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Payment Processing (Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ...)

2 Min. reading time E-Commerce / Zahlungen / Shops

Payment processing in a mobile app is the process that allows users to pay for products or services directly within the app—securely, quickly, and conveniently. Typical payment methods include credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Sofortüberweisung. A well-integrated payment feature is crucial for trust, conversion, and user satisfaction—especially in e-commerce, subscriptions, or bookings.

🔧 Technical Explanation

In Expo-compatible React Native apps, payment processing is handled by payment providers. The app itself does not process any sensitive data but instead uses secure interfaces (APIs or SDKs).

🔌 Common Providers & Tools:

  1. Stripe
    • Most widely used for mobile payments
    • Integration via stripe-react-native
    • Supports: credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA, Klarna, etc.
    • Prerequisite: Custom Dev Client (not available in Expo Go)
  2. PayPal
    • Usually integrated via WebView (PayPal Checkout button)
    • Alternative: REST API + server integration
  3. Apple Pay / Google Pay
    • Natively integrated into Stripe
    • Only usable with your own build (EAS Build); not available in Expo Go
    • Ideal for fast one-tap checkout
  4. Mollie, Adyen, Klarna, Shopify Payments
    • Alternatives for the EU, subscription services, or complex online stores
    • Can usually be integrated via their own APIs + WebView or their own SDKs

Process:

  • User selects product + payment method
  • The app securely sends payment data to Stripe/PayPal/etc.
  • The provider processes the payment and returns a response (successful/failed)
  • The app displays a confirmation or error message

💡 Use Cases

  • Purchasing physical or digital products
  • Subscription payments (monthly, annually)
  • In-app purchases or credit systems
  • Donations, fees, or one-time transactions
  • Payment for services or courses directly within the app

❓ Important Questions and Answers About Payment Processing

Which payment methods are the most secure? All common methods (Stripe, PayPal, Apple/Google Pay) are PCI-DSS compliant and use encryption & tokenization to protect your payment data. Can I process payments without my own server? To some extent. Stripe offers client-only options, but for greater security and additional features (e.g., invoices, webhooks), we recommend using your own small server or backend service (e.g., Supabase Functions). Can Apple Pay or Google Pay be used with Expo? Yes—but only in the Bare workflow or with EAS Build + Custom Dev Client. These features are not enabled in Expo Go. How do refunds or cancellations work? These actions are handled directly in the backend via the payment provider (e.g., Stripe Dashboard or PayPal API). Which payment services can be easily integrated with React Native & Expo? Stripe is currently the best-supported and most thoroughly documented provider, with its own React Native SDK. For PayPal, WebView is often the most practical approach.