What is the best alternative to Stripe?
The problem“Stripe does not work for me. What do people use instead, and what does it cost?”
The best Stripe alternative depends on why you are leaving. If Stripe does not work in your country, or you do not want to handle VAT and sales tax abroad, use a merchant of record: Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar, Creem, Dodo Payments or AgentaOS. If you have a European company and want lower card fees, use a processor such as Mollie (1.8% + €0.25 on EEA cards). Stripe itself charges 1.5% + €0.25 on European cards and 2.9% + $0.30 in the US.
Which Stripe alternative fits you?
| Alternative | Type | Per-sale fee | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mollie | Payment processor | 1.8% + €0.25 (EEA cards), 3.25% + €0.25 (non-EEA cards) | You have a European business and will handle VAT yourself |
| PayPal | Payment processor | 3.49% + $0.49 (PayPal Checkout, US), +1.5% international | Your buyers want to pay with PayPal |
| Paddle | Merchant of record | 5% + 50¢ | A growing SaaS that wants tax, invoices and subscriptions handled |
| Lemon Squeezy | Merchant of record | 5% + 50¢, +1.5% outside the US, +0.5% subscriptions | Digital products and small SaaS, owned by Stripe since 2024 |
| Polar | Merchant of record | 5% + 50¢ on Starter, from 3.4% + 30¢ on paid plans, +1.5% non-US cards | Developer tools and open-source projects |
| Creem | Merchant of record | 3.9% + 40¢, plus a payout fee | The lowest listed per-sale rate of the merchants of record here |
| Dodo Payments | Merchant of record | 4% + 40¢ (US cards), +1.5% international | Sellers outside the US, including India, where it has a domestic rate |
| Gumroad | Marketplace and merchant of record | 10% + 50¢ | Selling a first ebook or course with no website |
| AgentaOS | Merchant of record | 4.5% + €0.50, or 4% + €0.40 on Pro (€49 a month) | Selling from a country Stripe does not serve, paid out to your local bank |
Fees are the headline rate on each provider’s pricing page on 22 October 2026; payout, currency and dispute fees come on top. To see what reaches your bank, use the fee calculator or the per-provider calculators for Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar, Creem and Dodo Payments.
Processor or merchant of record?
A payment processor (Stripe, Mollie, PayPal) moves the money. You stay the seller, so you register for VAT in the EU and sales tax in US states once you pass their thresholds, and you issue the invoices. It is cheaper per sale and you need a business in a country the processor supports.
A merchant of record (Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar, Creem, Dodo Payments, AgentaOS) is the legal seller of each sale. It collects and pays VAT and sales tax, issues invoices and handles refunds and chargebacks, then pays you out. It costs more per sale, and it is the usual answer when Stripe does not work where you live.
Not sure which you are? What is a merchant of record, Stripe not available in my country and which merchant of record pays out to my country.
Related questions
What is the best alternative to Stripe?
It depends on why you are leaving. If Stripe is not available in your country, or you do not want to register for VAT and sales tax abroad, use a merchant of record such as Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar, Creem, Dodo Payments or AgentaOS. If you have a European company and only want lower card fees, a processor such as Mollie is closer to Stripe.
Is there a European alternative to Stripe?
Yes. Mollie (Netherlands) is a European payment processor at 1.8% + €0.25 for EEA cards. Paddle (UK), Creem and AgentaOS (Estonia) are European merchants of record that also handle VAT for you.
What can I use if Stripe is not available in my country?
A merchant of record. It is the seller on each sale, so you do not need your own Stripe account; you receive payouts to your bank. Which one pays out to your country varies; see which merchant of record pays out to your country.
What is the difference between a payment processor and a merchant of record?
A processor (Stripe, Mollie, PayPal) moves the money, and you stay the seller: VAT, sales tax and invoices abroad are yours. A merchant of record is the legal seller, so it collects and pays those taxes and issues invoices. It costs more per sale and saves the tax work.
Which Stripe alternative is cheapest?
Per sale, processors are cheaper: Mollie charges 1.8% + €0.25 on EEA cards. Among merchants of record, Creem lists the lowest rate at 3.9% + 40¢, before its payout fee. What reaches your bank also depends on payout and currency fees; the fee calculator compares them.
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