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Get Paid in USD with Your WiPay Account (A Shopify-Friendly Guide)

September 30, 2025•7 min read•WiFy Plugin Team

Accepting USD can be the difference between "add to cart" and "abandoned tab" for Caribbean stores that sell to tourists, expatriates, and international customers. This guide explains how WiPay handles USD, what it means for your payouts, and how to set up a clean USD checkout on Shopify.

What "USD with WiPay" actually means

WiPay maintains separate balances for TTD and USD on verified accounts. In Trinidad & Tobago, card payments made with internationally-issued cards (cards from banks outside T&T) are credited to your USD balance, while payments from local cards land in your TTD balance.

If you want to withdraw USD, you can link a local USD bank account (same legal name as your WiPay account) and request a USD wire. WiPay's pricing page lists withdrawals at $65 TTD + $ 1 USD per withdrawal (Wire Transfer).

Note: WiPay's original announcement (Oct 1, 2021) also described an internal transfer option—moving funds from your USD balance to TTD to withdraw locally—along with an example conversion rate used at that time. Rates and conditions can change, so confirm the current details in your dashboard or with support.

Shopify reality check: one checkout currency without Shopify Payments

On Shopify, multi-currency checkout (charging each buyer in their local currency) requires Shopify Payments. If you use a third-party gateway like WiPay, your checkout charges in one store currency. Practically, that means if you want to charge USD at checkout, you set your Store currency = USD.

WiPay uses an offsite (redirect) payment flow on Shopify: the buyer selects WiPay at checkout, is redirected to WiPay's hosted payment page, pays securely there, and returns to your store with the result. That's normal and expected for third-party gateways.

When charging in USD makes sense

  • A meaningful share of orders come from outside your country.
  • You're in a tourism or export niche where USD pricing reduces buyer friction.
  • You pay suppliers or ad platforms in USD, so keeping some revenue in USD helps.

If most of your buyers are local and think in TTD/JMD/BBD, you may prefer a local-currency checkout instead. Your WiPay balances can still capture USD from foreign cards when applicable; verify the specifics for your market.

How to set up a clean USD checkout on Shopify (step-by-step)

1. Decide your checkout currency

In Shopify Admin, go to Settings → Store details → Store currency and select USD. This is the currency customers are actually charged at checkout when using a third-party gateway like WiPay.

2. Install your WiPay–Shopify integration

If you're using the WiFy Plugin, install it from our getting-started page. The plugin connects your store to WiPay and supports USD or local currencies depending on your configuration and market.

3. Add WiPay as a payment method

The WiFy Plugin automatically integrates WiPay into your Shopify checkout. The offsite flow will handle USD amounts based on your store currency.

4. Plan payouts

  • To withdraw USD: Add your local USD bank account and request a wire (fees apply—see WiPay's pricing).
  • If you can't or don't want to hold USD: Transfer USD → TTD inside WiPay and withdraw TTD locally (confirm the current transfer rate).

Fees and verification (know before you launch)

  • Processing fees for card payments and USD wire fees are documented on WiPay's Pricing page; review the current figures for your plan (Business vs Business Plus) and market.
  • You need a verified WiPay account to access the full feature set, including multiple balances. See WiPay's KYC guidance for what to submit.

Operational tips for smoother USD sales

  • Be explicit about currency: Show "USD" on product pages, cart, and checkout so repeat local customers aren't surprised. This reduces support inquiries. (Shopify's checkout will always charge in your store currency when using third-party gateways.)
  • Test international cards: If possible, run a live $1–$5 test with a non-local card to confirm it lands in your USD balance.
  • Check fees and timelines before large withdrawals or promotions; wire fees and settlement windows influence cash-flow planning.

FAQ

Will Shopify show different currencies to different buyers?

Not with third-party gateways. Without Shopify Payments, checkout uses one currency—your store currency. If you want to charge USD, set your store currency to USD.

Is the redirect to WiPay normal?

Yes. WiPay uses Shopify's offsite payment extension model: buyers are redirected to a hosted payment page and returned after payment.

Can I accept both USD and TTD?

Your WiPay account can maintain separate USD and TTD balances, with international cards typically going to USD and local cards to TTD (in Trinidad & Tobago). However, your Shopify checkout will charge in one currency—your store currency setting.

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