Factors to Consider When Choosing a Stripe Alternative
Stripe has gained immense popularity among small businesses as a versatile and reliable payment gateway solution. Its easy integration, robust features, and developer-friendly environment have made it a top choice for many entrepreneurs. However, there are various reasons why small businesses may seek alternatives to Stripe. This blog aims to present the 9 best Stripe alternatives for small businesses in 2023, providing comprehensive information to help you make an informed decision. Let’s explore these alternatives and discover which one suits your business needs the best.
When choosing a Stripe alternative, consider the following factors:
- Pricing Structure: Compare the pricing models of different alternatives to ensure they align with your business needs. Look for transparent pricing, including transaction fees and any additional charges.
- Payment Options: Evaluate the alternative’s supported payment methods to ensure they cover your desired options, such as credit cards, digital wallets, or international payments.
- Integration Compatibility: Check if the alternative integrates seamlessly with your existing systems, including e-commerce platforms, CRM software, or other essential tools you use for your business.
- Security Measures: Verify the security features and protocols implemented by the alternative to protect your customers’ payment information and minimize the risk of fraudulent activities.
- Developer-Friendly: If you require customization or have a development team, assess the alternative’s API documentation, developer tools, and flexibility to ensure it meets your technical requirements.
- International Support: If your business operates globally or plans to expand internationally, confirm that the alternative supports multiple currencies, handles cross-border transactions, and complies with local regulations.
- Customer Support: Research the quality and availability of customer support provided by the alternative, ensuring they offer responsive assistance in case you encounter any issues or have questions.
- Scalability: Consider the alternative’s scalability and whether it can accommodate your business’s growth without limitations or additional costs as you expand your operations.
- Reputation and User Reviews: Read reviews and seek recommendations from other businesses or industry experts to gauge the reputation, reliability, and overall user satisfaction of the alternative.
- Additional Features: Assess any additional features or functionalities offered by the alternative, such as recurring billing, subscription management, invoicing, or analytics, which may be valuable for your business operations.
Here are the 9 best Stripe alternatives to use:
PayPal vs Stripe
PayPal is one of the leading alternatives to Stripe for small businesses. It offers a comprehensive suite of payment solutions that cater to businesses of all sizes.
- To get started with PayPal, small businesses need to create a PayPal business account and link it to their bank account.
- Once the account is set up, businesses can integrate PayPal’s payment gateway into their website or mobile app by using PayPal’s developer tools or plugins available for popular e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce and Shopify.
PayPal supports various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal balances. Businesses can also generate and send invoices to customers directly through PayPal. With PayPal, small businesses can easily manage payments, process refunds, and access detailed transaction reports.
Payment Methods | PayPal | Stripe |
| Pricing | Transaction fees and pricing plans | Transaction fees and custom pricing |
| International Support | Supports international payments | Supports international payments |
| Security | Encryption, fraud protection, buyer and seller protection | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling |
| Analytics and Reporting | Basic analytics and reporting features | Robust analytics and reporting capabilities |
Square vs Stripe
Square is another popular alternative to Stripe, especially for small businesses that have both online and physical store presence. Square offers a range of payment solutions, including a payment gateway, point-of-sale (POS) system, and online store platform. To start accepting payments with Square, businesses can sign up for a Square account and order a Square reader to process in-person payments. For online payments, businesses can integrate Square’s payment gateway into their website or use Square’s online store platform to build and manage their e-commerce store. Square supports various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Small businesses can also benefit from Square’s additional features, such as inventory management, sales analytics, and customer loyalty programs.
Features | Square | Stripe |
| Payment Methods | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) |
| Pricing | Transaction fees and pricing plans | Transaction fees and custom pricing |
| Security | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling |
| Customer Support | Phone, email, chat support | Email, phone, live chat, support tickets |
| Analytics and Reporting | Robust analytics and reporting capabilities | Analytics and reporting features |
Braintree vs Stripe
Braintree, owned by PayPal, is a payment gateway solution that provides an alternative to Stripe. It offers a seamless integration process and supports multiple programming languages, making it suitable for small businesses with custom-built websites or mobile apps. To use Braintree, businesses need to create a Braintree account and complete the necessary verification process. Once the account is set up, businesses can integrate Braintree’s API or SDKs into their website or app to enable secure payment processing. Braintree supports various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets like PayPal and Venmo. It also provides advanced features like fraud protection, recurring billing, and international payment support, making it a versatile option for small businesses.
Features | Braintree | Stripe |
| Payment Methods | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) |
| Pricing | Transaction fees and pricing plans | Transaction fees and custom pricing |
| Integration Options | Integration with various e-commerce platforms and services | Integration with popular e-commerce platforms and services |
| Security | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling |
| Industry Focus | Popular among e-commerce businesses and technology companies | Popular among startups and technology companies |
Authorize.Net vs Stripe
Authorize.Net is a longstanding player in the online payment industry and offers a reliable alternative to Stripe for small businesses. To get started with Authorize.Net, businesses need to sign up for an account and complete the application process, which includes verifying their business details. Once the account is set up, businesses can integrate Authorize.Net’s payment gateway into their website or mobile app using the available developer tools and plugins. Authorize.Net supports various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and e-checks. It also offers features like fraud detection, recurring billing, and customer information management. With Authorize.Net, small businesses can securely accept online payments and streamline their payment processes.
Features | Authorize.net | Stripe |
| Payment Methods | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) |
| Pricing | Transaction fees and pricing plans | Transaction fees and custom pricing |
| International Support | Supports international payments | Supports international payments |
| Security | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling |
| Additional Features | Recurring billing, fraud prevention tools, payment tokenization | Stripe Connect (platform payments), subscription management |
2Checkout vs Stripe
2Checkout, now known as Verifone, is a global payment platform that serves as an alternative to Stripe for small businesses looking for international payment capabilities. To use 2Checkout, businesses need to create an account and go through the verification process. Once the account is set up, businesses can integrate 2Checkout’s payment gateway into their website or mobile app by utilizing the available integration options, such as API or hosted payment pages. 2Checkout supports multiple payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and various local payment options specific to different countries. It also provides features like recurring billing, fraud detection, and multi-currency support, making it a suitable choice for small businesses with a global customer base.
Features | 2Checkout | Stripe |
| Payment Methods | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pa | sCredit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) |
| Pricing Transaction fees and custom pricing | Transaction fees and pricing plans | Transaction fees and custom pricing |
| Customer Support | Phone, email, chat support | Email, phone, live chat, support tickets |
| Analytics and Reporting | Analytics and reporting features | Analytics and reporting features |
WePay vs Stripe
WePay is a payment processing platform that offers an alternative to Stripe, particularly for small businesses with a focus on crowdfunding or event ticketing. To start using WePay, businesses need to create a WePay account and complete the necessary verification steps. Once the account is set up, businesses can integrate WePay’s payment API into their website or mobile app to facilitate secure transactions. WePay supports various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. It also offers features like customizable payment pages, automated payouts, and fraud protection. With WePay, small businesses can streamline their payment processes and provide a seamless payment experience to their customers.
| Features | 2Checkout | Stripe |
| Payment Methods | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay) | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay,Google Pay) |
| Pricing | Transaction fees and pricing plans | Transaction fees and custom pricing |
| Security | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling |
| Documentation | Comprehensive documentation and resources | Detailed documentation and resources |
| Additional Features | Recurring billing, subscription management, order management | Stripe Connect (platform payments), subscription management |
Adyen vs Stripe
Adyen is a global payment platform that serves as an alternative to Stripe, particularly for businesses looking for extensive international payment coverage. To get started with Adyen, businesses need to sign up for an account and complete the necessary verification process. Once the account is approved, businesses can integrate Adyen’s payment gateway into their website or mobile app using the available integration options, such as API or hosted payment pages. Adyen supports a wide range of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and various local payment options specific to different countries. It also provides advanced features like risk management, recurring billing, and real-time reporting. With Adyen, small businesses can accept payments globally and provide localized payment experiences to their customers.
Features | Adyen | Stripe |
| Payment Methods | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, alternative payment methods | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) |
| Pricing | Custom pricing based on business needs | Transaction fees and custom pricing |
| Currency Options | Supports multiple currencies, currency conversion | Supports multiple currencies |
| Security | Encryption, fraud protection, tokenization | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling |
| Customer Support | Dedicated account management and support | Email, phone, live chat, support tickets |
Payline vs Stripe
Payline is a payment processing company that offers an alternative to Stripe, focusing on providing tailored solutions for small businesses. To start using Payline, businesses need to sign up for an account and complete the application process, including providing business and banking details. Once the account is set up, businesses can integrate Payline’s payment gateway into their website or mobile app using the available developer tools and plugins. Payline supports various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and e-checks. It also offers features like recurring billing, fraud protection, and detailed reporting. With Payline, small businesses can accept payments securely and efficiently manage their payment operations.
| Features | Payline | Stripe |
| Payment Methods | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) |
| Pricing | Transaction fees and pricing plans | Transaction fees and custom pricing |
| Security | Encryption, fraud protection, tokenization | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling |
| Customer Support | Phone, email, and chat support | Email, phone, live chat, support tickets |
| Additional Features | Recurring billing, invoicing, mobile payments | Stripe Connect (platform payments), subscription management |
Shopify Payments vs Stripe
Shopify Payments is a payment solution integrated directly into the popular e-commerce platform Shopify, offering an alternative to Stripe for businesses running their online stores on Shopify. To use Shopify Payments, businesses need to create a Shopify store and enable the payment solution within the settings. Shopify Payments supports multiple payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. It also provides features like automatic tax calculation, fraud analysis, and chargeback protection. With Shopify Payments, small businesses can have a streamlined e-commerce experience, as it eliminates the need for third-party payment gateways and simplifies the setup and management of online payments.
Features | Shopify Payments | Stripe |
| Payment Methods | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Shopify Pay) | Credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) |
| Pricing | Transaction fees and pricing plans | Transaction fees and custom pricing |
| Security | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling | Encryption, fraud protection, chargeback handling |
| Customer Support | Shopify support channels | Email, phone, live chat, support tickets |
| Documentation | Detailed documentation and resources | Detailed documentation and resources |
Conclusion
Choosing the right Stripe alternative for your small business requires careful evaluation and consideration of various factors. Throughout this blog, we have discussed the nine best alternatives for 2023, taking into account pricing, payment methods, security, user experience, customer support, international support, analytics, scalability, and additional features. By summarizing these key factors and reviewing the alternatives in detail, we hope you are now equipped to make an informed decision that aligns with your business objectives and growth aspirations.
To further boost your business success, we encourage you to follow and partner with Ubique Digital Solutions. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing comprehensive digital solutions tailored to your specific needs. Whether it’s optimizing your online presence, enhancing customer engagement, or driving sales, we are here to support your business journey. Visit our website and reach out to us today to embark on a path toward exponential growth and success. Contact us to learn more about our tailored digital solutions for your business.
FAQs
Q: Why should I consider alternatives to Stripe?
While Stripe is a popular payment gateway, there may be various reasons to consider alternatives. These can include pricing concerns, specific feature requirements, compatibility issues, or the need for better customer support.
Q: How can I compare pricing and fees among different alternatives?
To compare pricing and fees, you can visit the websites of each alternative and review their pricing pages. Pay attention to transaction fees, setup fees, monthly fees, and any additional costs that may apply.
Q: Are all payment methods supported by each alternative?
The available payment methods may vary among alternatives. It’s important to check their documentation or contact their support to confirm if they support the specific payment methods you require.
Q: Can I integrate these alternatives with my existing e-commerce platform?
Integration options vary, so it’s essential to check the supported e-commerce platforms and any plugins or extensions available. Contacting the alternative’s support team can provide you with detailed information on integration possibilities.
Q: How can I ensure the security and fraud prevention measures of an alternative?
Look for information about security measures on the alternative’s website, such as encryption protocols, compliance certifications, and fraud prevention technologies. Additionally, read reviews and testimonials to gauge the experiences of other users.
