Payment Methods Your Buyers Want in 2026: PayPal vs Stripe vs Razorpay for Digital Stores

If your checkout only accepts one payment method, you are losing sales. Studies show that 1 in 5 shoppers abandons a purchase when the checkout process is not convenient. And adding just one relevant payment option can increase revenue by up to 12%.

For digital product sellers, payment choice is even more important. Your buyers come from everywhere - a 3D artist in Brazil, a game developer in Germany, an indie creator in India. Each has a preferred way to pay, and if your store does not support it, they leave.

This guide breaks down the three payment gateways available on 3DIMLI - PayPal, Stripe, and Razorpay - and helps you decide which one (or which combination) gives your digital store the best reach, the lowest friction, and the highest conversions.

How Payments Work on 3DIMLI

Before diving into the gateways, it is important to understand how 3DIMLI handles payments. The platform uses a direct payment model:

1. You connect your own payment gateway (PayPal, Stripe, or Razorpay)
2. When a buyer purchases your product, payment goes directly to your account
3. 3DIMLI does not hold your funds - there is no "balance" to withdraw
4. During beta, there is 0% commission - you keep every dollar

This is fundamentally different from platforms like Gumroad or Etsy that collect your money and pay you out later. On 3DIMLI, the money hits your account immediately through whichever gateway you connect.

PayPal: The Global Standard

What It Is

PayPal is the world's most recognized online payment system. With over 400 million active accounts across 200+ markets, it is the payment method most buyers already have and trust.

How It Works on 3DIMLI

Sellers connect their PayPal Business account by providing their Merchant ID and email. When a buyer purchases, funds transfer directly to the seller's PayPal account.

PayPal is the only gateway on 3DIMLI that supports multi-seller checkout - meaning a buyer can purchase products from multiple sellers in a single order. With Stripe and Razorpay, buyers can only check out from one seller per transaction.

Coverage

• Seller availability: 160+ countries where PayPal Business accounts are supported
• Buyer availability: 200+ countries and territories
• Note: Due to RBI regulations, PayPal accounts registered in India cannot currently receive seller payments. Indian sellers should use Stripe or Razorpay instead.

What Buyers Can Pay With

Through PayPal, buyers can pay using:

• PayPal balance
• Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover)
• Bank transfers (in supported countries)
• Local payment methods in various countries

Pros

• Highest buyer recognition - Most online shoppers have a PayPal account
• Buyer protection - PayPal's purchase protection gives buyers confidence, especially for digital products
• Multi-seller checkout - Only PayPal supports buying from multiple sellers at once on 3DIMLI
• Global reach - Covers more countries than any other gateway option
• Mobile-friendly - One-tap payments through the PayPal app

Cons

• Higher fees on international transactions - Currency conversion and cross-border fees add up
• Dispute handling - PayPal tends to side with buyers in disputes, which can be frustrating for sellers
• Account holds - New accounts or sudden spikes in sales can trigger temporary holds
• Not available for Indian sellers - RBI regulations block PayPal payouts to India

Best For

Sellers who want maximum global reach and whose buyers are predominantly outside of India. If your 3D models, graphics, or audio packs sell to an international audience, PayPal is the strongest choice.

Stripe: The Developer Favorite

What It Is

Stripe is a payment processing platform built for online businesses. It powers payments for millions of companies worldwide and is known for its clean developer tools, strong card processing, and growing support for alternative payment methods.

How It Works on 3DIMLI

Sellers can connect Stripe in two ways:

• Stripe Connect (OAuth) - The standard integration. Connect your Stripe account through a simple authorization flow.
• Stripe Classic (API Keys) - For advanced users who want to connect via API keys directly.

Payments go directly to your Stripe account when a buyer purchases your product.

Coverage

• Seller availability: 40+ countries
• Buyer availability: Global - Stripe processes cards from virtually any country

What Buyers Can Pay With

Through Stripe, buyers can pay using:

• All major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.)
• Apple Pay and Google Pay (where supported)
• Bank debits and transfers (in supported regions)
• Local payment methods depending on the buyer's country

Pros

• Excellent card processing - Clean, fast checkout experience for card payments
• Modern infrastructure - Lower decline rates and better fraud detection than older processors
• Apple Pay / Google Pay - Supports one-tap mobile payments where available
• Strong for India sellers - Works well for Indian sellers who cannot use PayPal
• Professional reputation - Being "powered by Stripe" signals trust

Cons

• No multi-seller checkout - On 3DIMLI, buyers can only check out from one Stripe seller per order
• Fewer countries for sellers - 40+ countries vs PayPal's 160+
• Buyer familiarity - Not every buyer recognizes Stripe; they may not have a Stripe account (though they do not need one - they just enter card details)
• Payout timing - Standard payouts take 2-7 days to reach your bank, depending on your country

Best For

Sellers in countries where PayPal payouts are restricted (like India), sellers who primarily receive card payments, and tech-savvy sellers who appreciate Stripe's modern payment flow.

Razorpay: The India Specialist

What It Is

Razorpay is India's leading payment gateway. It supports UPI, credit/debit cards, net banking, wallets, and more - all the payment methods Indian buyers use daily.

How It Works on 3DIMLI

Sellers can connect Razorpay in two ways:

• Razorpay OAuth - Standard integration through Razorpay's authorization flow
• Razorpay Classic (API Keys) - For advanced users connecting via API keys

Payments go directly to your Razorpay account.

Coverage

• Seller availability: Primarily India
• Buyer availability: Primarily Indian buyers, though international cards are also supported

What Buyers Can Pay With

Through Razorpay, buyers can pay using:

• UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc.)
• Credit and debit cards (domestic and international)
• Net banking (all major Indian banks)
• Mobile wallets
• EMI options (on supported cards)

Pros

• Best for Indian market - Supports UPI, net banking, and all popular Indian payment methods
• UPI is huge - UPI is the dominant payment method in India, handling billions of transactions monthly
• Low fees for domestic transactions - Competitive rates for India-to-India payments
• Fast settlements - Quick payouts to Indian bank accounts

Cons

• Limited to India for sellers - Not useful if you are based outside India
• No multi-seller checkout - Same limitation as Stripe on 3DIMLI
• Limited international reach - While it can process international cards, it is primarily built for the Indian market
• Less buyer recognition globally - Outside India, most buyers have never heard of Razorpay

Best For

Indian sellers targeting Indian buyers, or Indian sellers who cannot use PayPal due to RBI restrictions and want an alternative to Stripe with better local payment method support.

Which Gateway Should You Choose?

Here is a quick decision framework:

Your Situation	Recommended Gateway
Selling globally, want maximum buyer reach	PayPal
Based outside India, selling to international buyers	PayPal
Based in India, selling to Indian buyers	Razorpay
Based in India, selling globally	Stripe
Want multi-seller checkout support	PayPal (only option)
Primarily card payments, want modern checkout	Stripe
Need UPI support for Indian buyers	Razorpay
Not sure - want the safest default	PayPal

Can You Use Multiple Gateways?

On 3DIMLI, sellers connect one payment gateway at a time. This means you choose the one that best fits your primary audience. If most of your buyers are global, go with PayPal. If most are in India, go with Razorpay or Stripe.

What Buyers Actually Prefer in 2026

Understanding buyer preferences helps you choose the right gateway:

Credit and Debit Cards Are Still King

Cards remain the most widely used online payment method globally. All three gateways on 3DIMLI process card payments, so you are covered regardless of which one you choose.

Digital Wallets Are Growing Fast

In the US, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal) made up 37% of online payment value in 2024 and are projected to cover over half of e-commerce by 2027. Both PayPal and Stripe support wallet payments, giving your buyers fast, one-tap checkout options.

UPI Dominates India

If you sell to Indian buyers, UPI is non-negotiable. It is the most popular payment method in the country by a wide margin. Only Razorpay fully supports UPI on 3DIMLI.

Checkout Speed Matters

Regardless of method, speed is what buyers care about most. One-tap payments, saved payment methods, and minimal form fields all reduce abandonment. This is where PayPal and Stripe excel - both offer streamlined checkout experiences that minimize friction.

Optimizing Your Payment Setup on 3DIMLI

Step 1: Connect Your Gateway

Go to your seller dashboard on 3DIMLI and navigate to Settings > Payment Gateway. Follow the setup instructions for your chosen gateway:

• Link PayPal Account
• Link Stripe Account
• Link Razorpay Account

Step 2: Verify Your Account

Make sure your gateway account is fully verified and in good standing. For PayPal, this means a verified Business account (personal accounts are not eligible). For Stripe and Razorpay, complete their respective onboarding processes.

Step 3: Price in USD

All prices on 3DIMLI are in USD. Your gateway handles currency conversion for international buyers. This simplifies your pricing strategy - you set one price and your gateway handles the rest.

Step 4: Monitor Transactions

Use your 3DIMLI dashboard to track orders and revenue. The platform provides transaction summaries, downloadable invoices, and complete order history. For detailed financial tracking, also check your gateway's own dashboard.

Gateway Fees: What You Actually Pay

With 3DIMLI charging 0% commission during beta, the only fees you pay are your gateway's standard processing fees:

Gateway	Typical Fee	Notes
PayPal	2.9% + $0.30 (domestic)	Higher for international transactions
Stripe	2.9% + $0.30 (US)	Varies by country
Razorpay	2% (domestic)	Lower for UPI transactions

These are the standard rates - your actual fees may vary based on your account type, volume, and country. Compare this to platforms that charge 5-30% commission on top of processing fees, and the savings on 3DIMLI become clear.

Set Up Your Payment Gateway Today

The right payment gateway can mean the difference between a buyer completing their purchase or abandoning their cart. On 3DIMLI, the direct payment model means your money arrives immediately in your own account - no platform balances, no withdrawal requests, no waiting.

With 0% commission during beta and support for PayPal, Stripe, and Razorpay, you can serve buyers in 200+ countries while keeping every dollar of your sales.

Create your free store on 3DIMLI, connect your preferred payment gateway, and start selling 3D models, graphics, audio, ebooks, software, AI models, and more to a global audience.