Russian payment service provider Yandex.Checkout

Going to sell your product in Russia? A common mistake is to launch Russian version of website with payment services that are only popular in Western Europe or the US, for example, only PayPal or VISA/MasterCard.

Russia has its own payment instruments, so every e-commerce website or online service needs to know them before entering this market.

Despite the fact that many users of Russian online stores still prefer to pay cash when receiving a package, the popularity of online payment is constantly growing. And in addition to debit or credit cards and online banking, the so-called e-wallets are becoming more important nowadays.

In this guide I described popular payment methods in Russia and how to integrate your website with one of the most trustworthy Russian payment service provider — Yandex.Checkout.

Contents:

1. Popular payment methods in Russia
2. Yandex.Checkout
   1. Fees
   2. How does the payment process look like?
   3. Additional options for accepting payments
   4. Signing up to Yandex.Checkout
   5. Integration of your website and Yandex.Checkout

Popular payment methods in Russia

Chart below shows a comparison of e-wallets, online banking and bank cards usage on desktop and mobile:

And this chart shows the popularity of online payment services in Russia:

As you can see, in addition to bank cards and online banking, Russians are very familiar with electronic payment systems, such as Sberbank Online, Yandex.Money, Webmoney and QIWI Wallet.

Good news:  you don’t need to integrate each of them separately!  In Runet there are many providers (PSP) that aggregate all popular payment services. I’d just mention the most popular:

1. PayAnyWay
2. RBK Money
3. Wallet One
4. PayMaster
5. Yandex.Checkout
6. Assist
7. Robokassa
8. PayOnline
9. Platron
10. Uniteller

In this guide I would like to describe one of them — Yandex.Checkout, only because I have positive experience with it. But even if you don’t trust my experience, you should know that Yandex.Checkout is used by such companies as AliExpress, Wargaming and over 90,000 e-commerce and online services in Russia, China, USA and Europe, that are interested in Russian customers.

Yandex.Checkout

Yandex.Checkout is a universal payment tool for online stores, services, and charities. You can use the payment solution to receive one-time or recurring payments (with automatic debiting). Nowadays Yandex.Checkout is one of the most popular payment service providers in Russia.

If your company is a non-Russian resident, the following payment methods are available for your website:

• Bank cards — Visa (including Electron), MasterCard, Maestro, and Mir.
• Yandex.Money — 25 millions of users of e-wallets.
• QIWI Wallet — on QIWI’s website and via QIWI Wallet app.
• Cash — at payment kiosks, ATMs, and mobile retail outlets.
• Payments via online banking — via Alfa-Click, Promsvyazbank online banking, Sberbank Online, ERIP (Belarus).

Please note: by default,  Yandex accepts bank card issued in Russia & CIS . Bank cards issued in the USA or Australia cannot be accepted at any case. If you want to accept payments from cards issued on other countries, write about it at sales@money.yandex.ru.

Fees

Now, let’s take a look at the fees offered by Yandex. The table below shows fees for e-commerce website and online services with a monthly turnover less than 1M rubles. If your turnover is higher, your fees will be even less.

How does the payment process look like?

When a customer wants to buy your product, he clicks on “Buy now” button, as usual. The step where a customer should choose a particular payment method can be placed either on your website, like this:

or you can redirect your customer to Yandex.Checkout page (then you only need to place a button on your website). It look like this:

Additional options for accepting payments

Depending on your type of business, Yandex offers several solutions to obtain payment from your users.

1. Recurring payments
   Option allows you to get the required sum in a specified period of time without client involvement. Documentation.
2. Linking a bank card
   Regular customers will be able to pay without entering card data. Documentation.
3. Pre-authorised, or deferred payment
   Option allows you to charge on command from the store. If the order is cancelled or product is out of stock, money can be easily returned to the customer. Fee for the refund will not be charged. Documentation.
4. Invoicing
   Invoicing in chat allows you to invoice your customers during the dialogue: in live chat on your website, in social networks or messengers. So far it works only with JivoSite.
   Invoicing by email allows you to send the invoice directly from your personal account. You can get the payments even without a website.
5. Payment by QR code
   This script allows you to generate a QR code which customer can use to pay for a product. QR codes can be placed anywhere: on your website, receipts for payment, or packaging. For payment you can use any smartphone with the installed Yandex.Money app.

Signing up to Yandex.Checkout

First step is to send a request. After you send your request you will get a file with form about your company. You should fill it out and send to Yandex manager by e-mail.

Next, you will need to identify yourself. Your personal Yandex manager will help to choose the most convenient method — using a Yandex parter agency from your country or region, or you can do it yourself by translating your company’s registration documents into Russian and sending them to Yandex office. Be prepared, that this process may last up to a few weeks.

Integration with Yandex.Checkout

There are few ways to connect your online store with Yandex.Checkout.

First, you can use modules for your CMS. Check out the complete list here: https://kassa.yandex.ru/integration#cms

Second, you can install a simple code on your website and make payments without any integrations — you’ll just get payment confirmation on your email. When you fill out a request, ask your manager to send you this code. It is the simplest way to start using Yandex.Checkout.

Third, and most complex method, is full integration with your website. With this method you can use all additional solutions: recurring or pre-authorised payments, linking a bank card. Here you will find full instructions for your developers.