TL;DR:
- Stripe is a developer-friendly payment platform that processes online payments for ~5M businesses globally.
- Pricing: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (US). Used by Amazon, Shopify, Lyft, plus thousands of indie SaaS / e-commerce.
- Key features: Payment Links, Subscriptions, Connect (marketplaces), Tax, Atlas (incorporation), Climate (carbon offsets).
What Is Stripe?
- Founded 2010 by Patrick + John Collison.
- ~5M businesses use Stripe globally (2026).
- Processes ~$1T+/year in payment volume.
- Best-known for developer-first APIs.
- Used by: Amazon, Shopify, Lyft, Slack, Twitter, plus thousands of indie products.
Stripe Pricing
| Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Online cards (US) | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| In-person cards | 2.7% + $0.05 |
| International cards | +1.5% |
| Currency conversion | +1% |
| Stripe Atlas (incorporation) | $500 one-time |
| Stripe Tax | 0.5% per transaction |
Top Stripe Features
- Payment Links — accept payments without code (1-click setup).
- Checkout — pre-built payment page.
- Subscriptions — recurring billing automation.
- Connect — marketplaces (Uber, Lyft, Airbnb model).
- Tax — auto-calculate global sales tax.
- Radar — fraud prevention.
- Atlas — incorporate company in US ($500).
- Climate — automatic carbon offset for transactions.
- Issuing — create your own payment cards.
How to Sign Up for Stripe
- Go to stripe.com.
- Click Start now.
- Provide email + phone + business info.
- Verify identity (ID + tax ID).
- Connect bank account.
- Activate (usually instant for legitimate businesses).
Stripe vs Competitors
| Provider | Fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 2.9% + $0.30 | SaaS, marketplaces, developers |
| PayPal | 3.49% + $0.49 | Consumer / general business |
| Square | 2.6% + $0.10 (in-person) | Retail / brick-and-mortar |
| Braintree (PayPal) | 2.9% + $0.30 | Marketplaces (legacy) |
| Adyen | Custom (lower at scale) | Enterprise / large businesses |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stripe free?
Free to sign up. Pay 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Plus optional fees for Tax, Atlas, etc.
Stripe vs PayPal?
Stripe: developer-friendly, customizable, slightly cheaper (2.9% vs 3.49%). PayPal: universal consumer recognition.
How long until Stripe pays out?
2 business days for new accounts. Down to instant payouts for established accounts.
Can I use Stripe internationally?
Yes — Stripe operates in 40+ countries. International transaction fees: +1.5%.
Best for SaaS / subscriptions?
Stripe — best-in-class subscription billing + dunning + analytics.
Key Takeaways
- Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, developer-friendly.
- Used by 5M+ businesses globally.
- Best for SaaS, subscriptions, marketplaces, developers.
- Stripe Atlas helps non-US founders incorporate ($500).
- Stripe Tax handles global sales tax automatically.
One link covers your Stripe checkout + everything
Add a UniLink URL to your bios — features Stripe payment link + your platforms. Free.