Stripe is a widely-used online payment platform known for its flexibility and easy integration, enabling businesses to accept payments through various channels.
In principle, Stripe allows seamless online payments and global customer reach. However, it can sometimes present challenges, such as frozen accounts (even those with funds), security issues, or fraud involving third parties.
Although Stripe is a popular payment solution, some businesses may seek alternatives with more suitable features or terms.
How to determine which Stripe alternative is best for your business?
Why consider an alternative to Stripe?
While Stripe is a common solution, some businesses opt for alternatives to obtain:
✅ Better transaction fees
✅ Specific features
✅ A geographical coverage better suited to their clientele.
For instance, solutions like PayPal, Square, or Payment.net offer similar services with distinct advantages.
Key criteria for choosing a Stripe alternative
When evaluating alternatives to Stripe, it’s important to consider the following criteria:
📌 Ease of integration: The solution should easily integrate with
your existing infrastructure, featuring well-documented APIs and
responsive technical support.
📌 Transaction fees: Compare the fees charged by each solution, considering both fixed and variable costs, as well as any hidden fees.
📌 Security: Ensure the solution complies with strict security standards, such as PCI-DSS, and provides fraud prevention mechanisms.
📌 Payment options: The solution should support a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, digital wallets, and bank transfers.
📌 Customer support: Responsive and knowledgeable customer support is essential to quickly resolve any issues.
The best Stripe alternatives for e-commerce businesses
For e-commerce businesses, several solutions stand out for their features, fees, and ease of integration. Here are some of the main alternatives to Stripe:
PayPal: The best Stripe alternative for easy e-commerce integration
PayPal is likely the most popular alternative to Stripe for online payments.
With its extensive experience, PayPal remains a key reference for online payments, for both individuals and businesses. Overall, PayPal allows you to accept online payments in various ways:
✅ It offers a simple payment gateway service that allows you to create a hosted payment page.
✅ It provides a complete solution to customize your payment form.
Square: The best overall Stripe alternative
Square is a comprehensive payment platform ideal for small businesses. With its iOS and Android-compatible point-of-sale app, merchants can easily manage transactions, offering an accessible solution for both physical and online stores.
Square provides integrated tools for real-time sales and inventory tracking, enabling businesses to monitor performance and manage stock efficiently.
Additionally, Square offers various receipt options, including email, and accepts multiple payment methods, providing appreciated flexibility for customers.
Lastly, Square offers detailed reporting tools, allowing businesses to analyze their financial performance and make informed decisions for growth.
Payment.net: The complete solution for merchants
Payment.net stands out as an ideal payment gateway for e-commerce merchants seeking an all-in-one solution.
It enables smooth billing operations management, supporting global payments with integrated tax compliance. Merchants can receive payments within just 24 hours, ensuring continuous cash flow.
With competitive startup fees at 1% and 24/7 support, Payment.net offers flexible integration into existing systems, regardless of complexity, while ensuring effective payment and tax management.
Payment.net is an ideal solution for merchants looking to streamline transactions, maintain fluid cash flow, and benefit from international payment management with constant support and easy setup.
Stripe alternatives for recurring payments and SaaS
For businesses relying on subscription models or software-as-a-service (SaaS), several Stripe alternatives excel in features tailored to recurring payments.
Chargebee: Dedicated to subscription management
Chargebee allows complete automation of billing processes, from payment tracking to managing renewals and cancellations.
The tool also offers advanced features like tax management, prorated billing, and integration with CRMs and financial tools. It’s particularly appreciated for its scalability and ability to handle complex pricing models.
However, Chargebee is not a payment processor itself, meaning it must be used in conjunction with a payment gateway like Stripe, PayPal, or GoCardless to carry out transactions.
Braintree: A PayPal subsidiary
Braintree offers a flexible solution that supports recurring payments, ideal for SaaS businesses.
With global coverage, Braintree allows you to manage subscriptions on various devices and offers a variety of payment methods. Its robust API enables customized integration based on the specific needs of each business.
Security is another strength, with advanced fraud protection tools and PCI compliance. Braintree simplifies subscription management while providing global support and flexibility that rivals Stripe.
Stripe alternatives with better international coverage
For businesses operating globally, managing international payments is crucial for facilitating transactions with customers across multiple countries.
Here are some Stripe alternatives that stand out for their international coverage and services tailored to global businesses.
Payoneer: International payment solution
Payoneer is well-suited to businesses receiving payments on multiple devices. It offers a cross-border banking infrastructure, allowing businesses to invoice and receive payments in over 150 currencies, with lower fees compared to traditional solutions.
One of Payoneer’s strengths is the ability for users to open virtual accounts in local currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.), making international transactions easier while avoiding high banking fees associated with international transfers.
Additionally, Payoneer offers debit cards, local bank transfers, and solutions tailored to freelancers and marketplaces.
Payment.net
Payment.net stands out as a comprehensive payment gateway for international businesses. It offers a solution tailored to merchants wishing to manage global transactions while complying with local tax and legal regulations.
With Payment.net, businesses can receive payments on various devices and benefit from fast transfers within 24 hours, ensuring smooth cash flow management.
The platform supports global tax compliance, allowing businesses to focus on international expansion without worrying about the complexities of local regulations.
Worldpay: International payment solutions
Worldpay offers coverage in over 140 countries and accepts more than 120 currencies. It is particularly popular among large businesses with complex global payment needs.
Worldpay allows businesses to process different payment methods, including credit cards, e-wallets, and mobile payments, providing great flexibility to meet customer preferences in different countries.
Additionally, it offers:
✔️Advanced fraud prevention tools
✔️ Risk management
✔️ Easy integration with e-commerce platforms
Find the best payment solution for your business
Choosing the right payment solution is essential to support your business’s growth. While Stripe remains a popular option due to its flexibility, it’s important to explore other alternatives based on your specific needs.
Depending on your business, PayPal, Square, Payment.net, or Payoneer may prove to be more suitable options.
By carefully evaluating fees, payment options, security, and customer support, you’ll be able to choose the solution that maximizes the efficiency of your transactions while minimizing risks and complications.
