WP Simple Pay has been a prominent player in the payment processing plugin field for years. While its longevity is admirable, there are some drawbacks:
- The free version has one of the highest transaction fees in the market, adding an additional 3% on top of Stripe’s standard fees.
- A lack of payment gateway options other than Stripe limits customer payment choices. The free version only supports Stripe Checkout, meaning customers must leave your website to complete payments.
- Basic features such as custom amount fields (crucial for donations or variable pricing) or tax functionality require additional purchases.
Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re already aware of these shortcomings. Without further delay, here are five WordPress payment processors that I believe are better alternatives to WP Simple Pay.
1. WP Full Pay (Best Alternative to WP Simple Pay)
WP Full Pay is a top pick and my personal favorite. It offers similar features to WP Simple Pay but with a more user-friendly interface and a broader range of functionality across all plans. It supports multiple payment methods, which is a significant advantage.
Payment Gateways Supported:
- Credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc.)
- Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App Pay, Amazon Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay)
- Local payment methods (BLIK, Bancontact, iDEAL, EPS, Przelewy24, etc.)
It is ideal for users looking for flexibility in payment methods and smoother integration with various services.
2. Payment Page (Great Direct Alternative with PayPal Support)
Payment Page is a plugin that stands out for its template-rich approach to payment forms. If you’re a fan of using ready-to-use, fully customizable templates, this is a good fit. It supports PayPal, which is a big advantage over WP Simple Pay and WP Full Pay, which do not.
Payment Gateways Supported:
- Credit and debit cards
- Google Pay, Apple Pay, Microsoft Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay
- Standard PayPal Checkout
- Bank transfers (SEPA Direct Debit and ACH in Pro version)
This is a solid option for users looking for a straightforward, template-driven solution with multiple payment gateways.
3. Forminator (Perfect for Multi-Purpose Forms)
Forminator isn’t primarily a payment processor, but it offers extensive functionality for creating various types of forms, including payment forms. It’s perfect for users who want more than just payment capabilities, such as contact forms, quizzes, polls, and registration forms.
Payment Gateways Supported:
- Credit / debit cards via Stripe Checkout
- Standard PayPal Checkout
Forminator is best for users who want an all-in-one solution that allows them to create forms with payment functionality embedded.
4. GiveWP (Best for Nonprofits and Donation Systems)
GiveWP is the go-to solution for nonprofit organizations, charities, and any entity that needs to accept donations. It far surpasses WP Simple Pay for donation-based platforms and is specifically designed to meet the needs of organizations that rely on fundraising.
Payment Gateways Supported:
- Credit card payments via Stripe
- SEPA and BECS direct debit via Stripe
- PayPal Donations
- Additional premium gateways like Blink, BitPay, Authorize.net, Mollie, Square, PayFast, and many more
GiveWP is an excellent solution for nonprofits, offering features like donor databases, fundraising reports, and the ability to maintain a donation page with various payment methods.
5. Stripe Payments by Checkout Plugins (Simpler Alternative for WooCommerce Users)
If you are already using WooCommerce and want to expand your payment options, Stripe Payments by Checkout Plugins is a great, simple solution. It integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce and supports several additional payment methods beyond what WooCommerce offers.
Payment Gateways Supported:
- Credit and debit cards
- Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, WeChat Pay, Alipay, and Cash App)
- Bank transfers (SEPA Direct Debit)
- Buy now, pay later (Klarna)
- Local payment methods (iDEAL, Bancontact, Przelewy24, etc.)
This plugin is particularly well-suited for WooCommerce users who want to enhance their payment gateways without having to overhaul their entire eCommerce system.
Final Thoughts
WP Simple Pay has been around since 2014 and is certainly a solid plugin with over 10,000 active installations. However, its free version is severely limited, and many of the features require purchasing higher-tier plans. While WP Simple Pay’s pricing model includes paid tiers, many of its competitors offer a more balanced distribution of features, and some even provide them for free or at a lower cost.
Here’s a quick summary of the best alternatives:
WP Full Pay: Best all-around alternative, with more payment options and better user interface.
Payment Page: Best for those who need PayPal support and prefer a template-driven approach.
Forminator: Great for users who need diverse form types alongside payment forms.
GiveWP: Best for nonprofit organizations that need a robust donation system.
Stripe Payments by Checkout Plugins: A simpler option for WooCommerce users.
Which payment processor do you prefer? Have you used any of the alternatives above? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
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