The 11 best payment gateways in Colombia: Guide 2025

Choosing the right payment gateway can make the difference between the success and growth of your online business in Colombia. With the boom of e-commerce in the country, having an efficient, safe and secure payment system adapted to the local market is not only an advantage, but a necessity.

If your company operates in sectors such as EdTech, SaaS, HealthTech or eCommerce, this guide will help you find the platform to optimize your transactions and improve your customers' payment experience.

These are the 11 best payment gateways in Colombia. Find out below their outstanding features, integration methods and fees so that you can make an informed decision: 

1. Rebill
2. Mercado Pago
3. Wompi
4. PayU
5. Place to Pay
6. ePayco
7. PayPal
8. Stripe
9. GETTRX
10. Openpay
11. PayZen

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is a service that allows businesses to process electronic payments securely and efficiently. It acts as an intermediary between the buyer, the merchant and the financial institutions, validating the payment information and authorizing the transaction in real time. Its function is to ensure that funds are transferred correctly, protecting both the customer and the seller against fraud and errors in the purchase process.

How does a payment gateway work?

Each payment gateway has its own process; however, most follow these steps each time a customer makes a transaction:

1. ‍Thebuyer enters his data - He enters his credit or debit card information or other alternative means of payment at checkout.‍
2. The payment gateway encrypts the information - Protects sensitive data and sends it to the payment processor.‍
3. The payment processor contacts the issuing bank - Requests authorization for the transaction.‍
4. The issuing bank approves or rejects the payment - Evaluates whether there are sufficient funds and whether the transaction is secure.‍
5. The gateway confirms the transaction - Informs the merchant and the customer if the payment was successful.
6. Funds are transferred to the merchant's account - Depending on the provider, settlement can take from minutes to several days.

Security and regulations for payment gateways in Colombia

In Colombia, payment gateways must comply with strict regulations to ensure the security of electronic transactions. The Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) establishes specific regulations on personal data protection (Law 1581 of 2012) and consumer rights in the digital environment.

Additionally, if the gateway offers specific financial services, it must be supervised by the Colombian Financial Superintendency, which regulates the financial system and ensures that entities comply with the necessary standards to protect users.

The main certification that a reliable payment gateway in Colombia must have includes:

• ‍PCIDSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) ensures that the company complies with the security standards for handling card data.

The best payment gateways in Colombia

The Colombian market offers several payment gateway options, each one with particular characteristics. Let's take a look at the best options available: 

1. Rebill

Rebill is a payment platform designed for global companies, both with operations in Colombia and international companies that want to expand in the country. It is ideal for companies with high transaction volume, especially in sectors such as SaaS, EdTech, HealthTech and eCommerce. 

Its main strength is the optimization of the digital payment flow with a customizable checkout and smart rules that increase the conversion rate by up to 35%.

In addition, it improves the payment approval rate by up to 20%, higher than the market average, and boosts smart recovery of failed payments by up to 71%. 

With presence in 7 Latin American countries, it offers a robust and scalable solution for companies seeking to maximize their revenues. Its payment solutions also include payment buttons and links. 

In terms of security, it is PCI DSS level 1 certified, the highest standard.

Learn more about its main features:

2. Mercado Pago

As part of the Mercado Libre ecosystem, Mercado Pago offers a comprehensive solution with wide adoption in Colombia. It is useful for merchants selling through marketplaces that require physical point-of-sale solutions in addition to online. It allows adding a payment button or sharing payment links on social networks and WhatsApp.

Explore its key functions:

3. Wompi

Developed by Bancolombia, Wompi stands out for its local focus and ease of implementation for small and medium-sized Colombian businesses. It offers a simplified onboarding process and competitive rates.

Consult the most relevant information about their service:

‍4. PayU

With a presence throughout Latin America, PayU is one of the most established payment gateways in Colombia. It offers solutions for different sizes of companies and stands out for its robustness for large transaction volumes.

Here are the essentials you need to know:

‍5. Place to Pay

Developed by Colombian company EGM Ingeniería, Place to Pay offers payment solutions with a strong focus on security and local regulatory compliance. It is especially valued by companies with strict security requirements such as the financial and healthcare sectors.

Get to know its advantages:

ePayco

100% Colombian payment gateway, ePayco stands out for its knowledge of the local market and its simplified checkout solution. It offers a shopping experience optimized for mobile devices. It is backed by Davivienda bank and PayPal. 

Check out its highlights:

7. PayPal

PayPal is one of the best known payment platforms worldwide, allowing secure transactions between buyers and sellers. Although PayPal does not operate directly in Colombia, its alliance with ePayco since 2024 allows businesses and entrepreneurs in the country to use it as a means of payment. Through this integration, it is possible to accept PayPal payments at checkout and withdraw the funds received to local bank accounts, thus facilitating online sales and expansion into international markets.

8. Stripe

Stripe is a payment platform that allows businesses to accept online payments. However, it does not operate directly in Colombia for local businesses. In order to use it, it is necessary to have a company registered in the United States (such as an LLC or a C-Corp), as Stripe does not support Colombian entities. 

Explore its key functions:

9. GETTRX

GETTRX is a payment platform focused on facilitating local and international transactions, with support for PSE payments and digital wallets. Its platform works for companies that need to process payments efficiently and quickly.

This is what it offers:

10.Openpay

Openpay is an online payment platform backed by the BBVA Group, which allows businesses to accept a variety of payment methods in a secure and efficient manner. With a presence in several Latin American countries, including Colombia, it offers solutions adapted to the needs of different types of businesses, such as dataphone, payment links, payment button, collections and customized collections with a box office:

Here are the essentials you need to know:

11. PayZen

It is an online payment platform that offers secure and efficient solutions for businesses in Colombia and other countries. It allows businesses to accept electronic payments in a simple way, adapting to the needs of the local market.

Check its characteristics:

‍Types ofpayment gateways and which one is right for your business

Depending on the model and size of your business, certain types of payment gateways may be better suited to your specific needs:

Payment gateway aggregators

These are those that group multiple merchants under the same account and offer quick implementation without the need for direct affiliation with banks.

They are usually recommended for emerging businesses or those with moderate transactional volume (up to USD 100,000 per month). The sectors that use them the most are: e-commerce due to the variety of payment methods and ease of implementation. In addition to Edtechs that offer individual courses and seek to be able to make single payments without complex recurrences.

• Examples: Mercado Pago, ePayco, Wompi, Rebill.

Direct payment gateways or payment processors

They are those that have direct connection with banks and card networks. They offer greater control over the payment process. They are recommended for companies with a transaction volume of more than 100 thousand dollars per month and that require maximum security.

The sectors that benefit most from this type of gateway are HealthTech, due to the privacy of medical data, and e-commerce platforms, where the security perceived by the customer has an impact on their purchasing decision.

• Examples: PayU, Place to Pay, Rebill.

Specialized gateways for recurring payments

These are those focused on automating periodic collections, managing subscriptions and optimizing retention. Recommended for businesses based on subscription or membership models, in sectors such as: Saas and its management of monthly or annual plans; EdTech with subscriptions for ongoing educational programs; and finally, digital content services.

• Examples: PayU Subscriptions, Rebill.

White-label payment gateway

These are those that allow you to fully customize the payment experience with your brand. They are recommended for established companies looking to reinforce their brand image and keep the user experience under control. It is ideal for Fintech and SaaS enterprise sectors to offer an integrated payment experience to corporate customers.

• Examples: Place to Pay (enterprise solution), PayU Advanced and Rebill .

What to consider when choosing the best payment gateway in Colombia

Choosing the right payment gateway for your business in Colombia requires carefully evaluating aspects such as costs, payment methods, ease of integration, approval rate and compatibility with your specific business model.

1. ‍Costs and commissions: The costs of implementing a payment gateway in Colombia usually include:
   • Transaction fee: Generally between 2.5% and 5.99%, depending on volume and gateway.
   • Fixed fee per transaction: In addition to the commission, it can be from $300 to $1,500 COP.
   • Implementation cost: Some gateways charge for initial integration.
   • Monthly fees: Fixed charges for maintenance or access to advanced functionalities.
   • Cost for refunds or chargebacks: Additional fees in case of refunds.

2. ‍Accepted methods of paymentDiversity of payment methods can increase your conversions by up to 25%, according to studies by the Colombian Chamber of E-Commerce. Make sure you have the most used by the Colombian market:
   • PSE (Secure Online Payments): Used by 29% of Colombian online shoppers, it allows direct payments from bank accounts.
   • Credit/debit cards: Represent approximately 38% of online transactions.
   • Cash at physical points: Baloto, Efecty and SuRed continue to be relevant, especially for reaching unbanked consumers (close to 20% of transactions).
   • Digital wallets: Nequi, Daviplata and other mobile solutions are rapidly gaining popularity.
   • Installment payments: Fundamental for higher-value purchases in the Colombian market.

3. ‍Compatibility with local eCommerce and ERP platforms. Verify that the gateway is properly integrated, this can significantly reduce development and maintenance costs, as well as minimize errors during payment processing. These are some of the points you should check:
   • eCommerce platforms either natively or through SDKs.  
   • Management systems: SAP, Oracle, Siigo and other ERPs used locally.
   • Educational platforms: If you operate in EdTech, compatibility with LMS such as Moodle, Canvas or proprietary platforms.
   • Medical software: For HealthTech, integration with electronic medical records and scheduling systems.

‍Rebill has two integration modes: one low code and the other through APIs or SDKs. In addition, it offers Webhooks, which allow you to receive notifications in any other application or system, for example, to create a payment order in an ERP, a customer in a CRM or issue an electronic invoice automatically.‍

4. ‍Knowledge of the Latin American market: Rebill operates in the 7 main Latin American countries, including Colombia, which allows it to know the market and offer advantages such as:
   • Understanding local payment habits: Adaptation to Colombian consumer preferences.
   • Regulatory compliance: Familiarity with SIC and Superintendencia Financiera regulations.
   • Support in Spanish: Customer service in the local language and at appropriate times.
   • Contextualized anti-fraud strategies: Systems tailored to region-specific fraud patterns.‍

5. ‍Payment approval rate: Solutions that better understand the local market typically offer higher payment approval rates and lower false positive fraud rejection rates. Rebill improves the payment approval rate by up to 20%.‍

Conclusion

If your company operates in sectors such as EdTech, SaaS, HealthTech or eCommerce and processes a high volume of transactions, Rebill is the payment gateway that can help you improve your approval rate, increase conversions and optimize the payment experience. 

Contact us and find out how to speed up your collections and reduce friction at checkout to sell up to 10 times faster in Colombia.

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Disclaimer:The information on pricing, commissions and integration of payment gateways mentioned in this article is based on sources available at the time of publication: April 2025. However, this data may change over time.