Stripe vs. GoCardless comparison: Which is best for your business (2025)

Key takeaways

• Stripe is a payments platform with a global reach, card processing capabilities, and flexible APIs for online businesses.

• GoCardless is a UK-based fintech company specializing in direct debit payments, which helps businesses reduce churn and costs associated with subscriptions and invoices.

• Airwallex gives you more control over global revenue. You can accept payments in 130+ currencies, settle locally, and manage cards, expenses, FX, and payouts, all in one place.

You’ve come across both Stripe and GoCardless in your payments research. But before making a decision, it’s worth taking a step back. These tools work in very different ways, and that difference matters.

Stripe supports cards, wallets, bank transfers, and even in-person payments. With GoCardless, you can only accept recurring payments through bank debits. That focus brings cost and reliability benefits, but limits flexibility.

This guide breaks down how both providers work, what they charge, and which types of businesses they suit best.

We’ll also show you where Airwallex should fit into your decision-making process, particularly if your business handles payments in multiple currencies or across different regions.

What is Stripe?

Stripe is a US-based payments company founded in 2010 by brothers Patrick and John Collison. It quickly gained popularity among startups and digital businesses for its global reach and developer-friendly tools. Today, Stripe lets you accept payments from customers in 195 countries, across 135+ currencies and 100+ payment methods (business availability varies by country).

At its core, Stripe helps businesses accept and manage digital payments. It’s built for teams that want full control over the checkout experience, billing, and payout flows. If you’re running a digital-first business and have access to developer support, Stripe gives you the flexibility to build a payment system that fits your exact needs.

What is GoCardless?

GoCardless is a fintech built for collecting recurring payments through bank debit. It helps businesses automate invoice and subscription payments using ACH or direct debit, instead of cards or digital wallets. The system is designed to minimize payment failures and provide you with greater control over when and how payments are collected.

GoCardless supports bank-to-bank payments only (no cards or wallets). For one-off payments, GoCardless offers Instant Bank Pay in supported regions. That means it’s best used as part of a broader payment stack, rather than as a standalone solution.

Stripe vs. GoCardless: a head-to-head comparison

Comparison table

Stripe vs. GoCardless: pricing and fees comparison

Stripe fees explained

Stripe’s standard US pricing is 2.9% + $0.30 per successful domestic card charge, +1.5% for international cards, and +1% when currency conversion applies. ACH debits are 0.8%, capped at $5. Stripe Billing is available at 0.7% of the Billing volume (pay-as-you-go) or via monthly subscription tiers. Additional products (fraud tools, reconciliation, premium support) may incur extra fees.

GoCardless fees explained

GoCardless starts at 0.5% + $0.05 per transaction, with a cap of $5. Its Advanced and Pro plans increase the base rate to 0.75% and 0.9% respectively, in exchange for faster payouts and stronger fraud protection. For international transactions, pricing starts at 1.5% + $0.05. All plans exclude sales tax. While the fees are predictable, the pricing structure reflects GoCardless’s focus on recurring bank payments, not full-service processing.

Stripe vs. GoCardless: features and services comparisons

Stripe supports a wide range of payment types, including cards, digital wallets, ACH, and buy now, pay later options. Its infrastructure is built around flexibility, with APIs that allow you to control every part of the payment flow. You can use Stripe Checkout or build a fully custom experience. It’s also a popular choice for businesses that need recurring billing tools, split payments, or subscription logic embedded directly into their product. However, Stripe doesn’t offer multi-currency wallets or local currency settlement. This can result in forced conversions and added FX costs if you’re accepting cross-border payments or working with global suppliers.

GoCardless focuses exclusively on direct debit. You won’t find support for card payments, wallets, or one-off digital checkout flows. It’s a specialist tool built for reliability in recurring billing. You can embed the payment experience within your own platform using GoCardless Embed, and take advantage of features like smart retries and dunning tools to reduce failed payments. Currency support is limited, and you won’t be able to hold or manage balances across different regions.

Both platforms offer APIs and integrations with tools like Xero, Salesforce, and QuickBooks. Stripe stands out for its robust developer ecosystem and extensive documentation. GoCardless is easier to integrate for recurring use cases, but it lacks the same level of control and flexibility. Stripe provides basic reporting dashboards, and GoCardless offers standard analytics. In terms of onboarding and support, Stripe offers self-serve sign-up with paid options for dedicated support. GoCardless also offers digital onboarding, but with less transparency regarding eligibility and a less guided setup process.

Stripe vs. GoCardless: ideal use cases

Who is Stripe best for?

Stripe is a strong fit for digital-first businesses that want flexibility and control. If your team includes developers and you want to build a custom checkout or manage complex billing flows, Stripe provides the tools. It works well for SaaS companies, online marketplaces, eCommerce platforms, and subscription-based services that operate in multiple markets and require support for cards, wallets, and ACH.

Who is GoCardless best for?

GoCardless suits businesses with recurring billing models, such as software subscriptions, membership services, or invoice-based B2B workflows. If you operate in markets where direct debit is the norm, like the UK or Europe, and want to reduce payment failures and processing costs, GoCardless may be a good fit. Just remember it’s not a complete solution, you’ll still need another provider for card payments or digital wallets.

Beyond the basics: key differences between Stripe and GoCardless

Stripe and GoCardless approach payments from very different angles. Stripe is built for businesses that want control. You can configure billing logic, automate payouts, and support a wide mix of payment methods across markets. That level of flexibility appeals to SaaS platforms, marketplaces, and eCommerce teams with developer support and specific workflow needs.

GoCardless is built around one thing: collecting recurring payments by direct debit. It doesn’t support cards, wallets, or instant payments. Instead, it offers a set of tools to manage invoice collections, reduce failed payments, and handle retry logic for subscriptions. This works well if your revenue is predictable and your customers are comfortable paying directly from their bank accounts.

There are also differences in how each provider is experienced by users. Stripe users often report friction around onboarding¹⁶, account holds, and chargeback handling.¹⁷ Without developer resources, it can also be challenging to maximize the platform's potential. GoCardless customers appreciate the simplicity of recurring payments, but some have reported serious issues with fund collection, support responsiveness, and payment setup for accounts requiring multiple signatories.¹⁸

Why Airwallex is a powerful alternative (and how we compare)

Stripe is built for flexibility, especially if you have engineers to configure it. GoCardless keeps things simple, focusing purely on recurring payments through direct debit. However, if your business operates across multiple currencies, teams, or regions, you need a platform that seamlessly connects the entire money flow, from customer payments to vendor payouts, without additional tools or fees getting in the way.

Airwallex lets you accept payments in 130+ currencies with 160+ local methods and settle like-for-like in 14 currencies to avoid forced conversions. Manage cards, expenses, FX, and payouts from one platform. That means fewer forced conversions and lower costs on every transaction. Open Global Accounts in 20+ currencies, collect locally in 60+ countries/regions, and access interbank FX rates, which can cut your currency conversion costs by as much as 80% compared to traditional banks. More than 90% of payouts arrive the same day. Many land within minutes.

Everything connects in real time, so you don’t need to juggle multiple different platforms just to stay on top of your finances. You can integrate with systems like Xero, NetSuite, and Shopify, or build your own workflows using our developer-friendly APIs. You also get dedicated, region-based account management and expert support.

Consider Airwallex if you need:

• To collect or pay in multiple currencies, and want to cut FX costs with interbank rates

• Global Accounts in 20+ currencies and the ability to receive funds locally from 60+ countries/regions

• To offer 160+ local payment methods via a single integration (cards, wallets, BNPL, bank transfer) 

• Same-day payouts and fewer delays from SWIFT

• To manage payments, cards, expenses, and accounts across teams

• A complete solution without adding complexity

Final verdict: choosing the right solution for your business

Stripe offers flexibility and customization if you have the necessary developer resources to utilize it. It’s a good fit for eCommerce businesses or online marketplaces that need to support multiple payment methods and build their own billing logic. Be prepared to manage rising costs and limited support, unless you’re on an enterprise plan.

GoCardless focuses on one thing and does it well. If your business runs on subscriptions or invoice payments, and your customers are happy to pay by bank debit, it can offer a reliable and lower-cost way to collect recurring revenue. But it doesn’t support cards or wallets, so you’ll need to combine it with another provider to cover everything else.

Airwallex brings a different kind of value. It combines payment acceptance, currency exchange, and financial management into one platform. That means you can accept local payment methods in more markets, access interbank FX rates, settle like-for-like in 14 currencies, and manage cards and global payouts without juggling tools. You also get dedicated, region-based support at no extra cost. If you want to grow across borders, serve more customers, and simplify operations as you expand, Airwallex is designed to help you achieve this.

FAQs

What is the main difference between Stripe and GoCardless?

Stripe is a full-service payments platform that supports cards, wallets, ACH, and other methods across 190+ countries. GoCardless focuses solely on bank-to-bank recurring payments, such as direct debits for subscriptions or invoices, providing a seamless experience for both customers and merchants.

Can I use both Stripe and GoCardless together?

Yes. Some businesses use Stripe for one-time card payments and GoCardless for recurring direct debits. Note that this introduces additional complexity to reconciliation, reporting, and fee management.

Does GoCardless support credit card payments?

No. GoCardless does not support cards, digital wallets, or instant checkouts. It’s designed specifically for collecting recurring payments from bank accounts.

How does Airwallex compare to Stripe and GoCardless?

Airwallex combines the flexibility of Stripe with the recurring capabilities of GoCardless, adding more. You can collect payments, manage FX, issue cards, and pay vendors globally, all from one platform.

Sources

1.  http://stripe.com/payments/payment-methods 

2.  https://stripe.com/billing

3.  https://gocardless.com/en-us/features/rpp-recurring-payments-page/

4.  https://stripe.com/payments/checkout

5. https://gocardless.com/en-us/solutions/gocardless-embed/

6.  https://stripe.com/issuing

7. https://gocardless.com/en-us/solutions/gocardless-embed/

8. https://marketplace.stripe.com/

9. https://gocardless.com/en-us/developers/

10. https://www.airwallex.com/us/integrations

11. https://docs.stripe.com/payments/analytics

12. https://support.stripe.com/

13. https://support.gocardless.com/hc/en-gb

14. https://docs.stripe.com/security

15. https://gocardless.com/en-us/security/

16. https://www.capterra.com/p/123889/Stripe/reviews/

17. https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/south-san-francisco/profile/payment-processing-services/stripe-inc-1116-437157/complaints

18. https://www.softwareadvice.com/accounting/gocardless-profile/reviews/