Best Stripe Alternatives (2026)
Stripe is payment infrastructure for the internet, starting at Free/mo. Here are the best alternatives — whether you need something cheaper, simpler, or with different features.
Why people switch from Stripe
- →Higher per-transaction fees than some alternatives
- →Complex disputes process
- →Not ideal for high-risk merchants
Payments infrastructure for SaaS — Merchant of Record
Paddle
Payments infrastructure for SaaS — Merchant of Record
Paddle acts as a Merchant of Record for SaaS companies, handling payments, global tax compliance, fraud protection, and subscriptions. This means Paddle — not you — takes responsibility for sales tax and VAT compliance worldwide.
Chargebee
Subscription billing and revenue management platform
Chargebee is a subscription management and recurring billing platform used by SaaS companies. It handles complex billing scenarios — trials, upgrades, downgrades, proration, dunning — and integrates with multiple payment gateways.
Stripe vs alternatives: quick comparison
How to switch from Stripe
- 1. Export your data first
Before cancelling, export everything from Stripe — contacts, projects, records, or reports. Most tools offer a CSV export under Settings → Data Export. Download and store it as a backup even if you don't need it immediately.
- 2. Trial the alternative with a real project
Chargebee offers free plans — sign up and run a live project in parallel before committing. Most paid alternatives also offer 14–30 day trials.
- 3. Import and run both tools briefly
Use the import wizard in your chosen alternative to bring across your exported data. Run both tools in parallel for 2–4 weeks so your team can adapt without losing continuity. Most migrations take less than a day for small teams.
- 4. Cancel before the next billing cycle
Cancel Stripe before renewal to avoid being charged for another month or year. Check whether you're on a monthly or annual plan — annual plans often have no mid-cycle refunds. Keep your final data export on file.
Our verdict
If you are switching from Stripe, Paddle is our top pick — payments infrastructure for saas — merchant of record, with a G2 score of 4/5. For a free option, Chargebee is worth considering. Use the comparison links above to do a side-by-side before committing.
Stripe alternatives: frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Stripe?
Paddle is our top-ranked alternative. It starts at Free/mo and scores 4/5 on G2.
Is there a free alternative to Stripe?
Yes — Chargebee all offer free plans.
What is the cheapest alternative to Stripe?
Paddle is among the most affordable at Free/mo.
Not sure which tool to pick?
See a detailed breakdown of Stripe pricing before you decide.
See Stripe pricing →