Stripe
payment-gateway · US, CA, GB, AU, FR, DE, NL, JP, SG, HK, IE, CH, AT, BE, DK, FI, IT, NO, ES, SE, PT, PL, NZ, AE, BR, MXStripe is the leading online payment processing platform built for businesses that need a developer-first, API-native approach to accepting payments. It supports 135+ currencies and 35+ payment methods including credit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link), buy-now-pay-later (Klarna, Afterpay), and local methods like iDEAL, Bancontact, and SEPA Direct Debit. Stripe's standard pricing is 2.9% + $0.30 per successful domestic card transaction, with an additional +1.5% for international cards and an ~1.0% FX markup for currency conversion. Subscription billing is handled via Stripe Billing at 0.7% of billing volume (or $620/month on an annual contract for unlimited billing). Stripe Radar provides built-in fraud detection with machine learning. While Stripe's documentation and developer experience are best-in-class, the platform requires technical resources to fully leverage — non-technical users may find Square or PayPal easier to set up without developer support. Stripe is a financial technology platform, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Stripe Payments Company and its financial partners.
What does Stripe cost and how does payment processing work?
Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per successful domestic card transaction with no monthly fee on its pay-as-you-go plan. A free tier is available. Available in 26 country/regions. Developer-first payment processing platform for online businesses, with global reach, 135+ currencies, and extensive API infrastructure.
Pricing
// verify pricing before launch — prices shown may not reflect current vendor rates
Key Features
- •135+ currencies and 35+ payment methods including cards, wallets, BNPL, and local methods
- •Developer-first API with SDKs for 15+ programming languages and extensive documentation
- •Stripe Radar fraud detection with machine learning (included at 2.9% + $0.30; Radar for Fraud Teams $0.02/check)
- •Stripe Billing for subscription management, invoices, and recurring payments (0.7% of volume)
- •Stripe Connect for marketplace and platform payment facilitation
- •Stripe Terminal for in-person card reader payments
- •Stripe Atlas for business incorporation and tax filing
- •24/7 chat support on all plans; phone support on higher tiers
Pros
- +Developer-first API with best-in-class documentation, SDKs in 15+ languages, and comprehensive testing tools — the gold standard for custom payment integrations
- +135+ currencies and 35+ payment methods give Stripe the broadest global reach of any all-in-one payment processor
- +Built-in fraud detection via Stripe Radar uses machine learning and is included in the standard rate, saving thousands in fraud losses compared to manual review
- +Massive integration ecosystem — Stripe connects with QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, Salesforce, HubSpot, and thousands of other platforms
- +24/7 chat support is available on all plans with no hold times, which is rare in the payment processing industry
Cons
- −Requires developer resources to unlock full potential — non-technical business owners may struggle with setup and customization compared to Square or PayPal
- −Flat-rate pricing (2.9% + $0.30) becomes expensive at high volume compared to interchange-plus or tiered pricing models from Helcim or other processors
- −FX markup of ~1% is cheaper than PayPal's 3-4% but more expensive than platforms built specifically for cross-border commerce like Wise or Airwallex
- −No in-person POS hardware beyond the card reader (Stripe Terminal) — no full POS terminal, receipt printer, or barcode scanner ecosystem
- −Phone support is limited to higher-tier plans, which can be frustrating for non-technical merchants who prefer voice support
Platforms
Integrations
Compare Stripe with other tools
See how Stripe stacks up against PayPal and Square side by side.
Related Resources
Financial Glossary
Reviewed by Finatune · Last updated 2026-07-03