10 Stripe Alternatives for 2022
Meaghan has provided content and guidance for indie retailers as the editor for a number of retail publications and a speaker at trade shows. She is Fit Small Business’s authority on retail and ecommerce.
Anna’s experience in business and finance led her to work for a US risk mitigation company in Singapore. She has contributed to POS and payments topics in the Retail section across Fit Small Business.
This article is part of a larger series on Payments.
Stripe is a favorite among startups and tech-savvy businesses for online payment processing because it offers highly versatile software for creating custom checkouts. However, it’s not the best online payment processor for everyone. Some businesses want something simpler and cheaper or a solution that provides a (point-of-sale) POS or virtual terminal payment processing.
We evaluated dozens of credit card processors to find the best Stripe alternatives:
- Square: Best overall alternative to Stripe
- PayPal: Best for value-added payment options for ecommerce
- Stax: Best for high-volume sales
- PaymentCloud: Best for high-risk businesses
- Helcim: Best for growing storefronts needing recurring payments
- Payanywhere: Best for small mobile restaurants and retailers
- Payment Depot: Best for wholesale pricing with no percentage markup
- iATS: Best for nonprofits
- Authorize.net: Best payment gateway
- Chase Merchant Services: Best for those wanting a traditional merchant account
Stripe Alternatives Compared
Online transaction fees | Monthly fees | Chargeback fees | Invoicing | POS | Integrations (without API) | Same-day Payouts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2.9% + 30 cents | $0 | $15 | ✔ | 3rd-party | 1,250+ | +1% | |
2.9% + 30 cents | $0 | $0 | ✔ | ✔ | 250 | +1.5% | |
3.49% + 49 cents | $0 | $20 | ✔ | ✔ | 1,000+ | To PayPal account | |
Interchange + 15 cents | $99–199 | $25 | $ | Mobile app only | 100s | ✔ | |
2.69%–4.25% | $25–$30 | $25 | ✔ | 3rd-party | 100s | ✔ | |
Interchange plus 0.2% + 10 cents – 0.5% + 25 cents | $0 | $15 | ✔ | ✔ | Dozens | - | |
3.49% + 19 cents | $0 | $0 | ✔ | Mobile app only | 2 | ✔ | |
Interchange plus 15 cents | $59 | $15 | - | 3rd-party | Dozens | - | |
2.49% to 3.2% | $0 | $0 | ✔ | 3rd-party | 63 | - | |
2.9% + 30 cents | $25 | $0 | ✔ | Mobile app or 3rd-party | 145 | - | |
3.5% + 10 cents | $0–25 | $25–$100 | - | Mobile app only | 140+ | To Chase account |
Stripe at a Glance
Stripe
What We Like
- Flexible
- Highly integratable
- 24/7 support
- International currencies
What's Missing
- No native POS
- Requires technical expertise
- Not for high-risk businesses
Stripe Pricing
- Monthly fee: $0
- In-person processing fee: 2.7% + 5 cents per transaction
- Online fee: 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction
- International cards processing fee: + 1% for cards, +1% for currency conversion
- ACH: 0.8% (max $5)
- Instant payouts: Add 1%, min 50 cents
- Discounts for volume sales, multi-products, interchange plus
- Chargeback fee: $15
- Virtual terminal: $0
- Card readers: $59
- Recurring payments: 0.5% or 0.8%
Stripe is on our list of:
When To Use an Alternative to Stripe
Stripe is highly customizable, secure, and scalable as your business grows. However, there are times when its complexity and specialization make other solutions a better choice:
- DIY business people with little programming experience: Stripe is a popular payment system for web developers and companies that have a dev or IT team that can program the integrations. If that’s not you, then a simpler option might work better. Recommended: Authorize.net or Helcim.
- Businesses that want point-of-sale included: Stripe integrates with POS systems but does not offer one itself. Recommended: Square, PayPal, or Helcim.
- Businesses with high-volume sales: Given Stripe’s processing rates, you may benefit from a merchant service that offers interchange-plus pricing. Recommended: Stax or Payment Depot
- Businesses dealing with mostly in-person transactions: If you do mostly in-person sales, a payment provider with mobile and counter POS systems will suit you better. Recommended: Square, Payanywhere, or Helcim.
- Ecommerce businesses that need a simple setup: If you are a small business that needs a quick payment button, then Stripe is beyond your needs. Recommended: PayPal
Square: Best Overall Alternative to Stripe
Square
What We Like
- Transparent, flat-rate pricing
- No monthly fees or minimums
- Free user-friendly POS and online store
- Reasonable ACH fees
What's Missing
- Not suited for high-risk businesses
- Account stability issues
- Limited support hours
How It Compares to Stripe
- Both Stripe and Square offer zero monthly subscription and flat-rate pricing
- Both providers also charge the same for ecommerce transactions at 2.9% + 30 cents.
- Stripe’s card-present and mobile processing rates are more expensive compared to Square’s.
- Square provides free POS software and built-in ecommerce tools while Stripe requires a third-party for both features.
- Stripe’s range of pre-certified mobile card readers and payment terminals are more expensive compared to Square’s set of mobile payment hardware.
Square is a highly popular and well-rated payment processor that usually tops our lists because of its free POS system and ability to grow with your business. Unlike Stripe, you can start selling immediately upon signing up for Square—no programming is needed.
The POS system is top-notch and works not only for stores but for restaurants, spas, salons, and service industries. It offers an integrated online store and a mobile app for selling on the go. Plus, as your business grows, it offers additional software for loyalty plans, marketing, and even payroll. Its banking services (something Stripe does not offer) include checking and savings accounts and loans.
Square tops our list of:
- PayPal Alternatives
- Best Merchant Services
- Best Free Merchant Services
- Best Mobile Credit Card Processors
- Best Virtual Terminals
- Best Credit Card Payment Apps
Square Pricing
- Monthly fee: $0
- Card-present transaction fee: 2.6% + 10 cents
- Ecommerce and invoice transaction fee: 2.9% + 30 cents
- Card-not-present transaction fee: 3.5% + 15 cents
- ACH Fee: 1% (minimum $1)
- Instant payout fee: 1.5%
- Chargeback fee: None; up to $250 per month for chargeback protection
- Card reader: $49
For all its versatility, however, Square is a closed system. It does not allow other payment processors and cannot match Stripe for integration into websites or complex payment processing needs. Learn more in our review of Square vs Stripe.
PayPal: Best for Value-added Payment Options for Ecommerce
PayPal
What We Like
- No monthly fees or minimums
- Accept payments in 200+ countries
- Highly integratable
- Free POS
What's Missing
- Virtual terminal costs extra
- Account stability issues
- Complex fee structure
How It Compares to Stripe
- Neither Stripe nor PayPal charge a monthly subscription for its payment processing.
- PayPal has its own POS software, Zettle, although like Stripe, it can be integrated into other payment platforms.
- PayPal charges an extra fee for using its payment gateway.
- Both Stripe and PayPal impose a chargeback fee, with PayPal slightly more expensive
- Stripe offers custom rates for businesses with large transaction volume; PayPal does not.
PayPal rivals Stripe as one of the most popular online payment processors. And, where Stripe is more difficult to implement and maintain, PayPal has a reputation for being user-friendly for both customers and merchants.
It accepts all types of payments, including credit cards and bitcoin, works internationally, and offers a free POS system, Zettle. Zettle works on countertop systems and smartphones. Further, PayPal lets you easily add buttons to your website, social media, or online store.
See how Square, Stripe, and PayPal compare in our evaluation of three of the most popular online payment processors for small businesses.
However, PayPal really shines as an additional payment option. In fact, studies have shown that customers are 2.8x more likely to convert when PayPal is visible. PayPal makes it easy to offer its payment processing alongside other credit card processors.
PayPal Pricing (US)
- POS fee: $0
- Card-present fee: 2.29% + 9 cents
- Keyed-in fee: 3.49% + 9 cents
- Online transaction fee: 3.49% + 49 cents
- International Transaction fee: 1.5% fee, 4% spread for currency conversion
- Cryptocurrency fees: 50 cents for purchases under $25, 1.5%–2.3%, depending on amount $25 and over
- Chargeback fee: $20
- Dispute fee: $15
- Card reader: $29 for the first; $79 for additional
Despite its versatility, Stripe is the better option for customization. Stripe also accepts more currency types (135 vs 26) and has more powerful API and SDK tools for programming special cases. Stripe also has fewer complaints of held funds than PayPal. Discover more in our Stripe vs PayPal article.
Stax by Fattmerchant: Best for High-volume Sales
Stax by Fattmerchant
What We Like
- Easy to use
- Stable merchant account
- Excellent customer support
- Same-day funding
What's Missing
- High monthly fee
- Best only for established businesses processing over $10,000 monthly
How It Compares to Stripe
- Stax charges monthly fees with three different plans to choose from while Stripe offers zero monthly fee or its payment software.
- Digital invoicing with Stax requires a $159 monthly fee. Stripe charges 4%–5% per invoiced transaction.
- Stax now offers cheaper interchange plus rates compared to Stripe’s but Stripe provides custom rates for businesses with larger sales volume.
- Stax also has a wider range of payment terminal options and integrations.
Stripe offers custom rates for high-volume sales, but Stax’s interchange-plus rates are cheaper. There is a monthly fee to consider, but if you do enough credit card transactions, the savings may cover the monthly fee and still save you money.
Stax stacks up to Stripe in terms of functionality and features. Stax says it integrates with over 90% of third-party POS systems (most through Zapier). Further, if you want it programmed directly into your software, Stax Connect has in-depth API and SDK support.
Of course, Stax is still ahead in the in-person sales category, with more choices of POS hardware and a native mobile app. Users rate it higher than Stripe and say the customer support team is quick to respond and helpful. Businesses also enjoy the ability to send custom payment links to customers.
Stax Pricing
- Monthly fee: $99–$199
- Card-present transaction fee: Interchange + 8 cents
- Card-not-present transaction fee: Interchange + 15 cents
- Optional software packages: $29–$129 monthly for features like reporting dashboard, ACH payments, invoicing, Text2Pay, web-hosted payments, recurring payments, chargeback manager, and dedicated support
- Chargeback fee: $25
- Custom plans available for businesses processing over $5 million annually
Stripe, of course, blows away Stax—and all the others—by having over 1,250 integrations in addition to its powerful programming tools. Even Stax itself says Stripe is better known for online payments, while Stax takes a more holistic approach.
PaymentCloud: Best for High-risk Merchants
PaymentCloud
What We Like
- Competitive rates
- Excellent customer support
- Good customer reviews
- Handles high-risk sales
What's Missing
- Fees not transparent
- Supports limited CBD products
- No mobile app
How It Compares to Stripe
- PaymentCloud supports high-risk businesses; Stripe does not.
- Neither provider requires application, setup, or annual fees.
- Stripe does not charge a monthly fee, Payment Cloud merchants pay up to $30 per month.
- Like PayPal, PaymentCloud charges an extra monthly fee for the use of its payment gateway.
- Both providers impose a chargeback fee, with PaymentCloud slightly more expensive.
- PaymentCloud offers same-day payouts without an additional fee.
If you run a business that sells high-risk items or is considered a high-risk business for other reasons, you may not be able to work with Stripe, which sometimes imposes restrictions, such as setting up a funds reserve—if it approves you at all. (Stripe also has definite prohibitions for businesses dealing with high-risk jurisdictions such as Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Crimea Region, and Syria.) If this is your business, look into PaymentCloud. It’s our top-recommended high-risk merchant account.
Although it does work with regular merchants, PaymentCloud specializes in high-risk businesses and products. It works with over 10 banks and walks you through the application process to get you approved. It customizes pricing depending on your situation, but user reviews say the terms are competitive. In addition, other merchant services will refer high-risk clients to PaymentCloud.
PaymentCloud Pricing
- No application fees, setup fees, or annual fees
- Minimum two-year contract
- Monthly fee: $25–$30
- Medium-risk transaction fee: 2.69%–3.29%
- High-risk transaction fee: 2.95%–4.25%
- Payment gateway fee: $15/month (average)
- Chargeback fee: $25
PaymentCloud offers the fastest payout of those on our list, saying it gets funds into your account in seconds rather than days. Stripe has same-day deposits—but at an additional fee. PaymentCloud will handle integration into your CRM, accounting software, POS solutions, and more. Stripe leaves this process to your team. Unlike others on our list, PaymentCloud also offers a wide range of POS systems and hardware, from Ingenico to Clover. Stripe’s offerings are far more limited.
Helcim: Best for Growing Storefronts Needing Recurring Payments
Helcim
What We Like
- No monthly fee
- Free POS and virtual terminal
- Excellent 24/7 customer support
- International payment processing
What's Missing
- No high-risk merchants
- Not ideal for low-volume businesses
- Limited integrations
How It Compares to Stripe
- Both Stripe and Helcim offer zero monthly fees.
- Both providers are ideal payment processors for B2B businesses
- While Stripe offers flat-rate pricing, it also has custom, discounted rates for businesses with a larger volume of transactions. Helcim has an automatic volume-based discounted interchange plus rates.
- Both Stripe and Helcim have excellent invoicing and recurring payment tools but only Helcim has a free POS software for storefronts.
- Both providers impose a $15 chargeback fee.
Helcim is one of several on our list with interchange-plus pricing but has one advantage: no monthly fees. Plus, it automatically scales the rates to your level of sales, so you don’t need to change plans or apply for discounts. Compared to Stripe, Helcim is a much cheaper solution for businesses doing high-volume sales, especially if they expect to scale up. It also offers free POS software which Stripe does not have, making Helcim ideal for storefronts.
It processes credit cards and ACH payments and has invoicing and recurring billing tools (Stripe charges 0.5% for recurring billing). It also has a native POS app for countertop or mobile—something Stripe lacks—and native tools for taking food orders, managing inventory, and managing customers.
Helcim Pricing
- Monthly fee: $0
- Card-present transaction fee: Interchange plus 0.1% + 5 cents – 0.3% + 8 cents
- Card-not-present transaction fee: Interchange plus 0.2% + 10 cents – 0.5% + 25 cents
- Chargeback fee: $15, but Helcim refunds the charge for disputes settled in your favor
- Two-business-day deposit time
- Automatic volume discounts
Like Stripe, it has a built-in check-out portal, although Stripe offers more templates and customizations. Helcim lets you embed payments into your website or app and process payments without handling the sensitive information associated with payments. Overall, these native features and very affordable interchange-plus pricing make Helcim a great fit for busy storefronts. In fact, Helcim is our top pick for retail credit card processing companies.
Payanywhere: Best for Small, Mobile Restaurants & Retailers
Payanywhere
What We Like
- Free chip card reader
- Good for low-ticket sales
- Free POS with employee scheduling
- Next-day funding
What's Missing
- Has complaints of hidden fees
- Has an inactivity fee
- Does not process international credit cards
How It Compares to Stripe
- Both Stripe and Payanywhere offer month-to-month and custom plans.
- Both providers also offer flat-rate pricing.
- Payanywhere charges a $3.99 inactivity fee, Stripe does not.
- Aside from transaction fees, Stripe charges for $7 per transaction for accepting invoiced payments.
- Payanywhere offers same-day deposit free of charge while Stripe requires a 1% fee.
- Payanywhere’s chargeback fee is slightly more expensive than that of Stripe.
- Payanywhere has a wider range of payment terminals.
For businesses that do primarily in-person sales, Payanywhere is a great app. Its rates are competitive, especially since it is a simple percentage. This makes it especially cost-effective when doing low-ticket sales such as coffee, souvenirs, and snacks. (Online, however, Stripe has much better transaction fees.)
Payanywhere has a free mobile POS app that works for small restaurants and food trucks and integrates with delivery systems. Like Stripe, you can get recurring billing. In addition, it offers employee management tools through Homebase, including time clocks, scheduling, and hiring—and Stripe does not offer these. Payanywhere now offers free same-day payouts which was previously offered with a 1% fee.
You’ll find Payanywhere with Stripe on our list of PayPal alternatives. It’s also on our list of best credit card payment apps.
Payanywhere Pricing
- Card-present processing fee: 2.69%
- Keyed-in processing fee: Starting at 3.49% + 19 cents per transaction
- Invoice and recurring payment processing: 3.49% + 19 cents
- POS software: $0
- Inactivity fee: $3.99 per month after 12 months of inactivity
- Card readers: From $29.95 (first is free)
- Terminals: From $9.95 per month
- Free same-day deposit
- Offers pay-as-you-go and long-term contracts
- Early termination fee: $295
Stripe is better in that it does not have an inactivity fee; Payanywhere charges $3.99 per month after 12 months without processing transactions. Payanywhere also does not process international credit cards, making it better for domestic sales.
Payment Depot: Best for Wholesale Pricing With No Percentage Markup
Payment Depot
What We Like
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Strong third-party integrations
- Free mobile app
- Free gateway and virtual terminal
What's Missing
- Monthly fee
- Best only for processing over $10,000 monthly
- US merchants only
How It Compares to Stripe
- Payment Depot requires a monthly subscription fee while Stripe does not, although Payment Depot does not impose a long-term contract.
- Payment Depot charges interchange-plus pricing, which is cheaper compared to Stripe’s flat-rate fee.
- Unlike Stripe, Payment Depot does not impose a chargeback fee.
- Stripe offers a combination of proprietary and preconfigured card readers/payment terminals, Payanywhere only offers preconfigured third-party hardware.
- Unlike Stripe, Payment Depot does not accept international payments.
Payment Depot offers interchange-plus pricing, with no distinction between online and in-person transactions. It’s better suited for smaller businesses than Stax (another alternative that also offers wholesale rates in exchange for monthly subscription) because its monthly prices are cheaper while getting wholesale processing rates with no per-transaction markup. For this reason, Payment Depot makes our list of the cheapest credit card processing companies.
Of course, the pricing is much cheaper than Stripe’s, even considering the monthly fees. It has fewer complaints than Stripe when it comes to held funds or canceled accounts, as well.
Like Stripe, Payment Depot has a third-party mobile POS, plus a choice of free third-party virtual terminals. It offers business funding to its members that qualify and has a very high user satisfaction rate and strong third-party integrations.
Payment Depot Pricing
- Monthly fee: $59–$99 (based on processing volume)
- Contract length: Month-to-month, no long-term contract
- Transaction fees:
- Card-present: Interchange plus 8 cents
- Card-not-present: Interchange plus 15 cents
- No setup, cancellation, chargeback and other miscellaneous fees
- Hardware: Starts at $49
Payment Depot falls short of Stripe in that it is only for US merchants. You also need to apply and be approved, whereas Stripe lets you sign up and go. It also lacks billing and invoicing, except through other payment gateways (Stripe has these tools).
iATS: Best for Nonprofits & Donations
iATS
What We Like
- No ACH fees
- Works with donation-specific software
- No chargeback fees
- Works with 14,000+ nonprofits
What's Missing
- Contract may be needed
- Does not list pricing
- 2+ day disbursement
How It Compares to Stripe
- iATS is a dedicated software for nonprofits with business management tools; Stripe can configure its checkout pages into donation pages.
- Neither provider charges a monthly fee.
- iATS requires a long-term contract, while Stripe is a pay-as-you-go payment solution.
- Stripe offers faster payouts, including same-day payout option, than iATS.
iATS and Stripe are both on our lists as best for:
You can use Stripe for nonprofits, but iATS is built especially for these unique businesses. It does not list pricing online, but we’ve seen flat rates listed anywhere from 2.49% to 3.2%, making it competitive to Stripe. Over 14,000 nonprofits work with iATS, and one of its specialties is working with customer relationship management software. For example, its Brickwork processing app for Salesforce makes it easy to accept donations, track donor information, and manage donors from the Salesforce app.
Like Stripe, this payment processor relies heavily on integrations. iATS does not have its own POS system, but it lets you create online forms for your website. However, it can also create a stand-alone solution, which includes hosted pages and forms, to which you can add a shopping cart using its Aura program. Stripe will embed into websites but not build one for you. iATS easily integrates into donation-specific software.
iATS Pricing
- Pricing is not on its website; reports say 2.49% to 3.2%
- Monthly fee: $0
- One-year contract, with six months automatic renewal
iATS takes longer to process payouts than Stripe. It requires a one-year contract and works only with certified nonprofit organizations, whereas Stripe can be used for charity or for-profit businesses.
Authorize.net: Best Payment Gateway
Authorize.net
What We Like
- Reliable
- Highly popular
- Easy to integrate and use
- Discounts for nonprofits
What's Missing
- Monthly fee
- No POS hardware
How It Compares to Stripe
- Unlike Stripe, Authorize.net can be used as a standalone payment gateway service with a different merchant account provider.
- Authorize.net charges a monthly fee of $25 while Stripe is free to use.
- Both Stripe and Authorize.net allow you to accept international payments with Stripe charging 1% and Authorize.net charging a 1.5% fee.
- Both providers also impose a chargeback fee, with Authorize.net fees slightly higher.
- Authorize.net does not charge extra fees for using its invoicing and recurring payment service.
Authorize.net is a well-known payment gateway that integrates easily into other payment solutions. While it charges a monthly fee, it is reliable and does not charge chargeback fees. You can use it as a payment gateway alone (choosing your own merchant account) or as a payment processor. This flexibility earned Authorize.net the top spot in our evaluation of the best payment gateways.
It can handle high-risk businesses through its partners and even has partnerships for other business solutions for shipping, compliances, fraud prevention, and more. While it does not integrate as extensively as Stripe, it does have partnerships with developers who can design integrations for you.
Authorize.net Pricing
- Monthly fee: $25
- All-in-one processing fee: 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction, or 10 cents per transaction and 10 cents batch fee
- ACH/e-check processing fee: 0.75% per transaction
- Chargeback fee: $0
- POS system: $0 for Mobile POS app
- Virtual Terminal: $0
- Card readers: $65
- Terminals: Third party
Stripe reaches more countries, accepts a greater variety of payments, and integrates with more systems, whereas Authorize.net offers more of a plug-and-play solution.
Chase Payment Solutions: Best Traditional Merchant Account
Chase Payment Solutions
What We Like
- Negotiable rates in some cases
- Reputable bank with global reach
- Same-day funding to Chase business checking account
What's Missing
- Requires a Chase business account
- Has account stability issues
- May require a contract
How It Compares to Stripe
- Unlike Stripe, Chase is a direct processor and works more with both resellers and merchants.
- Both providers offer flat-rate pricing, with Stripe’s rates slightly higher than Chase.
- Chase charges a monthly fee for using its ACH/echeck services while Stripe charges a simple 0.8% per transaction.
- Chase’s chargeback fees can cost as much as $100, while Stripe’s chargeback fee is only at $15 per transaction.
- Both providers can process international payments.
Chase is one of the biggest names in the banking industry and is a direct processor of credit card transactions. Thus, if you don’t need a lot of specialized integrations but are more interested in straight processing online and in-person, then it may be able to supply your needs and offer a quicker payout, especially if you have a Chase Business checking account.
Chase offers a mobile POS app, and an online store, plus billing and invoicing. Like Stripe, Chase processes international payments, but it beats Stripe in its other business offerings—like checking and savings, loans, and credit cards. This makes it a good choice for businesses just starting out that need more than payment processing. It tops our list of the best checking accounts for small businesses.
Chase Payments Solutions Pricing
- Monthly fee: $0
- Processing fee: From 2.6% + 10 cents to 3.5% + 10 cents
- ACH Processing: $25 per month for 25 transactions, 25 cents for each additional, or 1% for certain platforms
- Cancellation/early termination fee: $0
- Chargeback fee: $25–$100 per transaction
- Deposit speed: Same-day deposit and next-day funding
- Hardware options: $49–$399
As a direct processor, Chase makes payment processing simpler; funds are transferred faster for as long as you have a checking account with Chase. However, there have been frequent reports of poor customer service and some complaints over contracts that ended up with users having to pay cancellation fees.
Bottom Line
If you have specialized payment processing needs or a wide range of online payment venues, then Stripe may be your best choice. It’s extremely popular among developers for its extensive toolset and ease of use—for programmers. Those who are not tech-savvy or do more sales in-person may fare better with a simpler payment processor. Additionally, those doing high-volume online sales may save more money with a payment processor that does interchange-plus processing.
All told, Square is the best Stripe alternative. It offers rates comparable to Stripe but has a powerful free POS system, online store, virtual terminal, and other tools that make it a better choice. Plus, it’s easy to use and highly rated by real-world users. Sign up for a free account and get started today.
