How to add Google Pay to WooCommerce

To add Google Pay to WooCommerce, you need a payment gateway that supports Google’s Payment Request API, most commonly WooPayments or the WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway, then turn on the Express Checkout option in your payment settings. Once it’s on, eligible customers see a Google Pay button at checkout that fills in their card and shipping details automatically, no typing required.

Google Pay isn’t a payment gateway on its own. It’s a wallet that hands your gateway a tokenized card, so the setup always runs through Stripe or WooPayments underneath.

Two ways to enable Google Pay on WooCommerce

Which path you take depends on what you’re already running. If you’re on WooPayments, you’re one checkbox away. If you’re on the standalone Stripe plugin, or haven’t set up a gateway yet, you’ll need a few extra steps first.

Method 1: enable Google Pay through WooPayments

This is the fastest route, and the one to use if your store already runs WooPayments (the current name for what used to be called WooCommerce Payments).

1. Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments > Settings.
2. Find the Express Checkouts section.
3. Check the box for Apple Pay / Google Pay. WooPayments enables both together under one toggle. You can’t turn on Google Pay alone.
4. Scroll down and click Save changes.
5. Optional: click Customize next to Apple Pay / Google Pay to control which pages show the button (checkout, cart, or individual product pages).

Google Pay only appears to customers who are signed into a Google account in their browser and have a card saved to it. If a shopper doesn’t meet that condition, the button simply won’t render for them, which is expected behavior, not a bug.

Method 2: Enable Google Pay through the WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway plugin

Pick this path if you’re not using WooPayments, or you specifically want Stripe’s direct integration.

1. Create a Stripe account at stripe.com if you don’t have one, and complete their identity verification (business details, bank account, tax ID).
2. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, search for “WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway,” then install and activate it. It’s the official plugin, co-maintained by Stripe and Automattic.
3. Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments, then click Manage next to Stripe.
4. Enter your Stripe API keys from your Stripe dashboard under Developers > API keys.
5. Enable Express Checkout in the Stripe settings. Google’s Payment Request button ships as part of this feature. Some plugin versions labeled this “Payment Request Buttons” in the past, so if your settings screen uses different wording, look for the express checkout or digital wallet toggle.
6. Save your changes.

Both an HTTPS-enabled site and a live Stripe account are required either way. Neither method needs you to create a separate Google Pay merchant account. Google doesn’t hold a balance; funds route straight through your existing gateway.

Stripe’s standard processing rate is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for US cards, with international cards adding roughly 1.5% on top. Disputed charges cost a flat $15 regardless of outcome. Check Stripe’s pricing page for your country, since rates vary by region.

What happens during checkout

A customer taps the Google Pay button, and Google’s payment sheet opens on top of your checkout page. From there:

1. They pick a saved card and confirm shipping and billing details.
2. They tap Continue to authorize the payment.
3. WooCommerce processes the order and shows your standard confirmation page.

The whole flow usually takes under 10 seconds, which is the entire point of using a wallet button over a manual card form.

Testing Google Pay in sandbox mode

Google Pay doesn’t provide a dedicated test card the way some gateways do. Instead, you use a live card inside Google’s test environment. Google returns a dummy token in response, which can never actually be charged. Run a full test transaction before going live so you can confirm the button appears and the order completes correctly.

Why isn’t Google Pay showing up on my checkout page?

A few conditions commonly block the button:

• HTTPS not enabled: Google Pay requires a secure connection. It won’t render at all on HTTP.
• No saved card in Google account: the customer needs a payment method already linked to the Google account they’re signed into.
• Express Checkout disabled: double-check the setting is actually saved in Payments > Settings, not just checked and left unsaved.
• Autofilled cards in desktop Chrome: cards that show up in Chrome’s autofill labeled “Google Pay” won’t work with the WooCommerce button. Only cards entered manually into Chrome, without that label, work correctly. This is a quirk worth testing for directly rather than assuming your setup is broken.
• Incompatible checkout customizations: plugins that add custom fields to checkout (like a field editor) can conflict with Express Checkout buttons.

Frequently asked questions

Key takeaways

• Google Pay needs a supporting gateway (WooPayments or the WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway); it isn’t a gateway by itself.
• WooPayments enables Apple Pay and Google Pay together with a single checkbox under Express Checkouts, not separately.
• HTTPS is mandatory, and the button only shows for customers signed into Google with a saved card.
• Test with a live card in Google’s sandbox environment before launch, since there’s no dedicated test card.
• Desktop Chrome autofill entries labeled “Google Pay” won’t work with the checkout button; only manually entered cards do.
• Standard Stripe processing rates apply (2.9% + $0.30 domestic, plus international surcharges), with no extra fee for the wallet option itself.