Question 1

Why do teams look for Stripe alternatives?

Accepted Answer

Common reasons: unsupported countries, account holds, needing a Merchant of Record (tax/VAT), or better local payment method coverage.

Question 2

What should I compare first?

Accepted Answer

Start with your business model: SaaS subscriptions, one-off invoices, marketplace payments, or global MoR.

Question 3

What is a Merchant of Record?

Accepted Answer

MoR means the provider becomes the seller of record and handles taxes/VAT in many jurisdictions.

PROVIDER	PRICING MODEL	SETUP	Subscriptions	Invoicing	Local methods	Fraud tools	Merchant of Record	NOTES
Paddle	rev-share + platform fee	medium	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	MoR for SaaS/digital goods; handles taxes/VAT.
FastSpring	rev-share + platform fee	medium	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	MoR for digital products; global taxes.
Lemon Squeezy	rev-share + fees	low	✓	✕	?	?	✓	Simple MoR for indie SaaS; feature depth varies.
Chargebee	SaaS billing platform	high	✓	✓	✕	✕	✕	Billing + subscription management (often with Stripe).
Adyen	enterprise pricing	high	✓	✕	✓	✓	✕	Enterprise PSP with direct acquiring.
Braintree	per-transaction	medium	✓	✕	✓	✓	✕	PSP under PayPal; good for marketplaces.
Square	per-transaction	low	✓	✓	✕	✓	✕	Best when you need POS + online payments.
GoCardless	per-transaction	medium	✓	✕	✓	✕	✕	Direct debit and recurring payments focus.
Stripe (baseline)	per-transaction + add-ons	medium	✓	✓	✓	✓	✕	Reference point for comparisons.

Stripe alternatives (MoR, coverage, marketplaces)

Shortlist