Both are card processors with published flat pricing, so the rate comparison is straightforward. What matters more is where the two products differ in shape — and Shopify Payments does several things we do not.
Published rates
| Paydude | Shopify Payments | |
|---|---|---|
| Card rate | 2.6% (falling to 2.5%) | 2.9% |
| Fixed fee | 25¢ (falling to 15¢) | 30¢ |
| Monthly platform fee | $0 | $0 |
| Subscriptions | No extra percentage | Priced separately |
| Chargeback fee | $12 | $15–$25 typical |
What Shopify Payments does better
Shopify Payments is not really a separate decision — it is part of being on Shopify. Rates improve on higher Shopify plans, and using any other gateway incurs an additional Shopify transaction fee on top.
Choose Shopify Payments when
Your store is on Shopify. The third-party gateway surcharge makes moving away expensive regardless of the alternative's rate, and that lock-in is real.
Choose Paydude when
You are not on Shopify, or your payments happen in your own product rather than a Shopify storefront. Compare our rate against theirs plus the third-party fee, not against theirs alone.
How to decide
- Work out your real effective rate from one month of statements.
- Compare it against both providers at your own average ticket using the Shopify Payments fee calculator.
- Multiply the annual difference. If it is small, decide on capability instead — it will matter more than the rate.
- Check whether you need anything only one provider offers. That settles it faster than any comparison table.
For every major provider side by side, see the payment processor fee comparison. For an honest account of where each alternative beats us, see Paydude alternatives.
GOOD QUESTIONS
Frequently asked
Is Paydude cheaper than Shopify Payments?+
On published standard rates for domestic cards, Paydude is 0.30% and 5¢ lower than Shopify Payments's 2.9% + 30¢. Whether that translates into a meaningful saving depends on your volume and average transaction size — multiply the gap by your annual volume before deciding.
When should I choose Shopify Payments instead?+
Your store is on Shopify. The third-party gateway surcharge makes moving away expensive regardless of the alternative's rate, and that lock-in is real.
Can I switch from Shopify Payments to Paydude?+
Switching processors means migrating stored payment tokens, which are specific to the provider that issued them. Most major providers will run a PCI-compliant migration of the underlying card data. Confirm that path exists before committing, since it is the main technical obstacle to any processor change.
Where do these rates come from?+
Both figures are the publicly published standard rates for domestic card payments as of September 2026. Neither is a negotiated or promotional rate, and Shopify Payments may quote you something different from its list price.