Top 3 Payment Plugins compared | GetPaid vs WP Simple Pay vs SureCart

So, you’re in the market for a plugin to accept payments on your WordPress site.

You want to pick the best option, so there are no hiccups down the line, but you don’t want to break the bank doing it.

We get it.

That’s why we’re reviewing three popular payment processing plugins for WordPress: GetPaid, WP Simple Pay, and SureCart.

We’ll dive into the features, pros and cons, and pricing and offer our own verdict on which one you should go with.

By the end of this article, you should have enough information to choose the perfect payment processor for your needs.

Ready? Let’s get started!

GetPaid vs. WP Simple Pay vs. SureCart: Key differences

• SureCart is a SAAS. It means you will build your business on a platform you do not own. All the data on the forms, products, and orders are stored in their servers and are only available through their site (or the plugin).
• WP Simple Pay is a Stripe-only plugin. So you might limit yourself to PayPal users, some countries that don’t have Stripe (since they operate in only 47 countries so far), and depend on your business’s cash flow solely on one company. 
• GetPaid is self-hosted and goes beyond basic payment collection and processing with advanced features like custom quotes, invoices, sales funnels, and discounts. Much of their extended functionality will require paid add-ons, which can be bulk-purchased with a membership plan.

What goes into the best payment plugins?

To start off, let’s look at the features which are essential for any payment processing plugin.

This will help us compare the different plugins and assess whether they meet your needs.

• Security is paramount in payments – nobody wants their sensitive data to fall into the wrong hands! That’s why all of these plugins come with SSL encryption built in and tokenization to protect customer information.
• You’ll also want a plugin that supports multiple payment gateways you plan on using. GetPaid integrates Stripe, PayPal, Square, and a dozen other options, while WP Simple Pay only works with Stripe, and SureCart is compatible with Authorize.net, PayPal, and more.
• Want to offer discounts and coupons? Check. All three plugins support discount codes, which you can set up quickly in the plugin settings (though they may vary in plans).
• Strong customer support: When it comes to managing finances, having a reliable support team on hand is non-negotiable. All three plugins offer customer support, with SureCart offering the most comprehensive package (24/7 email and chat).

Now, let’s understand the differences between these payment plugins.

GetPaid

First up we have GetPaid, one of the leading Stripe-verified payment processors for WordPress. 

GetPaid allows users to create and manage forms for accepting payments and subscriptions on their website.

It can be integrated with various payment gateways, including PayPal and Stripe, and allows for creating custom forms, including fields for collecting customer information and setting up recurring payments.

The plugin also includes features for managing and tracking payments and generating reports and invoices.

The team always makes sure to continually update, optimize and innovate the plugin with the latest features.

Other than Stripe and PayPal, GetPaid is integrated with 18 payment gateways (including Square, 2CO, PayFast, Authorize.net and PayU) and a powerful array of add-ons to extend the core functionality.

GetPaid arms you with an all-in-one solution for managing your payments.

Let’s go through some of the features to see what it can offer you.

Key features

• More payment gateway options than any competitor
• “Buy Now” buttons or Inline Custom payment forms with unlimited drag-and-drop custom fields (best for checkout, information collection, and landing page embeds)
•  Automatic tax calculation and EU VAT-ready invoices
• Free quotes add-on that lets you send customers a custom offer which automatically turns into an invoice upon acceptance.
• Sales funnel builder that lets you build order bumps, custom upsell, or downsell flows at checkout.
• Quantity discounts that let you adjust price tiers based on order quantity
• A multi-currency setup that lets you set a preferred global currency and add other options
• Enable digital product downloads and licensing for digital downloads

Pros

• Variety of price presentation options (e.g., standalone product, subscriptions, custom PDF invoices) & payment collection methods
• Payment analytics dashboard
• Offer customers free or paid trials on any plans
• 30-day money back guarantee
• Responsive customer support

Cons

• Some features require paid add-ons (e.g., sales funnel builder, digital product downloads)
• Built-in analytics aren’t as comprehensive as other services

Pricing and plans available

The core GetPaid plugin is 100% free to download with no complex setup (another pro). If you want to extend the core functionality of the plugin, you’ll need to purchase add-ons which range from $39 to $49 each depending on the service.

However, you can purchase all 15 add-ons at a huge discount with one of their membership plans. So to make the most out of GetPaid, you may want to consider one of their 4, 6, or 12-month subscriptions (displayed below). Alternatively, to save more in the long run, you could get a lifetime membership for a one-time fee.

All plans are backed by a 100% no-risk money back guarantee within 30 days, so if the plugin isn’t what you expected, you can get a refund – no questions asked.

Who is GetPaid best for?

With their wide array of features and add-ons, GetPaid is perfect for service-based businesses (e.g., custom quotes & invoicing), but also eCommerce stores (e.g., digital product downloads & quantity discounts).

The sales funnel builder is also invaluable to any business looking to make the  most out of their checkout process.

Their pricing model makes them ideal for both small, one-off operations and large, recurring businesses.

The flexible add-ons give you an array of payment collection methods, while the membership plans provide huge savings if you need to extend your operations.

WP Simple Pay

Next up we have WP Simple Pay, another Stripe-verified payment processor from Sandhills Development, which was recently (2021) acquired by Awesome Motive (wpbeginner family).

Founded in 2014 by Phil Derksen and in 2018 acquired by Sandhills development the same team that created Easy Digital Downloads, WP Simple Pay has been downloaded over 40,000 times and is optimized for mobile devices.

The plugin boasts a no-code 5-minute setup and is designed to be the a to use payment processor.

Let’s take a look at some of its features and how they could benefit your business.

Key features

• 10+ payment methods (all through Stripe only)
• Drag-and-drop form builder that lets you create customizable payment forms without writing any code.
• Pre-made payment form templates
• Buy Now, Pay Later functionality lets customers pay in installments (partnered with Klarna and Afterpay)
• Charge any additional setup fees

Pros

• You can customize payment receipts to add a personal touch
• 14-day money back guarantee
• Collect custom data (text fields, dropdowns, checkboxes, etc.)

Cons

• Only Stripe as a payment gateway
• Limited plan flexibility (annual plans only)
• Lack of advanced features (e.g., sales funnels, quantity discounts)

Pricing and plans available

Like GetPaid, there is a free version of WP Simple Pay, but it is very limited.

However, you can try the service out with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Their pricing model is also more rigid, with only annual plans being offered (you don’t get to choose between 4, 6, or 12-month periods or a lifetime option).

They have four tiers, starting from $49.50/year up to $299.50/year depending on the features you need.

As you upgrade, you can unlock capabilities like subscription models, purchase restrictions, the Buy Now, Pay Later feature, and more.

Who is WP Simple Pay best for?

With their tiered plans that unblock more advanced features as you upgrade, WP Simple Pay is a suitable payment processor for small businesses looking to grow their operations.

On the site, it’s stated that the tool is more catered toward self-employed individuals, business owners, consultants, nonprofits and developers.

SureCart

SureCart is a payment plugin built around WordPress and offers an array of features to help you get the most out of your online business.

The main difference with the other two plugins is that SureCart is essentially a SAAS, running payment forms on your self-hosted WordPress website through a plugin.

All your data will be stored on their servers, which can have advantages and disadvantages.

The system will likely scale better (at least so they advertise it). However, you will be building your home on rented land.

As with all SAAS providers, if they experience outages or downtime, your business may also suffer.

Additionally, if, for any reason, they go out of business or decide to discontinue their service, your business may be negatively affected as well.

That said, the developers of SureCart are also known for other iconic WordPress products like Astra Pro, CartFlows, and Presto Player.

Collectively, they service over 4 millions businesses worldwide.

Here are some key features of the plugin:

Key features

• One-time, recurring, and donations payments
• Checkout builder to customize the payment page
• Customizable customer area that lets buyers access their order history, invoices & receipts, etc.
• Slide-out shopping cart
• Full-suite automation engine called SureTriggers to automate what happens after purchase or refund events (e.g., add to email list, enrolling in courses, memberships, etc.)

Pros

• 24/7 support team available
• 14-day money back guarantee
• Works with all WordPress page builders
• It is a SAAS, less technical skills are required

Cons

• It’s a SAAS, no customization is possible, and they own your data
• Annual plans only

Pricing and plans available

The good news is that SureCart has a free version with everything you need to get started.

Once you’re looking for more advanced features, there are three paid plans that cost $99/year (Startup), $199/year (Business), and $399/year (Pro).

As you upgrade, you get higher priority support, increased file storage space, more advanced checkout forms, multi-currency options, and integration capabilities – to name a few.

Who is SureCart best for?

The plugin is ideal for startups and eCommerce businesses that need a reliable payment processor with automation capabilities to help them manage their operations.

Wrapping it up – What’s best for my business?

Ultimately, the payment plugin that works best for your business will depend on what features you need and how much you’re willing to invest.

Here’s a quick recap for you:

• GetPaid is an all-in-one solution that provides everything from payment forms, invoices and custom quotes to sales funnels and discounts all available in flexible payment plans. It’s great for businesses that want some extra features with their payment processor.
• WP Simple Pay is best for small businesses and self-employed professionals looking for more customization options in their checkout forms and flexible customer-facing payment options (e.g., Buy Now, Pay Later).
• SureCart is a great solution for startups and eCommerce businesses who can afford to spend a little more and do not require a self-hosted solution.

At the end of the day, you should pick a payment processor that suits the needs of your business, so make sure to weigh all the features and benefits carefully before making a decision. 

Good luck!