Shopify payment gateways in Pakistan: what actually works, and how to set up cash on delivery

Quick answer

Shopify Payments is not available in Pakistan, so Pakistani Shopify stores take payment in three ways: cash on delivery, manual bank or wallet transfer, and a third-party card gateway installed from the Shopify App Store. For most new stores, cash on delivery comes first, and a local card gateway is added once orders grow.

• ✓Pakistan is not on Shopify's list of countries supported by Shopify Payments.
• ✓Cash on delivery is built in under Settings > Payments, with no third-party transaction fee from Shopify.
• ✓Card gateways come from third-party apps, and Shopify adds a third-party transaction fee that depends on your plan.
• ✓Check a gateway's eligibility rules before you build your checkout around it.

In this article

1. Why Shopify Payments isn't an option
2. The four ways Pakistani Shopify stores get paid
3. Cash on delivery: set it up properly
4. Bank and wallet transfers
5. Local card gateway apps
6. Selling outside Pakistan
7. My recommended setup for a new store

If you search "Shopify payment gateway Pakistan", you'll land on forum threads full of people who tried five gateways and got rejected by three. I understand the frustration. Payments are the one part of Shopify that works differently in Pakistan, and the official setup screens don't explain why.

Here's the honest picture, based on Shopify's own documentation and on how I set up payments for the stores I build.

Why Shopify Payments isn't an option

Shopify Payments is Shopify's own card processing. It's the simplest option where it exists, but it only works for businesses in the countries on Shopify's supported countries list, and Pakistan isn't one of them. Shopify's guidance for every other country is the same: use a third-party payment provider.

So when you open Settings > Payments on a Pakistani store, you won't see the usual "Activate Shopify Payments" button. That's normal, and it doesn't stop you from selling.

The four ways Pakistani Shopify stores get paid

The Shopify fee rules in this table come from Shopify's help pages on manual payment methods and third-party providers. The gateway's own fee is separate, and it's set by the gateway.

Cash on delivery: set it up properly

For the stores I build for customers in Pakistan, cash on delivery is the first payment method I set up. Here's how to enable it, following Shopify's help center:

1. In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Payments.
2. In the payment providers section, choose the suggested Cash on Delivery (COD) manual method.
3. Under Additional details, write what the customer sees at checkout, for example the delivery charge and how long delivery takes.
4. Under Payment instructions, explain what happens next, for example that you'll confirm the order on WhatsApp before dispatch.
5. Activate it.

COD orders arrive marked as unpaid. When the courier pays you, open the order and mark it as paid. Shopify's help center describes exactly this flow.

Reducing fake and refused COD orders

COD's biggest cost isn't a fee, it's parcels that come back. These habits help:

• Confirm before you ship. A short WhatsApp message or call to confirm the address and order catches most fake orders.
• Show the delivery charge before checkout, not as a surprise at the door.
• Make the exchange policy easy to find. A clear exchange window makes customers more comfortable accepting the parcel.
• Use the payment instructions field to tell customers exactly what to expect after ordering.

Bank and wallet transfers

For custom orders, made-to-order products or expensive items, a manual transfer often works better than COD. Shopify lets you create a custom manual payment method (Settings > Payments > Manual payment methods > Create custom payment method). Give it a clear name, put your account or wallet details in the payment instructions, and ship only after you've seen the payment arrive.

Shopify reserves some names, such as "Cash on Delivery (COD)", so choose your own label like "Bank transfer" or "Mobile wallet transfer".

Local card gateway apps

To take card payments online, you install a payment gateway app from the Shopify App Store. Several are aimed at Pakistani merchants, for example the PayFast Gateway App, and banks and payment companies offer their own integrations. I'm not going to rank them, because the right one depends on your business, and their terms change.

Before choosing one, ask each provider:

1. Can my business qualify? Ask what registration and documents they need. Some ask for things a new or home-based business doesn't have yet.
2. What does each transaction cost? Get the gateway's own fee in writing, then add Shopify's third-party transaction fee for your plan.
3. When does money reach my account? Settlement time matters more than most people expect.
4. Which cards and wallets work? Check local debit cards, international cards and mobile wallets separately.
5. Who supports me if checkout breaks? Look at the app's reviews and the developer's support details on its listing.

Selling outside Pakistan

If your customers are abroad, you need a provider that accepts international cards for your business. Many international providers require a business registered in a country they support, which is why some Pakistani sellers register a company abroad. That's a legal and tax decision, so get proper advice before doing it.

There's another route for some businesses: a custom-built store instead of Shopify. Skivera Beauty is a custom ecommerce store I built in Next.js, with checkout set up for PayPal. That's not the right choice for most local stores, but it shows that the platform decision and the payment decision are connected.

My recommended setup for a new store

1. Launch with cash on delivery, with the delivery charge and exchange policy clearly visible.
2. Add a manual bank or wallet transfer for custom and high-value orders.
3. Add one local card gateway once orders are steady and you've confirmed you qualify.
4. Review your plan. Shopify's third-party transaction fee depends on your plan, so once card sales grow, compare plans on Shopify's pricing page.

Payments are also part of the overall budget. My Shopify store cost breakdown for Pakistan shows how they fit with the plan, apps and setup costs. If you'd rather have it set up for you, I build Shopify stores in Lahore and across Pakistan, and you can tell me about your store on the contact form. Comparing developers? Here's how to hire a Shopify developer in Pakistan.

Frequently asked questions

Is Shopify Payments available in Pakistan?

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No. Pakistan is not on Shopify's list of supported countries for Shopify Payments, so stores based in Pakistan need cash on delivery, manual payments or a third-party payment provider.

Does Shopify charge a fee on cash on delivery orders?

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No. Shopify's help center says manual payment methods, which include cash on delivery, don't incur third-party transaction fees. Your courier may still charge for collecting the cash.

Can customers pay with JazzCash or Easypaisa on Shopify?

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Some Pakistani gateway apps on the Shopify App Store advertise wallet payments, so check each app's listing. You can also add a custom manual payment method with your wallet details in the payment instructions and confirm the payment before you ship.

Which payment gateway is best for a Shopify store in Pakistan?

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There isn't one best gateway for everyone. Start with cash on delivery, then add the local card gateway whose eligibility rules, fees and settlement times suit your business, and test it with a real order before promoting it.

Sources

1. Shopify Help Center: Shopify Payments supported countries
2. Shopify Help Center: Manual payment methods
3. Shopify Help Center: Third-party payment providers
4. Shopify App Store: PayFast Gateway App
5. Shopify pricing

Written by

Isha Imran

Shopify developer and UI/UX designer in Lahore. I design and build Shopify stores and custom Next.js websites for brands like Savroon and The Pastel Jade.

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