Best Way to Integrate Payments on a Mobile App

[Dakman]

Hi all, I’m developing a mobile app for booking local services (think tutoring, dog walking, etc.), and I need a payment system that works smoothly in-app. Ideally, it should support card payments and maybe even local wallets depending on the region. I’d appreciate any advice on what’s worked well for others—especially regarding integration and managing user trust during checkout.

[Edinson]

Hi! For mobile apps, the payment experience needs to be fast and seamless—any friction during checkout can lead to abandoned bookings. You’ll also want to make sure the provider supports mobile SDKs and secure tokenization for storing payment details.

One route worth considering is working with a payment agent. Unlike standard gateways, a payment agent can offer more adaptable solutions for mobile platforms, including support for local payment methods, wallet integration, and even recurring billing if needed. They often act as intermediaries, handling regulatory and compliance aspects that can be tricky when you’re accepting payments in different jurisdictions.

Since you're offering services, make sure the provider has tools for handling things like delayed captures (for when services are rendered), chargeback management, and secure onboarding of service providers if needed. Try to pilot a few solutions in staging environments to evaluate performance, especially with mobile latency in mind. Hope that helps!