In the Shopify projects we manage, we have encountered a recurring issue for stores with multiple bank agreements: a virtual POS tied to a single bank stops sales entirely when that bank temporarily declines a payment. Craftgate is a Shopify payment integration built to distribute this risk. It functions as a payment infrastructure provider that consolidates bank virtual POS systems and alternative payment methods into a single dashboard; instead of being tied to a single payment institution like iyzico or PayTR, it allows you to manage multiple bank agreements for your store through the same integration.
What is the Shopify Craftgate Integration?
The Craftgate integration is a payment routing layer that connects your Shopify store to multiple bank virtual POS systems and alternative payment methods via a single API connection. According to Craftgate's own definition, the platform offers multi-provider management through a single infrastructure instead of requiring separate integrations with individual payment institutions and banks.
According to a 2022 announcement by Fintechistanbul.org, the partnership between Craftgate and Shopify was formalized that year, and the Craftgate Payment Gateway app was added to the Shopify App Store. As defined in Craftgate's own developer documentation, the app offers two different payment experiences: the Common Payment Page (CPP), where the customer is redirected to a screen hosted by Craftgate, and on-site payment, where the customer enters their card details without ever leaving the Shopify checkout.
There are three technical features that distinguish Craftgate's Shopify integration from other single-payment providers:
- Real-time synchronization: The payment result is reflected on the Shopify order screen as soon as the transaction is completed; no separate webhook configuration or manual synchronization step is required.
- Payment Retry & Autopilot: When a transaction is declined, the system automatically routes the transaction to another bank and retries it based on predefined rules.
- Smart/Dynamic Payment Routing: Craftgate automatically determines which bank's virtual POS a transaction will be routed to based on criteria such as transaction amount, card type, or success rate.
Critical Note: The Craftgate Payment Gateway app has had 0 reviews on the Shopify App Store since its release in 2022. This does not mean the app is non-functional; it indicates that Craftgate supports its Shopify integration directly through its own developer documentation and does not prioritize App Store reviews. Before starting the installation, confirm the current integration steps through Craftgate's own support channel.
For a small-scale store that does not require multi-bank management and operates with a single virtual POS, this layer may be unnecessarily complex; Craftgate's true value emerges for stores that have multiple bank agreements.
Opening a Craftgate Account: Application and Sandbox Testing
To open a Craftgate account, you need to fill out the application form on craftgate.io and submit your company information and bank agreement details; after approval, your API keys are provided via the live dashboard.
Live Environment Application
Unlike a standard virtual POS application, the application made through Craftgate's official website collects information regarding all the banks your store has agreements with, rather than just one. Once the application is approved, you receive an API Key and Secret Key pair from the Craftgate dashboard; these keys will be used during the app installation on the Shopify side.
A point that needs to be clarified during the application process is the order in which the banks will be defined. If you have multiple bank agreements, discussing with the Craftgate sales team in advance whether to add them all at once or in stages will prevent confusion during setup.
Sandbox (Test) Environment
Craftgate provides a test environment via sandbox-panel.craftgate.io, which is completely separate from the live panel. A sandbox account requires a registration independent of your live account; you cannot use your live API keys in the sandbox, so you must create a separate test registration.
In the sandbox environment, you can test the full payment flow (card entry, 3D Secure verification, payment result) without any real money movement. According to Craftgate documentation, the sandbox environment simulates all features of the live environment (including Payment Retry and Smart Routing); therefore, before going live, testing with at least two different scenarios (successful transaction, declined transaction) rather than just a single test card will help you identify potential issues before they occur in the live environment.
Shopify Craftgate Integration: Step-by-Step Setup
The setup begins with opening your Craftgate account and concludes with testing the application you installed via the Shopify App Store in the live environment; the steps in between cover defining connected banks and selecting the payment experience.
Step 1: Open a Craftgate Account and Get API Keys
Complete the application process described in the previous section and obtain your API keys from the Craftgate panel. Without these keys, your application account will not sync with the Shopify side.
Step 2: Install Craftgate Payment Gateway from the Shopify App Store
Go to the Apps section in your Shopify Admin panel, search for Craftgate Payment Gateway, and install it to your store. The application is free; it requests permission to access your store information during installation.
Step 3: Define Connected Banks and Virtual POSs
After connecting your Craftgate account within the app using your API keys, you define which bank virtual POSs and payment institutions will be active via the Craftgate panel. If you have an agreement with a bank that does not have a direct Shopify integration, you can also include that virtual POS in the system during this step.
Step 4: Choose the Payment Experience (Hosted Payment Page or On-Site)
Here, you decide whether your customer will be redirected to a screen hosted by Craftgate or if they will make the payment without ever leaving your Shopify store. The on-site option also covers alternative methods such as Multinet and Edenred Gift Cards.
Step 5: Perform a Test Transaction in the Sandbox
Before going live, complete a test order with your sandbox account without any real money movement. Verify that the payment result is reflected correctly and in real-time on the Shopify order screen; if this step is skipped, the "paid but order not visible" scenario will only be discovered in the live environment.
Step 6: Go Live
Once the test transaction is completed successfully, switch to live mode from the Craftgate panel. Confirm that Craftgate appears as an active provider in your Shopify payment settings and monitor your first real order closely.
Key Features of Craftgate
The main difference that distinguishes Craftgate from a single-bank virtual POS setup is its ability to manage multiple payment sources from a single panel and perform automatic routing between them.
As Nodus Works, a common problem we see in stores working with multiple payment providers is that sales stop completely when a provider fails. Craftgate's automatic routing logic removes this risk of dependency on a single provider and distributes it; however, this also increases the complexity of the setup, so it may be an unnecessary layer for small-scale stores where a single bank is sufficient.
Craftgate vs. iyzico/PayTR Comparison
Unlike iyzico and PayTR, Craftgate is not a single payment processor; it is positioned as a layer that manages multiple banks and payment processors through a single integration. This distinction directly determines which provider a store should choose.
Based on our observations at Nodus Works, for a store where a single bank virtual POS is sufficient, Craftgate's multi-routing layer adds unnecessary complexity; the single integration of iyzico or PayTR means less maintenance for that store. Craftgate's true value emerges for medium-to-large scale stores that have multiple bank agreements and want to reduce payment decline rates.
Common Mistakes and Points to Consider
The most common issue during Craftgate setup is skipping the sandbox test and going directly to the live environment; in this case, if the payment result does not reflect on the Shopify order screen, you are forced to troubleshoot the issue in the live environment.
Critical Note: The Craftgate Payment Gateway app has 0 reviews on the Shopify App Store since its release in 2022. This does not mean the app is non-functional; it indicates that Craftgate supports its Shopify integration directly through its own developer documentation and does not prioritize App Store reviews. Before starting the installation, confirm the current integration steps through Craftgate's own support channel.
The second common mistake is leaving routing rules untested when multiple bank virtual POSs are defined. When Smart Routing is active, it is not predetermined which transaction will go to which bank; therefore, verifying that only one bank works with a low-amount test order is not enough—test transactions must be performed through at least two different bank virtual POSs.
Tip: After activating the Payment Retry feature, be sure to test how many retry attempts are granted to the customer and how these attempts appear on the checkout screen. If this setting is left at default, the customer may have to re-enter their card information repeatedly, which increases the cart abandonment rate.
The third point is that there is a separate step between activating alternative payment methods like Multinet or Edenred Gift Cards in the Craftgate panel and them appearing automatically on the Shopify checkout screen; a method activated on the panel side does not reflect on the customer screen unless it is also made visible in the Shopify payment settings.
FAQ: Shopify Craftgate Integration
How is Craftgate installed on Shopify? After opening an account on Craftgate.io and obtaining your API keys, install the Craftgate Payment Gateway from the Shopify App Store and enter the keys into the app settings. Define your connected banks and go live after performing test transactions in the sandbox environment.
Is Craftgate free? The Shopify app itself is free; costs consist of the commission rates of the bank virtual POSs you connect and, if applicable, Craftgate's own service fees. You need to get current commission information from Craftgate's sales team, as these rates vary from store to store.
Which banks work with Craftgate? Craftgate consolidates the bank virtual POSs you have agreements with into a single panel; which banks are supported depends on Craftgate's current bank list. When you make an agreement with a new bank, you need to define this bank separately in the panel.
Should Craftgate or PayTR be preferred? For small-to-medium scale stores where a single bank virtual POS is sufficient, PayTR's single integration requires less maintenance. For stores that have multiple bank agreements and want to reduce payment decline rates, Craftgate's multi-routing layer is more suitable.
How is Craftgate's sandbox environment used? You can open a separate test account at sandbox-panel.craftgate.io to complete test orders without any real money transactions. Live account credentials and sandbox accounts are independent of each other, so you need to create a separate registration in the sandbox before going live.
Conclusion
Craftgate is a middleware solution for Shopify stores that want to manage multiple payment sources where a single-bank virtual POS setup is insufficient. Its setup requires more steps than iyzico or PayTR, but in return, it offers automatic routing and retry mechanisms that reduce payment decline rates.
Before deciding which payment provider is right for your store, analyze your current commission structure and order volume; if a single bank is sufficient, the setup burden of Craftgate becomes unnecessary. For stores that want to set up their payment integration end-to-end along with Shopify's other technical components (shipping, ERP, accounting), our Shopify integration service handles the entire process from bank virtual POS connection to ERP synchronization under one roof. We have examined other payment providers (Sipay, Paratika, Lidio) that connect to Shopify in Turkey in our Shopify virtual POS setup guide comparatively.
