Key takeaways
- Colombian shoppers expect local methods such as PSE bank transfers, Nequi, the Bancolombia button and cash, not only cards.
- Published fees, checked on 14 October 2026: PayU 3.29% + COP 300, ePayco from 2.64% + COP 690, Bold online from 2.89% + COP 900, all plus 19% VAT.
- PayU says its standard rates are for merchants based in Colombia. A foreign company should ask each provider what it can open.
- Whichever you choose, tell Google Analytics to ignore the gateway as a referral, or your sales will look like they came from the gateway.
I build online stores and payment pages as part of web design and development, and the gateway question comes up in every Colombian project. This guide sticks to what each provider publishes on its own site. For how the store itself gets found, see the SEO consultant home page.
What is a payment gateway, and why does Colombia need a local one?
A payment gateway is the service that takes the customer's payment on your website and sends the money to your account. In Colombia, a local gateway matters because many buyers pay by PSE bank transfer, wallets like Nequi or Daviplata, or cash at payment points. A card-only checkout loses those customers.
The methods listed by the gateways themselves show the range. PayU lists PSE, Nequi, the Bancolombia button, interoperable QR and Bre-B, and cash. ePayco lists cards, Daviplata, PayPal, PSE, SafetyPay and cash networks such as Efecty and Baloto. Wompi's developer documentation lists the Bancolombia button, Nequi, cards, PSE and cash.
What fees do Colombian payment gateways publish?
On 14 October 2026, PayU published 3.29% + COP 300 per approved transaction. ePayco published 2.64% + COP 690 for Davivienda account holders and 3.29% + COP 700 for other banks. Bold published 2.89% to 3.59% + COP 900 online, depending on method and payout speed. All of these are before 19% VAT.
| Gateway | Published online fee | Notes from its own page |
|---|---|---|
| PayU | 3.29% + COP 300, plus VAT | Minimum COP 450 for PSE, Nequi, Bancolombia button and QR/Bre-B. International cards need a separate account and fee |
| ePayco | 2.64% + COP 690 (Davivienda accounts) or 3.29% + COP 700 (other banks), plus VAT | All-in-one model with free sign-up. A gateway model with your own merchant code is also offered |
| Bold | 2.99% + COP 900 for Visa or Mastercard, 2.89% + COP 900 for PSE and wallets, next-day payout | 3.59% + COP 900 for instant payout. International cards add 1% to the base fee |
| Wompi | Check current rates on their site | Its official fee page could not be opened for this guide |
| Mercado Pago | Check current rates on their site | Its official fee page could not be opened for this guide |
Fees change, so treat this table as a starting point and confirm on each site before you sign. Note that PayU charges only approved transactions, and also lists withholding taxes on card payments. Your accountant should explain how those affect your cash flow.
Can a foreign company use a Colombian gateway?
It depends on the provider and on how your company is set up. PayU states that its standard Colombian rates apply only to merchants based in Colombia. If you have no Colombian entity, ask each provider directly whether you can open an account, in which currency you are paid and what the transfer costs are.
PayU's own page gives an example of those costs: international transfers from your PayU balance take seven business days, cost USD 30 and have a USD 1,000 minimum. Questions like these matter more to a foreign company than a few tenths of a percent in the base fee. Legal and tax setup in Colombia is a question for a local lawyer or accountant, not for a web developer.
How much does a COP 100,000 sale really cost?
Using each gateway's published rate plus 19% VAT, a COP 100,000 card sale costs about COP 3,963 with ePayco for Davivienda accounts, COP 4,272 with PayU, COP 4,629 with Bold on next-day payout and COP 4,748 with ePayco for other banks. The differences grow with your volume.
| Gateway and plan | Fee before VAT | With 19% VAT |
|---|---|---|
| ePayco, Davivienda account | COP 3,330 | COP 3,963 |
| PayU, standard | COP 3,590 | COP 4,272 |
| Bold, Visa or Mastercard, next day | COP 3,890 | COP 4,629 |
| ePayco, other banks | COP 3,990 | COP 4,748 |
| Bold, instant payout | COP 4,490 | COP 5,343 |
This is my own calculation from the published rates, rounded to the nearest peso. It does not include withholdings, withdrawal fees or any negotiated rate.
How to choose a gateway for your store
- Does it have a plugin for your platform? ePayco offers plugins by CMS and Wompi documents integrations such as Jumpseller.
- Which methods does it accept? PSE and cash matter if your buyers do not use cards.
- How fast is the payout, and what do withdrawals cost? PayU, for example, charges from the fourth monthly withdrawal.
- Are there inactivity or monthly fees? PayU lists one that applies only after long periods without sales.
- What does it charge for international cards, if you also sell abroad?
Does the payment gateway affect SEO and analytics?
It does not change your rankings directly, but it can break your analytics. When customers pay on the gateway's domain and return to your thank-you page, Google Analytics may credit the sale to the gateway as a referral. Add the gateway's domain to the unwanted referrals list so sales stay credited to Google, ads or email.
Google Analytics describes this exact case in its help page on unwanted referrals: third-party payment processors. It is one of the checks in my e-commerce SEO work and in the Shopify SEO checklist. If you are building a store to sell in Colombia, I can set up the gateway, tracking and SEO together through web design and development.
Frequently asked questions
Which payment gateway is cheapest in Colombia?
It depends on your bank, your payment mix and your payout speed. Compare the published rates in the table with your own sales and confirm them on each site.
What is PSE?
PSE is the online bank transfer button that Colombian buyers use to pay from their bank account. Most local gateways offer it.
Do gateways charge for declined payments?
PayU says it charges only approved transactions. Check the same point with any other provider.
Do I need a Colombian bank account?
Usually you need one to receive local payouts. Ask each provider about options for foreign companies before you build.
Can I accept international cards too?
Yes, with conditions. PayU needs a separate account for them and Bold adds 1% to its base fee.
About the author
Juan José Giraldo is an SEO consultant in Medellín, Colombia, with 5+ years of experience. He works on technical and local SEO for 600+ US car dealerships at Reunion Marketing, an Inc. 5000 agency, and supervises the SEO of 18 US online stores with more than 3 million products at Prontomowers. Read more · LinkedIn.