Shopify Payments alternative · 2026

Shopify Payments alternative: keep $9,749 of $10,000

The cheapest way in the world to get paid internationally.

On a $10,000 card payment from a client in the United States to a business in Canada, Shopify Payments takes $384.81 in fees. Playto takes $250.30 and adds zero markup, so you keep $9,749.70. The table below also shows Stripe, PayPal, Xero and Square.

Request an invite

No monthly fees. No setup fees. Lowest price guarantee.

Fees on $10,000 by card

  • Shopify PaymentsYou receive $9,615.19$384.81
  • PlaytoYou receive $9,749.70$250.30

The numbers

What lands in your bank

Example payments from a client in the United States to a business in Canada. All fees included. Taxes not included.

Difference on $10,000
$134.51
By card, what reaches you with Playto compared with Shopify Payments.
Shopify Payments all in
3.8%
Of a $10,000 card payment.
Playto all in
2.5%
Of a $10,000 card payment.
Ways to pay
30+
From 170+ countries.
Client pays by card: what you receive
Provider$1,000$5,000$10,000
Playto$974.70$4,874.70$9,749.70
Shopify Payments1$930.19$4,790.19$9,615.19
Stripe2$942.79$4,714.79$9,429.79
PayPal3≤ $933.82≤ $4,670.26≤ $9,340.81
Xero4,5≤ $945.14≤ $4,797.14≤ $9,612.14
Square6$956.79$4,784.79$9,569.79

Client pays by bank transfer

Shopify Payments, Stripe, PayPal, Xero and Square list no bank transfer option for this case.1,2,3,4,5,6 With Playto, bank transfers are never more than $5.

  1. 1.Shopify Payments: Online international card rate on the Basic plan; Shopify Payments: Fixed fee (CAD 0.30, converted at the ECB rate of 16 Oct 2026); Shopify Payments: Shopify Basic plan, needed to use Shopify Payments (CAD 49 a month billed monthly, CAD 37 a month billed yearly; CAD 49 converted at the ECB rate of 16 Oct 2026). www.shopify.com/ca/pricing, checked 18 Oct 2026.
  2. 2.Stripe: Card fee (2.9%); Stripe: Fixed fee (CAD 0.30, converted at the ECB rate of 16 Oct 2026); Stripe: Fee for a card issued outside the country; Stripe: Currency conversion surcharge (USD to CAD). stripe.com/ca/pricing, checked 17 Oct 2026.
  3. 3.PayPal: Payment fee (PayPal standard rate); PayPal: Extra fee, client in the US; PayPal: Conversion fee from the USD balance to CAD (the lowest published rate). www.paypal.com/ca/business/paypal-business-fees, checked 17 Oct 2026.
  4. 4.Xero: International card fee (3.7%); Xero: Fixed fee (CAD 0.30, converted at the ECB rate of 16 Oct 2026). www.xero.com/ca/pricing-plans/pricing-and-fees-for-stripe/, checked 17 Oct 2026.
  5. 5.Xero: Cheapest plan with online invoice payments (Starter, CAD 25 a month, converted at the ECB rate of 16 Oct 2026); Xero: Change from USD to CAD by the client's card issuer (not published). www.xero.com/ca/pricing-plans/, checked 17 Oct 2026.
  6. 6.Square: Online card fee (Square Online or eCommerce API); Square: Fixed fee (CAD 0.30, converted at the ECB rate of 16 Oct 2026); Square: Fee for a card issued outside Canada. squareup.com/help/ca/en/article/5068-what-are-square-s-fees, checked 17 Oct 2026.

Where the money goes

$10,000 by card, line by line

Shopify Payments

  • Online international card rate on the Basic plan1$350.00
  • Fixed fee (CAD 0.30, converted at the ECB rate of 16 Oct 2026)1$0.21
  • Shopify Basic plan, needed to use Shopify Payments (CAD 49 a month billed monthly, CAD 37 a month billed yearly; CAD 49 converted at the ECB rate of 16 Oct 2026)1$34.60
  • Total$384.81
  • You receive$9,615.19

Playto

  • Card fee$250.30
  • Total$250.30
  • You receive$9,749.70

Prices from playto.so/pricing. Playto adds zero markup.

Calculator

Try your own amount

From $1,000 to $50,000, by card or bank transfer, for a client in the United States paying a business in Canada.

$10,000
$1,000$50,000

Fees charged

  • Shopify PaymentsYou receive $9,615.19$384.81
  • PlaytoYou receive $9,749.70$250.30

Side by side

Shopify Payments and Playto, in plain numbers

What adds to the cost with Shopify Payments

  • Shopify Payments lists no bank transfer option for a client in the United States paying a business in Canada.
  • Shopify Payments has a monthly plan fee of $34.60. We count it once, as if you get paid once a month.
  • All in, Shopify Payments takes $384.81 (3.8%) of a $10,000 card payment. Playto takes $250.30.

When Shopify Payments is still the right choice

  • Your clients pay you inside your own country. A local payment method can cost less there. Playto is built for clients abroad.

Switching

Move from Shopify Payments in three steps

  1. 1

    Request an invite

    Tell us about your business. Playto checks every business before it gets in.

  2. 2

    Send a payment link

    Share a link or an invoice. Your client can pay 30+ ways, from 170+ countries.

  3. 3

    Get paid

    Cards cost 2.5% + $0.30. Bank transfers are never more than $5. Playto adds zero markup.

FAQ

Shopify Payments alternative: questions

Is Playto cheaper than Shopify Payments?
Yes, at every amount from $1,000 to $50,000 we checked, by card, for a client in the United States paying a business in Canada. On $10,000 by card, Shopify Payments takes $384.81 and Playto takes $250.30. Taxes are not included.
What are the alternatives to Shopify Payments for a business in Canada?
On a $10,000 card payment from a client in the United States to a business in Canada: Stripe takes $570.21; PayPal takes at least $659.19; Xero takes at least $387.86; Square takes $430.21; Playto takes $250.30. Each number comes from the provider's own pricing page.
How much does Shopify Payments charge on a $10,000 payment from the United States?
By card, Shopify Payments takes $384.81 on $10,000, so $9,615.19 reaches a business in Canada. The biggest fees are the $350.00 online international card rate on the Basic plan and the $34.60 Shopify Basic plan. Every fee is listed on this page, with its source. These numbers come from Shopify Payments' own pricing pages, checked 18 Oct 2026.
How can my clients pay?
Your client can pay 30+ ways, from 170+ countries. They pick a card, a wallet or a bank transfer (ACH, SEPA, UK and wires).
How much does Playto cost?
Cards and wallets cost 2.5% + $0.30, the same for every card. Bank transfers are never more than $5. Playto adds zero markup. There are no monthly fees and no setup fees. Payments between Playto users are free.
How do I move from Shopify Payments to Playto?
Request an invite and tell us about your business. Playto checks every business before it gets in. Then send your client a payment link or an invoice.

Keep comparing

Related pages

Get paid by global clients

Get paid by clients abroad with zero markup

Cards cost 2.5% + $0.30. Bank transfers are never more than $5. Your client can pay 30+ ways, from 170+ countries.

Request an invite

No monthly fees. No setup fees. Lowest price guarantee.

This preview does not load advertising pixels or optional analytics. Hosting services may use essential technologies to deliver and protect the site.

Essential technologiesAlways active
Analytics & advertisingNot enabled
Chat (Intercom)Only when you open it

Our chat tool, Intercom, loads only when you click the chat button. From then on it sets cookies that keep your conversation with you as you move between pages.

Read the cookie policy