# Payment Gateway vs Processor vs Broker: Who Does What for a Peptide Store

> A plain comparison of a payment gateway, a processor and a broker: what each does, who holds the risk, and what to ask each one.

Updated: 2026-10-31 · https://researchpay.io/blog/payment-gateway-vs-processor-vs-broker

A gateway carries the card data from your checkout. A processor moves the transaction between the card networks and the bank. A broker finds you an account and is paid for the referral. A research peptide store needs all three roles filled, often by two or three companies.

## How do they compare?

|  | Gateway | Processor | Broker |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it does | Sends card data from checkout to the processor | Authorizes and settles the transaction with the bank | Matches the store with a bank or processor |
| Touches your money | No | Yes, through settlement | No |
| Who it answers to | The processor it connects to | The acquiring bank and card networks | The store and the processor that pays it |
| How it is paid | Per-transaction or monthly fee | Per-transaction pricing | Referral share from the processor |
| What to ask | Which processors and carts it connects to | Reserve terms, settlement timing and what triggers a review | Who pays them and what they disclose |

## Which carts does this apply to?

WooCommerce and Shopify both let a store use a third-party gateway. Shopify's options are covered in our [Shopify Payments, PayPal and Square guide](/blog/shopify-payments-paypal-square-research-peptides).

## Is a broker worth using?

Sometimes. A good broker knows which underwriters review research-use-only stores. A bad one sells an account the store does not qualify for, and it closes later. Our [broker vetting guide](/blog/how-to-vet-a-high-risk-payment-broker) lists the questions.

## What should I read next?

- [Peptide high-risk merchant account](/blog/peptide-high-risk-merchant-account)
- [Best peptide payment processors in 2026](/blog/best-peptide-payment-processors-2026)

ResearchPay works only with merchants that sell products labeled and marketed for research use only, not for human or animal use. Pricing, reserves and settlement terms are set by the acquiring bank during underwriting. This is general information, not legal advice.