Stripe vs Redsys for WordPress and WooCommerce
Choosing between Stripe and Redsys for a WordPress store means comparing the payment methods your customers need, the cost of processing their orders and the integration you can maintain. For a business based in Spain, start with your bank’s Redsys offer and the Stripe pricing that applies to your account.
This comparison focuses on WordPress and WooCommerce. It explains what to check before choosing a gateway, how to distinguish official modules from third-party plugins, and how to keep payments working after launch.
Tabla de contenidos
How to choose the best payment gateway for your WordPress site
Choosing a payment gateway should not be taken lightly. Factors such as security, costs, ease of integration with WordPress and customer support play a determining role in this decision. Below, we detail these aspects so you can evaluate which option, between Stripe and Redsys, best aligns with your needs:
- Security: A payment integration should protect transaction data and follow the provider’s security requirements. Review the security requirements and fraud-prevention features of each provider and the integration you plan to use.
- Costs: Costs associated with using a payment gateway include per-transaction fees, monthly maintenance costs and possible withdrawal fees. Compare the Stripe and Redsys fee structures to determine which is more advantageous for your sales volume and business model.
- Ease of integration with WordPress: Consider how easy it is to integrate the payment gateway with your WordPress site. The availability of official or community-supported plugins can significantly simplify this process.
- Customer support: Effective customer support is crucial, especially when facing technical issues or transaction questions. Evaluate the quality of support offered by Stripe and Redsys, including available communication channels (live chat, email, phone) and response times.
Understanding and weighing these factors will help you make a more informed decision about which payment gateway best suits the needs of your WordPress web project.
Stripe and Redsys compared
Stripe for WooCommerce
Stripe provides a payment platform that can be connected to WooCommerce through its Stripe extension. Check whether your business country, desired currencies and payment methods are supported. A feature available in the platform may still require a particular plugin configuration or an additional product.
Redsys through your bank
Redsys provides a virtual POS service that merchants can contract through their bank. Its Unified Gateway includes redirection, modal and inSite integration options for WooCommerce. Ask your bank which services are enabled for your terminal; for example, Bizum requires activation before use.
Main differences to check
| Criteria | Stripe | Redsys |
|---|---|---|
| Account and pricing | Stripe account with country-specific standard pricing or a custom agreement | Virtual POS agreement and commercial terms with your bank |
| WordPress integration | Stripe extension for WooCommerce, with other plugins available for different use cases | Redsys Unified Gateway for WooCommerce or a compatible third-party extension |
| Payment methods | Availability depends on account, country, currency and integration | Availability depends on the services enabled by the bank and the selected module |
| Recurring payments | Use a compatible subscription solution alongside the gateway | Check bank activation and the recurring-payment support of the exact plugin edition |
| Support | Check Stripe account support and the plugin’s support channel | Check the bank, Redsys and the plugin developer’s respective responsibilities |
Do not assume that one gateway is always easier to integrate or cheaper. Compare the checkout you need, your actual card mix and the support included in each arrangement.
What to check before choosing a gateway
- Customers and currencies. List the countries, card types and payment methods that account for most of your orders. Check support for each requirement in the gateway and its WooCommerce integration.
- Total cost. Compare transaction fees, fixed charges, currency conversion, disputes, refunds and any paid plugin or subscription extension using the same sales assumptions.
- Checkout compatibility. Confirm support for your WooCommerce version, checkout type and any subscriptions or payment customisations before installing the plugin.
- Support responsibilities. Know who handles account activation, payment processing and plugin problems. Do not infer support availability from the gateway’s brand alone.
Choosing a WooCommerce integration
For Stripe, start with the Stripe extension documented by WooCommerce. Recurring orders require a compatible subscription solution, such as WooCommerce Subscriptions, alongside the payment gateway. Check the payment methods available for your account and store configuration.
For Redsys, distinguish the Unified Gateway supplied by Redsys from third-party extensions. Payment Gateway for Redsys & WooCommerce Lite is developed by Jose Conti. Confirm which features are included in the chosen edition and which services your bank must activate.
Comparing fees for a business in Spain
Stripe’s standard Spanish pricing currently lists 1.5% + €0.25 for standard EEA cards, 2.8% + €0.25 for premium EEA cards, 2.5% + €0.25 for UK cards and 3.15% + €0.25 for other international cards. Currency conversion can add 2%. Check the current pricing and any additional products or custom agreement before comparing costs.
For Redsys, request a written quote from your bank covering transaction fees, fixed charges, refunds and any additional payment methods. A low percentage alone does not establish which gateway will cost less for your store.
Common pitfalls when using payment gateways and how to avoid them
When implementing a payment gateway on your WordPress site, it is vital to avoid certain common mistakes that could affect the user experience or the security of transactions. Some of these mistakes include:
- Not properly testing the gateway before launching: Be sure to perform thorough testing in a development environment to avoid problems once your site is live.
- Ignoring the user experience: The payment gateway should be easy to use and navigate. A complicated user experience can increase cart abandonment rates.
- Disregarding security: Make sure to comply with all relevant security standards, such as PCI DSS, to protect your customers’ payment information.
Best practices for payment gateway integration in WordPress
- Choose a maintained plugin. Download it from its verified publisher and review compatibility, supported payment methods and the features included in the chosen edition.
- Test the checkout. Use the provider’s test environment and verify successful payments, declined payments and the resulting WooCommerce order states before going live.
- Use HTTPS and follow the integration guidance. Keep payment credentials private and follow the provider’s security requirements. Installing a gateway plugin does not establish that the entire store meets every PCI DSS obligation.
- Check authentication. Follow the gateway’s PSD2 and strong customer authentication guidance where applicable. Exemptions exist, so do not assume every payment must display the same authentication challenge.
- Plan ongoing checks. Keep WordPress, WooCommerce and the gateway plugin maintained, and provide a clear way for customers to report payment problems.
Keeping payments working after launch
A successful setup is only the first check. Include payment tests in your WooCommerce maintenance routine, especially after changing the gateway plugin, WooCommerce or the checkout. Check successful and failed payments, order status updates and refunds using the provider’s test environment where available.
Before updating the store, back up your WordPress website and test changes in staging. In a live store, restoring an old backup can also remove newer orders, so plan recovery with that risk in mind.
Which gateway fits your store
Choose Stripe if its supported methods, integration and commercial terms fit your store. Consider Redsys when your bank’s offer and enabled services match your requirements. Neither choice removes the need to test and maintain the checkout.
Before deciding, compare both options against the same order volume, average order value, card mix and subscription requirements. Then test the integration you intend to use rather than relying on a generic list of features.
Frequently asked questions about Stripe and Redsys
Can I use both Stripe and Redsys on my WordPress site at the same time?
Yes, it is possible to integrate both payment gateways on your site to offer your customers more payment options. However, this can increase the complexity of payment management, so it is important to evaluate your specific needs and user experience before deciding to offer multiple gateways.
Do Stripe and Redsys accept recurring payments for subscriptions?
For Stripe in WooCommerce, use a compatible subscription solution such as WooCommerce Subscriptions alongside the Stripe extension. For Redsys, confirm recurring-payment activation with your bank and support in the exact plugin edition. Support for one-off payments does not by itself establish support for automated renewals.
Which payment gateway is faster in processing transactions?
The speed of transaction processing can depend on several factors, including the customer’s bank, credit card type, and the payment gateway itself. In general, both Stripe and Redsys offer competitive processing times, but individual experiences may vary.
In terms of security, is there a significant difference between Stripe and Redsys?
Review the provider’s security documentation and the requirements of your chosen integration. The gateway, the plugin and the store each play a role; using a payment provider does not remove your responsibility to secure WordPress, protect credentials and meet the obligations that apply to your business.
How do Stripe and Redsys fees affect small businesses or startups?
Fees can have a significant impact on smaller businesses, especially those with low transaction volumes. Stripe and Redsys have different fee structures, so it is important to calculate which would be more economical for your specific case, considering factors such as sales volume, average transaction value and transaction fees.
