Quick answer
The closest Stripe alternatives for a small online store are Shopify Payments and Braintree, which keep $1.17 and $1.16 on a $30 card sale against Stripe's $1.17; PayPal checkout keeps $1.54 and Square Online's free plan $1.29. Merchant-of-record services such as Lemon Squeezy and Paddle cost more per sale ($2 and $2) because they also handle sales tax and VAT as the seller. Choose by what you sell first, then by the fee.
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. It is pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, so it is not in the list or the fee example. See where Nation fits.
How we compared
Every processor here was checked against the same four questions. The first one rules some of them out before fees matter.
- What you can sell A processor that cannot take your product is not an option at any price. Paddle is one example: its acceptable use policy, covered in its card below, rules out physical products.
- Fees on each sale Percentage and fixed fees on one online card order, read from each processor's own pricing page for a US seller.
- Fixed monthly cost What you pay in a month with no sales, at the plan a small store would start on.
- Who handles sales tax A merchant of record sells to the buyer in its own name and handles sales tax and VAT. A card processor leaves that to you.
Stripe alternatives and competitors at a glance
Each processor is shown at its standard published rate for an online sale, with no negotiated pricing. PayPal is shown at its PayPal checkout rate. Helcim is described below but left out of the table, because its rate depends on each card's interchange cost. The source and check date for every number are listed at the end of the page.
What each processor keeps from a $30 online sale
Rates are easier to compare on one order than as percentages. The example is one $30 order paid online with a US card. On Stripe that sale pays 2.9% + 30¢, with no monthly fee.
- Braintree $1.16 no monthly fee Card 2.89% + $0.29 $1.16
- Stripe baseline $1.17 no monthly fee Card 2.9% + 30¢ $1.17
- Shopify Payments $1.17 plus $39 a month Card 2.9% + 30¢ $1.17
- Square Online $1.29 free plan Card 3.3% + 30¢ $1.29
- PayPal $1.54 no monthly fee PayPal checkout 3.49% + $0.49 $1.54
- Lemon Squeezy $2 no monthly fee Platform 5% + 50¢ $2
- Paddle $2 no monthly fee Platform 5% + 50¢ $2
Assumes a $30 order, a domestic US card paid online, no tax, no refund, no dispute and no currency conversion. PayPal uses its PayPal checkout rate of 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction; card payments through PayPal's own card checkout are 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction. Stripe adds +1.5% for international cards, and Lemon Squeezy adds +1.5% for buyers outside the US.
Each processor in detail
Every processor gets the same five lines: price, fees per sale, what it is strong at, who it is best for and its main limit.
The baseline. Stripe charges per transaction, with no monthly fee on standard pay-as-you-go pricing.
- Price
- No monthly fee on standard pricing. Payment Links are included at no additional charge.
- Fees per sale
- 2.9% + 30¢ for a domestic card online. International cards add +1.5% and currency conversion adds +1%.
- Strong at
- Add-ons on the same account, such as Stripe Tax at 0.5% per transaction where you are registered to collect tax.
- Best for
- Stores that want one processor to plug into their own site or checkout.
- Limit
- Disputes cost $15.00 each. Refunds have no fee, but the original processing fee is not returned.
A checkout that lets buyers pay with their PayPal account or with a card.
- Price
- No monthly fee for standard checkout. The optional Payments Pro gateway is 30.00 USD a month.
- Fees per sale
- PayPal checkout is 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. Card payments are 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction, and advanced card processing is 2.89% + $0.29 per transaction.
- Strong at
- Buyers who prefer to pay with a PayPal or Venmo account.
- Best for
- Stores that want a PayPal button next to their card checkout.
- Limit
- The 0.49 USD fixed fee is higher than Stripe's, which weighs most on small orders. Card chargebacks outside a buyer's PayPal account cost 20.00 USD.
PayPal Braintree takes cards and digital wallets in your own checkout, and can add Venmo in the US.
- Price
- No monthly fee. Established businesses can ask for custom or interchange-plus pricing.
- Fees per sale
- 2.89% + $0.29 per card or digital wallet transaction. Venmo is 3.49% + 0.49 USD. A card issued outside the US adds Additional 1%.
- Strong at
- Cards, digital wallets and Venmo in one integration.
- Best for
- Stores with a developer who want PayPal's processing inside their own checkout.
- Limit
- Accounts are subject to eligibility, application, approval by PayPal, and chargebacks cost 15.00 USD.
Square's online store with processing built in, on the same account as Square's in-person payments.
- Price
- There is no monthly fee on Square Free. Square Plus is $49 a month per location.
- Fees per sale
- Online card processing of 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free, or 2.9% + 30¢ on Square Plus. In person it is 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free.
- Strong at
- Selling online and in person from one account.
- Best for
- Small stores that also sell at markets or in a shop.
- Limit
- The free plan's online rate of 3.3% + 30¢ is higher than Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢.
The processor built into Shopify stores. Shopify says you are set up to take payments as soon as you create your Shopify store.
- Price
- Basic plan $39 a month, or $29 a month billed yearly.
- Fees per sale
- 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic, and no transaction fee with Shopify Payments. Another payment provider adds 2%.
- Strong at
- A full store and checkout with payments set up in one place.
- Best for
- Stores that are on Shopify or moving to it.
- Limit
- It comes with a Shopify plan, so the plan fee is due even in months with no sales.
A merchant of record: Lemon Squeezy says it is your merchant of record and collects and pays sales tax for you.
- Price
- $0/mo for the selling features. There is no paid selling plan.
- Fees per sale
- 5% + 50¢ on the total order value. Buyers outside the US add +1.5%, PayPal payments add +1.5% and subscriptions add +0.5%.
- Strong at
- Selling digital products worldwide without registering for sales tax yourself.
- Best for
- Sellers of digital downloads, courses or software.
- Limit
- Its fee per sale ties with Paddle as the highest in this list, and chargebacks cost $15.
Paddle acts as your Merchant of Record and handles tax compliance. It describes its product as built for SaaS and apps.
- Price
- Paddle has no monthly fee on pay-as-you-go. High-volume sellers can ask for custom pricing.
- Fees per sale
- 5% + 50¢ per checkout transaction. A USD payout to a US bank by ACH is typically free of charge, and a payout sent by SWIFT costs $/€/£15.
- Strong at
- Software and subscriptions sold in many countries.
- Best for
- Software and SaaS sellers who want tax handled for them.
- Limit
- Physical products are listed as Prohibited in its acceptable use policy, so it does not work for a store that ships goods.
Which one fits you
You sell physical products on your own site and want the lowest standard card rate.
Braintree or Stripe
Braintree charges 2.89% + $0.29 and Stripe 2.9% + 30¢, both with no monthly fee.
Many of your buyers want to pay with PayPal or Venmo.
PayPal or Braintree
PayPal checkout costs 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction; Braintree adds PayPal and Venmo to a card checkout.
You also sell in person at markets or in a shop.
Square Online
no monthly fee on Square Free and one account for both: 3.3% + 30¢ online and 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free in person.
You are building or moving your store to Shopify.
Shopify Payments
It charges 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic, and no transaction fee with Shopify Payments. Another provider adds 2%.
You sell digital products and do not want to handle sales tax or VAT.
Lemon Squeezy or Paddle
Both act as merchant of record for 5% + 50¢ and 5% + 50¢. Paddle's policy lists physical products as Prohibited.
You process enough volume that wholesale card costs matter.
Helcim
Helcim has no contracts or monthly fees and charges Interchange+ 0.50% + 25¢ on online payments up to its first volume tier.
Where Nation fits
Nation
Category: an AI store builder
Nation says one description of what you make builds the store, then agents handle orders, customers and delivery and run ads, content and social posts, with you approving the work. Because pricing is not announced yet, it is not compared on fees here.
Limits today
- Status: pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai.
- Pricing and fees: not announced yet.
- Shopper marketplace: no shopper marketplace has been announced.
- Track record: no independent reviews or public stores yet.
Nation publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and is not in the list or the fee example.
Describe what you makeDisclosure and method
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and is not in the fee comparison.
The list covers Stripe and seven alternatives that a US store can use to take online payments: card processors, store builders with built-in payments and merchant-of-record services. No processor paid to be included, and none of the links are affiliate links.
Every fee was read on the processor's own pricing or fee page, with the oldest check on 2 Oct 2026. The full source list is below.
Questions about Stripe alternatives for small business
What is the best Stripe alternative for small business?
The best Stripe alternative for a small business depends on what it sells. For physical products sold online, Braintree ($1.16 on a $30 sale) and Shopify Payments ($1.17, plus the plan) are closest to Stripe's $1.17. Square suits stores that also sell in person, and Lemon Squeezy or Paddle suit digital products.
Is PayPal cheaper than Stripe?
PayPal is not cheaper than Stripe on a standard online sale. PayPal checkout charges 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction, which is $1.54 on a $30 order, while Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢, or $1.17. PayPal's card rate is 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction, still above Stripe because of the higher fixed fee.
Which Stripe alternative has the lowest fees?
The Stripe alternative with the lowest published flat card rate is Braintree at 2.89% + $0.29, or $1.16 on a $30 sale; PayPal's advanced card processing has the same rate. Helcim charges interchange plus Interchange+ 0.50% + 25¢ and says most merchants pay below 2.5% online, but the cost depends on each card.
What is a merchant of record, and do I need one?
A merchant of record sells to your buyer in its own name, so it collects and pays sales tax and VAT for you. Lemon Squeezy and Paddle work this way for 5% + 50¢ and 5% + 50¢. Stripe's Managed Payments adds 3.5% on top of its card fees. Paddle does not take physical products.
How does Shopify Payments compare with Stripe?
Shopify Payments charges the same online card rate as Stripe, 2.9% + 30¢ on the Basic plan, but it comes with a Shopify store, which starts at $39 a month. Shopify says you are set up to take payments as soon as you create your Shopify store. Using another payment provider on Shopify adds 2% per sale.