Stripe is a global technology company that builds economic infrastructure for the internet. Businesses of every size, from new startups to public companies, use the company’s software to accept online payments and run technically sophisticated financial operations in more than 100 countries. Stripe is particularly favoured by tech and internet companies due to its flexible API and comprehensive range of services – but does it have good reviews?
Headline numbers
- Active in 120+ countries.
- Handles 250+ million API requests per day.
- Supports 135+ currencies and payment methods.
- Used by over 1 million businesses and organisations worldwide.
- Processes hundreds of billions of dollars annually for its clients.
Key information
| Founded | 2010, San Francisco, USA |
| Website URL | www.stripe.com |
| Phone number | Not publicly available |
| FSCS protected? | No |
| FCA regulated? | Yes |
Pros and cons of Stripe
Stripe offers a host of advantages that make it an attractive choice for businesses. It supports a broad range of payment options, including all major credit cards, debit cards, and many country-specific payment methods. The Stripe API is also versatile and developer-friendly, which allows businesses to create custom payment solutions.
Featured pro tools
Stripe’s services extend beyond simple payment processing. The company offers a suite of products that tackle everything from subscription billing to fraud detection, capital lending, and business analytics. Its capabilities are particularly appealing to tech companies and startups, who often prefer Stripe’s robust and versatile toolkit over more traditional payment processors.
However, Stripe’s pricing can be a point of contention for some businesses. While its pay-as-you-go pricing is transparent and predictable, smaller businesses may find it a bit costly compared to other providers. Some users have also cited issues with account stability, as Stripe maintains a rigorous anti-fraud stance that can sometimes result in sudden account holds or closures.
Stripe products and services
Stripe Payments
At its core, Stripe provides an online payments platform that allows businesses to accept payments in a wide variety of formats from customers across the globe. This includes all major credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and many local payment methods. Transactions can be customised and optimised using a set of APIs and tools that allow for the creation of flexible billing periods, pricing models, and payment experiences.
Stripe Billing
Stripe Billing is a comprehensive suite of tools for designing and implementing subscription services, recurring payments, and invoicing. It offers various billing models, automated invoices, and even tax rate calculation. The service can also handle free trial periods and discount coupons, among other functionalities. Pricing starts at 0.5% of recurring charges for the Starter package.
Stripe Atlas
Atlas is a platform designed to help startups set up their business. It handles the heavy lifting of incorporating a company in the U.S., setting up a U.S. bank account, and creating a Stripe account to accept payments. It also offers tax advice, legal guidance, and tools for handling stock issuance for a one-time fee of $500.
Stripe Radar
Radar is a fraud detection and prevention tool that uses machine learning to identify and block fraudulent transactions. It comes bundled with Stripe Payments and uses data from millions of global companies to refine its fraud detection capabilities. Pricing is incorporated into transaction fees, but there’s an additional charge for businesses that require advanced fraud protection and customised risk management.
Stripe Capital
This is a business financing service that provides access to funds for growing businesses. Capital can be used to manage cash flow, invest in growth, or cover unexpected expenses. Loan amounts and repayments are tailored to a business’s unique profile and are repaid from a percentage of daily sales, making them manageable for businesses of all sizes.
Stripe’s extensive suite of tools and services makes it a flexible, scalable solution for businesses at every stage, from startup to enterprise-level operations. Whether you’re looking to take payments, launch a subscription service, protect against fraud, or even start a new company, Stripe has the capabilities to support your goals.
Stripe reviews
| Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| TrustPilot | 4.0/5 |
| 4.2/5 | |
| Reviews.io | 3.8/5 |
| Average | 4.0/5 |
Alternatives to Stripe
Several payment processing services rival Stripe.
PayPal is a well-known name, with its massive user base and recognisable brand.
Square is another competitor, popular among small businesses for its point-of-sale solutions.
Newer entrants, such as Adyen and Braintree, are also gaining popularity with their flexible APIs and competitive pricing.
Each of these alternatives has unique strengths, and the choice between them depends on specific business needs and the nature of the transactions they handle.
Additional considerations
Choosing a payment processor like Stripe isn’t solely about transaction fees or the number of payment methods supported.
Considerations around the ease of use, the level of customer support provided, the company’s reputation, and the additional services on offer all come into play.
For instance, Stripe’s advanced suite of tools is a massive plus for tech-savvy businesses, but small businesses that prefer a more straightforward solution may find it overwhelming.
Stripe company history
Founded in 2010 by Irish brothers Patrick and John Collison, Stripe began as a startup looking to simplify online payments.
Recognising the complexity and inefficiency in the existing payment systems, the Collisons developed Stripe with a focus on developer-friendly APIs and an emphasis on supporting new business models like marketplaces and mobile apps.
FAQ
Stripe is used for processing online transactions. It enables businesses of all sizes to accept payments from customers, invoice clients, manage subscription billing, and handle many other types of financial transactions.
Stripe operates on a pay-as-you-go pricing model. For the basic payment processing, Stripe charges 1.4% + 20p per transaction for European cards, and 2.9% + 20p for non-European cards. Pricing for other services like Stripe Billing or Stripe Atlas varies.
Yes, Stripe is considered safe to use. It complies with the stringent PCI DSS Level 1, which is the highest level of payment processing security. All transactional information is encrypted, and Stripe continually invests in the security of its services.
Whether Stripe is better than PayPal depends on your specific business needs. Stripe offers more customisation and is more flexible with different types of business models. It’s also known for its extensive developer tools. However, PayPal is more recognisable to general consumers and could potentially lead to higher conversion rates for certain types of businesses.
For most businesses, Stripe transfers funds to your bank account on a rolling 7-day schedule. However, the exact timeline can depend on your individual settings and the country in which your business is registered. It’s best to check directly with Stripe or in your Stripe Dashboard to know when you’ll receive your funds.
Yes, Stripe supports international transactions and can accept payments in over 135 different currencies. This makes it a great option for businesses that have an international customer base.
While Stripe offers extensive developer resources and tools, you don’t need to know how to code to use the basics of Stripe. Many ecommerce platforms integrate with Stripe and make it easy to set up without any coding knowledge. However, to make full use of Stripe’s customisation options, some coding might be required.
When a customer disputes a payment, Stripe helps you through the process by providing tools and guides on submitting evidence. However, if the dispute is lost, you will be charged a dispute fee.
Yes, Stripe can handle both one-off payments and recurring payments. This flexibility makes it suitable for a variety of business models.
Yes, Stripe offers several support channels, including email, chat, and a comprehensive self-service knowledge base. However, as of 2023, it’s worth noting that Stripe does not provide phone support.
Stripe offers a range of services tailored to the needs of online businesses. This includes subscription management, fraud detection and prevention (Stripe Radar), business financing (Stripe Capital), and company formation assistance (Stripe Atlas), among others.
No, there’s no minimum sales volume requirement to use Stripe. It is a pay-as-you-go service that’s accessible to businesses of all sizes, from startups to established companies.