Card networks · Payment methods
Interac debit for online stores: what works online and what doesn't
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Interac is the interbank network that routes debit payments in Canada. On Stripe, Interac is an in-person method: Stripe supports it through Terminal card readers in Canadian dollars, with in-person refunds. Interac itself says its debit cards can be used online and in apps through Apple Pay or Google Pay at participating merchants. For a store taking payments in a web checkout, Canadian shoppers usually pay with a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card, or a wallet.
- Home market
- Canada
- On Stripe
- In-person only (Terminal, interac_present)
- Currency
- CAD
- Online route per Interac
- Interac Debit through Apple Pay or Google Pay at participating merchants
- Refunds on Stripe
- In person, with the original card
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC checkout does not take Interac debit; Canadian shoppers can pay by Visa, Mastercard, Amex or Discover card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal in CAD, or Klarna (up to CAD 17,500) and Afterpay (up to CAD 2,000) on one-time orders from Canadian stores.
Why Interac is in-person on Stripe
Stripe's Interac support uses the in-person payment method type on its card readers. All Interac debit transactions must go through Interac even on co-branded cards, payments are authorised and captured in one step, and refunds happen at the reader with the original card.
What Canadian shoppers use online
Interac's consumer page describes online use through Apple Pay or Google Pay after adding the debit card to the wallet, at participating merchants. Whether a given web checkout can take that depends on its processor.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I take Interac in my Stripe online checkout?
- Stripe documents Interac for in-person Terminal payments in Canada. It is not a card brand in Stripe's online card form.
- What should I offer Canadian shoppers instead?
- Credit cards, wallets and PayPal. On PlatformDTC, Canadian stores also get Klarna and Afterpay on one-time orders.
Sources
- Terminal regional considerations: Canada — Stripe
- Interac Debit — Interac
- Cards: supported card brands — Stripe
Related
- Visa — The most widely accepted card network; works for Stripe sellers in every country.
- Mastercard — Global card network; works for Stripe sellers everywhere, with its own chargeback programs.
- eftpos — Australia's local debit network; online only on cards co-branded with Visa or Mastercard.
- American Express — Card network that issues most of its own cards; not available to Stripe sellers in four countries.
- Discover — US-born network in Discover Global Network; Stripe sellers in the US, Canada, Japan, UK and most of Europe.
- Diners Club — Charge and credit card brand in Discover Global Network; same Stripe seller countries as Discover.
- JCB — Japan's card network; Stripe sellers in Asia-Pacific, North America, the UK and Europe can take it.