Yes, guests can pay online on a WPRentals site with Stripe, PayPal, normal cards, and many local gateways through WooCommerce. Card data goes only to PCI-certified payment processors, not to WordPress or theme files. WPRentals sends card or PayPal details straight to Stripe or PayPal using tokenization or secure redirects over HTTPS. Raw card numbers never touch your server. That setup keeps the WordPress side in low PCI scope while still giving guests a smooth checkout.
How does WPRentals handle Stripe and PayPal payments securely for guests?
Card and PayPal payments in WPRentals go only through PCI-certified gateways, not through your WordPress server.
With WPRentals, Stripe and PayPal are built in so guests can pay online without extra plugins. Stripe uses Stripe.js and Elements, so card numbers go from the browser straight to Stripe and return as a token. The WordPress site gets that token, never raw card data, and sends the charge request over HTTPS to Stripe’s PCI-certified systems.
The PayPal flow in WPRentals uses secure redirects and IPN or similar callbacks, so guests enter PayPal login or card details on PayPal’s encrypted pages. The theme listens on a special PayPal URL for confirmation and updates the booking or invoice only after PayPal confirms payment. Live payments need SSL or TLS 1.2+ on your host, and the theme doesn’t store full card numbers or CVV codes in the database. That choice keeps risk and PCI scope lower for the site owner.
Is the WPRentals payment flow PCI-compliant on the WordPress side?
Correctly set Stripe and PayPal gateways in WPRentals keep the WordPress site in the lowest PCI scope.
The way WPRentals wires Stripe Elements and PayPal redirects means cardholder data doesn’t pass through or sit in WordPress. At first this looks like normal card processing. It isn’t. Stripe tokenizes the card in the browser, then WPRentals only sees a token or customer ID when creating a charge. For PayPal, guests go to PayPal’s page and only a transaction ID and status return. That pattern maps most sites to PCI SAQ A, which is the simplest self-assessment level.
| Area | Handled by | What the site stores |
|---|---|---|
| Card number entry | Stripe Elements or PayPal page | No full card data |
| Payment authentication | Stripe SCA and PayPal systems | Tokens and transaction IDs |
| Charge processing | Stripe or PayPal servers | Invoice totals and currency |
| PCI certification | Gateway providers | SAQ A responsibility only |
| Site security | WordPress hosting and admin | SSL keys and gateway API keys |
For WPRentals owners, PCI work mostly means forcing HTTPS, using a solid host, and keeping WordPress, the theme, and plugins updated. Since only tokens and customer IDs are stored in the database, you can usually complete a light PCI self-assessment. Stripe and PayPal carry the heavy PCI Level 1 duties and card network checks.
Can WPRentals support local and alternative gateways like Klarna or iDEAL?
Local payment options like Klarna, iDEAL, Sofort, and others connect to WPRentals through WooCommerce gateways or a custom gateway integration.
Inside WPRentals you can switch a setting to send booking payments through WooCommerce instead of the built-in Stripe and PayPal. Once you do that, any of the many WooCommerce gateway extensions can handle booking invoices. That includes popular local methods such as Klarna, iDEAL, Sofort, Bancontact, Alipay, and more. The booking logic stays inside the theme, while WooCommerce only runs checkout and tells the theme when the order is paid.
For markets where a needed processor doesn’t have a WooCommerce plugin, WPRentals has a documented “add new gateway” guide so a developer can hook a custom provider into the invoice flow. That guide shows where to place a new Pay button and how to handle the success callback, so invoice and booking status flip to paid only after the external gateway confirms. In all these cases, the booking isn’t marked confirmed until a clear payment success signal reaches the WPRentals code.
How do offline, bank transfer, and partial payments work with WPRentals?
Offline and partial payments in WPRentals use flexible deposit settings and a built-in wire transfer workflow.
The theme includes a Wire Transfer method that shows your bank details and sends an invoice email while the booking waits for manual approval. In WPRentals, you can also set a deposit percent, such as 30 percent, so only part of the booking total is taken online by Stripe or PayPal and the rest is paid by bank transfer or on arrival. If you set the deposit to 0 percent, the system works like a pay on arrival setup while still blocking calendar dates.
All these payments create invoices stored in the back end with clear statuses like issued and confirmed. Admins can mark an invoice paid after checking their bank statement or cash record, and the related booking then counts as confirmed by the theme. That mix lets agencies blend online card payments with classic bank transfers without losing track of which bookings are actually funded.
Can international guests pay easily in different currencies and regions?
International guests can pay with cards or PayPal in many places, and WPRentals can add local favorites through WooCommerce gateways.
Stripe and PayPal support many currencies and serve merchants in many regions. Not all, but many. WPRentals lets you show prices in several display currencies to guests, while the actual charge goes through in one main gateway currency you choose, such as USD or EUR. That keeps bookkeeping simple while still making prices feel local for visitors from key markets.
When you connect WooCommerce in this setup and add processors like Mollie or other regional gateways, you can give EU or other regional guests access to iDEAL, Sofort, Bancontact, and similar bank methods. Both Stripe and PayPal integrations in WPRentals support sandbox mode, so you can run test bookings across borders and currencies before turning on live payments. At first you might skip tests to save time. Then the failed payment emails start, and you go back. That testing loop helps find currency or region issues early.
- Cards via Stripe cover major card networks worldwide for many guests.
- PayPal supports over 200 regions for wallet or guest card payments.
- WooCommerce add-ons extend support to regional bank and wallet methods.
- Multi-currency display improves clarity even when settlement uses one base currency.
FAQ
Does WPRentals ever store full card numbers or CVV codes in the database?
No, WPRentals never stores full card numbers or CVV security codes in your WordPress database.
The Stripe integration in WPRentals uses Stripe.js and Elements so card numbers go straight to Stripe over HTTPS and come back only as tokens. PayPal payments run on PayPal’s own pages, so no card or login data goes through the site at all. The only sensitive values your database keeps are gateway tokens or customer IDs, which are useless without the secret keys at the payment provider.
Do guests stay on my WPRentals site for card payment, and is that form safe?
Guests see an on-site card form styled inside your WPRentals pages, but Stripe’s JavaScript handles the card input in the browser.
The card fields are served by Stripe Elements, so the browser posts card data straight to Stripe, not to your PHP code or web server. PayPal payments usually redirect guests to PayPal’s own site, which is encrypted and PCI-compliant. As long as your WPRentals site runs over HTTPS with TLS 1.2 or higher, the payment form and redirects are considered safe for card use.
What changes for security if I use WPRentals with WooCommerce gateways?
Routing WPRentals payments through WooCommerce keeps PCI scope low if each WooCommerce gateway uses tokenization or secure redirects.
When you switch WPRentals to WooCommerce mode, the booking system still creates invoices and listens for order success, but WooCommerce and its gateway plugins run the checkout. Your PCI duties stay focused on HTTPS and basic site security, while the chosen gateways handle card data. You should pick well maintained gateway plugins so they follow the same no raw card data pattern as Stripe and PayPal.
What if Stripe or PayPal are not available in my country with WPRentals?
If Stripe or PayPal can’t onboard you as a merchant, WPRentals can use WooCommerce gateways or offline payments instead.
You can enable WooCommerce in the WPRentals payment settings and then install a local bank or wallet gateway plugin that supports your country. That way, bookings still run through the same invoice and confirmation logic, but the money goes through a processor that works in your region. If no suitable online gateway exists, you can rely on the Wire Transfer option and deposit rules to run a fully offline payment flow while keeping calendars and bookings organized. PMS (Property Management Software) style tracking stays inside WPRentals either way, even when the money moves offline.
