Stripe Alternatives (2026): 10 Payment Providers Compared

Stripe is a sensible default for online payments, and it's easy to see why so many small businesses and creators start there. Still, it isn't the only route. You might want someone else to deal with sales tax on digital products, you may take more payments in person than online, or your clients might prefer paying by bank transfer or Direct Debit. Sometimes it's simply about spreading risk so one account review can't stop your takings overnight.

This page lists ten options in no particular order. Alongside a few household names, I've deliberately included smaller and independent payment companies, including several merchant of record services built for indie software makers. I compared what each company says on its own website and in directory listings. If you're weighing up the two most common choices first, my comparison of Stripe vs PayPal covers that head to head.

Stripe alternatives side by side

Free plan here means you can open an account and use it without a monthly subscription, according to the company's own site. Transaction fees still apply to every payment, and terms differ by country, so check the current details for where you trade.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Creem	Merchant of record	Software sellers who want tax and splits handled	Yes
Dodo Payments	Merchant of record	Digital product sellers wanting global tax handled	Yes
GoCardless	Bank payments	Recurring and one-off bank payments, including Direct Debit	Yes
Helcim	Card processor	Card and bank payments with no contracts	Yes
Mollie	Payment provider	Online and in-person payments with many local methods	Yes
Paddle	Merchant of record	Software subscriptions with tax and billing handled	Yes
PayPal	Payment platform	Widely recognised checkout buyers already trust	Yes
Polar	Merchant of record	Billing for software and AI products	Yes
Square	Payments and POS	In-person and online selling from one account	Yes
SumUp	Card readers and links	Card readers, payment links and simple online shops	Yes

Ten Stripe alternatives, in alphabetical order

Creem

Best for: Software founders who want payments, sales tax, affiliates and revenue splits handled by one merchant of record.

Dodo Payments

Best for: Indie makers selling software or digital products who'd rather hand tax and compliance to a merchant of record.

GoCardless

Best for: Service businesses with regular clients who want recurring bank payments collected automatically, such as retainers and memberships.

Helcim

Best for: Small businesses that take card payments online and in person and want clear, contract-free processing.

Mollie

Best for: European businesses that want local payment methods, card payments and in-person terminals from one provider.

Paddle

Best for: Software and app businesses selling subscriptions worldwide who want a merchant of record to handle tax and billing.

PayPal

Best for: Online sellers whose customers already have accounts and like paying with a name they recognise.

Polar

Best for: Developers and small software teams who want billing and merchant of record cover built for software products.

Square

Best for: Shops, cafes and service businesses that sell face to face and online and want both in one place.

SumUp

Best for: Sole traders and market sellers who want a card reader, payment links and invoices without a monthly plan.

How to choose a Stripe alternative for your business

Payment providers can look interchangeable, but the differences show up in your daily admin and in what happens when something goes wrong. Work through these points before you move any customers.

• Processor or merchant of record? A processor takes payments for you, while a merchant of record sells on your behalf and deals with sales tax and compliance too. That matters most if you sell digital products to buyers in many countries.
• Where your customers are: check which countries and local payment methods are supported, so buyers can pay the way they already prefer.
• How you sell: online checkout, invoices, payment links, subscriptions, in-person card readers or bank payments all suit different businesses.
• Payout timing: find out how quickly money reaches your bank account and whether there are holds on new accounts.
• Disputes and refunds: read how chargebacks are handled and how much of that work falls on you.
• Integrations: make sure it connects with your website, shop, accounting software and invoicing tool.
• Support: look for a way to reach a real person when a payment is stuck.

Which Stripe alternative suits which kind of seller

• Software founders and app makers selling worldwide often find a merchant of record saves them hours of tax admin.
• Consultants, coaches and agencies with monthly clients tend to suit bank payment tools that collect recurring payments automatically.
• Shops, salons and market traders usually want a card reader and an online store that share one dashboard.
• Creators selling to a general audience may prefer a checkout that buyers already recognise, because trust helps people complete a purchase.
• European businesses often benefit from a provider with strong support for local payment methods.

Mistakes to avoid when moving away from Stripe

• Moving subscriptions without a plan. Check whether saved cards and recurring plans can be migrated, or whether customers will need to re-enter details.
• Switching off the old account too soon. Keep it open until refunds, disputes and final payouts have cleared.
• Forgetting your website. Update every checkout, payment link and plugin, then place a small test order yourself.
• Ignoring tax. If you sell digital products abroad, decide early whether you'll handle sales tax yourself or hand it to a merchant of record.
• Not reading the account terms. Some providers restrict certain business types, so check yours is welcome before you build around it.
• Relying on one provider for everything. Many small businesses keep a backup payment option ready.

Whichever provider you choose, getting money in on time is half the battle. My guides to using invoicing software and how to prevent late payments pair well with a new payment setup.

Why a smaller payment provider can be a smart pick

Smaller payment companies often specialise. Some focus on indie software makers, others on bank payments or on a single region, and that focus can mean features that fit your business more closely and support that knows your type of seller. Before you commit, check how long the company has been trading, who holds your funds, how payouts work, and whether you can export your customer and transaction records. With payments, trust matters as much as features.

Do you make a payment tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Final checks before you pick a payment provider

Shortlist two providers that match how you sell. Open accounts, connect them to a test page and run a small real transaction through each, including a refund. Check how quickly the money lands, how clear the dashboard is, and how easily you can reach support. Make sure your accountant is happy with the reports, then move one product or one group of customers first before you switch everything.

Frequently asked questions

What is a merchant of record?

It's a company that sells your product on your behalf, so it takes care of sales tax, invoices and compliance in each country. It suits sellers of software and digital products who don't want to manage tax registrations themselves.

Can I use more than one payment provider?

Yes, and many small businesses do. Having a second provider ready gives you a backup if one account is paused, and lets customers choose a method they prefer.

Will my customers notice if I switch?

They may see a different checkout page, and subscribers might need to re-enter card details if saved cards can't be moved. Tell customers in advance and keep the process simple.

Are there payment providers with no monthly subscription?

Several providers let you open an account without a monthly plan and charge only when you take a payment. Check each provider's own site for the current terms in your country.

Which payment option is easiest for a sole trader?

That depends on how you sell. Card readers and payment links suit face-to-face work, while invoices and bank payments suit service businesses with regular clients.