Taking online payments in Paraguay has changed a lot in a short time. Pagopar became part of uPay, the Central Bank put a cap on fees, and payment links you send over WhatsApp showed up. If you read a comparison from a year ago, it probably has numbers that no longer apply.
We verified the data in this guide on each provider's official site in August 2026. Fees change, so before signing always ask for your industry's rate in writing.
First things first: the Central Bank's cap
Since July 1, 2026, the second phase of the Banco Central del Paraguay (BCP, Paraguay's Central Bank) resolution has been in effect, limiting what a merchant can be charged for each card payment: a maximum of 3% on credit and 2% on debit. The cap reaches the whole chain, including payment gateways, not just banks.
So if you see a comparison talking about fees of 5% or more per sale, it predates that date.
The options available today
uPay (ueno bank), which now includes Pagopar
uPay is ueno bank's payments platform, and Pagopar is now part of it. It has a Base plan at Gs. 0 per month and a Pro plan at Gs. 45,000 per month. According to its own help center, the fees and payout times are the same on both plans; the Pro plan adds a physical terminal and personalized support.
Reference rates published in August 2026:
| Payment method | Reference fee | Payout time |
|---|---|---|
| Debit | 2% | 24 business hours |
| Local credit | 2.9% | 48 hours |
| International credit | 3% | 48 hours |
| QR from ueno or other institutions | 2% | 24 business hours |
| Pix QR or from Argentina | 2.9% | 48 hours |
Two important details: uPay makes clear that fees depend on the merchant's industry, so the table is a reference; and you have to be a ueno bank customer to use it.
In August 2026, uPay also launched Link de Pagos (Payment Links): you generate a link with the amount and description, send it over WhatsApp, and the customer pays with a local or international card. The link expires after 48 hours.
Bancard vPOS
This is Bancard's payment button for websites. According to its merchant portal, as of August 2026 it cost Gs. 74,900 per month, IVA (VAT) included, with unlimited transactions, and fees of 3% on credit and 2% on debit, applied before IVA.
Compared to uPay Base it doesn't win on price, but it has two real advantages: debit payouts happen instantly and it allows installments with local cards. If your business sells expensive products on installments, those two things can be worth the monthly fee.
To sign up, they ask for your cédula (ID card), RUC, and an account under the account holder's name if you're a sole proprietor, or the company's incorporation documents if you're a business.
AdamsPay
AdamsPay is a payment layer that connects on top of a processor like Bancard: it saves you the integration work, but you still pay the processor's fee, plus AdamsPay's plan. It has a free plan with 10 payments included per month and paid plans at Gs. 49,000, 89,000, and 199,000. It makes sense if you already have vPOS and don't want to pay for the integration.
Want us to build yours?We send you a free analysis of your business before we start.
Message me on WhatsApp →What doesn't work in Paraguay
To save you time: PayPal in Paraguay lets you send payments but not receive them into a local account, and Stripe, Square, Shopify Payments, and Mercado Pago don't operate in the country. Any tutorial that tells you to "connect Stripe to your store" doesn't apply here.
How to choose based on your business
- You sell on WhatsApp and only take card payments now and then. A payment link is enough: you send it in the conversation and you're done. You don't need to integrate anything into your page.
- You sell online every day, standard products. A gateway integrated into the store, so the customer pays without talking to anyone. uPay Base is the cheapest option to get started.
- You sell expensive products that people pay off in installments. Bancard vPOS, for the installments and the instant debit payout.
- You take deposits or reservations. A payment link or QR, with the deposit amount.
And don't forget bank transfers and bank QR codes: for many Paraguayan customers, they're still the most natural way to pay, and they cost you nothing in fees.
What to ask before signing
- What's the exact fee for my industry, in writing?
- Does IVA get added on top of the fee, or is it included?
- Do they accept installments? With which cards?
- Are there IVA or income tax withholdings on the payout?
- How long does each payment method take to be paid out?
- Is there a fixed monthly cost, even if I don't sell anything?
How this looks on your website
On the websites we build, the most common setup is for the customer to choose from the catalog and the order to arrive on WhatsApp, where you close the sale and send the payment link or the transfer details. If the volume calls for it, the gateway gets integrated into a cart-based store. We explain it in the online store guide, and if you'd like to see it applied to your business, check out our website service.