Stripe alternatives: Comparing payment platforms and enhancing Stripe for digital sellers

If you’re running a proven online business and already using Stripe, chances are you’ve hit its limits.

Maybe your team needs more control over the checkout experience. Maybe you're spending developer hours on workarounds for subscriptions, digital downloads, or event tickets. Or maybe you're just tired of duct-taping together features Stripe doesn’t offer out of the box.

You’re not alone.

Stripe is a world-class payment engine — secure, fast, and developer-friendly.

But it’s just that: an engine.

For many growing businesses, especially digital-first sellers, Stripe’s default tools don’t keep up with the way you actually sell.

This guide is for founders and entrepreneurs who want Stripe’s reliability without compromising flexibility, speed, or control.

In this guide, we’ll show you:

• Where Stripe’s default tools fall short: and why that matters more as your business scales
• What Stripe actually is (and isn’t): the difference between a gateway, a processor, a platform, and a Merchant of Record (MoR), and why those distinctions impact control, compliance, and conversion
• When to layer vs. when to leave: how to decide whether you should keep Stripe and extend it, or switch entirely
• The best alternatives, broken down by type:
  • Tools that replace Stripe’s infrastructure
  • Platforms that build on top of Stripe to give you no-code power and design flexibility
  • Merchant of Record solutions that take compliance off your plate (and what you give up in return)
• Why a layered approach (like Checkout Page + Stripe) gives you the best of both worlds: Stripe’s reliability with modern selling tools built for non-technical teams.

Why look for a Stripe alternative?

You may need a Stripe alternative if your business needs no-code customization or sells digital products, subscriptions, or event access (use cases where Stripe's standard tools fall short).

Stripe is a market-leading payment processor and does many things brilliantly, but it wasn’t built to serve every business model equally.

Let’s look at the top reasons users look for alternative solutions:

#1. Limited flexibility for niche business models

Stripe is built to serve a wide range of businesses, and that broad focus can make it harder to serve niche models without additional development work. If you're selling event tickets, digital downloads, or subscriptions, you may quickly run into limitations that require custom development or third-party tools.

#2. Limited customization options for the checkout experience

Even when Stripe can technically support your business model, its default checkout tools offer limited control over the user experience, especially if you’re trying to create a branded or optimized flow without writing code.

Stripe is excellent for accepting payments, but it's less so for being persuasive about your offering.

Some of the most common Stripe Checkout limitations include:

• Character limits on product descriptions restrict how much detail you can include about your offering.
• There are few layout and design options, and there is little ability to rearrange fields, add sections, or control the visual hierarchy beyond basic branding.
• There is no built-in conditional logic for forms, making it difficult to create dynamic checkouts where fields show or hide based on user input (e.g., different questions for different ticket types).

These limitations can result in a generic checkout flow disconnected from your brand.

#3. Opaque pricing and fees that can add up

Stripe is known for its transparent flat-rate pricing, typically 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction, which is simple to understand and competitive in many markets. However, some additional fees and conditions are less visible and can catch businesses off guard.

One area drawing attention is dispute fees. Currently set at $15 per chargeback, Stripe is introducing a new $15 “counter dispute” fee in June 2025, meaning a single disputed transaction could cost up to $30.

#4. Stripe may hold your funds unexpectedly

Stripe can place holds on your funds, sometimes without much warning. This often happens if Stripe’s risk systems flag your business as high-risk, or if there’s a spike in refunds, disputes, or transaction volume.

Stripe does this to protect against fraud and chargebacks. However, it can be disruptive, especially for smaller businesses or subscription-based models that rely on steady cash flow.

Understanding payment infrastructure models

Before comparing “Stripe alternatives,” it’s worth asking: alternatives to what, exactly?

Stripe covers a lot. It's both a payment gateway and processor, but it’s not a merchant of record (MoR). That means you stay responsible for taxes, chargebacks, and compliance.

To evaluate alternatives properly, it helps to understand how each part of the payment stack works:

1. Payment Processor

This is the service that moves money behind the scenes. A payment processor communicates with banks, verifies transactions, handles fraud checks, and settles funds. Stripe, PayPal, and Adyen are all examples.

👉 Think of the processor as the engine that runs the payment.

2. Payment gateway

A gateway securely collects and transmits customer payment data (like card details) to the processor. It's the digital version of a card reader or POS terminal.

Stripe provides this, too. It’s one of the reasons it’s so popular: Stripe is both a processor and a gateway.

👉 The gateway is the secure tunnel between the checkout and the processor.

3. Payment platform

This is where things get broader. A payment platform combines the processor and gateway with features like subscriptions, invoicing, checkout pages, analytics, and more. Stripe Checkout fits here, but so do tools like Checkout Page, which use Stripe under the hood and add advanced tooling, UX, and business logic on top.

👉 Platforms help you use the payment stack to run your business.

4. Merchant of Record (MoR)

A Merchant of Record takes things even further. They’re not just helping you process payments; they legally become the seller. Services like Lemon Squeezy or Gumroad handle tax, compliance, billing, and sometimes support, because they are the merchant on file.

👉 The MoR owns the transaction, and often your customer relationship too.

💡 Explore our article: What is a Merchant of Record (MoR)? (And do I really need one?)

TL,DR: You don't need one, there are better ways.

🤔 Why do these distinctions matter

When evaluating a Stripe alternative, you're not always replacing Stripe itself; you might still be using Stripe as the underlying processor, while swapping in a better front-end experience, easier tax handling, or more flexibility for your business model.

For example:

• Checkout Page: Keeps you in control as the merchant but builds on Stripe with no-code flexibility, advanced checkout logic, and total customer ownership.
• Lemon Squeezy Acts as a full Merchant of Record, adopting the legal role of seller and taking on the legal relationship with the person buying your products.

Understanding who owns what — the infrastructure, the transaction, the customer — is key to choosing the right solution for your business.

Stripe alternatives: Which type of tool do you actually need?

Once you understand the difference between processors, gateways, platforms, and MoRs, you can evaluate alternatives more clearly. But here’s the key: not every “Stripe alternative” does the same thing.

Some aim to replace Stripe entirely, including the payment infrastructure. Others sit on top of Stripe, helping you sell more effectively without giving up control.

Here’s how to break them down:

1. Alternatives to Stripe as a payment gateway or processor

If you want to stop using Stripe altogether, maybe due to fees, support issues, country restrictions, or a higher-risk product category, you'll need a complete payment infrastructure replacement.

Common reasons to switch:

• You operate in a Stripe-restricted country
• You need crypto or alternative payment methods
• Your account was suspended or restricted
• You want better rates for high-volume processing

Examples:

• PayPal: A familiar name with widespread buyer trust.
• Adyen: Enterprise-ready, supports global currencies and payment types.
• Braintree: Owned by PayPal, strong for mobile and recurring billing.
• Square: Best for businesses also selling in person.

Note: If you go this route, you’ll likely also need tools for checkout, subscriptions, tax compliance, and customer management, services Stripe bundles in.

2. Stripe-based platforms

These tools keep Stripe as your processor but build extra functionality around it, often with a better user interface, less or no code, and features Stripe doesn't offer natively.

Use these if:

• You want more control over checkout design
• You’re selling digital goods, subscriptions, or courses
• You need no-code tools or a faster setup than Stripe’s APIs allow

Top examples:

• Checkout Page: No-code, non-MoR platform with total control and branding.
• ThriveCart — Designed for marketers; upsells, funnels, lifetime deal.
• SamCart — Focused on creators and digital products, with built-in marketing tools.

💡 These platforms extend Stripe, not replace it, so your Stripe account stays yours, and you remain the merchant of record (unless otherwise noted).

3. Merchant of Record (MoR) Solutions

MoRs take full responsibility for the transaction. They collect taxes, handle disputes, and legally become the official seller. You’re technically licensing your own products through them.

Use these if:

• You don’t want to deal with compliance or tax at all
• You’re selling in many regions and need a fast, low-lift setup
• You’re OK with giving up control over brand, pricing, and customer relationships

Popular MoRs:

• Lemon Squeezy
• Paddle
• Gumroad

⬇️ Downside? You lose transparency, flexibility, and direct ownership of your customers and revenue flow. It’s plug-and-play — but at a cost.

How to choose the right alternative

Ask yourself:

• Do I want to keep using Stripe?
  • Yes → Look at Stripe-based platforms like Checkout Page
  • No → Consider full payment processors like Adyen or Braintree
• Do I want to own my customer relationships & data?
  • Yes → Stick with Stripe or use a non-MoR platform like Checkout Page
  • No → Consider MoR services like Lemon Squeezy or Paddle
• Do I want no-code control over checkout, subscriptions, and customer fields?
  • Yes → Consider a platform like Checkout Page, SamCart, or ThriveCart

Stripe alternatives: Platform comparisons

Payment Gateways & Processors

These replace Stripe’s core infrastructure. You are the merchant of record and handle tax, disputes, and compliance yourself.

PayPal

PayPal is one of the most well-known payment processors in the world. It's trusted by consumers globally and widely accepted across marketplaces and online stores. However, for businesses, particularly those with subscriptions or complex workflows, PayPal can be limiting and clunky when integrating.

• Model: Payment gateway/processor
• Fees: ~2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, ~$20 chargeback fee
• Crypto: Buyer can pay with crypto (merchant receives fiat)
• No-code friendly? ❌ Limited; setup can be clunky
• Best for: Global e-commerce, one-time payments
• Weaknesses: Poor for subscriptions, limited customization, legacy UX

Square

Square is best known for its sleek POS hardware and strong offline payments ecosystem. It also offers online payment tools, but they’re primarily geared toward physical businesses expanding online, not digital-first operations.

• Model: Gateway + POS (best for hybrid online/offline selling)
• Fees: 2.6% + $0.10 (in-person); 2.9% + $0.30 (online)
• Crypto: ❌ No native support
• No-code friendly? ✅ For in-person; ❌ for subscriptions/digital goods
• Best for: Retailers or local businesses with some online presence
• Weaknesses: Not ideal for digital-first businesses or SaaS

Adyen

Adyen is an enterprise-grade payments platform built for large international businesses. It offers custom pricing and advanced fraud protection, but typically requires a dedicated development team to integrate and manage.

• Model: Enterprise-grade processor & gateway
• Fees: Interchange++ (custom pricing)
• Crypto: ❌ No native support
• No-code friendly? ❌ Dev-heavy; not self-serve
• Best for: High-volume international businesses with dev resources
• Weaknesses: Overkill for smaller businesses, requires engineering

Braintree (by PayPal)

Braintree is PayPal’s developer-focused payment solution, offering more flexibility and control than PayPal itself. It's popular for startups and subscription businesses looking for customizable payment flows.

• Model: Full-stack payment gateway
• Fees: 2.9% + $0.30; ~$15 chargeback fee
• Crypto: ❌ Not supported
• No-code friendly? ❌ Developer-oriented
• Best for: SaaS or startups needing custom flows
• Weaknesses: No tax tools, lacks easy setup

Authorize.net (by Visa)

Authorize.net is one of the oldest payment gateways still in use. It's a reliable option for businesses already using a traditional merchant account, but its outdated interface and setup process make it a tough sell for modern digital businesses.

• Model: Payment gateway (requires merchant account)
• Fees: $25/month + 2.9% + $0.30
• Crypto: ❌ Not supported
• No-code friendly? ❌ Legacy experience
• Best for: Businesses already using merchant accounts
• Weaknesses: Outdated interface, high-maintenance

Non-MoR Platforms

These enhance Stripe, giving you customization, no-code features, and better UX, without taking over the transaction or customer relationship.

Checkout Page

Checkout Page is a no-code, lightning-fast checkout platform built on Stripe. It’s designed specifically for digital-first sellers of digital products, events, and subscriptions who want to simplify setup and start selling without developer involvement.

Unlike merchant of record platforms, you keep full control of your customer data, pricing, and tax setup.

• Model: Checkout page & form builder layered on Stripe
• Fees: Affordable monthly plans + Stripe processing fees
• No-code friendly? ✅ 100% no-code, built for non-technical teams
• Best for: Digital downloads, events, subscriptions
• Key Features: No-code Custom checkouts, multi-step flows, branded UX, order bumps, upsells, customer portals
• Weaknesses: Requires a Stripe account (but that’s the point, you keep control)

ThriveCart

ThriveCart is an online platform that provides tools for creating checkout pages, managing payments, and handling digital product sales. It supports features like subscriptions, upsells, and affiliate management, and is commonly used by digital businesses and content creators.

• Model: Checkout platform (uses Stripe, PayPal, others)
• Fees: One-time license of $495
• Crypto: ❌ Not supported
• No-code friendly? ✅ Built for marketers, not developers
• Best for: Course creators, info products, ecommerce funnels
• Key Features: Upsells, downsells, bump offers, tax tools, affiliate tracking
• Weaknesses: Dated UI, limited design flexibility, lacks deep subscription control, no trial.

SamCart

SamCart is a web-based checkout platform for selling digital products, subscriptions, and services. It offers tools for building checkout pages, managing orders, and optimizing sales through features like upsells and payment plans.

• Model: Checkout platform (integrates with Stripe/PayPal)
• Fees: Monthly subscription starting at $79 - $319 per month, no transaction fees
• Crypto: ❌ Not supported
• No-code friendly? ✅ Very user-friendly
• Best for: Creators selling digital products or subscriptions
• Key Features: Drag-and-drop checkout builder, upsells, membership tools
• Weaknesses: Very few of their most appealing features are available on their cheapest plan, so the platform is quite expensive if you want the full suite.

Merchant of Record (MoR) Platforms

These handle everything, tax, billing, compliance, and support. They’re the legal seller, not you.

Paddle

Paddle is a merchant of record solution built for SaaS companies. It handles everything from subscriptions and compliance to tax remittance, freeing teams from backend billing complexity. You trade off control for convenience.

• Model: MoR (you license your product to Paddle)
• Fees: ~5% + $0.50 per checkout transaction (includes tax, compliance, fraud)
• Crypto: ❌ Not supported
• No-code friendly? ✅ Easy setup, especially for SaaS
• Best for: SaaS companies with global customers
• Key Features: Compliance, invoicing, subscriptions, global tax
• Weaknesses: You don’t own the customer relationship; limited flexibility in billing logic

FastSpring

FastSpring is a Merchant of Record platform for global software and digital product companies. It handles the heavy lifting around VAT, sales tax, compliance, and invoicing, allowing teams to focus on products, not payments. It’s especially popular among desktop software sellers and international vendors looking for a fully managed checkout experience.

• Model: MoR
• Fees: ~8% per transaction, based on volume (custom pricing)
• Crypto: ❌ Not supported
• No-code friendly? ✅ Fully managed
• Best for: Software companies selling worldwide
• Key Features: Global compliance, VAT handling, license fulfillment
• Weaknesses: Pricing, rigid flows, less suitable for custom SaaS billing models

Lemon Squeezy

Lemon Squeezy is a modern Merchant of Record platform for creators, developers, and indie SaaS teams. Acquired by Stripe in 2024, it offers a polished, no-code experience for selling digital products, subscriptions, and software licenses. It also handles taxes, compliance, and customer billing on your behalf.

• Model: MoR (acquired by Stripe in 2024)
• Fees: 5% + $0.50
• Crypto: ✅ Supports crypto via Coinbase Commerce
• No-code friendly? ✅ Strong UI for digital product sellers
• Best for: Indie creators, developers, small SaaS teams
• Key Features: Subscriptions, taxes, licensing, payout management
• Weaknesses: Customer relationship is controlled by the platform, Stripe ownership raises questions for some around where the product will be taken.

The power of a layered System: Stripe + the tools your business needs

Stripe is a phenomenal foundation that is fast, secure, and scalable. But it’s just that: a foundation. By layering purpose-built tools on top of Stripe, you can solve its biggest pain points without giving up its strengths.

Instead of working around Stripe’s limitations or jumping ship entirely, this “layered” approach lets you:

1. Get to market faster

Stripe gives you raw APIs — powerful, but developer-dependent. A layered tool like Checkout Page removes that friction. You can launch new products, offers, or pricing experiments in minutes or hours, not weeks.

2. Unlock persuasive, branded checkouts

Stripe Checkout is clean and functional, but limited. Layered platforms let you design flows that sell, with custom layouts, embedded testimonials, product imagery, and dynamic logic based on customer choices.

3. Stay in control

You keep your Stripe account, your customer data, and your tax setup. You're not licensing your product to someone else or becoming beholden to an MoR. You're still the merchant of record, just with a better toolset.

4. Scale without technical debt

As your business grows, layered platforms help you stay nimble. You can build advanced flows like upsells, cart abandonment emails, and customer portals — without rebuilding your billing infrastructure or hiring a dedicated dev team.

5. Future-proof your stack

Stripe evolves, but slowly. Layered platforms are often more agile, shipping features faster and responding to niche needs (digital creators, subscription sellers, event managers). You get innovation on top of stability.

In short, layering Stripe with the right platform isn’t a workaround. It’s a strategy that keeps you lean and in full control.

When it makes sense to move away from Stripe

There are cases where layering isn’t enough, where Stripe’s foundation itself isn’t the right fit for you. If your challenges are rooted in Stripe’s core infrastructure, then it may be time to move on.

Common reasons to switch:

• Stripe doesn’t support your country or business category
• You’re repeatedly running into account holds or restrictions
• You need native support for crypto, local wallets, or alternative currencies
• You’re processing high volume and need custom rates
• You’ve outgrown Stripe’s dispute, fraud, or settlement tooling

In these situations, a platform like Adyen (for enterprise), Braintree (for flexibility), or even PayPal (for global reach) may be better aligned.

Final thoughts: keep Stripe, add selling power

Stripe is an excellent payment engine. It’s fast, secure, and globally trusted. But it was built to process transactions, not to help you sell.

If your customers are already sold, Stripe Checkout does the job well. But when you must guide the decision, showcase value, and convert interest into action, you need more than just a form.

That’s where Checkout Page comes in.

By layering on top of Stripe, you get:

✅ No-code, lightning-fast checkout pages you can fully customize

✅ Built-in support for subscriptions, payment plans, and digital goods

✅ Rich product storytelling with images, video, testimonials, and long-form content

✅ Smart forms with conditional logic and custom fields

✅ The same trusted Stripe infrastructure powering every transaction

You don’t have to choose between Stripe’s power and the necessary flexibility to grow. With Checkout Page, you get both in one fast, simple platform.

👉 Start your free 7-day trial — no credit card required.