A payment gateway is the software that securely transmits payment information from your website or point-of-sale system to your payment processor. It encrypts sensitive data, supports fraud tools, and manages transaction requests. Gateways are critical for card-not-present transactions and often include reporting and other features.
Choosing the right gateway impacts your checkout flow, fraud controls, and system performance. You should evaluate gateway uptime, reporting granularity, and API capabilities when planning your payment stack. Gateways are not one-size-fits-all — pick one that fits your industry and customer flow.
AltoPay offers gateway options that integrate seamlessly with your CRM, ecommerce platform, or billing system.

For more than a decade, Jessica Velasco has been a thought leader in the payments industry. She aims to provide readers with valuable, easy-to-understand resources.