Payment Gateway Fees in Bangladesh: What You're Actually Paying (2026)
Calculating the true cost of credit card and MFS payment gateways is a complex task. Merchants are frequently enticed by promises of low base commissions, only to encounter unexpected setup fees, documentation charges, cancellation margins, or hidden integration fees. In this analytical review, we evaluate the real costs merchants pay and how subscription-based pricing changes business margins.
The Cost of Percentage-Based Commissions
The standard payment gateway fee model in Bangladesh utilizes percentage cuts. For every transaction processed on your website, the gateway deducts a commission before transferring the net sum to your bank account:
- bKash / Nagad / Rocket Commissions: Typically 1.5% to 2.5% per payment.
- Credit/Debit Cards (Visa/Mastercard): Typically 2.5% to 3.0%.
- International Cards (Amex/Discover): Up to 3.5% or 4.0%.
This volume-linked deduction means that as your business grows, your payment processing expenses scale directly. An online shop processing ৳1,000,000 BDT monthly will lose between ৳20,000 and ৳25,000 BDT to commission cuts every single month.
Hidden & Administrative Fees
Beyond transactional commission, traditional payment gateways often charge:
1. **Setup Charges:** Upfront setup fees ranging from ৳5,000 to ৳20,000 BDT.
2. **Annual Maintenances:** Administrative subscription fees of ৳5,000 BDT or more billed annually.
3. **Settlement Bank Deductions:** Some commercial banks charge secondary transaction processing margins when transferring funds from the gateway to your checking account.
The Subscription Gateway Alternative
BDGate has introduced flat subscription pricing for the Bangladeshi market. By charging a flat monthly fee (starting permanently free for low transactions and scaling to affordable tiers), BDGate removes transaction percentage deductions (0% commissions). Whether you process ৳50,000 BDT or ৳5,000,000 BDT, your processing fee remains constant, saving substantial sums and optimizing cash flow predictability.