Top Stripe Competitors & Alternatives for Payment Processing in 2025
Stripe Competitors & Alternatives
Introduction
Stripe is one of the most popular payment processing platforms, offering businesses a seamless way to accept online payments. It provides a robust API, allowing developers to customize payment solutions for e-commerce stores, subscription services, and marketplaces.
However, while Stripe is widely used, it’s not the only option available. Various competitors offer similar or even better features, depending on business needs, pricing, and regional availability. Whether a business is looking for lower transaction fees, better international support, or a simpler setup, there are many alternatives to consider.
Businesses may choose an alternative to Stripe for several reasons, including lower costs, better customer support, or specific features that cater to unique industries. Some alternatives focus on in-person transactions, while others specialize in digital payments, bank transfers, or cryptocurrency transactions.
From well-known companies like PayPal to specialized platforms such as GoCardless, each competitor brings something different to the table. Below, we’ll explore some of the top Stripe alternatives and what makes them stand out in the competitive payment processing market.
1. Square
Square is a widely recognized payment processor that provides businesses with both online and in-person payment solutions. It is particularly popular among small businesses, retailers, and restaurants due to its easy setup and all-in-one ecosystem.
Unlike Stripe, which is primarily designed for online transactions, Square excels in point-of-sale (POS) transactions, making it a preferred choice for brick-and-mortar businesses. Its hardware options, including card readers and terminals, simplify the process of accepting payments in physical locations.
Additionally, Square offers features like invoicing, appointment scheduling, and even payroll services, making it a comprehensive solution for businesses of all sizes.
For online businesses, Square offers a range of e-commerce solutions, including integration with platforms like WooCommerce and Shopify. It has transparent pricing, charging a flat rate per transaction, which makes it easier for businesses to predict their expenses.
One of Square’s biggest advantages is its built-in analytics and reporting features, helping business owners track sales and customer trends. However, it may not be as customizable as Stripe when it comes to API flexibility. Still, for businesses that need a user-friendly solution with strong offline and online payment capabilities, Square is a strong alternative.
2. Adyen
Adyen is a global payment platform that provides businesses with a seamless way to process transactions across multiple channels. Unlike Stripe, which primarily focuses on startups and small businesses, Adyen is widely used by large enterprises, including companies like Spotify, Uber, and eBay.
It offers a unified platform that supports various payment methods, including credit cards, bank transfers, and digital wallets, making it ideal for businesses with an international customer base. One of its standout features is its direct banking connections, which help lower transaction costs and increase authorization rates.
Another key advantage of Adyen is its advanced risk management and fraud detection system, which helps businesses reduce chargebacks and fraudulent transactions. Its pricing model is based on an interchange-plus structure, which can be more cost-effective for businesses processing high volumes of transactions.
Adyen also offers advanced reporting and analytics, helping businesses gain insights into their payment data. While Adyen is a powerful solution, it has a more complex setup compared to Stripe and may not be as beginner-friendly for small businesses. However, for enterprises looking for a scalable and global payment solution, Adyen is a compelling alternative.
3. Checkout.com
Checkout.com is an advanced payment processing platform designed to serve global businesses with a focus on digital payments. It provides a high level of customization, allowing businesses to tailor their payment processing according to their specific needs.
One of its biggest strengths is its support for over 150 currencies, making it an excellent choice for companies with an international presence. Unlike Stripe, which is widely used by startups and small businesses, Checkout.com primarily targets mid-to-large enterprises that require a high level of control over their transactions.
Another advantage of Checkout.com is its advanced fraud detection and risk management system, which helps businesses minimize chargebacks and unauthorized transactions. It also provides detailed analytics and reporting tools, giving businesses valuable insights into their payment trends.
While Checkout.com is a powerful alternative to Stripe, it requires more technical expertise to set up and integrate. Its pricing structure is also not publicly listed, meaning businesses must contact the company for custom pricing. However, for companies looking for a highly customizable and secure payment platform, Checkout.com is a strong contender.
4. PayPal
PayPal is one of the most well-known payment processors, offering businesses and individuals a convenient way to send and receive money. Unlike Stripe, which primarily focuses on online businesses, PayPal serves both consumers and merchants with a variety of payment options.
It supports credit cards, debit cards, PayPal balances, and even buy-now-pay-later services. One of its biggest advantages is its widespread recognition and trust among consumers, making it an easy choice for businesses looking to offer familiar payment options.
For businesses, PayPal provides various solutions, including PayPal Business, PayPal Checkout, and PayPal Here for in-person transactions. It offers quick and easy setup, allowing merchants to start accepting payments without complex integrations. However, PayPal’s transaction fees can be higher than Stripe’s, especially for international transactions.
Additionally, its account freezes and disputes process can be challenging for some businesses. Despite these drawbacks, PayPal remains a strong competitor due to its ease of use, global reach, and trusted brand reputation.
5. Dwolla
Dwolla is a payment platform specializing in ACH bank transfers, making it a unique alternative to Stripe for businesses that prioritize direct bank payments. It allows companies to integrate fast and secure ACH payments into their applications, reducing reliance on credit card networks.
Unlike Stripe, which primarily focuses on card-based transactions, Dwolla is ideal for businesses that need to process recurring payments, vendor payouts, or marketplace transactions via bank transfers. This makes it a preferred choice for companies in industries such as real estate, fintech, and B2B services.
One of Dwolla’s key strengths is its automation capabilities, allowing businesses to streamline payment processes with minimal manual intervention. It also provides robust security and compliance features, ensuring businesses meet regulatory requirements.
While Dwolla offers lower transaction fees compared to card payments, its services may not be suitable for businesses that require instant payment processing. ACH transfers can take longer to settle, which may not be ideal for all businesses. However, for companies looking to optimize their bank transfer payments, Dwolla is a solid alternative to Stripe.
6. Amazon Pay
Amazon Pay is a payment solution that allows businesses to offer customers a seamless checkout experience using their existing Amazon credentials. This makes it particularly useful for e-commerce stores, as millions of customers already have their payment details saved within Amazon’s ecosystem.
Unlike Stripe, which requires businesses to build their payment flows from scratch, Amazon Pay provides a familiar and trusted checkout process that can help boost conversions. Businesses can integrate Amazon Pay into their websites, enabling customers to complete purchases quickly without having to enter their payment information repeatedly.
Another advantage of Amazon Pay is its fraud protection and security features, backed by Amazon’s advanced risk management technology. It also supports voice-enabled transactions via Alexa, which is an innovative feature not commonly found in other payment processors.
However, Amazon Pay has some limitations—it primarily serves businesses that sell physical products and does not support digital goods or services as well as Stripe does. Additionally, its transaction fees are similar to Stripe’s, making it less attractive for businesses looking to reduce costs.
Despite these drawbacks, Amazon Pay remains a strong alternative for e-commerce businesses that want to leverage Amazon’s trusted brand to improve customer confidence and streamline checkout.
7. Venmo
Venmo, owned by PayPal, is a mobile-first payment solution that allows users to send and receive money instantly. While it was initially designed for peer-to-peer transactions, Venmo has expanded its services to include business payments, making it an interesting alternative to Stripe.
Businesses can integrate Venmo as a checkout option, allowing customers to pay directly from their Venmo balance or linked bank accounts. This is particularly appealing to younger consumers who prefer mobile-friendly and social payment options.
One of Venmo’s unique features is its social aspect, where users can share their transactions with friends, creating a more engaging payment experience. However, unlike Stripe, Venmo is not a full-fledged payment processor with advanced API integrations.
It is primarily useful for small businesses, online stores, and service providers that cater to mobile-first customers. Additionally, Venmo’s availability is limited to the U.S., making it less viable for businesses with an international audience. Still, for businesses looking to tap into a younger, mobile-focused demographic, Venmo is a valuable addition to their payment options.
8. Google Pay
Google Pay is a digital wallet and payment platform that enables businesses to accept payments both online and in person. Unlike Stripe, which provides a full suite of payment processing tools, Google Pay functions more as a payment method that businesses can integrate into their checkout process.
It allows customers to pay quickly using their saved payment methods on Google, including credit cards, debit cards, and bank accounts. This reduces friction at checkout and can help increase conversion rates, especially for mobile users.
One of the biggest advantages of Google Pay is its deep integration with Android devices and Google services, making it a convenient option for millions of users. It also supports contactless payments for physical stores, making it a viable option for businesses that operate both online and offline.
However, Google Pay alone is not a replacement for a full payment processing system like Stripe—it must be used alongside a payment gateway or processor. Despite this limitation, Google Pay is an excellent option for businesses looking to offer customers a fast, secure, and mobile-friendly way to pay.
9. GoCardless
GoCardless is a payment platform specializing in direct debit payments, making it an excellent alternative to Stripe for businesses that rely on recurring billing and subscriptions.
Unlike Stripe, which primarily processes card payments, GoCardless enables businesses to collect payments directly from customers’ bank accounts. This reduces transaction fees and minimizes the risk of chargebacks, making it an attractive option for businesses with high-volume or long-term billing cycles.
One of GoCardless’s key strengths is its ability to automate recurring payments, making it particularly useful for SaaS companies, membership organizations, and utility providers. It also supports international payments, allowing businesses to collect payments from customers across different countries.
However, GoCardless is not ideal for businesses that need instant transactions, as bank transfers typically take a few days to process. Additionally, it lacks some of the advanced developer tools that Stripe offers. Nevertheless, for businesses looking to streamline their subscription billing and reduce processing costs, GoCardless is a strong competitor in the payment processing space.
10. Authorize.Net
Authorize.Net is one of the oldest and most trusted payment gateways, providing businesses with a reliable way to process transactions. It is a direct competitor to Stripe, offering a similar range of payment processing features, including support for credit cards, e-checks, and digital wallets.
One of its biggest advantages is its ability to integrate with a wide variety of e-commerce platforms and point-of-sale systems, making it a flexible option for businesses of all sizes. Unlike Stripe, which is more developer-friendly, Authorize.Net is designed for businesses that want a plug-and-play solution without extensive coding knowledge.
Another strong feature of Authorize.Net is its security and fraud prevention tools, which help businesses protect against chargebacks and fraudulent transactions. It also supports recurring payments, making it a viable option for subscription-based businesses.
However, its pricing structure can be more expensive than Stripe, as it includes a monthly gateway fee in addition to transaction fees. Despite this, Authorize.Net remains a solid alternative for businesses that need a dependable and widely accepted payment gateway with strong security features.
11. Braintree
Braintree, a subsidiary of PayPal, is a powerful payment processor that offers businesses a flexible and developer-friendly way to accept payments. Unlike Stripe, which is an independent payment processor, Braintree benefits from PayPal’s vast infrastructure while still providing advanced customization options.
It supports a wide range of payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, Venmo, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. This makes it a great choice for businesses that want to offer multiple payment options to their customers.
One of Braintree’s key advantages is its transparent pricing, which is similar to Stripe’s but includes additional benefits like built-in fraud protection and easy PayPal integration. It also provides businesses with a high level of control over their payment processing, with advanced API tools that allow for extensive customization.
However, Braintree has a steeper learning curve than Stripe, making it less beginner-friendly. Additionally, while it offers strong international support, its availability in certain regions is limited. Still, for businesses that need a highly flexible and feature-rich payment processor, Braintree is one of the best alternatives to Stripe.
Conclusion
Stripe is a powerful payment processing platform, but it’s not the only option available. Depending on a business’s needs, there are many alternatives that may offer better pricing, different payment methods, or unique features.
Square is ideal for businesses that need both online and in-person payment solutions, while Adyen and Checkout.com cater to large enterprises with global operations. PayPal and Venmo provide convenient payment options for consumers, while GoCardless and Dwolla specialize in bank transfers and direct debits.
Choosing the right Stripe alternative depends on factors such as transaction fees, integration complexity, and the specific needs of a business. Companies that need a user-friendly solution may prefer Square or PayPal, while those looking for enterprise-level capabilities might find Adyen or Braintree more suitable.
Regardless of the choice, businesses should carefully evaluate each platform’s features, security, and pricing before making a decision. By selecting the right payment processor, businesses can improve their checkout experience, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction.
