Stripe is a payment processor specializing in online sales, but it’s not necessarily the best payment processing company for every small business. NerdWallet’s Stripe review highlights its simple pricing structure, ability to accept many types of payments and customizability. However, it can be expensive, complicated and overly focused on online payments for some merchants. Stripe alternatives range from full-service merchant account providers to simple payment gateway providers.
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Here are nine Stripe competitors that may be a better fit for your business.
Best Stripe Competitors for Small Businesses
Best Stripe Competitors for Small Businesses
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Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Offers free POS software.
- Offers volume-based discounts automatically.
- No termination fees, long-term contracts or PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Deposits are available within two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Offers free POS software.
- Offers volume-based discounts automatically.
- No termination fees, long-term contracts or PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Deposits are available within two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
Monthly fee
$99.00
and up.
Learn more
on Stax's website
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Unique add-on features, like custom branding.
- No long-term contracts.
- Compatible with POS system providers, such as Clover.
- No PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Not ideal for businesses with low-volume sales.
- Pricing isn't as transparent as competitors.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
Stax
Best for Businesses with high transaction volumes
Monthly fee
$99.00
and up.
Learn more
on Stax's website
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Unique add-on features, like custom branding.
- No long-term contracts.
- Compatible with POS system providers, such as Clover.
- No PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Not ideal for businesses with low-volume sales.
- Pricing isn't as transparent as competitors.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
Square Payments Processing
Best for In-person transactions
Monthly fee
$0.00
Learn more
on Square's website
Pros
- Simple, transparent prices.
- Diverse hardware lineup.
- Long list of features.
Cons
- More specialized POS systems exist.
- Doesn't run on Windows desktop or tablet.
Square Payments Processing
Best for In-person transactions
Monthly fee
$0.00
Learn more
on Square's website
Pros
- Simple, transparent prices.
- Diverse hardware lineup.
- Long list of features.
Cons
- More specialized POS systems exist.
- Doesn't run on Windows desktop or tablet.
Monthly fee
$39.00
Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan.
Learn more
on Shopify's website
Pros
- Hundreds of e-commerce website templates available.
- Can customize checkout page.
- Higher-tier plans offer less expensive online processing rates (as low as 2.5% plus 30 cents).
- No long-term contracts.
Cons
- E-commerce plan with monthly fee is required to use Shopify Payments.
- Monthly POS subscription costs can be expensive.
Shopify Payments
Best for Online website builder
Monthly fee
$39.00
Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan.
Learn more
on Shopify's website
Pros
- Hundreds of e-commerce website templates available.
- Can customize checkout page.
- Higher-tier plans offer less expensive online processing rates (as low as 2.5% plus 30 cents).
- No long-term contracts.
Cons
- E-commerce plan with monthly fee is required to use Shopify Payments.
- Monthly POS subscription costs can be expensive.
Authorize.net
Best for Payment gateway only
Payment processing fees
2.9% + $0.30
for All-in-One option.
Monthly fee
$25.00
Pros
- You can use Authorize.net with a wide range of merchant account providers.
- Transparent, flat-rate pricing.
- No contracts or early termination fees.
- 24/7 customer support through phone, chat or online form.
Cons
- You’ll pay a $25 monthly fee regardless of usage.
- Authorize.net doesn’t have a robust point-of-sale system for in-person transactions.
- Signing up directly through Authorize.net may be more expensive than going through your merchant services provider.
- Merchant account isn’t directly with Authorize.net.
Authorize.net
Best for Payment gateway only
Payment processing fees
2.9% + $0.30
for All-in-One option.
Monthly fee
$25.00
Pros
- You can use Authorize.net with a wide range of merchant account providers.
- Transparent, flat-rate pricing.
- No contracts or early termination fees.
- 24/7 customer support through phone, chat or online form.
Cons
- You’ll pay a $25 monthly fee regardless of usage.
- Authorize.net doesn’t have a robust point-of-sale system for in-person transactions.
- Signing up directly through Authorize.net may be more expensive than going through your merchant services provider.
- Merchant account isn’t directly with Authorize.net.
Pros
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Accepts a variety of payment types, including Venmo and PayPal payments.
- Inexpensive card reader with a keypad, plus built-in payment processing and a free mobile app lets you quickly accept in-person payments on the go.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
Pros
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Accepts a variety of payment types, including Venmo and PayPal payments.
- Inexpensive card reader with a keypad, plus built-in payment processing and a free mobile app lets you quickly accept in-person payments on the go.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
Payment processing fees
0.6% + $0.13
Plus interchange for Visa and Mastercard; 3.3% + $0.23 for AmEx.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Pros
- No monthly subscription or termination fees.
- Consolidate data across multiple online and in-person sales channels.
- Global payment options available.
Cons
- Pricing models differ by card, which can be confusing.
- No accounting integrations.
- Must give at least two months’ notice before terminating contract.
- Must reach out for hardware costs.
Adyen
Best for Large omnichannel businesses
Payment processing fees
0.6% + $0.13
Plus interchange for Visa and Mastercard; 3.3% + $0.23 for AmEx.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Pros
- No monthly subscription or termination fees.
- Consolidate data across multiple online and in-person sales channels.
- Global payment options available.
Cons
- Pricing models differ by card, which can be confusing.
- No accounting integrations.
- Must give at least two months’ notice before terminating contract.
- Must reach out for hardware costs.
WePay
Best for Chase business account holders
Payment processing fees
2.9% + $0.25
Monthly fee
$0.00
Pros
- Chase business customers benefit from same-day deposits.
- Customizability.
Cons
- Must use a WePay platform partner to sign up for WePay account.
- Platform partners may add markup fees.
WePay
Best for Chase business account holders
Payment processing fees
2.9% + $0.25
Monthly fee
$0.00
Pros
- Chase business customers benefit from same-day deposits.
- Customizability.
Cons
- Must use a WePay platform partner to sign up for WePay account.
- Platform partners may add markup fees.
Payment processing fees
2.89% + $0.29
credit & debit cards and digital wallets; 3.49% + 49¢ Venmo (U.S. only).
Monthly fee
$0.00
Pros
- No contracts or early termination fees.
- No monthly subscription costs or PCI compliance fees.
- Accepts PayPal and Venmo in addition to credit and debit cards.
- Simple checkout page that looks good on web and mobile.
Cons
- Requires web development.
- Not suited for brick and mortar stores.
PayPal Braintree
Best for Payment gateway plus merchant account
Payment processing fees
2.89% + $0.29
credit & debit cards and digital wallets; 3.49% + 49¢ Venmo (U.S. only).
Monthly fee
$0.00
Pros
- No contracts or early termination fees.
- No monthly subscription costs or PCI compliance fees.
- Accepts PayPal and Venmo in addition to credit and debit cards.
- Simple checkout page that looks good on web and mobile.
Cons
- Requires web development.
- Not suited for brick and mortar stores.
Square
Best for in-person transactions
Why we like it: Square provides payment processing as well as point-of-sale, or POS, system options that can accommodate a variety of small businesses. It offers free POS software, a free magstripe reader and multiple hardware options. Plus, its in-person transaction fees are lower than Stripe’s. Square also offers Tap to Pay on iPhone, which lets merchants accept card payments using only an iPhone with the Square POS app. Square has a vast product suite that extends beyond POS and into e-commerce, online payments, invoicing and more. Read our full Square review.
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium and Square Restaurants Plus plans.
- $89 for Square Retail Plus plan.
- $165 for Square Restaurant Premium plan.
- Custom pricing for Square Retail plan.
- 2.6% plus 15 cents for in-person transactions with all free plans.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions with paid restaurant plans.
- 2.5% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions with paid retail and appointments plans.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents for invoices.
- $0 for Square magstripe-only card reader ($10 for each additional reader) or if using Tap to Pay for iPhone (iPhone not included).
- $59 for Square Reader contactless and chip card reader.
- $149 for Square Stand iPad POS or Square Stand Mount (iPad not included; monthly financing available).
- $149 for Square Kiosk for self-serve ordering.
- $299 for Square Terminal mobile card reader with built-in printer (monthly financing available).
- $399 for Square Handheld portable POS system with built-in barcode scanner (monthly financing available).
- $799 for Square Register two-screen system (monthly financing available).
PayPal Zettle
Best for brick-and-mortar businesses expanding online
Why we like it: For accepting in-person payments, PayPal Zettle is more approachable and simpler to implement than Stripe. But for online payments, PayPal also offers a simple payment gateway service that gives you the ability to create a hosted checkout page. If you already have a dedicated merchant account and want to use it for online payments, PayPal could be a good choice compared with Stripe. Read our full PayPal Zettle review.
$0.
- 2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person and QR code transactions.
- 3.49% plus 9 cents for manual-entry card transactions.
- 2.99% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with card).
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with PayPal).
- $29 for first card reader; additional readers cost $79. Price includes USB cable.
- $199 for terminal only.
- $239 for terminal with barcode scanner built in.
- $229 for Store Kit Mini (tablet stand with card reader and dock).
- $339 for Store Kit Portable kit with mobile card reader and printer.
- $479 for Store Kit Standard (tablet stand, card reader, dock and printer).
- $699 for Store Kit Plus (adds barcode scanner).
Adyen
Best for large omnichannel businesses
Why we like it: Adyen is a payments platform that enables payment processing in store, online and within marketplaces (like Etsy), so it may be a better fit for larger businesses with an online presence. Unlike Stripe, it also acts as a merchant account provider, which will require some extra steps in the application process but will likely pay off in the level of service and attention that comes with such an account. Also unlike Stripe, Adyen uses an interchange-plus pricing system, which is often the most affordable pricing structure for credit card processing fees, especially if you have a higher transaction volume. Read our full Adyen review.
$0.
- Interchange plus 0.60% and 13 cents per transaction for Visa and Mastercard.
- 3.3% plus 23 cents for American Express.
- 3%-12% plus 13 cents for other payment methods, depending on transaction type.
- 40 cents per transaction for ACH direct payment.
Adyen sells a variety of card readers, but you have to reach out for pricing details.
Helcim
Best for interchange-plus pricing
Why we like it: Unlike some of the options listed, Helcim uses an interchange-plus pricing model that passes interchange savings to the merchant. There are no contracts, and businesses processing more than $50,000 monthly in credit card transactions are eligible for volume discounts. Helcim offers processing solutions for both in-person and online payments. Read our full Helcim review.
$0.
- Interchange plus 0.4% and 8 cents per in-person transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- Interchange plus 0.5% and 25 cents per online or manually keyed transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- 0.5% plus 25 cents for ACH payments (capped at $6).
- $99 for a mobile card reader (with stand).
- $329 for a stand-alone terminal with built-in thermal printer (or 12 monthly payments of $30).
WePay
Best for Chase business account holders
Why we like it: WePay is an online payments solution affiliated with Chase Payment Solutions. It works with business owners who want to allow their customers to send and receive payments (largely software-as-a-service businesses and similar companies). If you have a Chase business bank account, you can get same-day deposits instead of having to wait days to transfer funds from your merchant account to your business bank account. Read more about WePay versus Stripe.
$0.
- 2.9% plus 25 cents per online transaction for credit card payments with WePay Link. Valid for new U.S. businesses only.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents per online transaction for merchant platforms without set processing fees.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person and manually keyed transactions.
WePay integrates with the Verifone P400 and V400m terminals, in addition to the Ingenico Moby 5500 card reader, but pricing is not listed on its website.
Authorize.net
Best for a payment gateway only
Why we like it: Authorize.net is a payment gateway provider rather than a merchant account or payment service provider, which means it facilitates the payment but doesn’t provide the merchant account to receive funds. Therefore, unlike Stripe, you’ll need to use Authorize.net in conjunction with a third-party merchant account. You can integrate Authorize.net with your existing merchant account or get one through an Authorize.net reseller. If you’re primarily an online-based business but want to accept payments in person (or over the phone) once in a while, Authorize.net’s virtual terminal allows you to do so. Authorize.net also has 13 configurable fraud filters you can change. Read our full Authorize.net review.
$25 for payment gateway.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction for a merchant account plus a gateway.
- 10 cents per transaction plus 10 cent daily batch fee for a payment gateway only.
Authorize.net focuses on online payments and doesn’t sell POS hardware directly on its website. However, it is compatible with the ID Tech Augusta card reader sold through POS Portal and available for $189.
Braintree
Best for a payment gateway plus merchant account
Why we like it: Braintree, owned by PayPal, includes a dedicated merchant account. You can add a full-featured checkout to your app or website or use the custom user interface, or UI, to build your own checkout page. All of Braintree’s solutions include PayPal acceptance and support. If you accept in-person payments, you can integrate your Braintree account with PayPal Zettle. Read our full Braintree review.
- $0 if you use Braintree for a merchant account and a payment gateway.
- $49 per month plus 10 cents per transaction if you use Braintree as a payment gateway only.
- 2.59% plus 49 cents per transaction for credit cards, debit cards and digital wallets.
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for Venmo (U.S. only).
- 0.75% for ACH (maximum fee of $5). Discounts available for enterprise businesses.
Braintree focuses on online payments and does not sell hardware.
Shopify
Best for online website builder
Why we like it: Shopify is a popular solution for processing online transactions and setting up sleek online stores. It has more than 190 template themes to choose from, meaning you don’t need developer experience to get your own website up and running. The processor also offers options for businesses selling in-person. Read our full Shopify review.
Shopify e-commerce plans:
- $29 for Shopify Basic when billed annually (or $39 when paid monthly).
- $79 for regular Shopify when billed annually (or $105 when paid monthly).
- $299 for Shopify Advanced when billed annually (or $399 when paid monthly).
- Custom pricing for Shopify Plus.
- All e-commerce plans come with POS Lite for selling in-person. Upgrading to POS Pro for brick-and-mortar businesses costs an extra $89 per location.
Shopify’s alternative solutions for mainly selling in-person:
- $5 for Starter plan, which includes one POS Lite location.
- $79 (when billed annually) for Retail plan, or $89 when paid monthly; includes one POS Pro location.
- 2.5%, 2.7% or 2.9% plus 30 cents for online payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- 2.4%, 2.5% or 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- $49 for Tap & Chip card reader.
- $219 for Tap & Chip countertop kit (iPad not included).
- $349 for Shopify POS terminal.
- $459 and up for POS terminal countertop kits.
Stax
Best for businesses with high transaction volumes
Why we like it: Stax, formerly Fattmerchant, is one of the most affordable options in terms of transaction fees (0% markup on direct-cost interchange) — as long as you can afford the subscription fee. Customers get a merchant account and can accept payments in a variety of ways: mobile, virtual terminal, e-commerce shopping cart, etc. Read our full Stax review.
- Starting at $199 per month for the Starter plan.
- Starting at $399 per month for the Growth plan.
- Quote-based pricing for the Enterprise plan.
- Interchange plus 8 cents for in-person transactions.
- Interchange plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
Quote-based.
Determining what you do and don’t like about Stripe can help you identify your must-have features. Here are Stripe’s main pros and cons.
Pros
No long-term contracts.
No monthly fees.
Supports international transactions and more than 135 currencies.
Highly customizable if you have developer experience.
Cons
Doesn’t sell full countertop point-of-sale (POS) systems for in-store transactions.
Deposits can take up to two business days.
Flat-rate processing model is convenient and easy to understand, but usually isn’t as cost-efficient as interchange-plus pricing.
Learn more about Stripe
Read about how businesses typically use Stripe, which types of payments it accepts and how it keeps your information secure.
» MORE: What is Stripe?
Here are some key factors to consider while choosing the best Stripe competitor for your business.
Payment processing cost
Grouping credit card processing companies by pricing model is one of the easiest ways to distinguish one provider from another. Stripe, like Square and PayPal Zettle, uses a flat-rate model that charges the same rate per transaction, regardless of what interchange fees cost. This means the processor’s margin fluctuates. Alternatively, interchange-plus providers pass exact interchange fees to the merchant and charge a consistent margin on top of them, which is more transparent and can result in savings.
POS hardware options
Since Stripe’s target audience is online businesses, it doesn’t offer many hardware options outside of card readers that pair with a smartphone. If your business runs a brick-and-mortar location, you’ll likely want to go with a processor that has a more robust POS hardware selection or easily integrates with a variety of POS systems.
Merchant account options
Stripe is a payment service provider that aggregates multiple businesses’ credit card transaction funds into one merchant account instead of offering individual merchant accounts. Usually, this allows businesses to start accepting payments quickly. However, aggregated merchant accounts can carry a higher risk of account freezes than individual accounts. If you’d like an individual merchant account that’s tailored to your business, you’ll want to select a merchant account provider instead of a PSP. Just know that the process for obtaining an individual merchant account can be lengthy.
Contract length
One of Stripe’s highlights is its lack of long-term contracts. Make sure to read a provider’s terms of service and ask questions about termination fees and contract lengths before signing up for a payment processing service.
Last updated on May 30, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet’s ratings of payment processing providers reward companies whose products and services are priced well and work in a variety of payment scenarios, among other criteria. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including overall cost, hardware and software options, system capabilities, customer service, contract requirements and integrations. Learn more about how we rate payment processing providers.
These ratings are a guide, but fees, hardware, software and contract requirements can vary widely from business to business and provider to provider. We encourage you to shop around and compare several providers.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.