD | Digital products | Stripe, PayPal | ✅ Yes | $99+/year |
| GiveWP | Donations | Stripe, PayPal, offline | ✅ Yes | $149+/year |
| Gravity Forms | Custom workflows | Stripe, PayPal, Auth.Net | ❌ No | $59+/year |
| WP Simple Pay | Stripe-only payments | Stripe, Apple/Google Pay | ✅ Yes | $49+/year |
| MemberPress | Membership sites | Stripe, PayPal, Square | ❌ No | $179+/year |
| WooCommerce | Online stores | Stripe, PayPal, Alipay + | ✅ Yes | Varies |
| Formidable Forms | Advanced form-payments | Stripe, PayPal, Auth.Net | ❌ No | $39.50+/year |
How to Choose the Right WordPress Payment Plugin
When deciding on a plugin, consider:
- Business Model → Digital products (EDD) vs. subscriptions (MemberPress) vs. donations (GiveWP).
- Supported Gateways → Do you need PayPal, Stripe, or region-specific options like Alipay?
- Ease of Use → Beginner-friendly (WPForms, WP Simple Pay) vs. developer-focused (Gravity Forms).
- Scalability → Will you need advanced features like memberships or course management?
- Budget → Some plugins are free, but premium features may require paid add-ons.
FAQs About WordPress Payment Plugins
1. What is the best free WordPress payment plugin?
WPForms Lite, GiveWP, and WooCommerce all offer free versions with payment functionality. For Stripe-only users, WP Simple Pay Lite is also a great choice.
2. Can I use both PayPal and Stripe on WordPress?
Yes. Many plugins, including WPForms, WooCommerce, and Gravity Forms, support multiple gateways, allowing you to offer both PayPal and Stripe.
3. Which plugin is best for donations?
GiveWP is purpose-built for nonprofits and donation sites, with donor dashboards, recurring gifts, and tribute donation options.
4. Is WooCommerce free to use?
Yes, WooCommerce is free. However, many advanced features (subscriptions, advanced shipping, regional gateways) require paid extensions.
5. How do I choose a payment plugin for my site?
Start with your business type, then match a plugin to your needs:
Digital downloads → Easy Digital Downloads
Memberships → MemberPress
Donations → GiveWP
Online store → WooCommerce
Simple form payments → WPForms or WP Simple Pay
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right WordPress payment plugin is crucial for any online venture. As we’ve explored, the ideal solution depends heavily on your specific needs. Whether you’re selling digital downloads, managing memberships, accepting donations, or running a full-fledged e-commerce store, there’s a plugin designed to streamline your payment process. Consider factors like ease of use, supported payment gateways, transaction fees, and integration with other essential tools. Don’t be afraid to test out a few different options before committing to one.
Read more: Payment Gateway vs Payment Processor: What Are the Differences?
Contact US | ThimPress:
Website: https://thimpress.com/
Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/ThimPress
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThimPressDesign
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/thimpress
