The checkout guide

The UK checkout, store by store

Eight stores sell almost every famous game in Britain, and each one runs its own checkout with its own rules. This guide lays them side by side: what they accept, how their wallets and gift cards behave, and how you get money back.

Last checked 25 September 2026

The payment matrix

Yes means the store lists the method for UK accounts. Some means it appears for some accounts or only in some parts of the store. Each store guide explains the exceptions.

Who takes what: UK accounts, 25 September 2026
Method	Steam	PS Store	Xbox Store	Nintendo eShop	Epic	GOG	Battle.net	EA app
Debit card	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Credit card	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
American Express	No	Yes	Some	No	Some	Some	Yes	Some
PayPal	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Apple Pay	No	Yes	No	No	Some	Some	Some	Some
Google Pay	No	No	No	No	Some	Some	Some	No
paysafecard	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	Some	Yes	Some
Klarna / pay later	Yes	No	Some	No	Some	Some	Some	No
Phone bill	No	Yes	Yes	No	Some	No	No	No
Bank transfer	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Some
Store gift card	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes

Store by store

Open a store for its full rules: payment methods, gift cards, wallet limits, refunds, pre-orders and the games from our board it sells.

SteamCards, PayPal, paysafecard, Klarna and bank payment. No Apple Pay or Google Pay.14 days, under 2 hours played PlayStation StoreCards incl. Amex, PayPal, Apple Pay, paysafecard, phone bill. No refunds after download.14 days, if not downloaded Xbox and Microsoft StoreCards, PayPal, phone bill on EE, O2, Three and Vodafone. Balance only via gift cards.Usually 14 days, little play Nintendo eShopVisa, Mastercard, Maestro, PayPal (18+) and eShop Cards. No refunds for a change of mind.No refunds once bought Epic Games StoreCards and PayPal; balance via Fortnite gift cards. Other methods shown at checkout.14 days, under 2 hours GOGCards and PayPal; other methods by location. 30-day refunds, even after play.30 days, even if played Battle.netCards incl. Amex, PayPal, paysafecard, Balance cards. Refunds within 14 days.14 days, under 2 hours EA appCards, PayPal, EA Wallet via EA gift cards. Refund within 24 h of first launch.24 h after first launch

Guides

Payment methodsCards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, gift cards, paysafecard and pay-later: what each protects.Refund windowsEvery store's refund rule side by side: games, DLC, in-game items and pre-orders.SubscriptionsGame Pass, PS Plus, Nintendo Switch Online, EA Play and Ubisoft+ in pounds.Your rightsSurcharge ban, Section 75, chargeback, the Consumer Rights Act and what is coming in 2027.Spend limitsMonthly caps and purchase approvals on every major platform, step by step.Checkout routerPick a platform and a way to pay; see which games you can buy and where.

Three questions to ask before you pay

Where will I play? Your platform decides the store in most cases. On PC you usually have a choice, and the same game can differ by several pounds between Steam, Epic, GOG and a publisher's own launcher.
How do I want to pay? A card keeps chargeback open, and a credit card adds Section 75 for single items over £100. Gift cards and store wallets are handy for budgeting but move the purchase further from those protections.
Can I undo it? Refund rules range from generous (GOG) to almost none (Nintendo, once the download starts). If you are unsure about a game, buy it where the exit is easiest.

Why a store wallet deserves a second thought

Topping up a Steam Wallet, a PlayStation wallet or a Battle.net Balance is convenient, and some stores send refunds to the wallet rather than the card. That money usually cannot be moved back out to a bank. Treat a wallet top-up as spent the moment you make it, and keep the amount small.

Nothing on this page is financial or legal advice. It is a summary of each store's published rules and of UK consumer law, checked on 25 September 2026.