Top 7 global payment gateways for scaling South Asian e-commerce

Bain and Google's e-Conomy SEA 2025 update puts Southeast Asia's digital economy at more than $300 billion in gross merchandise value, with e-commerce at $185 billion. Worldpay's 2025 Global Payments Report also says digital wallets are already the leading online payment method in eight of 14 Asia-Pacific markets.

That is why this comparison matters. I am going to walk you through PayPal, Stripe, Razorpay, Xendit, eGHL, DOKU, and Faspay in plain English, so you can see which one fits Shopify, WooCommerce, local wallets, and cross-border growth.

Payment gateways for scaling South Asian e-commerce: Quick comparison

PayPal: A trusted global payment gateway

For Malaysia-based sellers, PayPal's business pages say you can connect your store to a PayPal Business account, and the Malaysia user agreement says withdrawals go to a local Malaysian bank account. PayPal's published fee tables also show a fixed MYR fee component, while cross-border pricing is higher than domestic pricing.

• Best use: add PayPal when you want quick cross-border acceptance and buyer trust.

• Watch for: no FPX or local QR rails, so it will not replace a regional payment gateway for Southeast Asia.

• Good fit for: Shopify or WooCommerce stores that want an easy second checkout button for global buyers.

The practical move is to treat PayPal as a conversion layer, not your only processor. Pair it with a gateway that supports bank transfers, digital wallets, and local payment methods in the countries you target.

Stripe: Advanced features for growing e-commerce

Stripe's documentation lists local methods such as GrabPay in Malaysia and Singapore, plus Alipay and other alternative payment methods where regional requirements are met. That makes Stripe useful for brands that want one platform for online payments across several markets, but you still need to check country and currency eligibility before launch.

• Why teams like it: Stripe Radar evaluates risk in real time with AI, which helps fraud detection without a long custom build.

• What helps conversion: Adaptive Pricing can localise checkout currency in more than 150 countries, so international shoppers see a more familiar price.

• Best fit: stores with in-house developers, recurring billing, or a plan to expand beyond Southeast Asia.

If your catalogue is simple and you mainly need Malaysian online banking or Indonesian cash-based options, Stripe can feel too card-first. If you need a global platform with clean APIs and solid e-commerce integrations, it is still one of the safest long-term bets.

Razorpay: Smart payment tools for South Asian businesses

Razorpay makes the most sense for India-first businesses that want a serious payment stack without stitching together five separate tools. It covers payment links, QR code payments, checkout flows, and exporter-focused cross-border payments in a way that feels built for fast-moving online sellers.

Razorpay's international payments pages pitch the product to Indian exporters with support for 135 currencies, bank transfers from 1%, and cards up to 3%. Its commerce pages also highlight support for Shopify, WooCommerce, and Wix, which is a big practical win if you want to launch fast.

In a June 2025 expansion update, Razorpay said that 30% to 50% of online payments in Singapore are cross-border. That is a good reminder that strong cross-border payments are no longer a bonus feature; they are part of basic growth planning.

• Best use: Indian brands selling globally, especially if you want payment links, QR code payments, and export collections in one stack.

• Watch for: its local strength is still strongest in India and selected Southeast Asia markets, so it is less universal than PayPal or Stripe.

• Pro tip: if you sell high average order products, test card acceptance and bank-transfer settlement separately, because the cheapest method is not always the highest-converting method.

Xendit: Simplifying cross-border transactions in Southeast Asia

Xendit is one of the strongest choices if your real target is Southeast Asia rather than just generic international checkout. It is built around the payment methods that shoppers in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and nearby markets actually use, including virtual accounts, e-wallets, QR payments, and retail outlets.

Xendit said it processed more than 350 million transactions worth $30 billion in 2024, up more than 40% from the prior year. Its e-commerce pages also highlight ready-made connections for Shopify, WooCommerce, and Wix, which cuts launch time if you want local payment methods without a custom build.

The big advantage here is operational fit. You can accept local customer payments and handle payouts from the same stack, which saves time on reconciliation and helps marketplaces or multi-vendor stores manage business operations more cleanly.

If you sell through social channels, Xendit's payment links and pay later integrations are worth testing. They let you add more payment methods without forcing every buyer through a card-first checkout.

eGHL: A reliable choice for Malaysian e-commerce

eGHL is still a very practical choice for Malaysian e-commerce because it focuses on what local shoppers already use. GHL's merchant materials list FPX, Touch 'n Go eWallet, WeChat Pay, GrabPay, Alipay, ShopeePay, and buy now pay later options like Atome and Grab PayLater.

That mix matters because Malaysian shoppers do not all pay the same way. Some want online banking through FPX, some want digital wallets, and some will finish the order only when they see a familiar wallet or QR option.

• Strong local coverage: FPX plus major wallets make eGHL useful for reducing failed payments at checkout.

• Useful operations detail: merchant application sheets used in Malaysia list weekly settlement, so cash flow is easier to plan than with slower payout setups.

• Extra reach: Google lists eGHL among supported gateway partners for Google Pay, which helps if you want another trusted mobile checkout option.

Pricing can vary by channel and merchant profile. Public Malaysia rate sheets commonly show setup pricing around RM399 and card MDR near 2.8%, so ask for channel-by-channel quotes before you sign anything.

If most of your volume is in Malaysia, eGHL is a serious payment gateway to short-list. It is less flashy than Stripe, but it can be more practical when your buyers want local bank transfers, digital wallets, and weekly local pay-outs.

Doku: Indonesia's leading payment gateway

DOKU earns its spot because it is built for Indonesia's checkout habits rather than forcing Indonesian shoppers into a foreign-style flow. DOKU's documentation describes it as Indonesia's first locally owned electronic payment solutions provider, and a 2025 company update says it serves 150,000 merchants with 45-plus payment variations.

That breadth is useful if you sell to both banked and unbanked customers. You can take a card when the buyer wants speed, or switch to QRIS, convenience-store cash, or a virtual account when they want a familiar local method.

DOKU also supports no-integration tools like Payment Link and Digital Catalog, plus regional plugins. If you want a gateway that lets you start simple and then grow into API-based online payment solutions, DOKU gives you that runway.

A good way to use DOKU is to lead with QRIS and virtual accounts for local conversion, then keep cards on for buyers who want a faster checkout. That setup often cuts cost per transaction without shrinking payment choice.

Faspay: Innovative payment solutions for Indonesian markets

Faspay is another strong Indonesian play, especially if you want lots of local payment methods without a heavy custom build. Its product pages say merchants can tap 150-plus banks, 29-plus payment partners, and 50-plus payment methods through one setup.

That is a big deal for checkout payment performance. When shoppers can choose virtual accounts, internet banking, e-money, QRIS, retail payment, or cards, you give fewer people a reason to abandon the cart.

• Regulatory comfort: Faspay's licensing page says its Bank Indonesia gateway and fund-transfer licenses were converted into a Payment Services Provider license in 2021 under the newer payment-system rules.

• Good for WooCommerce: Faspay maintains an official WooCommerce plugin, so small merchants can go live faster without a deep API project.

• Helpful for invoices: Faspay Billing supports payment links and recurring reminders, which work well for B2B orders, deposits, or manual sales teams.

Faspay makes the most sense if Indonesia is a priority market and you want flexible settlement, plus many alternative payment methods. It is especially useful for businesses that mix online sales, invoice collection, and broader business operations.

Final words

If you need global trust, start with PayPal or Stripe. If you need India-first growth, Razorpay stands out.

For Southeast Asia localisation, Xendit, eGHL, DOKU, and Faspay do the heavy lifting with digital wallets, bank transfers, virtual accounts, and QR code payments.

Pick the gateway that matches your country mix, checkout flow, and cross-border payments plan, then test it against failed payments, fraud detection, and payout speed.

2. How do gateways handle cross-border payments and global acquiring?

3. How can I reach the unbanked population?

4. How do gateways fight fraud and meet rules?

5. Which payment methods and partners should I add?

6. How will the right payment solution boost my revenue and fit my e-commerce market?