In recent times, the digital payment ecosystem of Bangladesh has experienced notable growth like never before. In 2024, Bangladesh’s Mobile Financial Services (MFS) transaction volume reached Tk 17.37 trillion. Surprisingly, this rate is nearly 50% of the GDP of the nation. Additionally, as of January 2025, the total MFS transaction volume reached nearly Tk 1.72 trillion, making a 32.56% rise from the previous year.
Here, secure and reliable payment gateways have a much more important role. They are making the transaction process easier and thus help in building customer trust. That’s why it is important to choose the right payment gateways to ensure safe and easy transactions in Bangladesh.
Key Takeaways
- Payment gateways ensure secure and reliable online transactions.
- The choice of the right payment gateway depends on the business size and the types of customers the business serves.
- Businesses can enhance transaction management by integrating a gateway with accounting software like Financfy.
Understanding Payment Gateways and Their Working Process
A payment gateway is a service that securely connects a customer and businesses. It authenticates and transmits payment data between the bank of the customer and the bank of the merchant. In simple words, it is the digital cash desk of your online store.
Here is how a payment gateway works.
- First, the customer visits your online store and chooses a product or service.
- They enter their payment details through an online payment process, like card number, card expiration date, Card Verification Value or CVV code, or select a mobile wallet.
- Now the payment gateway encrypts that information, performs the fraud checks, and sends it to the issuing bank for approval.
- The issuing bank validates the card, checks available funds, and responds with “approved” or “declined.”
- If approved, funds are reserved, and the gateway notifies the merchant’s system that payment is successful.
- The merchant fulfils the order, and the actual funds reach your account. It happens often in 1-3 business days.
So, simply the flow transaction path is something like- Customer → Merchant Website → Payment Gateway → Bank/Issuer → Merchant.
In the Bangladesh context, SSLCOMMERZ offers a clear illustration of how the payment gateway works locally. The merchant did the payment gateway integration with SSLCOMMERZ, and then it facilitated online payments by handling transaction initiation, payment notification, and service confirmation; securely sending customer data for bank authorization; and notifying merchants upon successful approval.
The Role of Payment Gateways in Bangladesh’s Digital Economy
Reliable payment gateways are powering Bangladesh’s shift to a digital economy by making online transactions faster, safer, and more accessible for both businesses and consumers.
Digital transactions increased by 17% in 2024, showing rapid adoption of online payments.
Rise of MFS services (bKash, Nagad, Rocket) is driving the move toward a cashless economy.
MFS transactions nearly doubled from 2020–2024, strengthening digital financial activity.
Payment gateways ensure secure and instant transactions every time.
They help businesses build customer trust in digital finance.
Digital Bangladesh initiative expands digital payment access nationwide — including rural areas.
Platforms like SSLCOMMERZ support cards, mobile wallets, and online banking.
Gateways enable SME digital transformation with smooth online sales operations.
Businesses can reach a larger customer base and manage payments more efficiently.
Note: Research on Bangladesh SMEs shows that infrastructure/support and satisfaction have influenced the continued use of cashless technologies. That indicates how payment gateways are encouraging long-term digital adoption.
Best Payment Gateways in Bangladesh [2025 Updated List]
Let’s have an overview of the best payment gateways in Bangladesh now. Businesses can simplify financial management across all these gateways with Financfy’s payment reconciliation feature.
SSLCommerz—Most Popular Gateway for Local Businesses
SSLCOMMERZ is the largest payment gateway aggregator in Bangladesh, powering over 15 years of fintech innovation in the region. It offers more than 33 payment channels. Moreover, it is officially PSO-licensed by the Bangladesh Bank, giving merchants both local trust and international reach.
- Setup Fee: Non-refundable BDT 25,500.
- Accepted Cards: 2.5% Transaction fees per successful transaction for standard channels (Visa/Mastercard/bKash/Nagad/Rocket) in the Basic plan. 3.5% Transaction fees for American Express.
- Mobile Financial Services (MFS): It includes local mobile wallets and banking – e.g., bKash, Nagad, Upay – plus 10 mobile banking brands.
- International Support: It accepts international payments and supports multiple currencies. They are enabling merchants to “go global”.
- Integration Ease: They offer user-friendly plugins for many platforms. Plus, it has a developer-friendly RESTful API for custom integrations.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Quick activation with online documentation | High transaction fees |
| Easy integration | Sometimes may have technical glitches |
| 30+ payment schemes | |
| Accepts global payment | |
| High-level security with PCI DSS Compliance | |
| Real-time dashboard |
AamarPay — Great for SMEs and Startups
AamarPay is a cost-effective local payment gateway and B2C Super App for Pay Utility Bill, Recharge mobile, Book Hotel, Bus & Movie ticket. The platform targets SMEs, educational institutions, and marketplaces with tiered plans and lightweight onboarding, making it popular for businesses requiring quick activation.
- Setup Fee: One-time fee. Contact for details.
- Accepted Cards: Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay, Qcash, SureCash, OK Wallet, Nexus. Supports both local and international cards.
- Mobile Financial Services (MFS): bKash, Rocket, Nagad, Upay, Tap, and other popular MFS.
- International Support: Global payment acceptance, multi-currency support, and major card acceptance. Businesses can receive settlements in BDT.
- Integration Ease: They offer an API and SDKs. Plus, they have plugins for WooCommerce, Magento, OpenCart, Shopify, WHMCS, Android SDK, PrestaShop, Laravel API, Flutter SDK, GoLang, and ASP.NET.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fast onboarding and plan options | Publicly published pricing is limited |
| Broad MFS + card coverage | Poor customer support |
| Ready plugins and documentation | |
| Competitive transaction rates | |
| International payments |
PortWallet — Developer-Friendly Gateway
PortWallet is a Dhaka-based technology firm. The platform has now been rebranded as PortPos. The platform is one of the best choices for developers and startups for its strong security features and API. It also offers secure and cost-effective online payment management for all types of businesses.
- Setup Fee: PortWallet offers a transparent pricing model. They have no setup or annual fees. It charges 1.5–2.5% commission per transaction.
- Accepted Cards: It accepts major local & international debit or credit cards, including VISA, MasterCard, and Nexus Cards.
- Mobile Financial Services (MFS): It facilitates payments through popular mobile financial services such as bKash
- International Support: They have multiple currency support. Like USD, EUR, or INR.
- Integration Ease: It provides a single API that connects various payment methods. It makes the integration simple for developers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Simple setup and integration | Limited advanced reporting |
| Supports multiple payment methods | Slow customer support during peak hours |
| Recurring billing available | |
| Strong fraud protection | |
| Transparent fees and settlements |
Walletmix — Perfect for MFS Integration (bKash, Rocket, Nagad)
Walletmix is a B2B solutions provider for the Open Banking era, offering agile and transformative software components. It provides a unified platform to accept payments via cards, mobile wallets, and bank transfers. It made it particularly helpful to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and service providers.
- Setup Fee: No setup fee. Transaction fees for Visa/Mastercard are 2.5%, Others, 1.9%.
- Accepted cards/ Mobile Financial Services (MFS): It supports major credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard), mobile financial services (bKash, Rocket, Nagad), and internet banking.
- International Support: Payment handling in BDT, multi-currency support.
- Integration Ease: The platform provides plugins and APIs for easy integration.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| User-friendly dashboard | Regulatory Issues |
| Wide range of payment options | |
| Developer-friendly | |
| Cost-effective |
UniquePay BD — Lightweight Option for Digital Sellers
UniquePay BD is a Bangladesh-based payment automation software. It is designed to help businesses manage their financial operations more efficiently. Moreover, built-in API integration for popular mobile financial services (MFS) and global payment options make the platform a versatile choice for digital sellers.
- Setup Fee: Not publicly available.
- Accepted Cards/ Mobile Financial Services (MFS): The platform supports various payment methods. It includes bKash, Rocket, Nagad, Upay, Cellfin, MasterCard, Binance, Coinbase, and PayPal. It also supports banks like Brack Bank and Islamic Bank.
- International Support: It supports multiple currencies. It includes BDT, EUR, GBP, AUD, USD, and CAD.
- Integration Ease: The platform provides a free extension for WHMCS. Ultimately, it allows businesses to manage transactions effortlessly.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| PCI-DSS Level 1 certified | Expensive international fees |
| Uses SSL encryption to secure transactions | High initial cost |
| User-friendly dashboard | |
| Easy integration |
Stripe — Ideal for Global Online Businesses
Stripe and 2Checkout (now Verifone) are top choices for international payment processing for Bangladeshi businesses aiming to reach global customers. Stripe is not officially available in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi entrepreneurs can access Stripe’s services by incorporating a legal entity in a supported country.
- Setup Fee: No setup fees, monthly fees. 2.9% + 30¢ per successful transaction for domestic cards
- Accepted Cards/ Mobile Financial Services (MFS): It supports major credit and debit cards. It includes Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and digital wallets.
- International Support: It sends money directly to recipients in more than 50 countries. You can send money according to your payment rail and speed choice.
- Integration Ease: The platform offers easy integration. They have a user-friendly API and pre-built checkout solutions.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No setup or monthly fees. | Not officially available in Bangladesh. It requires setting up a legal entity in a supported country. |
| Comprehensive payment method support. | Currency conversion fees may apply for international transactions. |
| Developer-friendly tools and resources. |
2Checkout — Great for Cross-Border E-commerce
2Checkout is particularly suitable for Bangladeshi merchants looking to expand their reach to international markets. The platform provides secure, multi-currency payment processing across more than 200 countries. It also offers subscription billing, global tax management, and financial services through its monetization platform.
- Setup Fee: No setup or annual fees.
- Accepted Cards / Payment Methods: It supports over 45 payment methods, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, PayPal, and various regional payment methods.
- International Support: It is available in over 200 countries and territories. The platform supports more than 100 billing currencies.
- Integration Ease: It provides API integration and platform plugins.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No setup or annual fees. | Transaction fees may be higher compared to local payment gateways. |
| Extensive international reach with multi-currency support. | Currency conversion fees may apply for international transactions. |
| A variety of integration options to suit different business needs. |
A Quick Comparison of the Best Payment Gateways in Bangladesh (2025)
Let’s compare all the payment gateways to help you decide at a glance.
| Payment Gateway | Fees | International Cards | MFS support | Accounting Integrations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSLCommerz | BDT 25,500; 2.5–3.5% per transaction | Visa, MasterCard, Amex | bKash, Nagad, Upay, 10 mobile banking brands | "Plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento RESTful API" |
| AamarPay | Contact for setup fee | Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay, QCash, OK Wallet, Nexus | bKash, Rocket, Nagad, Upay, Tap | WooCommerce, Magento, Shopify, and so on |
| PortWallet (PortPos) | No setup fee | VISA, MasterCard, Nexus | bKash | Single API integration |
| Walletmix | No setup fee | Visa, MasterCard | bKash, Rocket, Nagad | Plugins & APIs |
| UniquePay BD | Not publicly available | MasterCard, Binance, Coinbase, PayPal | bKash, Rocket, Nagad, Upay, Cellfin | Free WHMCS extension |
| Stripe | No setup or monthly fees | Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover, digital wallets | Limited | API, pre-built checkout |
| 2Checkout (Verifone) | No setup or annual fees | Visa, MasterCard, Amex, PayPal | Limited | API integration & platform plugins |
How to Choose the Best Payment Gateway in Bangladesh?
Well, as you see, there are many more options of payment gateway available for you to choose from. That’s why you have to assess your needs carefully to make the right choice.
Fraud Protection and Security
You should look for PCI-DSS compliance, SSL encryption, and tokenization in the payment gateways. These features protect your sensitive financial information. On top of that, you should always choose gateways with two-factor authentication (OTP) for additional safety.
Integration with E-commerce Platforms
You should check whether the payment gateway offers easy integration with e-commerce platforms. For instance, WooCommerce, Shopify, or Magento. It should also offer integration with the accounting platforms. That’s because it saves time and minimizes accounting errors.
Cost and Transaction Fees
You should compare payment gateway fees and per-transaction charges in different providers. It will help you to avoid financial surprises later. Always keep in mind that some gateways may add hidden fees for international or mobile wallet transactions. So, check it out before choosing one.
Multi-Currency and International Payments
If you sell globally, you can consider international gateways like Stripe and 2Checkout for multi-currency support. They can handle USD, EUR, and GBP transactions easily and simplify global accounting.
Customer Support and Reliability
You should consider the payment gateway providers that offer 24/7 customer support. It can be either by chat or phone. That’s because sometimes you may face transaction issues. If you don’t solve the technical or settlement issues, it can cause you cash flow delays and mismatches in the reconciliation.
Challenges and Limitations of Payment Gateways in Bangladesh
Although the payment gateway market is rapidly growing with more and more use, you can still expect to face some challenges. Most common payment gateway limitations include
- Delayed settlements. It can affect cash flow planning and make daily reconciliation difficult.
- High payment gateway charges with hidden costs for international cards. Sometimes, they can cross your business profit margin.
- Transaction failure issues due to occasional payment timeouts, server downtime, or delays in the OTP delivery.
- Integration challenges for SMEs. That’s because of complex API setups or limited plugin compatibility.
- Fraud and security concerns in online payment for businesses that lack advanced fraud detection or PCI DSS-compliant systems.
Benefits of Using a Payment Gateway with Accounting Integration
Digital payments are now essential for business growth in Bangladesh. A payment gateway helps companies accept online payments securely and efficiently while syncing every transaction with accounting records. Here are the key benefits:
Get Paid Faster & Improve Cash Flow: Online payments reach your business instantly, with no waiting for bank deposits or manual collection. This ensures smooth cash flow and better financial planning.
Reach More Customers Across Bangladesh: Whether you sell on Facebook, eCommerce, or in-store, payment gateways allow customers to pay with:
- bKash
- Nagad
- Rocket
- Debit/Credit Cards
- Online banking
This boosts your sales and conversion rate.
Reduce Manual Errors with Automated Accounting: Every payment syncs directly with your accounting system, like Finance, removing manual entries, reducing mistakes, and making audits easier.
Secure Transactions & Fraud Protection: Gateways use
- Encryption
- OTP verification
- Fraud monitoring
So your customers can pay with confidence.
Business Insights & Real-Time Tracking: Instant reporting helps you track
- Sales per payment method
- Pending settlements
- Failed or refunded transactions
Better data is nothing but smarter decisions.
Lower Operational Cost & Time Savings: No need for cash handling, paper receipts, or separate reconciliation work. Automation reduces workload and overhead.
Supports Remote & Subscription Business Models: Perfect for
- Online shops
- Service providers
- Freelancers
- SaaS subscriptions
Recurring payments are handled automatically
Note: Many Bangladeshi businesses are now integrating payment gateways with accounting systems to reduce reconciliation time and human error. It is helping finance teams close books faster and with greater accuracy.
How Payment Gateways Integrate With Accounting Software Like Financfy?
Accounting software like Financfy simplifies financial management by linking online payments to your accounting software, eliminating the need for manual entries.
- Financfy connects payment gateways directly to ledger entries.
- It creates an efficient and real-time cash flow.
- Records transactions automatically whenever a customer makes a payment through the gateway.
- Financfy has already integrated with popular payment gateways like EBL and bKash.
- Businesses can add any other preferred gateway in the system.
- Invoices are created and recorded with every transaction and no manual input required.
- Financfy automatically matches each payment to ledger entries, ensuring accurate reconciliation reports.
Final Thoughts
When you are an online business, safe and secure payments make the operation a lot easier. You can collect money safely and quickly with the right payment gateway in Bangladesh. On top of that, if you connect it with an efficient accounting software, you can automate payments and keep your records always up to date. Take your time, choose the right payment gateway, integrate it with accounting software, and run your business smartly.
FAQs
1. What is the best payment gateway in Bangladesh for e-commerce?
SSLCOMMERZ and AamarPay can be a good choice for the local online businesses. However, they will need to consider 2Checkout or Stripe for international transactions.
2. Does SSLCommerz support international payments?
Yes, SSLCOMMERZ supports international payments, like BDT, USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and CAD.
3. How much do Bangladeshi payment gateways charge per transaction?
Bangladeshi payment gateway charge 2.5% – 3.5% for card and 1.8% – 4% for MFS (mobile banking).
4. Which gateway supports bKash or Nagad?
SSLCOMMERZ, AamarPay, ShurjoPay, PortWallet (PortPos), Walletmix, and UniquePay BD supports bkash or nagad.
