Stripe

Stripe is the world's reference online payment infrastructure. Its strength is a complete, reliable technical platform that lets a business, from a startup to a giant, accept payments and manage the entire financial layer of its activity.

What is Stripe for?

At its core, Stripe collects card and other payments (SEPA, wallets) on a website or app, with a polished integration for developers. Around it sit products: billing and subscriptions (Billing), marketplace payouts (Connect), fraud prevention (Radar), in-person payments (Terminal). The documentation and APIs are well regarded, which explains its massive adoption. Stripe also handles payment compliance and security, a heavy burden to carry alone.

How does Stripe charge?

There is no monthly subscription: Stripe earns a commission on every transaction. In France, a standard European card costs about 1.5% + €0.25, an international card more, a SEPA direct debit a few cents. Additional products and high volumes have separate pricing. For a simple business account, Qonto serves a different need; Stripe is the collection tool.

What are the limits of Stripe?

Technical integration requires development skills, even though turnkey solutions exist. The commission-based model can weigh on margins at high volume, and support and dispute handling are sometimes criticized on standard accounts.