Why is Shopify Payments not an option for my US store?

Payments + Shipping & Fulfilment

Topic summary

Issue: A US-based merchant cannot enable Shopify Payments because it doesn’t appear as an option in Settings > Payments.

Latest updates:

  • Support asked the merchant to confirm which payment method is currently active (via Settings > Payments).
  • A community reply suggested two common causes: plan limitations (Shopify Lite doesn’t include Shopify Payments) and unsupported business types.
  • The merchant clarified these don’t apply: they are on the Basic plan and sell kitchen equipment.

Context:

  • Shopify Payments is Shopify’s built-in payment gateway. Availability depends on plan and business category.
  • A help center link was shared for eligibility details.

Status:

  • No resolution yet. The root cause remains unclear after ruling out plan and prohibited industry.

Next steps noted in thread:

  • Confirm the currently active payment method in Settings > Payments.
  • Review Shopify Payments eligibility in the linked documentation. The discussion remains open.
Summarized with AI on January 25. AI used: gpt-5.
1

I am setting up payment for my store and Shopify payments is not listed as an option? I am in the United States?

Please help me know what the deal is.

Thanks

2

Hey there!

I’d be happy to help you with this. Can you let me know currently what payment method is active on your store if any? You can find this in Settings > Payments.

I look forward to your reply.

3

Hello @darkthrone
There could be a few reasons why this is happening

  1. Shopify plan limitations: Some Shopify plans have limitations on the availability of Shopify Payments. For example, the “Lite” plan does not include Shopify Payments. Make sure you are on a plan that supports Shopify Payments, such as the “Basic Shopify” or higher.

  2. Unsupported business type: Shopify Payments may not be available for certain business types or industries. Ensure that your business aligns with Shopify Payments’ terms and conditions. If your business falls into a prohibited category, you’ll need to explore alternative payment gateway options.

More Information you can find here: https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments/shopify-payments

4

Neither of these apply. We sell kitchen equipment and have a basic plan.

Thanks