Real-world examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps

Real examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps

When teams ask for examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps, they usually want to know two things:

• Which gateway fits which business model.
• How the actual mobile code and backend coordination look in practice.

So let’s start with concrete, real-world style scenarios that mirror what product teams are shipping today.

Ride-hailing app using Stripe + Apple Pay / Google Pay

Picture a ride-hailing app similar to Uber or Lyft. A common example of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps here is a combination of Stripe on the backend plus native wallets on the device.

Typical flow:

• The iOS or Android app never touches raw card numbers. Instead, it uses Stripe’s SDK or a PCI-compliant native form to collect card data and exchange it for a token (a PaymentMethod ID or Payment Intent client secret).
• On iOS, the app offers Apple Pay as a one-tap option. On Android, Google Pay. Both return payment tokens that the backend sends to Stripe for confirmation.
• The backend creates and confirms a Payment Intent when the trip ends, using the stored payment method.

Why this works in 2024:

• Tokenization and client-side SDKs keep you out of heavy PCI scope. See the official PCI DSS guidance from the PCI Security Standards Council at https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org.
• Apple Pay and Google Pay reduce friction and increase conversion, especially on repeat rides where users don’t want to re-enter card data.

Food delivery app with Braintree and PayPal

Food delivery apps are another strong example of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps, often mixing cards, PayPal, and sometimes local wallets.

Common architecture:

• Braintree SDK in the app collects card details or PayPal authorization.
• The app receives a payment nonce or token, then sends it to your backend over HTTPS.
• Your backend calls Braintree’s API to create a transaction, handle 3D Secure, and store payment methods for faster reorders.

Why teams like this setup:

• Braintree and PayPal make it easy to support cards, PayPal balance, and some local wallets through one integration.
• Restaurants and delivery services often operate in multiple countries, and Braintree’s multi-currency support keeps accounting saner.

Subscription streaming app using Stripe Billing

Subscription media or SaaS apps give some of the best examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps because they combine recurring billing, trials, and failed-payment recovery.

How it usually works:

• The mobile app collects payment details via Stripe’s mobile SDK or a web-based Checkout session in a WebView.
• The backend creates a Stripe Customer and Subscription using Stripe Billing.
• Stripe handles recurring charges, proration, and dunning (email reminders, retry logic) when payments fail.
• The app checks subscription status via your backend, which in turn talks to Stripe’s API or uses webhooks to stay in sync.

Modern twist for 2024–2025:

• Many apps now support both app-store billing (Apple/Google) and direct card billing via Stripe, depending on platform rules and revenue strategy.
• Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) in Europe and similar regulations elsewhere mean your mobile app must gracefully handle 3D Secure challenges in native or web views.

Marketplace app using Adyen and split payments

Marketplaces (think: Etsy-style apps, local services, or ticketing) are real examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps where split payouts matter as much as charging buyers.

Typical pattern with Adyen:

• The app collects buyer payment details via Adyen’s Drop-in or Components SDK.
• Your backend creates a payment with Adyen and associates it with a platform account and one or more sellers.
• Adyen’s platform features route funds: part to your commission, part to each seller, often with separate settlement schedules.
• The app exposes payout history and pending balances to sellers, backed by your database which mirrors Adyen’s balance and payout events.

Why this pattern is popular:

• It offloads complex compliance issues around KYC, AML, and fund flows to the gateway’s platform product.
• It’s easier to scale to thousands of sellers without becoming a regulated financial institution yourself.

Fintech wallet app integrating a regional gateway

Not every app uses Stripe or Adyen. In many regions, the best examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps involve local gateways that support bank transfers, instant payments, or government-backed rails.

Example scenario:

• A fintech wallet app in India integrates Razorpay or PayU for UPI and card payments.
• Users top up their in-app wallet via UPI or card; the app uses the gateway’s SDK to initiate and confirm payments.
• The backend tracks wallet balances and transactions; the gateway just moves money into a pooled account.

Similar patterns show up with:

• PIX in Brazil.
• iDEAL in the Netherlands.
• Interac in Canada.

The integration logic is similar: mobile SDK for collection, backend for accounting, gateway for settlement.

On-demand healthcare app with HIPAA-sensitive flows

Healthcare apps that let patients pay for telehealth visits or prescriptions are another modern example of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps—with extra regulatory baggage.

Common choices:

• A HIPAA-aligned gateway or a standard gateway configured so that no protected health information (PHI) ever enters the payment system.
• The mobile app uses a gateway SDK or hosted fields to collect card data while avoiding mixing PHI and payment data.

Why it matters:

• In the U.S., HIPAA rules enforced by HHS (see https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html) mean your architecture must clearly separate medical data from financial data.
• Many healthcare apps now combine insurance co-pay logic, HSA/FSA cards, and regular cards, which requires careful card-type handling in the app and backend.

Retail app with in-store and online payments

A retail brand’s mobile app often needs to support:

• Online purchases.
• In-store pickup.
• In-store tap-to-pay or QR-based payments.

This creates interesting examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps that blur the line between e‑commerce and point-of-sale.

Modern approach:

• Use a gateway like Adyen or Stripe that supports both online and in-person payments.
• The app can:
  • Store a customer’s card on file via online APIs.
  • Generate QR codes or payment links for in-store scanning.
  • Use NFC tap-to-pay features on compatible devices (where allowed) tied back to the same customer profile.

The benefit is a unified customer view: same payment profile across mobile, web, and physical stores.

Key patterns from the best examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps

If you look across these best examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps, a few recurring patterns show up.

Keeping PCI scope small with tokenization

In almost every example of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps, the app never stores card numbers or CVV. Instead:

• The mobile SDK or hosted UI element sends card data directly to the gateway.
• The gateway returns a token (payment method ID, nonce, or customer ID).
• Your backend uses that token for charges, refunds, and recurring billing.

This pattern aligns with PCI DSS guidance and reduces your audit burden. For background on payment card security standards, see the PCI Security Standards Council at https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org.

Backend as the source of truth

Even though we’re talking about examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps, the mobile app is rarely the system of record.

Strong implementations:

• Treat the backend as the single source of truth for charges, refunds, disputes, and balances.
• Use webhooks from the gateway to update transaction status.
• Let the mobile app poll or subscribe to your backend, not the gateway directly.

This keeps business logic, fraud rules, and reporting centralized.

Supporting multiple payment methods and regions

Real examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps almost always involve more than one payment method:

• Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex).
• Wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Cash App Pay, regionals).
• Bank transfers or instant-pay systems.

Modern gateways expose these through a single API, but the UX still has to be carefully designed:

• Prioritize the user’s likely preferred method based on device and region.
• Fall back gracefully if a method isn’t available (e.g., Apple Pay not enabled on the device).

Handling fraud and risk without wrecking UX

In 2024–2025, fraud and chargebacks are getting more sophisticated. The better examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps share a few tactics:

• Use gateway-provided risk tools as a baseline.
• Add your own heuristics: device fingerprinting, velocity checks, and geolocation checks (while respecting privacy laws).
• Trigger step-up authentication (3D Secure, SMS, email verification) only when risk is high, not on every transaction.

This is a balancing act: protect the business without punishing legitimate users.

Technical implementation patterns in mobile apps

Now let’s talk about how these examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps tend to look in code and architecture.

Native SDKs vs. web-based checkout

You’ll see two major approaches:

Native SDK integration:

• Use the gateway’s iOS/Android SDK directly.
• Build fully custom UI for card entry and wallet selection.
• Ideal when you want a deeply integrated, branded experience (e.g., ride-hailing or wallets).

Web-based checkout or hosted payment pages:

• Open a secure web checkout in a WebView or external browser.
• Gateway hosts the UI and manages updates, SCA flows, and compliance.
• Faster to ship, easier to maintain, but with less visual control.

Many of the best examples mix both: native SDK for stored cards and wallets, hosted pages for complex flows like 3D Secure or alternative payment methods.

Handling 3D Secure and SCA

In Europe and other regions with Strong Customer Authentication, a realistic example of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps includes:

• Creating a payment intent or authorization on the backend.
• Presenting a challenge flow (bank app, one-time password, biometric) in the mobile app via SDK or WebView.
• Listening for callback URLs or SDK events to know when authentication finishes.
• Confirming the payment on the backend and updating the app’s UI.

If you ignore this, you’ll see high failure rates for European cards.

Security best practices for mobile payment integrations

Across all examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps, a few security habits stand out:

• Never log full card numbers, CVV, or unmasked PAN in the app or backend.
• Use HTTPS with TLS 1.2+ for all communication.
• Rely on OS-level secure storage (Keychain on iOS, EncryptedSharedPreferences or Keystore on Android) for tokens.
• Implement certificate pinning if your threat model justifies it.
• Keep SDKs and dependencies updated; payment SDKs often ship security fixes.

For general mobile security and privacy guidance, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s resources on mobile apps and privacy are worth a look: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance.

2024–2025 trends shaping payment gateway integrations

The most interesting examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps today are being shaped by a few major trends.

One-tap and biometric-first experiences

Users now expect:

• Face ID or fingerprint to confirm a payment.
• One-tap checkout with previously used cards or wallets.

Gateways and mobile OS updates have made it easier to:

• Bind payment methods to device-level biometrics.
• Use platform wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) as the primary method.

If your app still forces full card entry for every purchase, you’re leaving conversion on the table.

Real-time payouts and gig economy use cases

Gig platforms—delivery drivers, freelancers, creators—are driving new examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps around instant payouts:

• Gateways now support push-to-card or instant bank payouts.
• Mobile apps expose “Cash out now” buttons that call backend APIs, which in turn trigger payout APIs on the gateway.

This is becoming a differentiator for marketplaces and gig apps.

Regulatory pressure and data residency

Data protection laws (GDPR in Europe, state laws in the U.S., and others) are influencing how payment data flows:

• Some gateways offer regional data centers and data residency guarantees.
• Apps serving multiple regions may route transactions to different gateway accounts or data centers based on user location.

Ignoring this can cause compliance headaches later.

FAQ: examples and best practices for payment gateway APIs in mobile apps

Q: What are some real examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps?
A: Common real-world examples include ride-hailing apps using Stripe plus Apple Pay/Google Pay, food delivery apps using Braintree and PayPal, subscription streaming apps with Stripe Billing, marketplaces using Adyen for split payouts, fintech wallets using regional gateways like Razorpay or PayU, and retail apps that blend online and in-store payments with a single gateway.

Q: Can you give an example of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps without storing card data?
A: A standard example is using Stripe’s or Braintree’s mobile SDK to collect card details, which are sent directly to the gateway. The SDK returns a token to the app, which passes it to your backend. Your backend uses that token to create charges, so neither the app nor your servers ever store raw card numbers.

Q: Do I need to be PCI compliant if I use a payment gateway SDK in my mobile app?
A: Yes, but your scope is smaller if you never touch raw card data. Using hosted fields or native SDKs that send card data directly to the gateway typically qualifies you for a lighter PCI SAQ (self-assessment questionnaire). For details, refer to the PCI Security Standards Council: https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org.

Q: How do I choose between different payment gateways for my mobile app?
A: Look at your business model and geography first. Subscriptions often favor gateways with strong recurring billing features. Marketplaces need split payouts and platform tools. Apps operating in one region may prefer a strong local gateway, while global apps lean toward Stripe, Adyen, or Braintree. Also weigh SDK quality, documentation, fraud tools, and supported payment methods.

Q: Are there examples of mobile apps using more than one payment gateway?
A: Yes. Some apps route low-risk, card-based traffic through one gateway while using another for local payment methods or high-risk regions. Others keep a secondary gateway as a fallback for redundancy. This adds complexity but can improve uptime and coverage.

If you take anything from these examples of integrating payment gateways API in mobile apps, let it be this: keep payment logic simple, keep sensitive data out of your hands whenever possible, and design the UX so paying feels like a natural part of using the app—not a chore.