8 Best Payment Gateways for Digital Agencies in 2025

For new agencies, PayPal or Stripe offer the best balance of ease and features. PayPal provides instant client familiarity and simple setup, while Stripe offers more advanced features like automated subscriptions. Both integrate seamlessly with SPP for professional client billing and automated payment tracking.

Most agencies succeed with one primary gateway (Stripe or PayPal) for consistency and simplified management. However, international agencies or those serving enterprise clients may benefit from multiple gateways. SPP supports multiple payment processors simultaneously, allowing you to offer client choice while maintaining unified reporting.

Gateway fees typically range from 2.4% to 3.5% per transaction. For a $100,000 annual revenue agency, this represents $2,400-$3,500 in fees. However, the time saved through automation and faster client payments often outweighs fee differences. Focus on features that improve cash flow rather than optimizing solely for lowest fees.

Yes, but planning is essential. Agencies can sometimes import their customer data to the new payment gateway. If you’re using SPP, you can maintain client portal access and payment history. Communicate changes clearly to clients and ensure subscription billing continues seamlessly during the transition.

Subscription agencies need automated recurring billing, failed payment retry logic, proration handling, and dunning management. Stripe excels in these areas, while PayPal offers basic subscription features. SPP enhances any gateway with client portals, automated invoicing, and comprehensive subscription management tools.

International gateways like Stripe (135+ currencies) or Adyen enable global client acquisition and reduce currency conversion friction. Agencies serving international clients report 20-30% faster payment collection when offering local payment methods and currencies through properly configured international gateways.

Agencies must ensure PCI DSS compliance, encrypted data transmission, and secure payment processing. Enterprise clients often require SOC 2 compliance and detailed security audits. Major gateways like Stripe and PayPal handle compliance automatically, while SPP provides additional security layers for client data and communication.

Client experience varies significantly between gateways. PayPal offers familiar branding but redirects clients away from your site. Stripe provides seamless on-site checkout experiences. SPP enhances any gateway with professional client portals, automated communication, and self-service payment options that improve overall client satisfaction.