---
title: Choose the right checkout integration
slug: checkout-options
excerpt: >-
  Compare Pine Labs checkout options — Hosted , Custom and iFrame — to find the
  best fit for your integration needs, development resources.
hidden: false
sidebar_order: 1
metadata:
  title: Overview – Pine Labs Payment Gateway
  description: >-
    Compare Pine Labs checkout options — Hosted (Infinity), Custom (Seamless),
    and iFrame — to find the best fit for your integration needs, development
    resources, and customer experience goals.
  robots: index
sidebar_label: Overview
---

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](/hosted-checkout) | [Get started with Custom checkout](/custom-checkout) | [Get started with iFrame checkout](/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](/api/checkout/generate-checkout-link) (Orders + Payments bundled) | [Create Order](/api/orders/create-order) + [Create Payment](/api/card-payments/create-payment) (separate calls per method) | [Generate Checkout Link](/api/checkout/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

<div style="display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:1rem;max-width:1200px;margin:0 auto;">
  <div style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:10px;padding:1.25rem;">
    <h3 style="font-size:0.95rem;font-weight:650;margin-bottom:0.5rem;">Hosted Checkout</h3>
    <p style="font-size:0.82rem;color:#64748b;">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.</p>
    <a href="/hosted-checkout" style="font-size:0.8rem;font-weight:600;color:#0f766e;text-decoration:none;">View Docs →</a>


<DocImage src="/cdn/img/hosted-1778745208313.png" alt="hosted"  />

  </div>
  <div style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:10px;padding:1.25rem;">
    <h3 style="font-size:0.95rem;font-weight:650;margin-bottom:0.5rem;">Custom Checkout</h3>
    <p style="font-size:0.82rem;color:#64748b;">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.</p>
    <a href="https://plcorp.uat.pinelabs.com/doc/online-payments/custom-checkout" style="font-size:0.8rem;font-weight:600;color:#0f766e;text-decoration:none;">View Docs →</a>

<DocImage src="/cdn/img/custom-checkout-1778745224036.png" alt="custom-checkout" />
  </div>
  <div style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:10px;padding:1.25rem;">
    <h3 style="font-size:0.95rem;font-weight:650;margin-bottom:0.5rem;">Iframe Checkout</h3>
    <p style="font-size:0.82rem;color:#64748b;">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.</p>
    <a href="https://plcorp.uat.pinelabs.com/doc/online-payments/iframe-checkout" style="font-size:0.8rem;font-weight:600;color:#0f766e;text-decoration:none;">View Docs →</a>


<DocImage src="/cdn/img/iframe-1778745215760.png" alt="iframe"  />

  </div>
</div>

---

## 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](/api/tokenization) | Built-in |
| **Device fingerprinting** | Built-in | You implement | Built-in |

---

## Integration modes and APIs

### Hosted checkout 

1. [Generate Token](/api/authentication/generate-token) — Authenticate with client credentials
2. [Generate Checkout Link](/api/checkout/generate-checkout-link) — Create order + get redirect URL
3. Redirect customer to `redirect_url`
4. Handle callback — Verify signature + check order status

### Custom checkout

1. [Generate Token](/api/authentication/generate-token) — Authenticate with client credentials
2. [Create Order](/api/orders/create-order) — Create an order with amount and customer details
3. [Create Payment](/api/card-payments/create-payment) — Submit payment per method (Cards, UPI, Net Banking, Wallets)
4. Handle `challenge_url` — Redirect customer for 3DS/OTP verification
5. Verify signature + check order status

### iFrame checkout

1. [Generate Token](/api/authentication/generate-token) — Authenticate with client credentials
2. [Generate Checkout Link](/api/checkout/generate-checkout-link) — Set `integration_mode: IFRAME`
3. Embed `redirect_url` in an iFrame on your page
4. Handle callback — Verify signature + check order status


## Frequently asked questions
<details>
<summary>Which checkout option is best for a new business?</summary>
<br/>Hosted checkout (Infinity). It requires the least development effort, handles PCI compliance, and includes built-in features like EMI offers and express checkout.
</details>
---
<details>
<summary>Can I switch between checkout options later?</summary>
<br/>
Yes. The underlying APIs (Orders, Payments) are shared across all checkout types. Switching requires updating your integration code but not your merchant configuration.
</details>
---
<details>
<summary>Do I need PCI compliance for Hosted or iFrame checkout?</summary>
<br/>
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.
</details>
---
<details>
<summary>Which checkout option supports the most payment methods?</summary>
<br/>
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.
</details>
---
<details>
<summary>Can I use checkout with ecommerce platforms like Shopify?</summary>
<br/>
Yes, but only through Hosted checkout (Infinity). Pine Labs provides plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and OpenCart.
</details>
---
<details>
<summary>Is the pricing different for each checkout option?</summary>
<br/>
No. Pricing is based on your merchant agreement and transaction volume, not the checkout integration type.
</details>
---
<details>
<summary>Can I accept international payments with all checkout options?</summary>
<br/>
International payments are supported through Hosted checkout. Check [International Payments](/international-payments) for supported currencies and configuration.
</details>
---
<details>
<summary>How do I test my integration before going live?</summary>
<br/>
Use the UAT environment with [test card details](/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.
</details>