Stripe

What is Stripe?

Stripe is the leading developer friendly payment platform for online businesses, with powerful APIs, broad payment methods and global reach. Founded in 2010, it lets businesses accept payments online and in apps, supporting cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and many local methods, across many countries and currencies, through clean, well documented APIs. Beyond payments it offers billing, connect for platforms, fraud tools and more, making it a comprehensive financial infrastructure for internet businesses. Popular from startups to enterprise, Stripe is the default online payments choice for many developers and digital businesses. For online payments with developer flexibility, Stripe is a leading choice.

Stripe's distinction is its developer friendly APIs combined with broad payment methods and global reach, as financial infrastructure for the internet. Its clean APIs let businesses build exactly the payment experience they want, it supports a wide range of methods and currencies, and it extends into billing, platforms and more. That developer experience, breadth and reach make it the go to for online and digital businesses, though some cite its fees.

Who Stripe is best for

Stripe is best for online and digital businesses, from startups to enterprise, that want developer friendly payments with powerful APIs, broad methods and global reach, including platforms and SaaS. It suits teams comfortable with or wanting custom integration. It is a weaker fit for businesses mainly selling in person wanting all in one POS, where Square fits, or those wanting the simplest trusted checkout with no development, where PayPal fits.

Key features

The core strengths are powerful, well documented APIs, acceptance of cards, wallets and many local methods, and global, multi currency reach, with strong security and fraud tools. Stripe offers billing, Connect for platforms and marketplaces, Terminal for in person, and a broad product suite. Its developer experience, payment method breadth, global reach and financial infrastructure are its defining advantages for online businesses.

Stripe pricing

Stripe uses flat rate pricing with no monthly fee, around 2.9 percent plus 30 cents per successful online card charge, with additional fees for international cards and currency conversion, and custom pricing for large volumes. Its transparent, pay as you go model suits businesses of all sizes, though some reviewers cite the fees as high. Model your volume and average transaction size. Confirm current figures on the Stripe pricing page.

Integrations and ecosystem

Stripe integrates with e-commerce platforms, apps and countless tools, and its APIs let developers build payments into any product, plus a broad ecosystem of Stripe products like Billing, Connect, Tax and Terminal. Its integrations and developer ecosystem are central to its value, letting online businesses and platforms build complete payment and financial experiences.

Stripe and developers

Developer friendliness is Stripe's signature: clean, well documented APIs and tools let engineers implement and customise payments precisely, from simple checkouts to complex platforms and marketplaces, which is why it is the default for so many digital businesses. For online businesses that want control and flexibility in how they accept payments, this developer experience is the main reason to choose Stripe.

Ease of use and support

Stripe is praised for ease of integration and its developer experience, with strong documentation, though some reviewers note fees and occasional support challenges. Its G2 reviews highlight API quality, flexibility and breadth, with fees and support the main considerations, especially versus in person or simpler options.

Is Stripe worth it?

For online and digital businesses that want developer friendly payments with powerful APIs, broad methods and global reach, Stripe is an outstanding, market leading choice. The main caution is its fees and that businesses selling mainly in person may prefer Square's all in one POS, and those wanting the simplest trusted checkout PayPal, but for online payments and developer flexibility Stripe excels.