At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Also called | Online payment gateway, checkout gateway |
| French term | Passerelle de paiement |
| Where it sits in the payment flow | Between your checkout and your processor |
| Who controls it | The gateway company. Your processor may supply it, or you may use a separate one |
| Does it cost the merchant | Often. A gateway fee can be monthly, per sale, or built into your rates |
How it works
In a store, a terminal sends the sale to the processor. Online and by phone, the gateway does that job. FCAC describes the same steps for any card sale: your system sends the data, the issuer approves or declines, and the answer comes back to you.
- The customer enters card details at your checkout, on a payment page or through a link. Online sales may ask for extra security information.
- The gateway sends the sale data to your processor.
- The processor passes it through the card network to the issuer, which approves or declines.
- The answer returns through the gateway, and your checkout shows the result.
A Canadian example
A shop in Sherbrooke sells a $60 candle set online. The customer pays with a Visa Classic card. Visa's published rate for a Classic card not present is 1.40%, so interchange is $0.84. The same card tapped in store is 1.25%, or $0.75. Any gateway fee comes on top and is set by your contract. An example only, not a quote.
What is different in Canada and Québec
- Online sales are card-not-present. Visa defines that as a sale where the card and the cardholder are not at your location. Visa's rates for these sales are higher on most cards.
- Visa also publishes a slightly lower rate for tokenized card-not-present sales: 1.35% for a Classic card. Ask your provider whether it applies.
- The Code of Conduct covers your processing agreement. A gateway from a different company may have its own terms, so read them separately.
- Québec bans charging consumers extra to pay by card. A gateway fee cannot be added as a card fee at checkout. See our surcharging guide.
- If you sell to Québec customers, a checkout and receipts in French are a practical need.
What it costs and where it shows on your statement
Gateway pricing is not standard. Some providers charge a monthly fee. Some charge a small amount per sale. Some build it into the processing rate. On a statement, look for a line that says gateway, or for a monthly fee you do not recognize. In a quote, ask for the gateway fee as its own line.
Where CleverPays fits in this step
The gateway is a service chosen by you or by your website platform. Your processor, the card network and the issuer handle the rest of the sale. CleverPays does not approve or decline cards and does not set interchange or network fees. CleverPays is operated by Groupe Heo Inc., an Agent of Fiserv Canada Ltd.
We can recommend and set up a gateway for your online or phone sales, or Clover where it fits. We can read a recent statement with you and show each fee line, including any gateway fee. Clover devices in Canada work only with Fiserv processing. We answer in English and French.
Common mistakes
- Treating the gateway and the processor as one company. They can be, but often they are two, with two sets of terms.
- Never asking for the gateway fee on its own line. It then hides inside your rate.
- Picking a gateway before checking your website platform. The platform decides which gateways connect.
Related terms
- Payment processor: the company that handles the sale with the networks.
- Virtual terminal: a browser screen where staff key in a card.
- Payment link: a web address that takes a customer to a payment page.
- Merchant account: the account where your card sales are settled.
- Tokenization: swapping the card number for a stand-in that is useless if stolen.
- Hosted payment page: a payment form run by the provider, not by your site.
Common questions
Is a payment gateway the same as a payment processor?
No. The gateway carries the sale. The processor handles it with the networks and settles the money. Some companies sell both together.
Do I need a payment gateway to sell online?
Usually, yes, because your checkout needs a way to reach your processor. Many ecommerce platforms include one, so check before you buy another.
Does a gateway store card numbers?
It depends on the provider. Some keep card details so you can charge again later, and others do not. Ask what yours stores and who is responsible for protecting it.
Sources
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, How card payment transactions work, read 6 October 2026.
- Visa Canada, interchange reimbursement fees, read 6 October 2026, for the card-not-present definition and rates.
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, Code of Conduct for the Payment Card Industry in Canada, read 6 October 2026.
- Office de la protection du consommateur, frais interdits, as cited in our surcharging guide, read 24 September 2026.
- Clover Canada, pricing and FAQ, read 24 September 2026.
