8 Best Stripe Competitors for Small Businesses of January 2026
There are a variety of Stripe alternatives, from full-service merchant account providers to simple payment gateways.
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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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| Product | Best for | NerdWallet rating | Payment processing fees | Monthly fee | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Helcim | Interchange-plus pricing | In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0 | on Helcim's website | |
 Stax | Businesses with high transaction volumes | In-person: 0% + $0.08 Online: 0% + $0.15 Plus interchange | $99 and up. | on Stax's website | |
 Shopify Payments | 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's 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: 2.99% + $0.49 | $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 Enterprise Payments | Payment gateway plus merchant account | 2.89% + $0.29 credit & debit cards and digital wallets; 3.49% + 49¢ Venmo (U.S. only). | $0 |
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 may take up to two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
- 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.
Cons
- Not ideal for businesses with low-volume sales.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
- Accounting integrations may cost extra.
- Charges $10 PCI compliance fee each month.
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
- Phone support only available for Plus and Retail plan subscribers.
- 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
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.
PayPal POS
Best for Brick-and-mortar businesses expanding online
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
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
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting and payroll integrations.
- Deposits may take up to 3 days.
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.
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.
PayPal Enterprise Payments
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.
- No phone support.
Sort by:
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 may take up to two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
Helcim
Best for Interchange-plus pricing
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 may take up to 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.
Cons
- Not ideal for businesses with low-volume sales.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
- Accounting integrations may cost extra.
- Charges $10 PCI compliance fee each month.
Stax
Best for Businesses with high transaction volumes
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.
Cons
- Not ideal for businesses with low-volume sales.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
- Accounting integrations may cost extra.
- Charges $10 PCI compliance fee each month.
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
- Phone support only available for Plus and Retail plan subscribers.
- Monthly POS subscription costs can be expensive.
Shopify Payments
Best for Online website builder
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
- Phone support only available for Plus and Retail plan subscribers.
- 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
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
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting and payroll integrations.
- Deposits may take up to 3 days.
PayPal POS
Best for Brick-and-mortar businesses expanding online
Best for Brick-and-mortar businesses expanding online
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
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
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting and payroll integrations.
- Deposits may take up to 3 days.
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
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
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.
- No phone support.
PayPal Enterprise Payments
Best for Payment gateway plus merchant account
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.
- No phone support.
Jump to
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.
- $0 for Square Free plan.
- $49 for Square Plus plan.
- $149 for Square Premium plans.
- 2.6% plus 15 cents for in-person transactions with Free plan.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents for online transactions with Free plan.
- 2.5% plus 15 cents for in-person transactions with Plus plan.
- 2.4% plus 15 cents for in-person transaction with Premium plan.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions with Plus and Premium plans.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- $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 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
$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 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 Chase Payment Solutions 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 virtual terminal 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 POS. 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.
- 2.89% plus 29 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.
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