Compare Hosted, Custom, and iFrame checkout to find the best fit for your business.

Pine Labs provides three checkout integration options. Each gives you a different balance of speed-to-launch, customization control, and PCI compliance responsibility. Choose based on your development resources, branding needs, and customer experience goals.

Get started with Hosted checkout | Get started with Custom checkout | Get started with iFrame checkout

Checkout options at a glance

	Hosted checkout	Custom checkout	iFrame checkout
How it works	Customer redirects to Pine Labs hosted page or overlay	You build your own payment UI; call Pine Labs APIs per payment method	Embed Pine Labs checkout inside an iFrame on your page
API	Generate Checkout Link (Orders + Payments bundled)	Create Order + Create Payment (separate calls per method)	Generate Checkout Link with `integration_mode: IFRAME`
Integration effort	Low	High	Low
Customization	Branding (logo, colors), payment methods, expiry, pre-auth	Full control — build your own UI, payment flows, and UX	Same as Hosted, displayed inside your page
PCI compliance	Handled by Pine Labs	Required on your end	Handled by Pine Labs
Customer experience	Redirects to Pine Labs page or opens overlay	Stays on your site/app entirely	Stays on your page (embedded)
Maintenance	Low — Pine Labs manages checkout UI	High — you maintain payment form and method-specific flows	Low — Pine Labs manages checkout UI
Supported methods	Cards, UPI, Net Banking, Wallets, EMI, BNPL, Reward Points	Cards, UPI, Net Banking, Wallets, BNPL	Cards, UPI, Net Banking, Wallets, EMI, BNPL, Reward Points
Best for	Most businesses, D2C brands, quick launches	Enterprises needing full control over checkout UX	Businesses wanting a hosted experience without redirects

Choose Your Checkout Solutions

Hosted Checkout

Perfect for businesses looking for a fast and secure payment integration with minimal development effort. Pine Labs Online manages the payment experience, security, and PCI compliance for a seamless setup.

View Docs →

Custom Checkout

Best suited for businesses that want full control over the payment experience and branding. Customize the checkout flow, payment methods, and customer journey directly within your website or application.

View Docs →

Iframe Checkout

Ideal for businesses that want customers to stay on their website while using a secure hosted payment experience. Embed the Pine Labs checkout within an iFrame for a smooth payment journey.

View Docs →

Features comparison

Feature	Hosted	Custom	iFrame
One-page checkout	Yes	You build it	Yes (embedded)
Offer-driven checkout	Built-in EMI/discount offers	Manual offer integration	Built-in EMI/discount offers
Express checkout	Yes — saved cards, auto-fill	You implement	Yes
Pre-authorization	Yes (`pre_auth: true`)	Yes (`pre_auth: true`)	Yes (`pre_auth: true`)
Callback URLs	`callback_url` + `failure_callback_url`	`callback_url` + `failure_callback_url`	`callback_url` + `failure_callback_url`
Webhooks	Yes	Yes	Yes
Signature verification	Yes (SHA256 HMAC)	Yes (SHA256 HMAC)	Yes (SHA256 HMAC)
Split settlements	Yes	Yes	Yes
Convenience fees	Yes	Yes	Yes
Refunds	Full and partial	Full and partial	Full and partial
SDK support	Web SDK, Android SDK, iOS SDK	N/A (API-only)	N/A (uses Generate Checkout Link API)
Ecommerce plugins	Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, OpenCart	N/A	N/A
Tokenized payments	Built-in	You implement via Tokenization API	Built-in
Device fingerprinting	Built-in	You implement	Built-in

Integration modes and APIs

Hosted checkout

Generate Token — Authenticate with client credentials
Generate Checkout Link — Create order + get redirect URL
Redirect customer to redirect_url
Handle callback — Verify signature + check order status

Custom checkout

Generate Token — Authenticate with client credentials
Create Order — Create an order with amount and customer details
Create Payment — Submit payment per method (Cards, UPI, Net Banking, Wallets)
Handle challenge_url — Redirect customer for 3DS/OTP verification
Verify signature + check order status

iFrame checkout

Generate Token — Authenticate with client credentials
Generate Checkout Link — Set integration_mode: IFRAME
Embed redirect_url in an iFrame on your page
Handle callback — Verify signature + check order status

Frequently asked questions

Which checkout option is best for a new business?

Hosted checkout (Infinity). It requires the least development effort, handles PCI compliance, and includes built-in features like EMI offers and express checkout.

Can I switch between checkout options later?

Yes. The underlying APIs (Orders, Payments) are shared across all checkout types. Switching requires updating your integration code but not your merchant configuration.

Do I need PCI compliance for Hosted or iFrame checkout?

No. Pine Labs handles payment data collection and PCI compliance. For Custom (Seamless) checkout, you must have a PCI compliance certificate because you collect and transmit card details directly.

Which checkout option supports the most payment methods?

Hosted and iFrame checkout support all payment methods including EMI (Credit & Debit) and Reward Points. Custom checkout supports Cards, UPI, Net Banking, Wallets, and BNPL.

Can I use checkout with ecommerce platforms like Shopify?

Yes, but only through Hosted checkout (Infinity). Pine Labs provides plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and OpenCart.

Is the pricing different for each checkout option?

No. Pricing is based on your merchant agreement and transaction volume, not the checkout integration type.

Can I accept international payments with all checkout options?

International payments are supported through Hosted checkout. Check International Payments for supported currencies and configuration.

How do I test my integration before going live?

Use the UAT environment with test card details. Cards, Net Banking (SBI), Cross-Border, and Pay by Points can be tested in UAT. UPI processes real transactions even in UAT — use minimal amounts.