News • 21 August, 2025
In the e-commerce sector, choosing the right payment method not only affects customer experience but also directly impacts business profitability. Payment gateway costs, including payment fees, QR code fees, and transaction processing fees, are factors that need careful consideration to ensure cost-effective payments and cost optimization. This article will compare the costs of popular payment methods, helping e-commerce businesses make informed decisions, while introducing PayME's transparent pricing with PayME's commitment to cost transparency.
E-commerce businesses commonly use the following payment methods:
Each method comes with transaction processing fees and hidden costs in e-commerce, such as maintenance fees, chargeback fees (transaction disputes), or foreign exchange fees. According to a 2024 report from the State Bank of Vietnam, 65% of e-commerce transactions in Vietnam are conducted through e-wallets and QR codes, showing the trend toward modern payment methods.
Below is a cost comparison table of popular payment methods, based on market information and payment service providers:
Payment Method |
Transaction Processing Fee |
Monthly Maintenance Fee |
Hidden E-commerce Costs |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Credit/Debit Cards |
1.5% - 3.5% + $0.10-$0.30/transaction |
$0 - $30 (varies by provider) |
Chargeback fees ($15-$20), foreign exchange fees (1%-3%) |
Popular, trusted by customers |
High fees for international transactions, chargeback risk |
E-wallets |
1% - 2.5% + $0.05-$0.20/transaction |
Usually free |
API integration fees (if any), withdrawal fees |
Fast, convenient, popular in Vietnam |
Dependent on e-wallet coverage |
QR Code (Dynamic) |
0.5% - 2% + $0.05-$0.15/transaction |
Free or $10-$20 |
API integration fees |
Automation, reduces errors |
Requires technical integration |
QR Code (Static) |
0.3% - 1.5% + $0.05/transaction |
Free |
Manual reconciliation fees |
Low cost, easy deployment |
No order information linking |
Bank Transfer |
0.5% - 1% or fixed fee ($0.10-$0.50) |
Usually free |
Reconciliation fees, interbank transfer fees |
Suitable for large transactions |
Slow, requires manual confirmation |
COD |
1% - 3% (varies by delivery partner) |
Free |
Return processing costs (20.8% of e-commerce orders returned) |
Suitable for Vietnamese market |
Risk of uncollected payments |
Source: Based on information from providers like PayPal, Stripe, PayME, and reports from National Retail Federation (2021) on return rates.
Cost: Transaction processing fees typically range from 1.5% - 3.5% plus $0.10-$0.30 per transaction. For example, PayPal applies a 2.9% + $0.30/transaction fee for credit cards in the US.
Hidden costs: Chargeback fees ($15-$20/disputed transaction) and foreign exchange fees (1%-3%) for international transactions.
Example: An e-commerce business with $100,000/month revenue must pay approximately $2,900-$3,500 in card processing fees, not including chargeback costs if disputes occur.
Cost: Lower than credit cards, typically 1% - 2.5% plus $0.05-$0.20/transaction. Some wallets like PayME offer lower fees for domestic transactions.
Hidden costs: API integration fees (if any) or withdrawal fees to bank accounts.
Example: Janbox, a cross-border e-commerce platform, integrated PayME e-wallet and reduced payment costs by 30% compared to using international cards, while increasing transaction speed by 40%.
Dynamic QR: Fees from 0.5% - 2% + $0.05-$0.15/transaction, suitable for businesses needing automation and order information linking. PayME provides PayME Dynamic QR with competitive fees starting from 0.5% for small transactions.
Static QR: Lower fees, from 0.3% - 1.5%, but requires manual reconciliation. See more at Cost-Effective Static QR Article Link.
Hidden costs: API integration fees for dynamic QR or manual reconciliation costs for static QR.
Example: A coffee shop chain using PayME Dynamic QR reduced reconciliation time by 50% and saved 20% in costs compared to static QR thanks to automation, improving their payment accounting efficiency.
Cost: Low, from 0.5% - 1% or fixed fee $0.10-$0.50/transaction.
Hidden costs: Manual reconciliation fees and interbank transfer fees.
Disadvantages: Slow processing time, not suitable for fast transactions.
Cost: 1% - 3% depending on delivery partner, plus return processing costs (20.8% of e-commerce orders returned, according to National Retail Federation).
Hidden costs: Return management costs and risk of uncollected payments.
Example: A Vietnamese fashion e-commerce business using COD incurred return costs up to 15% of revenue due to customer refusals.
Besides transaction processing fees, businesses need to pay attention to hidden e-commerce costs:
For example, Janbox reduced hidden costs by 25% by switching from international cards to PayME Dynamic QR, thanks to automated invoice integration and reduced chargeback rates, streamlining their payment accounting processes.
PayME's pricing stands out with PayME's transparent costs, helping businesses optimize transaction fees:
Janbox: This cross-border e-commerce platform integrated PayME Dynamic QR, reducing payment costs from 3% to 1.5% and increasing transaction completion rates by 35% thanks to fast payment experience.
Fashion Store Chain: A fashion brand in Hanoi used PayME to deploy dynamic QR across 20 stores, reducing transaction processing costs from 2.5% to 1% and saving 40% reconciliation time, significantly improving their payment accounting efficiency.
For detailed pricing, visit PayME QR Pricing Page.
To achieve low-cost payments, businesses should:
PayME stands out in the Vietnamese market with:
Choosing the right payment method is crucial for cost-effective payments and profit optimization for e-commerce businesses. PayME Dynamic QR and e-wallets stand out with low costs, flexibility, and automation capabilities, helping businesses like Janbox and retail chains save up to 50% in costs compared to credit cards or COD.
PayME's collection services and disbursement services, combined with automated payment accounting features, provide comprehensive financial management solutions that streamline operations and reduce administrative overhead.
For detailed information, visit PayME QR Pricing Page or Cost-Effective Static QR Article Link. Businesses can register for custom quotes at Custom Quote Registration CTA to receive consultation tailored to their business needs and learn more about PayME's collection and disbursement services and payment accounting solutions.
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