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Payment processing software · 11 alternatives

Stripe alternatives: 11 compared

Mateus Rocha Written by Mateus Rocha · Edited by Sebastiaan Smits · Fact-checked by Priya Nandakumar · Published October 7, 2026 · Updated October 7, 2026

Buyers leave Stripe for lower negotiated rates at volume, for a merchant of record that takes over sales tax, or for a local specialist such as direct debit or in-person payments. Most larger merchants go to Adyen, Braintree or Checkout.com, software sellers to Paddle, and European merchants to Mollie.

Short answer: The closest replacements for Stripe in our payment processing software ranking are Adyen, PayPal Enterprise Payments (Braintree) and Mollie. Choose Adyen if your volume justifies negotiating Interchange++ pricing on one global platform. All 11 alternatives below are ranked products from Best Payment Processing / Payment Gateway Software in 2026, and each says where it differs from Stripe and when Stripe is still the better choice.

Visibility in our rankings can be paid for. Payment moves a vendor's position within the shortlist; it never adds a vendor, and it never changes a word of the review or of this page. How it works: placement disclosure · editorial process.

Stripe at a glance

  • Headquarters: United States
  • Pricing model: Usage-based
  • Pricing: 1.5% + EUR0.25 for standard EEA cards, higher for UK and international cards, per Stripe's published Netherlands rate card; no monthly fee for core payments; add-ons such as Billing, Tax, Sigma and the Managed Payments merchant-of-record service are charged separately.
  • Free option: None
  • Built for: Developer-led SaaS, marketplaces and online stores
  • Wrong for: A retail or restaurant business needing mature, integrated point-of-sale hardware alongside online payments will get a more complete experience from Square than from Stripe's online-first design.
  • Place in our ranking: #4 of 15
  • Website: stripe.com

Facts from our payment processing software ranking, last checked October 7, 2026.

Why buyers look past Stripe

  1. Add-ons are priced one by one

    Stripe's card rate is published, but Billing is a separate charge: 0.7% of billing volume pay-as-you-go, or monthly plans starting at EUR500 a month for volume up to EUR80,000 a month. A merchant using several add-ons compares a stack of prices, not one rate.

  2. Standard rates do not fall on their own

    Stripe lists 1.5% + EUR0.25 for standard European cards and 3.15% + EUR0.25 for other international cards, with a 2% conversion fee where it applies. Custom rates exist, but they are negotiated on request. Large merchants therefore compare quotes from Interchange++ providers.

  3. Tax liability stays with you

    On standard Stripe products the merchant remains the merchant of record. Managed Payments, where Stripe takes that role, covers digital products only and does not support Connect. Sellers who want a third party to carry the tax filings look at Paddle or BlueSnap.

11 alternatives at a glance

Closest replacement first. The last column is our place in the full 15-product ranking.

#AlternativeHeadquartersPricingKey differenceSwitch ifOur rank
1AdyenNetherlandsUsage-based; noneEnterprise-grade single platform, negotiated pricingyour volume justifies negotiating Interchange++ pricing on one global platform#5
2PayPal Enterprise Payments (Braintree)United StatesUsage-based; noneBraintree, rebranded and folded into PayPalyou want cards and PayPal wallets under one contract and sell mostly in US dollars#7
3MollieNetherlandsUsage-based; noneTransparent European payments, no lock-in contractyou sell mainly in Europe and want one blended rate and no lock-in#1
4Checkout.comUnited KingdomQuote only; noneEnterprise-grade processing on owned infrastructureyou want flat-rate or Interchange++ pricing quoted for your risk profile#10
5PaddleUnited KingdomUsage-based; noneMerchant of record for SaaS and software sellersyou sell software and want a vendor to carry tax filings and chargebacks#3
6SquareUnited StatesUsage-based; free planIntegrated in-person and online paymentsyou sell in a physical shop as well as online and want one POS system#8
7PayPal BusinessUnited StatesUsage-based; noneThe most recognized checkout button for buyersyour buyers expect to pay with a PayPal account and you sell mostly domestically#6
8WorldpayUnited StatesQuote only; noneLegacy global acquirer, now part of Global Paymentsyou take mostly card payments, want an acquirer, and accept a quote-led process#9
9BlueSnapUnited StatesUsage-based; noneAll-in-one global payments, now under Payrocyou run B2B invoicing and want payments tied into NetSuite or Sage Intacct#15
10GoCardlessUnited KingdomUsage-based; noneBank-to-bank Direct Debit for recurring paymentsmost of your revenue is recurring and customers can pay by Direct Debit#11
11RazorpayIndiaUsage-based; noneFlat 2% domestic payments, built for Indiamost of your customers pay in India with UPI, RuPay or netbanking#2

What each alternative does differently

1. Adyen

Enterprise-grade single platform, negotiated pricing · Netherlands

Adyen charges a fixed $0.13 per transaction plus a method-specific fee, with no setup or monthly fees but a minimum invoice that depends on industry. It is built for enterprise volume across online, in-person and platform payments. It is not an instant self-serve product, and its fees are indicative until agreed.

Switch from Stripe if your volume justifies negotiating Interchange++ pricing on one global platform.

Pricing: Interchange++ model, a $0.13 fixed processing fee plus a method-specific variable fee, per Adyen's published pricing page; no monthly, setup, integration or closure fees, but a minimum invoice applies and the listed fees are indicative. (none)

Full review: #5 of 15 in our ranking · Visit Adyen →

2. PayPal Enterprise Payments (Braintree)

Braintree, rebranded and folded into PayPal · United States

Braintree is PayPal's enterprise payment platform, and its old domain now redirects to PayPal. Standard pricing adds 1% for non-USD currency and 1% for cards issued outside the US, plus a flat $15 chargeback fee. It suits merchants who want card and PayPal wallet acceptance from one contract.

Switch from Stripe if you want cards and PayPal wallets under one contract and sell mostly in US dollars.

Pricing: 2.89% + $0.29 per transaction standard; +1% surcharge for non-USD currency; +1% for non-US-issued cards; $15 flat chargeback fee; a reduced 2.19% + $0.29 rate is available for verified 501(c)(3) nonprofits. (none)

Full review: #7 of 15 in our ranking · Visit PayPal Enterprise Payments (Braintree) →

3. Mollie

Transparent European payments, no lock-in contract · Netherlands

Mollie quotes one blended fee per transaction regardless of method, with no minimum costs or lock-in contract and cancellation at any time. It accepts 38 payment methods through one integration and also covers in-person payments. Merchants above EUR100,000 a month can negotiate volume pricing.

Switch from Stripe if you sell mainly in Europe and want one blended rate and no lock-in.

Pricing: Pay-as-you-go per-method transaction fees, for example 1.80% + EUR0.25 for EEA Visa consumer cards; no minimum costs, no lock-in contract; in-person card payments EUR0/month pay-as-you-go or EUR20/month Pro tier with lower rates. (none)

Full review: #1 of 15 in our ranking · Visit Mollie →

4. Checkout.com

Enterprise-grade processing on owned infrastructure · United Kingdom

Checkout.com offers a fully flat rate or Interchange++, priced on your business profile and risk category. It publishes no rates and sells through a sales contact, with no setup or account maintenance fees. It also processes for registered charities free of charge in the countries where it operates.

Switch from Stripe if you want flat-rate or Interchange++ pricing quoted for your risk profile.

Pricing: Offers either a flat-rate or an Interchange++ option depending on business profile and risk category, explicitly quote-only; free processing available for registered charities. (none)

Full review: #10 of 15 in our ranking · Visit Checkout.com →

5. Paddle

Merchant of record for SaaS and software sellers · United Kingdom

Paddle acts as merchant of record: it collects and files sales tax and VAT, handles fraud, chargebacks and buyer support, and takes 5% + 50 cents per Checkout transaction with no monthly fee. It serves SaaS, apps and digital goods, not physical retail or marketplace payouts.

Switch from Stripe if you sell software and want a vendor to carry tax filings and chargebacks.

Pricing: 5% + $0.50 per checkout transaction, all-inclusive: covers payment processing, global sales-tax and VAT compliance and remittance, fraud protection, and support; no monthly fee. (none)

Full review: #3 of 15 in our ranking · Visit Paddle →

6. Square

Integrated in-person and online payments · United States

Square Free costs $0 a month and includes a point-of-sale app, an online site builder, item library, invoicing and booking, with fees charged per transaction. Plus lowers processing fees for a monthly price. It is organised around shops and in-person selling first, with online as an extension.

Switch from Stripe if you sell in a physical shop as well as online and want one POS system.

Pricing: Square Free costs $0 a month per location and includes basic POS, an online site, item library and invoicing, paid for through processing fees; Plus at $49 and Premium at $149 per location per month lower the processing rates. (free plan)

Full review: #8 of 15 in our ranking · Visit Square →

7. PayPal Business

The most recognized checkout button for buyers · United States

PayPal Business has no monthly fee for standard PayPal Checkout, but its domestic rate is a percentage plus a fixed fee, with an extra 1.50% on international commercial transactions and a 4.00% currency conversion fee. Paid tiers such as Payments Pro add monthly charges. Its draw is the PayPal wallet.

Switch from Stripe if your buyers expect to pay with a PayPal account and you sell mostly domestically.

Pricing: 3.49% + $0.49 standard PayPal Checkout rate in the US, per PayPal's published fee page; no monthly fee to start; optional Invoicing subscription at $14.99/month. (none)

Full review: #6 of 15 in our ranking · Visit PayPal Business →

8. Worldpay

Legacy global acquirer, now part of Global Payments · United States

Worldpay's published page is a UK quote tool that asks for annual card turnover, average transaction value and merchant category code. Indicative terms include a minimum monthly service charge and monthly terminal and PCI fees. It is aimed at merchants accepting cards across many sectors, with pricing finalised after a quote.

Switch from Stripe if you take mostly card payments, want an acquirer, and accept a quote-led process.

Pricing: Quote-only enterprise acquiring model; no published self-serve rate card. (none)

Full review: #9 of 15 in our ranking · Visit Worldpay →

9. BlueSnap

All-in-one global payments, now under Payroc · United States

BlueSnap calls itself a payment orchestration platform, with intelligent routing, local card acquiring in 50 countries and B2B invoice collection. It lists native integrations with NetSuite, BigCommerce and Sage Intacct. Rates sit in region-specific merchant pricing agreements rather than one rate card.

Switch from Stripe if you run B2B invoicing and want payments tied into NetSuite or Sage Intacct.

Pricing: Quick Start pay-as-you-go rates by region, for example 2.9% + $0.30 per successful card transaction in the US and 1.5% + EUR0.25 in the EU, not available to high-risk merchants; custom pricing by consultation, with region-specific Merchant Application Pricing Agreements. (none)

Full review: #15 of 15 in our ranking · Visit BlueSnap →

10. GoCardless

Bank-to-bank Direct Debit for recurring payments · United Kingdom

GoCardless collects through Direct Debit and bank payments rather than cards. Standard is 1% + 20p capped at GBP4, with Advanced and Pro adding failure recovery and fraud protection. International payments cost an extra 0.3%. It suits recurring invoices and subscriptions, not one-off card checkout.

Switch from Stripe if most of your revenue is recurring and customers can pay by Direct Debit.

Pricing: Tiered percentage plus fixed fee per transaction: Standard 1% + 20p capped at GBP4, Advanced 1.25% + 20p capped at GBP5, Pro 1.4% + 20p capped at GBP5.60; international rates 2-2.4% + 20p; Custom enterprise plan for GBP1m+ annual revenue. (none)

Full review: #11 of 15 in our ranking · Visit GoCardless →

11. Razorpay

Flat 2% domestic payments, built for India · India

Razorpay charges 2% per successful domestic transaction across cards, UPI, RuPay, netbanking and wallets, with no setup or annual fee. International cards cost up to 3%. It is built around Indian payment instruments, with custom pricing above Rs. 5,00,000 a month.

Switch from Stripe if most of your customers pay in India with UPI, RuPay or netbanking.

Pricing: 2% per successful domestic transaction on most payment instruments, no setup fee, no annual maintenance charge, no refund-processing fee; corporate cards 2.15%, UPI QR 0.99%; international cards up to 3%; international bank transfers 1%; custom enterprise pricing above INR500,000/month volume. (none)

Full review: #2 of 15 in our ranking · Visit Razorpay →

When Stripe is still the right choice

Stay with Stripe if you are a developer-led team that values its API and documentation, need Billing, Connect or Radar from one vendor, and process too little volume for a negotiated rate to matter. Stripe also offers Managed Payments, a merchant of record option for digital products, next to its standard payments.

What to expect when you switch from Stripe

  1. Card data moves by request, not by export button

    Stripe will transfer saved card data to another processor, but only one that is PCI DSS Level 1 compliant and supplies its attestation and a PGP key of at least 4096 bits. You contact Stripe with the new processor's name, and Stripe prepares an encrypted JSON file.

  2. Payment history and subscriptions are not in that file

    The card export holds customers, emails, cards and metadata. Stripe does not export payment history or subscriptions, so pull those through the API or Dashboard. Reports such as Balance and Payout reconciliation download as transaction history. Link credentials are excluded, so those customers must re-enter a card.

  3. Keep the account open while you migrate

    Stripe states you can keep accessing your data through the Dashboard and API after you stop processing, as long as you do not close or delete the account. Do not close it until subscriptions are rebuilt and the first full billing cycle has cleared on the new provider.

Questions and answers

Can I take my customers' saved cards when I leave Stripe?

Yes, Stripe will transfer card data to a PCI DSS Level 1 compliant processor on request. You tell Stripe the new processor, and the processor must provide its attestation of compliance and a PGP public key of 4096 bits or more. Cards saved through Link are excluded.

What format is the card export in?

Stripe prepares an encrypted JSON file with customers, email addresses, card details and any attached metadata. The new processor imports it. Plan for the file to carry card and customer data only, not your subscription or payment records.

Is my payment history exported with the cards?

No, Stripe does not export payment history, subscriptions or other objects with the card file. You retrieve those with the API or Dashboard. The Balance report gives downloadable monthly transaction history with custom metadata, which helps for accounting records.

Will I lose access to Stripe data after I leave?

No, Stripe states you can keep using the Dashboard and API after you stop processing payments, provided you do not close or delete the account. Download reports and fees data before you decide to close it.

Do I need a new tax setup if I move to a merchant of record?

Yes, because a merchant of record such as Paddle becomes the seller of record and handles sales tax and VAT filings itself. With Stripe's standard products you stay the merchant of record, and Stripe's Managed Payments covers digital products only.

Can I move Stripe Billing subscriptions to another provider?

Not as a ready-made export. Stripe's migration documentation describes importing subscriptions into Stripe from other systems, and its card export excludes subscriptions. Plan to rebuild plans and billing dates on the new provider and map customers to its IDs.

Sources

Prices, plan limits and product facts about Stripe on this page were checked against the vendors' own pages on October 7, 2026. Vendors change both without notice, so treat the figures as of that date.

Who wrote this

Mateus Rocha Mateus Rocha, Senior Analyst, Revenue & Operations Software, wrote this page. Covers CRM, project management and the systems a growing revenue team argues about.

Priya Nandakumar Priya Nandakumar, Senior Analyst, Field & Facilities Software, checked the facts. Sebastiaan Smits edited it. Last reviewed October 7, 2026. How we review.