PinPayments

What is Pin Payments

Pin Payments is an online payment gateway designed for small businesses and platforms in Australia and New Zealand. It provides an all-in-one solution that combines the functions of a payment gateway, payment processor, and merchant account into a single service. This simplifies the process of accepting credit and debit card payments online. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, the company aims to make online payments accessible and straightforward for businesses without the need for complex setups or traditional bank merchant accounts. Pin Payments is part of the global Checkout.com group, which gives it a strong foundation in the payments industry while maintaining a focus on local support for its Australian and New Zealand customers.

Pin Payments Features

Pin Payments offers a range of features to help businesses manage online transactions effectively.

• All-in-One Payment Solution: Combines gateway, processing, and acquiring services, removing the need to manage multiple providers.
• E-commerce Integrations: Easily connects with popular platforms like WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce (Magento), and others, allowing for seamless payment collection on your website.
• Accounting Software Integration: Integrates with Xero, enabling you to automatically mark invoices as paid once a customer completes the payment.
• Hosted Payment Page: A simple, secure, and customizable page to accept payments. You can share the link with customers via email or social media, even without a website.
• Multi-currency Support: Accept payments from international customers in their local currency, which can help increase conversion rates.
• Recurring Payments: Set up and manage subscription billing and automated recurring payments for ongoing services.
• Apple Pay & Google Pay: Offers modern payment options to customers for a faster and more convenient checkout experience.
• Developer API: A flexible and well-documented API allows developers to build custom payment solutions and integrations for platforms and applications.
• Local Support: Provides expert support from a team based in Australia, offering help and guidance when you need it.

Pin Payments Pricing Plans

Pin Payments operates on a simple, transparent pricing model without monthly or setup fees. The cost structure is based on a pay-as-you-go system.

• Standard Plan: This is the default plan for all users. There are no ongoing fees to maintain the account. Users are charged a fixed percentage plus a small flat fee for each successful transaction. The percentage rate differs for domestic and international cards.
• Custom Pricing: For businesses that process a high volume of transactions (typically over $30,000 per month), Pin Payments offers custom pricing plans. These plans feature lower transaction rates and are tailored to the specific needs of the business. To access this, businesses need to contact the sales team directly.

Pin Payments Free Plan

Pin Payments does not have a traditional free plan with limited features. Instead, the account itself is free to create and maintain. There are no setup fees, monthly fees, or hidden charges. You only pay a fee when you successfully process a payment. This model is ideal for small businesses, startups, or businesses with fluctuating sales volumes, as you do not incur costs during periods of inactivity.

How to use Pin Payments

Getting started with Pin Payments is a straightforward process.

1. Create an Account: Go to the Pin Payments website and sign up for a new account. You will need to provide basic information about your business.
2. Complete Verification: Submit your business details and bank account information for verification. This is a standard procedure to comply with financial regulations.
3. Choose Your Integration Method: Once your account is approved, you can start accepting payments. You have several options:
   • Use a Plugin: If you use an e-commerce platform like WooCommerce, install the Pin Payments plugin and enter your API keys to connect your store.
   • Use the Payment Page: Navigate to the 'Payment Page' section in your dashboard, customize it with your logo, and share the unique link with your customers.
   • Integrate with Xero: Connect your Pin Payments account to Xero to add a 'Pay Now' button to your invoices.
   • Custom Integration: For custom websites or applications, use the developer API to build a tailored payment experience.
4. Receive Payments: When a customer makes a payment, the funds are processed and transferred to your nominated bank account on a regular settlement schedule.

Pros and Cons of Pin Payments

Here is a balanced look at the advantages and disadvantages of using Pin Payments.

Pros:

• Simple Pricing: The pay-as-you-go pricing is transparent and easy to understand, with no monthly fees.
• Easy Setup: It is very quick to set up an account and start accepting payments, without needing a traditional merchant account.
• All-in-One Service: Simplifies payment processing by combining all necessary components into one account.
• Excellent Local Support: Access to a knowledgeable support team based in Australia and New Zealand.
• Good for Small Businesses: The lack of monthly fees makes it a low-risk option for startups and small businesses.

Cons:

• Limited Geographic Availability: Service is restricted to businesses based in Australia and New Zealand only.
• Higher Fees for Low-Value Transactions: The fixed-fee component can make it less cost-effective for businesses that process many small transactions.
• Fewer Features than Global Competitors: May lack some of the advanced features or broader integration options offered by larger global players like Stripe.
• No In-Person Payment Hardware: Primarily focused on online payments and does not offer its own POS hardware for physical stores.

Pin Payments integrations

Pin Payments integrates with a variety of e-commerce platforms, accounting software, and business applications to streamline your operations.

• WooCommerce integration: Connects directly with WordPress e-commerce stores to process payments at checkout.
• Adobe Commerce (Magento) integration: Offers a module for larger e-commerce sites built on the Magento platform.
• Xero integration: Allows you to add a payment link to your Xero invoices for faster payment from clients.
• BigCommerce integration: Works with BigCommerce stores to provide a seamless payment experience.
• Shopify integration: Can be used as a payment gateway for online stores built on Shopify.
• Custom integrations: The powerful API allows for custom connections with virtually any website, platform, or application.

Pin Payments Alternatives

If Pin Payments is not the right fit, consider these alternatives available in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

• Stripe: A global leader in online payments with a very similar pricing model. Stripe is known for its developer-friendly API, extensive feature set, and global reach.
• Square: An excellent choice for businesses that need to accept both online and in-person payments. Square offers a range of POS hardware and a strong ecosystem of business management tools.
• eWay: A well-established Australian payment gateway that offers competitive pricing and a range of plans. It is a popular choice for local businesses and integrates with many shopping carts.
• PayPal: A globally recognized payment platform that is trusted by millions of consumers. While convenient, its transaction fees can be higher than other gateways, and it is known for sometimes holding funds for review.

Pin Payments API

Yes, Pin Payments provides a comprehensive and well-documented RESTful API for developers. This API allows for deep integration of payment processing into custom websites, mobile apps, and business platforms. You can use it to create charges, manage customers, handle subscriptions, and more.

To get started, you can find your API keys in your Pin Payments dashboard after your account has been approved. There are two types of keys: a publishable key for the client-side (front-end) and a secret key for server-side requests. The API documentation is available on their developer portal.

Here is a basic example using cURL to create a charge:

curl https://api.pinpayments.com/v1/charges \
   -u your_secret_api_key: \
   -d email=customer@example.com \
   -d description="Widgets" \
   -d amount=400 \
   -d currency=AUD \
   -d ip_address="203.0.113.10" \
   -d card_token=card_xxxxxxxxxxxx

Pin Payments Affiliate program

Pin Payments does not offer a public affiliate program where individuals can earn commissions by referring new customers through a unique link. However, they do have a Partner Program designed for platforms, developers, and agencies who integrate Pin Payments into their software or build solutions for clients. This program allows partners to monetize payments on their platform, often through revenue-sharing agreements. If you are a developer, designer, or platform provider interested in partnering, it is best to contact their support or sales team directly to discuss potential collaboration opportunities.