How to Accept Payments via Boleto in WooCommerce?

Is Brazil’s most traditional cash payment method fading into history, or still relevant in the digital age?

While Brazil embraces Pix, an instant money transfer system introduced by the Banco Central do Brasil (Central Bank of Brazil), there’s still a corner of the market where Boletos quietly hold their ground. Older consumers continue to prefer this method for its perceived reliability and familiarity.

Meanwhile, younger users without access to conventional banking often use Boleto Bancario for online purchases and B2B transactions. This dual appeal across demographics keeps payments via Boleto from becoming obsolete, even as payment preferences shift.

So, what is a Boleto? Without diving too deep just yet, think of it as a standardized Brazilian payment slip. It allows customers to pay cash through banks, ATMs, and other channels, often without needing a bank account. While Pix has surged in popularity due to its instant payments, Boletos remain a recognizable and accessible option.

Want to enable WooCommerce Boleto payments? This guide is crafted for those still looking to accept Boletos in WooCommerce.

Boleto Bancário, often shortened to Boleto, is a standardized payment method regulated by the Banco Central do Brasil (Central Bank of Brazil). Translated literally as “bank slip,” it is a document that allows customers to complete purchases either online or offline, without requiring a credit card or even a bank account in some cases.

Here’s how it works: At checkout, customers who choose the Boleto payment method receive a Boleto Voucher. This voucher can be paid at various physical locations, such as banks, ATMs, post offices, and even some supermarkets, as long as it’s within the expiry date, typically 3 to 15 days from the purchase date. Customers can also complete the payment using online banking apps.

Payment confirmation takes around 1 to 3 business days, after which the merchant is credited.

Why Use Boletos Still?

Despite the widespread adoption of Pix payments in Brazil’s payment ecosystem, Boletos continue to serve a distinct purpose. They remain a preferred choice for consumers who are either unbanked or hesitant to use digital wallets.

Plus, Boletos are commonly used in invoicing scenarios and B2B transactions where familiarity and traceability are valued. For merchants, they offer an advantage: the absence of chargebacks, which reduces the risk of transaction disputes.

We’ve already taken a brief look at how payments via Boleto operate, but now let’s explore the process in more detail to better understand what happens behind the scenes from Boleto Voucher generation to settlement.

➞ Generating the Boleto Voucher: When a customer selects Boleto as their payment method during checkout and enters their details, the merchant’s system generates a Boleto voucher. This voucher contains:

• A barcode or serial number
• Payment amount
• Customer information
• Issuing bank code
• An expiration date

The voucher can be issued digitally or printed and is valid for payment at various channels across Brazil.

➞ Payment terms and conditions: Customers can pay Boletos offline via banks, ATMs, post offices, lottery agents, or participating supermarkets. Boleto payments can also be made digitally via internet banking or banking apps by scanning the barcode or entering the serial number.

Payments must be completed before the expiration date, usually ranging from 3 to 15 days. After that, the transaction becomes invalid unless reissued with updated terms.

➞ Confirmation and settlement: Once the Boleto payment is made, the confirmation takes 1 to 3 business days. Once confirmed, the amount will be credited to the WooCommerce store owner’s account.

This delay makes Boleto less appealing for time-sensitive purchases, but acceptable for customers and businesses prioritizing offline options or cash-based transactions.

This sets the foundation for the next section, where we explore how to implement Boleto payments in WooCommerce. Let’s move from understanding how Boletos function to actually adding them to your WooCommerce store.

Now that we’ve covered what Boleto is and how they function, let’s walk through the actual setup process to add Boleto to your WooCommerce checkout. This section is for WooCommerce store owners who want to offer Boleto as a payment method.

Adding Boleto to your WooCommerce store is easy when you use the Stripe payment gateway. Stripe supports Boleto out of the box, allowing you to accept real-time Boleto bank transfers. We’ll guide you through the process, from installing the Stripe plugin to enabling Boleto payment for your customers. 

The plugin doesn’t just enable Boleto payment; it also lets you accept credit/debit cards, Google Pay, Alipay, and over 20 other payment methods within your WooCommerce store. You can also enable Stripe Checkout, a prebuilt payment page hosted by Stripe to deliver a fast, secure, and conversion-optimized checkout experience.

Let’s walk through the process and how you can configure Boleto payment method using the free plugin in WooCommerce step by step.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Stripe Plugin for WooCommerce

Go to your WordPress dashboard,

• Navigate to Plugins > Add Plugin, and search for “Stripe Payment Plugin for WooCommerce”. 
• Install and activate the plugin developed by WebToffee.

Step 2: Connect Your Store to Stripe

Once activated, go to WebToffee Stripe in the WordPress dashboard and click on Connect to Stripe.

Follow the on-screen steps to link your WooCommerce store to your Stripe account. If you don’t have a Stripe account yet, you can register one during this process.

Once connected, you’ll see a screen (like the one shown below), indicating that your store is successfully linked. Keep in mind, you’re in test mode. You can click Switch to live mode at any time from the top right.

Once connected, enabling Boleto in WooCommerce becomes easy and just a few clicks away.

Step 3: Enable the Boleto Payment in WooCommerce

Next, in the WebToffee Stripe dashboard, go to Local Gateways and click on Boleto to enable WooCommerce Boleto.

• Check the checkbox to enable Boleto.
• Optionally, edit the title, description, and button text that will appear to your customers during checkout.
• Click Save changes to update the WooCommerce Stripe settings.

That’s it! Setting up Boleto payments in WooCommerce is as easy as that. Now, let’s see how WooCommerce Boleto payment is activated in your store.

Step 4: Test the Boleto Payment Flow

This is an optional but recommended step when setting up different payment methods in WooCommerce.

Before going live, switch your Stripe account to “Test Mode” and simulate a Boleto payment. This ensures everything works smoothly before accepting real payments.

Step 5: Go Live and Accept WooCommerce Boleto Payments

Once you’ve confirmed everything is working, switch back to “Live Mode” and you’re ready to start accepting Boleto payment in WooCommerce. Customers will see Boleto as a payment option at checkout.

Upon selection, they will be asked to enter their CPF (Cadastro de Pessoa Física) number. A CPF is a personal taxpayer identification number assigned to individuals in Brazil, including both Brazilian citizens and resident foreigners who are required to pay taxes.

By following these steps, you can easily set up WooCommerce Boleto payments and offer more flexibility to your users.

That’s all it takes to set up Boleto in WooCommerce! Once live, your store will be equipped to accept one of Brazil’s most popular payment methods, opening up new opportunities for local conversions and customer trust.

While Boletos might not be the flashiest payment option, they still provide meaningful value, especially when integrated into WooCommerce. Rather than promoting them as essential, it’s more accurate to view Boletos as a practical addition for businesses.

Security and trust factors: Boletos are considered secure since they don’t require sharing sensitive banking information during checkout. They also reduce the risk of fraud and chargebacks, particularly when paid in cash, making them a lower-risk option for merchants.

Trust among local consumers: Despite the rise of Pix money transfers, many Brazilian customers still recognize and trust the Boleto format. Offering it as an option in WooCommerce allows businesses to appeal to consumers who appreciate payment methods they’re already familiar with.

Broader payment flexibility: By including Boletos alongside other payment methods in your WooCommerce checkout, you expand your reach. Customers get the freedom to choose how they pay, which can improve satisfaction and reduce cart abandonment.

By now, you’ve gained a clearer understanding of what Boletos are, how they work, and why some customers still prefer using them, even in a payment environment increasingly dominated by instant payment systems like Pix.

While not the most modern option, Boletos remain a great addition to your WooCommerce store to serve a broader range of Brazilian customers.

Plus, integrating Boleto payments using the Stripe WooCommerce plugin is a straightforward process that requires just a few configuration steps. And though confirmation may take a couple of days, the benefit lies in its simplicity, trust factor, and accessibility for users.

That brings us to the end of this guide to accepting payments via Boleto in a WooCommerce store. Thanks for following along! We hope you found this article helpful. Let us know in the comments what you think or if there’s anything else you’d like to explore.