9 Best Stripe Competitors for Small Businesses of September 2025
There are a variety of Stripe alternatives, from full-service merchant account providers to simple payment gateways.
Learn more Stripe is a payment processor specializing in online sales, but it’s not necessarily the best payment processing company Stripe review
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Here are nine Stripe competitors that may be a better fit for your business.
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Best Stripe Competitors for Small Businesses
| Product | Best for | NerdWallet rating | Payment processing fees | Monthly fee | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Helcim on Helcim's secure website | Interchange-plus pricing | In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0 | on Helcim's secure website | |
 Stax on Stax's secure website | Businesses with high transaction volumes | In-person: 0% + $0.08 Online: 0% + $0.15 Plus interchange | $99 and up. | on Stax's secure website | |
 Square Payments Processing on Square Payments Processing's secure website | In-person transactions | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 | on Square Payments Processing's secure website | |
 Shopify Payments on Shopify Payments' secure website | Online website builder | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $39 Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan. | on Shopify Payments' secure website | |
 Authorize.net | Payment gateway only | 2.9% + $0.30 for All-in-One option. | $25 | ||
 PayPal POS | Brick-and-mortar businesses expanding online | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 3.49% + $0.09 | $0 | ||
 Adyen | Large omnichannel businesses | 0.6% + $0.13 Plus interchange for Visa and Mastercard; 3.3% + $0.23 for AmEx. | $0 | ||
 WePay | Chase business account holders | 2.9% + $0.25 | $0 | ||
 PayPal Braintree | Payment gateway plus merchant account | 2.89% + $0.29 credit & debit cards and digital wallets; 3.49% + 49¢ Venmo (U.S. only). | $0 |
Best Stripe Competitors for Small Businesses
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
on Helcim's website
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.
Helcim
Best for Interchange-plus pricing
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
on Helcim's website
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.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0% + $0.08
Online: 0% + $0.15
Online: 0% + $0.15
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$99
and up.
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
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0% + $0.08
Online: 0% + $0.15
Online: 0% + $0.15
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$99
and up.
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.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
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
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
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.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$39
Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan.
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
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$39
Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan.
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.
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
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.
PayPal POS
Best for Brick-and-mortar businesses expanding online
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Monthly fee
$0
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
Our picks for the best Stripe competitor
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 Square review.
Monthly POS software fee
Payment processing fees
Hardware cost
PayPal POS
Best for brick-and-mortar businesses expanding online
Why we like it: For accepting in-person payments, PayPal POS 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 PayPal POS review
Monthly POS software fee
Payment processing fees
Hardware cost
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 Adyen review
Monthly POS software fee
Payment processing fees
Hardware cost
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
Monthly POS software fee
Payment processing fees
Hardware cost
WePay
Best for Chase business account holders
Why we like it: WePay Chase Payment Solutions WePay versus Stripe.
Monthly POS software fee
Payment processing fees
Hardware cost
Authorize.net
Best for a payment gateway only
Why we like it: Authorize.net is a payment gateway provider virtual terminal Authorize.net review
Monthly POS software fee
Payment processing fees
Hardware cost
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 POS. Read our full Braintree review
Monthly POS software fee
Payment processing fees
Hardware cost
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
Monthly POS software fee
Payment processing fees
Hardware cost
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
Monthly POS software fee
Payment processing fees
Hardware cost
Stripe pros and cons
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?
How to choose the best Stripe alternative
Here are some key factors to consider while choosing the best Stripe competitor for your business.
Payment processing cost
Grouping credit card processing companies Square PayPal POS interchange fees
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 POS systems
Merchant account options
Stripe is a payment service provider
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.
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