Compare
An honest breakdown of every way to accept online payments on your WooCommerce store in the Caribbean, including the options that are not ours.
Understanding your options
The right choice depends on your bank, your volume, and how quickly you need access to your funds.
Direct bank plugin
Connects straight to Scotiabank's own gateway. Funds settle into your Scotiabank merchant account, typically next business day. Requires eCom+ activated on your account.
Regional gateway
Connects through First Atlantic Commerce, now PowerTranz, which works with NCB, Republic Bank, CIBC FirstCaribbean, FCB, RBC and others. Requires a separate FAC or PowerTranz merchant account.
Aggregator
Middlemen that collect payments on your behalf and transfer funds on. Easiest to set up, but higher per-transaction fees and longer holds before you can access your money.
Cost comparison
Bank merchant fees, typically 3 to 5 percent, are excluded since they apply to every option equally. These figures are software costs only.
If you bank with Scotiabank and want a direct connection to their eCom+ gateway, these are your options.
Our plugin
WP Companion
Trinidad-based, listed on WordPress.org
Alternative
SAG
Bahamas-based, no WordPress.org listing
Competitor details are based on publicly available information at the time of writing and may change. Where we could not verify a capability we have marked it unconfirmed rather than guessing.
First Atlantic Commerce, now PowerTranz, is the Caribbean's longest-running regional gateway, operating since 1998 across 21 countries. If you bank with NCB, Republic Bank, CIBC FirstCaribbean or another regional bank, it is likely your best path to accepting online payments. The trade-off is that setup requires a separate merchant account with FAC or PowerTranz, applied for through your bank or PowerTranz directly.
Jamaica-based, PowerTranz plugin
Trinidad-based, FAC official partner
Trinidad-based, multiple versions
FAC plugin costs exclude FAC and PowerTranz merchant account fees, typically around 3 percent, charged separately by your bank and the processor.
These services sit between your store and a payment processor. Easiest to set up, with trade-offs in cost and payout speed.
Regional aggregator
FAC official partner
Global aggregator
If you bank with Scotiabank, WP Companion gives you the most complete eCom+ integration available. If you use another Caribbean bank, the FAC and PowerTranz options above are worth exploring.
