Online payments for your site: card, SINPE Móvil and PayPal
Take payments on your site by card (Tilopay), SINPE Móvil, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay, with every payment confirmed automatically. From ₡250,000 + VAT.
Taking payments online in Costa Rica has its quirks: customers pay by card, by SINPE Móvil (the local instant bank transfer) or by PayPal, in colones or in dollars, and each method confirms the payment differently. If you're a foreign business selling to Costa Ricans, or a Costa Rican business selling abroad, the right mix matters. We connect payments to your site, store, booking system or calculator, and leave them confirming themselves.
Deposits for our own projects are paid this way: by card through Tilopay, by PayPal or by SINPE Móvil, from the pricing calculator.
Payment methods
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| Card (Tilopay) | Visa, Mastercard and American Express on Tilopay's secure page; the money goes to your bank account |
| Apple Pay and Google Pay | One-tap payment from a phone, through Tilopay, if your account has it enabled |
| SINPE Móvil | The customer pays your number with the order code; you confirm the receipt in the dashboard |
| PayPal | For customers abroad; charges in US dollars at the day's rate |
What's included
- Automatic confirmation: the site asks the processor whether the payment was approved, with the exact amount and currency, before marking the order as paid. A tampered link can't "pay".
- No double charges: if the customer reloads the page or tries again, the order is marked paid only once.
- Retries: if a card is declined, the customer can try again or switch methods without redoing the order.
- Confirmation emails for the customer and for you, with the payment method.
- An orders dashboard with each payment's status and the SINPE Móvil confirmation.
- Clear tax and currency: prices with VAT broken down, and conversion to dollars only when the method requires it.
- Your money, in your account: the Tilopay and PayPal accounts are in your company's name; we never see card details.
How we work
- Free 30-minute video call to decide what you charge, in which currency and through which methods.
- Account opening: we guide you through opening your Tilopay or PayPal account in your company's name.
- Integration on your site, tested in each processor's test mode.
- A small real payment to verify, refunded afterwards, before payments open to the public.
- Handover with the orders dashboard and a guide to refunds.
Pricing
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Card, SINPE Móvil and PayPal payments on a site or system | from ₡250,000 + VAT |
| Subscriptions or recurring payments | quoted (+ VAT) |
| A full online store with payments | see the web design service |
Tilopay's and PayPal's fees are charged by each processor directly and aren't included.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Costa Rican company to take card payments?
Tilopay asks for your business's documents to open the account, and the requirements change depending on whether you invoice as an individual or as a company. We explain it in the call so you apply for the right account from the start.
Why is SINPE Móvil confirmed by hand?
Because SINPE Móvil doesn't notify websites when a payment arrives. The customer sends you the receipt and you confirm it in the dashboard with one click; the customer gets the confirmation by email.
Can I charge in dollars?
Yes. PayPal charges in dollars, and cards can be charged in colones or dollars depending on your Tilopay account.
