Selling to customers worldwide means accepting payments in their local currencies. This is not just about convenience—studies show that 92% of customers prefer to pay in their own currency. This guide explains how to set up multi-currency payments in WooCommerce for global commerce.

Why Multi-Currency Matters

When customers see prices in a foreign currency, several problems occur:

• They must calculate the conversion themselves
• They worry about exchange rate fees
• Their bank may charge additional fees
• Cart abandonment increases significantly

Showing prices in local currency removes these barriers and builds trust with international customers.

Multi-Currency Plugin Options

WOOCS – WooCommerce Currency Switcher

A popular free option with premium features available. Supports automatic currency detection by location and works with most payment gateways.

WPML WooCommerce Multilingual

If you already use WPML for translations, this add-on handles multi-currency well. It allows different prices per currency (not just converted rates).

Currency Switcher for WooCommerce by Aelia

A premium plugin with strong features for enterprise use. Supports multiple exchange rate providers and has good reporting tools.

Payment Gateways for Global Commerce

Your payment gateway must support the currencies you want to offer. Here are the main options:

Stripe

Supported currencies: 135+

Best for: Most businesses selling internationally

Stripe is the most flexible option. It supports cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and many local payment methods like iDEAL (Netherlands), Bancontact (Belgium), and SEPA Direct Debit (Europe).

PayPal

Supported currencies: 25

Best for: Businesses wanting buyer protection features

PayPal has strong brand recognition worldwide. Many customers trust it for international purchases. However, currency support is more limited than Stripe.

Adyen

Supported currencies: 150+

Best for: Large enterprises with high volume

Adyen is used by companies like Netflix and Uber. It offers excellent global coverage but requires higher transaction volumes to be cost-effective.

Worldpay

Supported currencies: 120+

Best for: Enterprises needing a traditional merchant account

Regional Payment Methods

Credit cards are not the preferred payment method everywhere. Consider adding:

Exchange Rate Management

You have two approaches for handling exchange rates:

Automatic Conversion

The plugin fetches live exchange rates and converts your base prices automatically. This is easier to manage but means prices change constantly.

Tip: Add a small margin (2-3%) to protect against rate fluctuations between when the customer sees the price and when payment is processed.

Fixed Prices Per Currency

Set specific prices for each currency manually. This gives you control over pricing strategy but requires more maintenance.

Example: A product might be $100 USD, €95 EUR (not the exact conversion), and £85 GBP based on market positioning in each region.

Implementation Checklist

• Choose currencies based on where your customers are
• Select a multi-currency plugin that fits your needs
• Configure payment gateway(s) to accept chosen currencies
• Set up exchange rate source (automatic or manual)
• Add local payment methods for key markets
• Test checkout flow in each currency
• Configure currency display format (symbol position, decimals)
• Update shipping rates for each currency if needed
• Check tax calculations work correctly per region

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue: Prices look strange after conversion (e.g., $47.83)

Solution: Use price rounding rules to show cleaner numbers like $48.00 or $47.95

Issue: Different totals at checkout vs product page

Solution: Make sure your caching plugin handles currency cookies correctly

Issue: Refunds processed in wrong currency

Solution: Configure WooCommerce to store original transaction currency and process refunds in same currency

Conclusion

Multi-currency support is essential for global WooCommerce stores. Choose the right plugins and payment gateways, consider local payment preferences, and test thoroughly before launch. The investment pays off through higher conversion rates and happier international customers.

Need help setting up multi-currency payments for your WooCommerce store? Contact our team for expert assistance.