Stripe suits startups and growing online businesses that want to sign up themselves and build with a wide set of tools: payments, billing, platforms, in-person terminals and fraud screening. Adyen suits large and global businesses that want one enterprise payments platform backed by US, UK and EU banking licences, sold through its sales team. Both quote 99.999% historical uptime, so the real split is self-serve flexibility against enterprise scale.
Both process online and in-person payments for some of the world's biggest brands, but they go to market very differently. I read Stripe's home and plans pages and Stripe Tax docs, and Adyen's home and payment methods pages.
Stripe and Adyen in one table
| Stripe | Adyen | |
|---|---|---|
| How you start | Sign up yourself online | Talk to Adyen's team |
| Who it's built for | Startups to enterprises | Global enterprises |
| Banking licences | Not covered on the pages I read | US, UK and EU banking licences |
| Uptime claim | 99.999% historical uptime | 99.999% historical platform uptime |
| How it charges | Standard pay-as-you-go plan, custom packages for volume | Fixed processing charge plus a charge per payment method |
| Setup or monthly charges | None on Standard | None |
| Wider tools | Billing, Connect, Terminal, Radar, Tax | Platforms, payouts, data insights |
Why Adyen's licences matter
Adyen's home page leads with something Stripe's pages I read don't claim: Adyen is backed by US, UK and EU banking licences. For large retailers and platforms, that's part of the case for running payments, data and financial products through one provider rather than several partners. Adyen also lets businesses choose when to settle their funds.
Stripe answers with breadth and proof of adoption. It supports 135+ currencies and payment methods, says 50% of Fortune 100 companies have used it, and says Stripe Billing manages 200M+ active subscriptions.
Where Stripe has the edge
Stripe is built so any business can start today. You can sign up online, take payments on Payment Links or Checkout, add subscriptions with Billing, run a platform with Connect, take card payments in person with Terminal and screen fraud with Radar. Stripe Tax then monitors where you might need to register and helps you register, file and remit.
Where Adyen has the edge
Adyen is built for enterprise scale. One integration covers the payment methods your customers prefer, online and in person, with Adyen for Platforms for platform businesses and flexible payouts. Its case studies include Vagaro unlocking instant payouts for 80,000+ beauty and wellness businesses and L'Occitane consolidating 40 systems into one.
What to ask both payment providers
- Can we sign up and go live without a sales call?
- Which payment methods and countries do we need on day one?
- Do we need in-person payments as well as online?
- How will settlement and payouts work for our finance team?
- What does each charge on our typical transaction and payment method mix?
For smaller businesses, my round-up of mobile payment services for small businesses covers simpler options, and my notes on Stripe's marketing strategy show how Stripe grew.
Getting help to go live
Stripe sells self-serve but doesn't leave larger teams alone: it offers professional services for implementation, complex integrations and major migrations, plus a network of Stripe-certified experts. Adyen's site routes you to its team from the start. If you've got developers in-house, Stripe lets you start today; if you'd rather be guided from day one, Adyen's model may suit you.
My advice on Stripe or Adyen
If you're a startup or a growing online business, start with Stripe: you can be live the same day and add tools as you grow. If you're a large retailer or platform processing high volumes across countries, ask Adyen for a proposal and compare it with a custom package from Stripe on your real transaction mix.
Do you make payments or checkout software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Stripe or Adyen better for small businesses?
Stripe. You can sign up yourself and start on its Standard pay-as-you-go plan. Adyen's pages are aimed at global enterprises and start with its sales team.
Does Adyen have banking licences?
Yes. Adyen says it's backed by US, UK and EU banking licences.
How does Adyen charge?
Adyen says it charges a fixed processing amount plus an amount set by the payment method for each transaction, with no setup or monthly charges.
Which has better uptime, Stripe or Adyen?
Both quote 99.999% historical uptime on their own sites.
Does Stripe handle sales tax?
Stripe Tax calculates tax, monitors where you might need to register and helps you register, file and remit.
Can both take in-person payments?
Yes. Stripe offers Terminal, and Adyen offers in-person payments on the same platform as online.
Does Stripe help with complex setups?
Yes. Stripe offers professional services for implementation, complex integrations and major migrations, plus Stripe-certified experts.
Does Adyen work for platforms?
Adyen offers Adyen for Platforms for businesses that move money for other businesses.
