PrestaShop 9 ships with Stripe Connect as the default payment option plus PayPal, bank wire and cheque. For a UK merchant, the right combination is Stripe + PayPal + (optionally) bank transfer for B2B. This guide covers the setup of each, PCI scope, Strong Customer Authentication compliance and the common problems that stop payments appearing at checkout.
The PrestaShop payment framework • Stripe Connect — the default recommendation • PayPal • Bank wire for B2B • Apple Pay and Google Pay • PCI DSS scope • SCA and 3-D Secure • FAQ
Payment methods are modules. Each handles its own flow, redirects and webhook processing. Core PrestaShop ships with:
Manage all four under Improve › Payment › Payment Methods.
PrestaShop 9 integrates with Stripe Connect, Stripe’s platform-friendly API. Setup:
4242 4242 4242 4242.UK pricing: 1.5% + 20p per standard UK card transaction.
The PayPal Checkout module:
UK fees: 2.9% + 30p for standard UK card via PayPal. Enable for coverage (some shoppers prefer PayPal balance), not primary cost optimisation.
For trade accounts paying by bank transfer:
Order status on bank wire: Awaiting Bank Wire Payment. Staff reconcile bank receipts daily and manually change status to Payment accepted when funds arrive.
Enabled automatically via Stripe Connect. Apple Pay requires domain verification:
.well-known/apple-developer-merchantid-domain-association on your server.Google Pay requires no separate verification.
With hosted Stripe Elements or PayPal iframe, cards never touch your PrestaShop server. You fall under SAQ-A (Self-Assessment Questionnaire A), the simplest PCI DSS tier. Most small UK merchants can self-certify annually.
For full PCI DSS compliance details, see the PCI Security Standards Council.
Strong Customer Authentication (UK-equivalent of PSD2) requires 3-D Secure 2 on most card transactions. Stripe and PayPal handle this transparently — challenge screens appear when the card issuer requests authentication. PrestaShop itself needs no specific configuration.
PrestaShop hosting with Stripe and PayPal ready
SmartXHosting PrestaShop plans include TLS 1.3 for PCI-friendly traffic, Stripe-compatible TLS and UK-based support for payment integration questions.
See PrestaShop plansQ: No payment methods appear at checkout — what’s wrong?
A: Three things: (1) payment module enabled, (2) cart currency matches the module’s allowed currency, (3) customer group permitted. Check Module Manager › [module] › Configuration.
Q: Stripe test mode works but live mode fails.
A: Webhook signing secret or live API keys missing. Regenerate both in Stripe Dashboard and paste into PrestaShop Stripe config.
Q: Can I accept Klarna?
A: Yes via Stripe Connect — enable Klarna in the Stripe module configuration. Klarna shows as BNPL option at checkout.
Q: How do I surcharge for American Express?
A: Not native. UK regulations discourage card-specific surcharging post-PSD2 anyway — check current rules before implementing.
Q: What does the customer see if their card is declined?
A: Stripe returns a generic “Your card was declined” message. Customer can retry with a different card or method. For detailed decline reasons (insufficient funds, issuer decline), check Stripe Dashboard.
Q: Is there a monthly minimum with Stripe?
A: No — Stripe is per-transaction only, no monthly fees for UK merchants. Volume-based pricing tiers kick in at very high volumes (£1m/mo+).
Q: Can customers save cards for faster checkout next time?
A: Yes via Stripe’s “Link” feature or the Save Card option. GDPR-compliant and boosts repeat-customer conversion.