8 Best Stripe Alternatives for Your E-Commerce Business in 2025

If you process a high volume of transactions, Stripe can end up costing significantly more than some competitors due to its reliance on per-transaction fees, which can quickly add up. That’s one reason I like Paysafe. Not only does it offer lower transaction fees than Stripe, but it also provides flexible plans, including flat-rate, interchange-plus, and surcharge options. This way, you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Like Stripe, Paysafe simplifies global transactions. It supports over 40 currencies and 250 international payment methods, so you can effortlessly cater to a diverse audience.

While Paysafe is my top pick for e-commerce payment processing, I’ve also put together a list of other Stripe alternatives that might be a better fit for your business.

Pros and Cons of Stripe

What We Look For in the Best Alternatives to Stripe

When researching Stripe’s competitors, my first priority was narrowing down the list of payment processors to those offering the most secure online payment processing. They also had to have the following essential features.

• Powerful e-commerce tools. Each of these payment processors gives you what you need to sell online. That includes integration with popular e-commerce platforms and fast-loading shopping carts (built-in or integrated).
• Fair, easy-to-understand pricing. Stripe charges many different processing rates and fees, which makes it hard to project your actual costs. The processors on this list offer simpler subscription-style or interchange-plus plans that make it easier to predict how much you’ll pay.
• Outstanding security features. Every processor on my list is Level 1 PCI compliant, the highest standard for the industry. Fraud monitoring, end-to-end encryption, and tokenization are other defensive tools that help reduce costly chargebacks and keep your customers’ data secure.
• Ease of use. Stripe can be challenging to set up and integrate with your online store, and the complexity of its API and customizations can be overwhelming. You’ll find these alternatives to be more user-friendly at the outset and beyond.
• Beginner-friendly business management tools. A challenging interface can make it difficult to use Stripe’s reporting, analytics, and accounting features. The payment processors on this list offer similar tools, but they are typically easier to access and customize.

1. Paysafe: Best Stripe Alternative for International Businesses

For e-commerce businesses that serve a global clientele and are looking for a Stripe alternative with competitive rates, my top pick is Paysafe. With Paysafe, you can process payments in 40+ currencies and accept over 250 international payment methods. This ensures you can cater to the preferences of your customers.

During my research, I also learned that Paysafe is one of the few providers that offers a stand-alone e-commerce processing plan. It costs just 0.50% + $0.10 per month and has competitively priced transaction fees. The package includes access to the Authorize.Net payment gateway, a full-featured mobile app, and fast payouts.

Because Paysafe tailors processing solutions to your unique needs, it doesn’t share pricing on its website, except for its interchange-plus plan. Still, there’s no question that its advanced security technology for card-not-present transactions makes it an appealing processor for any global company, whatever its size, industry, or risk level.

Features and Benefits

• Flexible payment options. You can accept MOTO, digital invoicing, pay-by-link, recurring, and even QR code payments (through Paysafe’s partnership with Applova).
• Advanced chargeback protection. For an additional fee, you can add Paysafe’s Encrypto Advantage plan to its robust security features. This plan covers the cost of chargebacks (up to $250 per chargeback).
• Support for high-risk merchants. Paysafe serves high-risk industries that Stripe doesn’t support, including international gaming, crypto, and international currency trading.
• Variety of POS solutions.  As an official reseller of Clover and other top providers, Paysafe makes it easy to find a countertop, portable, or mobile POS solution that fits your needs.

Read our expert Paysafe review for more benefits.

2. Leaders Merchant Services: A Cheap Stripe Alternative

Leaders Merchant Services (LMS) offers an interchange-plus payment model, with low online transaction fees that can yield substantial savings as compared to Stripe’s flat-fee model. LMS also boasts a high 98% approval rate, which makes it suitable for new businesses looking for quick approval and onboarding.

For e-commerce businesses that also have brick-and-mortar locations, LMS can provide free POS Clover terminals, but generally only with a 3-year contract. Alternatively, you’ll get the option to purchase equipment outright, including a terminal and check reader. While this increases your upfront costs, you’ll save on LMS’s monthly rental, insurance, and maintenance fees.

If you’re an existing merchant, take advantage of LMS’s meet-or-beat price guarantee when negotiating your new rates. You’ll also need to factor in the small monthly fee for using its Authorize.net payment gateway and an annual PCI compliance fee.

Features and Benefits

• Full-featured shopping cart. When you integrate the CartManager shopping cart into your online store, you’ll get helpful tools that will automatically calculate tax and shipping costs, support multiple languages, provide insights into customer behavior, and more.
• QuickBooks integration. Merchants can use Instant Accept to take payments on any device. Real-time syncing will keep your records up to date without having to launch QuickBooks.
• Gift cards and loyalty programs. Digital gift cards and loyalty programs are time-honored tools for creating loyal, return customers.
• Business funding. LMS offers convenient merchant cash advance and business loan options with predictable repayment terms. Once approved, you’ll pay the loan back through a small commission on your future sales.

To learn more, read our expert Leaders Merchant Services review.

3. PaymentCloud: Best Alternative for High-Risk Businesses

While Stripe often declines or even terminates accounts for businesses it considers high-risk, PaymentCloud actively accommodates these industries. It maintains a 98% approval rate, so if you’ve not been able to secure reliable processing with Stripe, PaymentCloud’s specialized approach could be a potential solution. It also comes with fraud prevention and chargeback management tools specifically designed to safeguard high-risk merchants.

If card-not-present transactions dominate your business, PaymentCloud will help you set up virtual terminals and payment gateways for free. Plus, you can use its API to integrate with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce.

Pricing is where PaymentCloud gets tricky. Unlike Stripe’s upfront pricing model with no hidden fees, PaymentCloud doesn’t disclose its rates outright. That said, I learned that fees vary based on your risk level. Expect transaction fees starting at around Around 2.1% + 15¢ for low-risk businesses and going up to Around 3.95% + 15¢ for high-risk ones.

Features and Benefits

• Free equipment for in-person transactions. While Stripe doesn’t provide free hardware, PaymentCloud gives you options like full POS kiosks, wireless terminals, or mobile readers, which are free for the duration of your contract. If you already own a terminal, PaymentCloud will reprogram it for free.
• Funding options. PaymentCloud offers business funding after just three months of credit card processing, compared to Stripe’s six-month requirement. Plus, you can apply for a loan directly through PaymentCloud, whereas Stripe requires you to wait for its team to reach out.
• Dedicated account manager. From your first call, you’re paired with someone who guides you through every step. Having a point of contact who is familiar with your account and can directly address issues makes the onboarding process smoother and less stressful.
• Valuable software integrations. PaymentCloud integrates seamlessly with platforms like Shopify, WordPress, Hubspot, and Slack. This flexibility can significantly simplify your operations, especially if you manage multiple systems in your business.

Our in-depth PaymentCloud review has more info.

4. Square: Best Stripe Alternative for Multichannel

Square truly shines for businesses that sell across multiple channels, providing extensive support for online and in-person transactions. While Stripe supports integrations with e-commerce platforms, Square goes a step further by offering its own website builder. With Square Online, you can create a simple e-commerce store for free. I find this particularly helpful if you’re starting fresh and don’t want the hassle of juggling separate platforms.

For brick-and-mortar businesses, Square offers a free mobile card reader that plugs into most smartphones or tablets. Stripe, in contrast, charges for hardware from the start. Square also sells various devices, from compact chip readers to dual-screen POS registers. It also has a second-generation POS Stand that turns an iPad into a full-fledged POS system that works offline.

Square generally charges slightly lower percentage markups (2.5% + 10¢) compared to Stripe. However, when you factor in additional fees for things like ACH transfers and recurring payments, Stripe actually comes out cheaper. Just something to note when deciding between the two payment providers.

Features and Benefits

• Instant payouts via checking account. While both Stripe and Square offer same-day payouts for an extra fee, Square takes it a step further by providing a cost-free alternative. You can instantly access your sales revenue without additional charges by opening a free, FDIC-insured business checking account – set up in just two minutes.
• Easy onboarding. Signing up with Square is seamless – there’s no approval process, and you can start accepting payments immediately. While Stripe is also user-friendly, I’ve found Square’s onboarding slightly more intuitive, especially if you’re new to payment processors.
• Extensive app marketplace. Square’s app marketplace is another strong point. Its free plans for apps like ShipStation and Mailchimp let you test integrations without any financial commitment.
• Developer-friendly API and SDKs. Square’s APIs allow you to create custom solutions for processing orders, managing inventory, analyzing customer behavior, and more.

For more details, see our expert Square review.

5. CardX: Better Surcharging Process

Stripe might allow surcharging, but it doesn’t treat it with the precision CardX does. CardX makes handling complex surcharging rules effortless. It automatically adapts to varying regulations based on your state, card type, and issuing bank. It takes care of the details, from registering your business with card brands to ensuring compliance with the 4% surcharge cap.

Along with automatically managing surcharges, it also helps you communicate surcharging policies. It provides signage for your point of sale, whether in-store or online, so you’re always transparent with your customers. It also consolidates the purchase amount and credit card fee into a single charge, appearing as one item on your customers’ credit card statements, simplifying their billing process.

CardX only allows surcharging on credit cards so your customers will pay a flat 3.5% customer surcharge fee on every credit card transaction. As for debit card transactions, you’ll pay a small 1% + 25¢ transaction fee. While CardX doesn’t charge a monthly plan fee, there is a monthly rental fee of $29 for the virtual terminal and $35 for the POS terminal. Unfortunately, the virtual terminal fee is mandatory for both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar businesses because it doubles as the CardX Portal.

Features and Benefits

• Tailored solutions for select institutions. If your business is in the public sector, CardX waives transaction costs for eligible institutions, so they receive 100% of billed payments.
• Custom POS terminal and software. The Verifone VX520 POS terminal that CardX provides comes pre-installed with CardX’s proprietary software and everything you need to get started. These include compliance signage, receipt paper, power cords, and a detailed setup guide.
• Lightbox payment gateway. To enable payments on your website, you can integrate the CardX Lightbox – a seamless, embedded payment form that pops up directly on your webpage.
• Advanced virtual terminal. CardX’s virtual terminal is designed for seamless card-not-present transactions, including Mail-Order Telephone Orders (MOTO).

Read our expert CardX review to learn more.

6. Stax: Best Stripe Alternative for Established E-Commerce Businesses

Stax is a good choice if you’re looking for a payment processor with a low monthly membership fee that still offers many e-commerce features, including an online merchant portal, analytics reports, inventory management, automated customer reminders, and more.

Unlike Stripe, there’s no interchange-plus markup for Stax – you’ll just pay a small 15¢ + interchange (online) fee on each online transaction. This makes it easier to project your monthly processing costs and keep on top of your business’s finances. You can read more about this in our Stax vs. Stripe comparison.

Stax typically approves accounts within 24-48 hours, though you’ll need to provide 3 months of payment processing transactions to apply. That’s one reason Stax may not be ideal for startups with no transaction history. Stax is also not suitable for small to mid-sized businesses due to its higher-than-usual monthly fee that starts from $99.00. However, established businesses earning $5,000+ per month could save up to 40% on credit card processing with Stax.

Features and Benefits

• One-click shopping cart setup. The pre-built Stax shopping cart can be activated with a single click. Simply add products or services you sell, click Create, and you’re ready to take orders.
• Billing and invoicing. Business tools let you schedule recurring billing, send customers customized invoices by text or email, and easily track payments right from your Stax dashboard.
• Accounting tools. With a seamless QuickBooks integration and two-way data sync, Stax makes managing finances easy. Payments, customer information, invoices, and products/services are updated automatically.
• Set up multiple sales channels. Securely accept online, in-person, keyed, mobile, and digital wallet payments with a built-in virtual terminal, custom shopping cart, and modern mobile app.

Read our expert Stax review for more details.

Other Notable Stripe Alternatives

7. Payment Depot

Payment Depot may offer a cost-effective solution if your business is new or your sales volume is less than $20,000 per month. Its low-cost membership plans start at just $0 per month with 0% markups on interchange rates. Instead, you’ll pay just 0.2%-1.95% for each online transaction.

All plans include a free virtual terminal and a free POS terminal if you also have a physical location. You can integrate popular shopping cart apps, e-commerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce), and accounting software to run all aspects of your business. And unlike Stripe, you won’t need technical skill or an on-staff developer to start accepting payments. I just wish there was an option for instant deposits.

8. Chase Payment Solutions

Chase Payment Solutions, like Stripe, offers simple flat-rate pricing (2.9% + 25¢) with no monthly fees. But there’s a difference – Chase’s rates are easier to understand, and payouts are faster than Stripe’s, which makes it a better option for small- to mid-sized e-commerce businesses looking to control processing costs.

Chase makes it easy for you to accept electronic payments using either the Authorize.Net payment gateway or the Orbital virtual terminal. You’ll also be able to set up recurring billing for subscriptions, create a simple checkout process, and let customers create profiles and store shipping locations and payment methods. That said, I’d like to see Chase offer better support for PCI compliance. Right now, it only helps you with PCI assessments, nothing else.

Which Stripe Alternative Is Right for You?

It might not be immediately clear which Stripe alternative is the best fit for your payment processing needs. Knowing your projected sales volume and most common transaction types can help you estimate your costs and decide which processor is right for your business.

If you sell internationally, I’d suggest you look at Paysafe. In addition to a choice of affordable plans, it allows you to accept payments via 250 global payment methods and 40 currencies.

If you’re comfortable negotiating for the best possible rates, consider Leaders Merchant Services. You’ll have everything you need to take online payments securely, and you won’t have to pay for any features you don’t want.

If you’re in a high-risk industry, PaymentCloud is my top recommendation. With a 98% approval rate, it offers a specialized approach to securing reliable processing. It also provides fraud prevention and chargeback management tools tailored to protect high-risk merchants.

FAQ

Are there cheaper alternatives to Stripe for e-commerce payment processing?

Yes, but which alternative is cheaper will depend on your specific needs. If you process a high volume of online transactions per month, Paysafe offers the best rates and features. If you’d prefer an interchange-plus pricing model, Leaders Merchant Services offers a meet-or-beat guarantee that can help you negotiate the lowest possible rates for your business.

Which Stripe competitors are best for high-risk online businesses?

PaymentCloud is best for higher-risk merchants, especially those in industries like international gaming and crypto that other payment processors like Stripe don’t support. It has a 98% approval rate and offers top-of-the-line security features that can help you reduce risk and disputed transactions, which can improve your credit score.

How fast do the best Stripe alternatives pay out funds?

Stripe alternatives like Square offer free next-day payouts if you open an FDIC-insured checking account with the payment provider. Meanwhile, other alternatives like Stax can offer this same level of payout speed but for a fee.

How do I decide which Stripe alternative is best for my e-commerce business?

This depends on several factors, such as your industry, transaction volume, and average transaction amount. If you have an e-commerce business that serves a global clientele, Paysafe supports multiple currencies and payment methods while offering competitive rates. If you need tailored pricing solutions and fast approvals, Leaders Merchant Services is a good choice.

For more detailed information about top Stripe alternatives, check out our expert review of the 10 best payment processors in 2025.