Payment Gateway in Cambodia: Full Overview for New Merchants

Payment Gateway in Cambodia

Cambodia’s digital economy grows every year. More clients pay online, and many international brands look at the local market. A reliable payment gateway in Cambodia helps merchants accept card, wallet and QR payments and connect safely to banks. After reading this overview, a merchant can see what is special about this country’s payment landscape, which payment gateways are available, and how to choose the right one.

Cambodia’s Payment Landscape in 2025

Cambodia today is a real find for those who want to invest or start their own business in marketing and e-commerce. Among the most interesting facts:

  • E-commerce revenue is projected to reach approximately USD 1.78 billion by 2025, driven by increased mobile usage, the adoption of online payment solution in Cambodia, and the growth of payment technology in Southeast Asia.
  • Fashion and apparel remain the most popular items purchased online, with the majority of users spending between USD 11 and USD 50 per month on online stores and widely accepted e-commerce platforms.
  • Cash on delivery is still common due to trust issues with credit card payment and payments online, but online payment solutions are gaining popularity thanks to their convenience and ability to connect with numerous banks.
  • Mobile devices generate around 70% of e-commerce website traffic, emphasizing the importance of mobile app support and payment integration for businesses.
  • Popular platforms include Food Panda for food delivery, Facebook for fashion and cosmetics, and PassApp for ride-hailing.

These indicators show the strong prospects of Cambodia’s market. With a strong presence in banking sector, including ACLEDA and Cambodian Public Bank, as well as payment solutions providers offering a payment gateway system that supports merchant payment services, businesses can expand their reach not only locally but also to markets abroad. Without a reliable Cambodia’s payment gateway, all this growth would be impossible — every business must provide the right online payment experience to succeed.

How Payment Gateways Work (Simple Guide for Merchants)

The technological platform that acts as an intermediary in electronic financial transactions is called a payment gateway. It makes it possible to securely and efficiently accept, process, and manage various payment methods, such as credit and debit cards and digital wallets.

  1. The way a payment gateway operates during an online transaction usually looks as follows:
  2. Initiation of the transaction. The client selects goods or services to purchase on the business website or in the business app and then moves to the checkout page. The client enters payment details, such as credit card information or digital wallet credentials.
  3. Encryption of payment data. The payment gateway encrypts the data using SSL or TLS protocols. This protects the data from unauthorized access or theft during transmission.
  4. Transfer of data to the business server. The encrypted payment information is sent to the business server, which securely stores it and passes the data to the payment gateway for further processing.
  5. Authorisation. The payment gateway sends the encrypted transaction data to the business bank. This bank then forwards the information to the client bank or to the relevant payment processor.
  6. Verification of transaction details. The bank or payment processor checks the transaction details, the balance of the client account, and the validity of the payment method before approving or declining the transaction.
  7. Receiving the response and sending it back to the business. The payment gateway receives the response and sends it back to the business.

To minimise the risk of fraudulent transactions, payment gateways use advanced security measures, such as fraud detection algorithms, address verification systems (AVS), and card verification value (CVV) checks.

Top Payment Gateway Providers in Cambodia

The payment provider market in Cambodia is already well developed, especially when considering the size of the country and the speed of digitalisation. There are several major bank providers, several international services and several local fintech players that cover almost all types of payment acceptance. Each group can be reviewed separately.

PayWay by ABA

This service provider belongs to ABA bank. This option suits e-commerce businesses and local merchants that already use ABA accounts.

Supported payment methods:

  • Visa and Mastercard
  • UnionPay
  • ABA Pay and QR-code payment
  • credit and debit cards in local currency

PayWay is a leading payment solution inside ABA’s ecosystem. It connects well to local accounts and can connect with numerous banks through national systems. A main plus is support for the local QR standard and card rails. A main minus is that transaction fees for cards can be higher than for ABA Pay transfers. Another limit is focus on the domestic market, which can affect a business that wants to expand your business to markets abroad.

ACLEDA E-Commerce

This payment gateway is based on the mastercard internet gateway platform. It is suitable for medium and large merchants that want wide card coverage from a bank in Cambodia.

Supported payment methods:

  • Visa and Mastercard
  • JCB and Unionpay
  • Diners club international
  • Credit and debit cards 

ACLEDA and Cambodian public bank brands give trust to many local clients. The gateway can work for online shopping, hotel bookings and other online services. A benefit is support for major credit and debit cards with one contract. A drawback is a more formal registration process and settlement mainly in one main currency.

Wing Business

Wing Business focuses on mobile payment for local businesses. It is a popular payment choice for street shops, delivery services and small online sellers.

Main features:

  • Local QR-code payment from the Wing app
  • Support for small ticket sizes in Khmer riel
  • Easy use in physical stores and markets

Wing is part of digital story because it brings basic tools to people without traditional bank accounts. This setup helps many micro merchants grow their business. Still, limits exist, since cards like Visa/Mastercard usually are not part of the same flow. For a tourism-focused business, this can be a serious gap.

iPay88

This company is a regional gateway that serves many e-commerce brands in Southeast Asia. It works well for partners that find multiple payment options in one system.

The company supports cards, e-wallets and alternative methods. Partners can access Alipay and Wechat pay, which helps attract clients from China and Thailand. Card support covers Visa and Mastercard and other schemes. Local bank transfers also work through connections to banks in Cambodia and the region.

A-Pay.one

This is a global payment gateway in Cambodia, Asia and other regions. It targets partners that want to link the local market and international clients.

Key traits:

  • Support for cards, bank transfers and digital wallets
  • Local payment solutions for Asia as well as various payment services
  • Tools to expand your business to markets in other regions

The company works together with Visa and Mastercard and other rails. It aims to give a single hub where a company can manage multiple methods in one back office. Strong fraud prevention and robust security measures help protect online stores. The system is built so that merchants can integrate it once and then accept payments more seamlessly across several countries.

This option fits businesses and customers that interact online in many places. It can help a business in Cambodia reach clients in other regions while still serving the local market.

How to Choose the Right Gateway

Each provider has strong and weak points.

The simple table below shows a high-level view of three services.

GatewayMain focusShort notes on cost and tools
PayWayLocal ABA ecosystemCard and QR support, typical fees
ACLEDABank-led card acquiringСards, bank setup, registration
A-Pay.oneCross-border and regional expansionMany methods, global reach, flexible transaction fees

This comparison helps a merchant see which option fits local operations and which option fits long-term cross-border plans.

How to Register and Start Accepting Payments

A simple way helps new partners move from plan to live payments, it include: 

  1. Define client profile and main channels, such as website or app.
  2. Select a gateway that serves the target region and currencies.
  3. Prepare documents for registration, such as company papers and IDs.
  4. Submit an application form to the chosen provider.
  5. Connect the gateway to the store through plugins or API.
  6. Run test transactions, then start real payment processing for clients.

When each step is clear, less risk appears at launch and fewer errors reach clients.

Common Challenges + Solutions

Digital payments in the country are growing faster than in most neighbouring countries. However, there are challenges that business should keep in mind and address in time.

  1. High costs. Transaction fees can reduce margin on every order. A merchant can lower the effect by routing small local tickets through QR or wallets and using cards mainly.
  2. Limited methods. Some gateways support only cards or only wallets. A business can solve this gap with a hybrid setup that adds more than one provider and uses multiple methods.
  3. Cross-border risk. Selling across borders brings currency and chargeback challenges. Careful gateway choice and clear refund rules reduce this pressure.
  4. Security worries. Many merchants fear online fraud. Strong fraud prevention, tokenization and regular checks of access rights help protect systems and client data.

Thus, Cambodia is a very promising country for payment connections. The point is to choose a provider that meets all important requirements.

FAQ

Which gateway is the most affordable?

The lowest cost option depends on a mix of methods and regions.

How long does activation take?

Setup time usually ranges from several days to two weeks.

Can I accept Visa/Mastercard online?

Most popular services let merchants process these card brands online.

Do I need a business license?

Formal company papers are normally required for full merchant onboarding.