Top 5 Stripe alternatives: compare fees, features, and benefits

Whether you're scaling an SME or running a global enterprise, you need a financial platform that lets you easily open local accounts in multiple currencies, accept international payments, and move money across borders. 

While Stripe may be one of your options, you may want to consider its alternatives to see which one best suits your needs.

What is Stripe? 

Stripe is a payment technology company that sells financial software to help businesses accept and process customer payments.

It is used by businesses of all sizes, from established enterprises like Amazon and Lyft, to growing eCommerce stores and single brick-and-mortar retailers who need point-of-sale (POS) systems.

Companies use Stripe to reach customers and accept various payment methods, including credit and debit cards, mobile payments, and “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) options. 

For businesses in the US, Stripe offers a standard account and a custom package for enterprises with large payment volumes or unique business models. It charges per transaction, starting at 2.9% + $0.30 for domestic card transactions. 

The top alternatives to Stripe

Stripe is a strong choice for businesses looking to accept payments, but it’s not the only option – or always the best fit – depending on your needs. Whether you're looking for more competitive foreign exchange rates, broader local payment method coverage, faster settlement times, or additional financial features like spend management, other providers may offer a better fit.

Below, we outline some of the top alternatives to Stripe, highlighting where each one excels and which business models they best support: 

• Airwallex is a global financial platform offering a unified suite of services, including online payment acceptance, international transfers, multi-currency accounts, corporate cards, and embedded finance solutions, to help businesses of all sizes operate and grow across borders.

• PayPal is a payment gateway that's been established for 20 years. It enables eCommerce brands to facilitate payments using credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers.

• Adyen is a global payment platform enabling businesses to accept online, in-app, and in-store payments. Known for its scalability and robust fraud prevention tools, Adyen serves both enterprise-level and mid-sized merchants, supporting various local payment methods across multiple markets.

• Payoneer is a cross-border payments platform that helps freelancers, eCommerce sellers, and businesses receive international payments. With features such as multi-currency receiving accounts, prepaid debit cards, and global payout services, Payoneer simplifies receiving payments across borders.

• Shopify Payments is the native payment gateway built into Shopify’s eCommerce platform. It allows merchants to accept major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and local payment methods without relying on third-party providers. Its seamless integration reduces friction at checkout and helps store owners manage everything from one dashboard.

Compare the top five alternatives to Stripe

The top Stripe alternatives: key features and fees

Airwallex, PayPal, Adyen, Payoneer, and Shopify Payments are all alternatives to Stripe, each with its own strengths. 

Let’s take a closer look at each Stripe alternative's key features and fees. Please visit each provider's official website for information on the complete product, cost, and other charges. 

Airwallex

Airwallex is a global payment and financial platform that lets you accept payments using more than 160 local payment methods across 180 countries. No-code to fully customizable integration options make it easy to get started quickly, and you can save on fees with like-for-like settlement in 14 currencies into multi-currency accounts. In other words, you can settle payments in the same currency your customers pay, saving you on costly exchange rates. 

You can also pay vendors globally without international card fees, and avoid conversion costs by settling in the same currency using Airwallex multi-currency accounts.

It’s easy to open an account with local bank details in Airwallex, without needing to visit a bank or complete any complicated paperwork. The platform also offers FX and transfer solutions, with competitive interbank fees. Other features, such as virtual cards, accounts payable, and expense management, make it ideal for fast-growing companies. 

Airwallex also supports embedded finance, enabling you to integrate services such as wallets, transfers, and payments directly into your platform or product. Together, these capabilities form a unified solution that combines payments, FX, multi-currency accounts, and corporate cards into one streamlined platform.

Airwallex fees: 

• No monthly subscription fees for US businesses opting for the Explore plan 

• Domestic transfers are typically free when using local payment rails

• International transfers are free to 120+ countries via local payment networks; SWIFT payments may incur a $10–$30 fee

• Currency conversion fees range from 0.4% to 1.0% above the interbank rate, depending on the currency pair

Pros

• Like-for-like settlement in 14 currencies with no to low FX fees, helping reduce the total cost of payments and improve treasury control

• 160+ local payment methods supported across 180+ countries, with automated currency conversion (ACC) in 25+ currencies 

• Boost conversion rates by offering region-specific methods like iDEAL, Klarna, and GrabPay

• All-in-one platform to accept, hold, convert, and move funds – no need for multiple providers

• Strong local payment method coverage across APAC, including emerging markets and niche EU methods

Cons

• Currently not suited for in-person retail (PoS hardware coming soon) 

• Slightly smaller third-party integration ecosystem than some alternatives 

PayPal 

PayPal supports a variety of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal balances. The platform also offers invoicing, subscription payments, and mobile payments. 

PayPal’s widespread acceptance makes it a convenient choice for both personal and business use. However, PayPal is likely to incur higher fees for business transactions, which in the long term may affect a business’s bottom line. 

PayPal fees: 

• No monthly fees; PayPal business accounts are free to open and maintain

• Domestic transactions are 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for sales within the US

• International transactions are 4.4% + fixed fee based on the currency received​

• Currency conversion is 3.0% above the base exchange rate

Pros 

• Widespread acceptance and support for various payment methods (credit/debit cards, PayPal balance, ACH)

• Suitable for both physical and digital stores, including marketplaces and subscriptions

• Offers strong buyer and seller protection for qualifying transactions

Cons

• Higher fees for international transactions and currency conversions (4.4% + fixed fee + 3% FX)

• Checkout customization is limited unless using PayPal Enterprise Payments, which requires a separate integration

• Can hold balances in multiple currencies, but automatic conversion may occur depending on account settings (so not ideal for actively managing multi-currency funds)

Adyen

Adyen is a global payment platform that supports unified commerce, allowing you to manage both in-person and online payments through a single system. 

The platform operates on an Interchange++ pricing model, which offers transparency but can be complex to predict and manage. Adyen also offers depth and complexity through its own acquiring network and robust omnichannel tools.

Adyen fees:

• 2.9% + fixed processing fee for domestic card payments

• Interchange++ pricing with 0.6% fee for international cards

• Currency conversion varies based on the currency pair and contract

• No monthly or setup fees listed for US merchants

Pros

• Unified system for POS and online payments

• Transparent fee structure (Interchange++)

• Advanced, built-in fraud prevention tools are built in

Cons

• No wallet functionality – funds must be paid out to external bank accounts after settlement

• Like-for-like settlement limited to select currencies and regions; requires local bank accounts

• Business Accounts limited to account funding (AfP) use cases; card issuing geared toward embedded finance (EmFi) only, with no support for multi-currency balances or granular spend controls via API

• Strong LPM coverage in the EU, but limited coverage across APAC markets

Payoneer

Payoneer is a cross-border payments platform designed for freelancers, digital sellers, and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). It’s popular among marketplace sellers on Amazon, Fiverr, and Upwork. Users receive local receiving accounts in major currencies, along with the ability to send payments to over 200 countries.

While Payoneer is easy to use and offers multi-currency functionality, it isn’t designed to handle customer-facing checkout experiences, making it better suited for receiving payments vs. accepting them via embedded checkout on your site.

Payoneer fees:

• Free to receive payments from marketplaces and other Payoneer users

• 3% fee for receiving payments via credit card

• Currency conversion fee: up to 2% above mid-market rate

• No monthly subscription fee

Pros

• Supports global receiving accounts in multiple currencies

• Simple, low-friction onboarding

• Free to receive payments from most marketplaces

Cons

• Not a full checkout/payment gateway solution

• Credit card payment fees are relatively high

• Limited control over conversion timing or FX fees

• No built-in POS, invoicing, or embedded payment capabilities

Shopify Payments

Shopify Payments is Shopify’s native payment gateway, offering seamless integration with the Shopify platform. It supports all major credit cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as BNPL options through Shop Pay Installments.

One of the biggest advantages is no additional transaction fees when using Shopify Payments (vs. a 2% surcharge when using third-party gateways). However, it’s only available to merchants selling on Shopify and has a relatively narrow use case outside that ecosystem.

Shopify fees:

• 2.9% + $0.30 for online credit card payments (Basic plan)

• 1.5% currency conversion fee for multi-currency transactions

• 2.7% for in-person payments via Shopify POS

• No monthly fee for the payment gateway itself (included in Shopify plan)

Pros

• Fully integrated with Shopify admin and checkout

• No extra transaction fees when used natively

• Supports major cards, wallets, and BNPL

• Built-in fraud protection and fast payouts (2 days)

Cons

• Only available to Shopify merchants

• Can’t be used as a standalone payment gateway on non-Shopify sites

• Limited flexibility for businesses with custom or off-platform checkouts

• Currency conversion fee adds up for international sales

Why choose Airwallex over Stripe?

*Additional payout fees may apply for embedded finance offerings. Additionally, while there are no FX conversion fees for like-for-like settlement, a 1% foreign currency settlement fee may apply in some instances.

What questions should I ask when choosing an alternative provider to Stripe?

With so many payment platforms on the market, it can be tricky to find the one that’s best for your business.

Stripe may or may not be right for you. Some business owners look elsewhere because of its high transaction fees, limited availability, or the requirement for Stripe-specific POS hardware.

To help you figure out which payment platform is worth your investment, we’ve compiled 10 questions you should ask any supplier before signing a contract.

1. What types of payments can you process?

2. What are the transaction fees, and how do they vary by payment method/transaction type?

3. Can your platform handle multiple currencies? What are the currency conversion charges?

4. What is the process for chargebacks?

5. How do you manage fraud protection?

6. Do you offer point-of-sale solutions, and if so, how do they integrate with online payments?

7. Are there any long-term contracts or early termination fees associated with this service?

8. Are there any setup or ongoing monthly fees associated with this service?

9. What kind of customer support do you offer?

10.  How do I integrate your payment gateway into my website? Do you offer technical support?

Final thoughts on alternatives to Stripe

If you’re looking for a cost-effective global money movement and financial operations platform, Airwallex offers a comprehensive solution built for scale.

Over 150,000 companies, including McLaren, Tenon Tours, and Wayo, use Airwallex to manage international customer payments, streamline treasury and spend management, issue corporate and employee cards, and support embedded finance initiatives.

Stripe has recently introduced new capabilities in multi-currency balances, global payouts, and card issuing. However, these features are still rolling out in select regions and currencies. With Airwallex, businesses can hold and settle funds like-for-like in 14 currencies, avoiding unnecessary conversions. And when conversions are needed, Airwallex offers competitive FX rates, typically 0.5–1% above interbank, compared to Stripe’s 1–2% in most cases.

Stripe remains a strong choice for businesses focused on domestic or front-end payments. However, for companies operating across borders or planning to do so, Airwallex offers a deeper infrastructure and greater flexibility for managing global financial operations.

Sources

¹https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/merchant-fees

²https://www.paypal.com/us/business/paypal-business-fees

³https://www.paypal.com/us/digital-wallet/paypal-consumer-fees#statement-currency

⁴ttps://docs.adyen.com/payment-methods/

⁵https://www.adyen.com/pricing

⁶https://www.payoneer.com/international-payment-processing

⁷https://www.payoneer.com/about/pricing/ 

⁸https://payoneer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/6118/~/what-is-the-currency-conversion%2Fcross-border-fee%3F

⁹https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments/shopify-payments

¹⁰https://docs.stripe.com/payouts#payout-schedule 

¹¹https://stripe.com/pricing