Stripe has rapidly become a global powerhouse, processing billions of dollars in payments for businesses of all sizes, by providing developer-friendly APIs, out-of-the-box integrations for everything from online marketplaces to subscription billing, and world-class fraud and security systems. Stripe is one of the most common solutions for startups and even tech giants for processing transactions, subscriptions, and marketplace payments. Popularity is mainly due to its versatility, stunning infrastructure, and capability to scale with the growing business.
On the other hand, Stripe is not the right solution for all companies. For some businesses, especially as they grow, this price structure can oftentimes prove expensive. Some struggle with customer service, or find out that Stripe is unavailable in their country or they don’t accept their preferred payment methods. For organizations with bespoke requirements like with Stripe, such as high-risk companies, compliance requirements or multi-currency operations, Stripe’s one-size-fits-most approach falls short.
This is where Stripe alternatives find their way in. Selecting the best payment gateway is very necessary depending on your business model, size, industry and geo location. Your perfect solution will match your growth plan, have the developed tech, and be preferred by your customers.
Here is the list of top 10 Stripe competitors compared in this blog with their major features, pricing and use case. No matter if you’re a small eCommerce shop or a global SaaS provider, this guide finds the payment solution that’s right for you.
Why Consider Stripe Competitors?
Stripe is a great option when it comes to taking payments online, but it does have its cons. It is not long before nearly all businesses discover that Stripe is not the perfect match for them. Stripe alternatives would be acceptable for many reasons, including location, pricing, or lack of customization. Now let us understand some important factors.
Limited International Coverage
Although Stripe is present in more than 46 countries, which is huge, it definitely still does not fully cover the whole world. For businesses located in regions not supported, Stripe just does not fit the bill. Indeed, given that certain local payment methods may not be available within supported countries, it makes it less ideal in addressing regional customer preferences.
Stripe might support payments types such as Boleto (Brazil) or iDEAL (Netherlands) but may not be in the configuration you’re using. So this indicates that businesses targeting specific international markets may require a gateway that either gives more wide local payment options or is more deeply integrated with the local banking infrastructure.
Complex Pricing Structure
Stripe has a complex pricing system that can be confusing, especially when your business is growing. The basic US price of 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction feels straightforward. But, add in costs for currency conversions, foreign cards and cross-border fees, and the costs can add up quickly.
Stripe also has additional fees for more sophisticated tools including:
- Radar for fraud protection
- Connect — for marketplaces and platforms
- Charge for connection fee for subscriptions
Although these add-on services are helpful, they can get costly for businesses that rely on full-stack payment functionality. These fees have the potential to erode profits for companies with low margins, or performing a high volume of transactions.
Account Holds and Risk Management
Stripe has a reputation for being rigorous in its monitoring of risk and detection of fraud. While these are designed to protect users, they result in unexpected account suspension, payout delays, and in some cases, outright termination with little notice.
Stripe wont take any high-risk business, like supplements, adult services, or products that contain CBD. Some may be marked for odd conduct and they will certainly be business procedure disrupted. This can be a huge disadvantage for businesses that require stability and predictable dividend payments.
If your business is in a grey or high-risk category, then you will need a provider that has more flexible risk assessment policies or that offers dedicated high-risk support.
Customization Limitations
Stripe provides customizable APIs, but its level of customization is somewhat limited for users who are building complex or even branded checkout experiences. For example:
- Stripe Checkout provides a hosted solution but limits UI flexibility
- Customizing fraud workflows or dispute handling can be tricky
- Integrating certain third-party tools requires workarounds
Other developers want more control over the payment experience, such as the ability to build completely custom interfaces, tokenization flows, or routing payments by country. In those situations, the ecosystem that Stripe orchestrates can seem rather constraining.
Criteria for Evaluating Stripe Competitors
Right, so by the way, just a quick thing, based on your business, maybe you have different needs so to evaluate payment providers is critical depending on what you have. So when looking for an alternative to Stripe, be sure not to give up your stronger points because Stripe is not a clear match. Each gateway will then come with varying features, pricing, and support. Here are the main criteria you should review to compare Stripe competition.
Payment Methods Supported
Various types of businesses require different types of payment methods. Stripe works with the big cards and wallets, but some Stripe competitors could offer more: ACH transfers, crypto, BNPL, Alipay, Sofort, iDEAL. For global customers, conversion rates can be vastly improved by providing types of payments that customers are familiar with.
Global Reach
Your payment gateway should match your geographic footprint. If you sell globally, consider what countries and currencies are available. Search for providers who offer multi-currency support, localized payment experiences and currency conversion capabilities. This will make things easy for your customers, as well as for you.
Developer Friendliness
Well, if you are a tech-savvy business, an easy integration might be a bit of a deal maker. While Stripe is a developer-first company (as it must be), there are others alternatives that provide similar APIs and SDKs, plus no-code options for the non-technical stakeholders. Seek good docs, sandboxes and multifaceted language support to aid integration.
Cost Transparency
Transparent pricing is essential to avoid budget surprises. Analyze the transaction fees, monthly fees and hidden fees such as chargeback fees, currency conversion fees, and API usage limits etc transparency in charging. There are those that provide a flat-rate and some that utilize a variable pricing model (depending on the volume or region).
Customer Support
One of the major things that will determine if you experience with a payment processor will be a good or bad one is its customer support. Look for 24/7 availability, response time and access to experts. Responsive support is important to ensure that the business does not come to a halt whether it be onboarding or urgent issue resolution.
Top 10 Stripe Competitors and Alternatives
When Stripe doesn’t align with your business needs—be it cost, features, or geography—there are several capable alternatives. Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 Stripe competitors, each offering unique advantages for different types of businesses.
1. PayPal
PayPal is a globally recognized name in online payments, trusted by millions of users and businesses.
- Great for SMBs, eCommerce, and marketplaces
- Offers buyer and seller protection, plus robust dispute resolution
- Supports PayPal wallets, cards, and other local methods
- Higher fees, especially for cross-border transactions
Best for: Businesses wanting brand trust and a plug-and-play solution.
2. Square
Square is an ideal choice for brick-and-mortar businesses and those selling both online and offline.
- Combines POS systems with online payments
- Works well for restaurants, retail, and mobile vendors
- Easy setup with flat-rate pricing
- Limited to select countries compared to Stripe
Best for: Physical businesses needing integrated sales and payment tools.
3. Braintree (A PayPal Service)
Next on the list of Stripe Competitors is Braintree, that offers a powerful developer-friendly platform for mobile and web payments.
- Supports cards, PayPal, Venmo, wallets, and local methods
- Advanced fraud tools and recurring billing
- Highly customizable APIs
- Slightly more complex to implement than Stripe
Best for: SaaS businesses and marketplaces needing flexibility.
4. Adyen
Adyen is a premium solution for enterprise-level businesses with global operations.
- Supports in-store and online payments
- Transparent Interchange++ pricing
- Advanced reporting, analytics, and tokenization
- Best suited for high-volume merchants
Best for: Global brands and companies with enterprise-level needs.
5. Authorize.net (A Visa Solution)
A veteran in payment processing, Authorize.net offers stability and a wide range of features.
- Great for recurring billing and fraud detection
- Gateway and monthly fees apply
- User interface is dated and less intuitive
Best for: Traditional merchants and established businesses.
6. 2Checkout (now Verifone)
2Checkout is geared toward digital products, SaaS, and global sales, making it one of the best Stripe Competitors.
- Includes global tax compliance and localized payment options
- Supports subscriptions and one-time payments
- UI and pricing may seem complex
Best for: SaaS and digital sellers targeting global markets.
7. Razorpay (for Indian Businesses)
Razorpay is built for businesses in India and offers deep local integration.
- Supports UPI, EMI, cards, wallets, and net banking
- Easily integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and more
- Primarily focused on India
Best for: Indian startups, SMBs, and enterprise businesses.
8. Worldpay (FIS Global)
Worldpay is a go-to for enterprise and omnichannel businesses.
- Offers tokenization, analytics, and multi-channel support
- Requires contracts, may have high fees
- Less intuitive for developers
Best for: Large enterprises with global infrastructure.
9. Checkout.com
A modern, API-first payment platform popular in EMEA and APAC.
- Strong for international scalability
- Excellent developer tools and fraud prevention
- Requires development expertise and higher volume
Best for: Scaling digital businesses across multiple continents.
10. Klarna (Buy Now, Pay Later)
Klarna isn’t a Stripe replacement, but a great add-on for eCommerce.
- Specializes in BNPL and installment payments
- Boosts conversions and AOV for retail businesses
- Limited payment processing features outside BNPL
Best for: eCommerce brands in fashion, electronics, or lifestyle niches.
How to Choose the Right Stripe Alternative for Your Business?
Choosing amongst the Stripe Competitors starts with understanding your business’s unique needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution—what works for a SaaS startup may not work for a brick-and-mortar retailer.
Define Your Needs
First, consider how and where you accept payments. Are you an online-only store, or do you also need in-store POS systems? Do you handle one-time purchases, or rely heavily on subscriptions and recurring billing? If you operate in a high-risk industry, some providers may be more lenient or offer tailored fraud protection.
Consider Your Geographic Reach
Are you selling locally or globally? Some Stripe alternatives offer better international coverage, multi-currency support, and access to local payment methods like iDEAL, UPI, or Sofort. If you’re expanding internationally, look for providers with strong global infrastructure.
Look at Integration Options
Ease of integration matters—especially for startups or small teams. Some platforms offer no-code solutions or plug-ins for tools like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. Others provide powerful custom APIs for businesses with in-house developers.
Don’t Forget About Support & Compliance
Make sure the provider is PCI DSS compliant and offers fraud protection tools. Also, check their customer support hours and availability—especially if you operate across different time zones.
By evaluating these factors, you can confidently pick a payment provider that aligns with your goals, audience, and operational model.
Conclusion
Stripe is undoubtedly a powerful and flexible payment platform—but it’s not the only option. Whether you’re a startup looking for simple integration, a global enterprise needing advanced features, or a high-risk business facing account restrictions, there are several Stripe alternatives worth exploring.
From PayPal and Square to Adyen, Braintree, and Checkout.com, each provider offers distinct features tailored to specific business models and regions. By considering factors like your business size, payment needs, geographic reach, and integration capabilities, you can choose from the Stripe Competitors and find the right payment gateway that best aligns with your growth strategy.
Ultimately, the right payment processor not only reduces friction at checkout but also supports long-term scalability and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best Stripe alternative for small businesses?
Square and PayPal are great for small businesses due to easy setup and flat-rate pricing. - Which Stripe competitor is best for global payments?
Adyen and Checkout.com support extensive international coverage and local payment methods. - Are there better options than Stripe for high-risk industries?
Yes, providers like Authorize.net or 2Checkout may be more accommodating to high-risk sectors. - What’s the most developer-friendly alternative to Stripe?
Braintree and Checkout.com offer robust APIs and developer tools for custom integrations. - Can I use multiple payment gateways together?
Yes, many businesses use multiple providers to offer flexibility and reduce processing risks.