Provider profile · 2026 edition
Stripe review 2026: scores, fees and alternatives.
An online payments platform that businesses in 51 countries and regions can sign up to directly.
WhatsApp and Telegram +44 7563 115980
[email protected]
An online payments platform that businesses in 51 countries and regions can sign up to directly.
Stripe is ranked in 2 Buckingham Intelligence indices. Its highest score is 4.2 out of 5 (84 out of 100) in the Payment Processing and Acquiring Index, where it ranks 1 of 10. It is strongest for online businesses wanting full published pricing and self-serve sign-up in many countries, with 5 out of 5 for published pricing and merchant reach. Not published or not stated on the pages read: regulatory standing.
Also ranked in: Stablecoin Settlement Index (3.1 out of 5, rank 6 of 14).
Scores from the Payment Processing and Acquiring Index and Stablecoin Settlement Index 2026.
| Segment | Score out of 100 | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| For small and mid-sized merchants | 82 | 2 of 10 |
| For enterprise and cross-border merchants | 85 | 1 of 10 |
| For platforms and regulated firms | 84 | 1 of 10 |
No award in the Stablecoin Settlement Index 2026.
| Segment | Score out of 100 | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| For receiving from buyers | 60 | 7 of 14 |
| For paying suppliers | 65 | 5 of 14 |
| For treasury and holding | 60 | 6 of 14 |
The score out of 5 is the overall score out of 100 divided by 20. Leader goes to the top three overall, Best for to the first in each segment, and Top rated for to a score of 5 out of 5 on a criterion. Awards cannot be bought.
Where it scores best, and where to check closely, as shown in each ranking.
Online businesses wanting full published pricing and self-serve sign-up in many countries.
Taking stablecoin payments at checkout.
Disclosure. Bridge, also assessed in this index, is part of the Stripe group and custodies Stripe's stablecoin balances.
What Stripe publishes on its own pages, read on 21 and 26 October 2026.
An online payments platform that businesses in 51 countries and regions can sign up to directly. It publishes a complete UK price list, 125+ payment methods, PCI DSS Level 1 and its UK and US licences. Standard settlement is three business days in some countries, and licence numbers are shown for the UK only.
| Fact | What the provider publishes |
|---|---|
| Pricing | UK standard: "1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards", "2.8% + 20p for premium UK cards", "2.5% + 20p for European Economic Area cards", "3.15% + 20p for international cards", "+ 2% if currency conversion is required". Bank debits 1%, minimum 20p, £4.00 cap. Dispute received fee £20.00. "No setup fees, monthly fees, or hidden fees." |
| Payment methods | "Increase customer acquisition with 100+ payment methods"; product menu: "Access to 125+" payment methods. No currency count on the pages read. |
| Merchant reach | Global page lists 51 countries and regions where Stripe is supported, including India and Indonesia in preview and five countries on an extended network. |
| Payout speed | Docs: first payout "typically" within 7 to 14 days; with T+3 standard settlement (three business days after payment), a daily automatic schedule pays funds "captured 3 business days earlier"; schedule chosen in the Dashboard. |
| Integration | API reference, libraries and SDKs, prebuilt checkout and Payment Links; "Create an account and start accepting payments", "no contracts or banking details required". |
| Regulatory standing | "Stripe Payments UK, Limited, an electronic money institution authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm reference number: 900461)". US money transmitter licences listed by state and regulator. "certified us to PCI Service Provider Level 1". |
| Date read | 26 October 2026 |
A fact that is not published is scored as not offered or, for a fee, as if it were high. It is never estimated.
Facts read on 26 October 2026 from: stripe.com/gb/pricing, stripe.com/global, docs.stripe.com/payouts, docs.stripe.com/security, stripe.com/gb/spc/licenses.
Stripe lets businesses accept stablecoin payments that settle to their Stripe balance in local currency for a published 1.5%, and hold a USDC balance in a financial account. Stablecoin custody is with Bridge, Stripe's group company.
| Fact | What the provider publishes |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Stripe Payments Company, 'NMLS No. 1280479'. 'Bridge custodies USDC and OUSD.' |
| Licences | Licence table covers 49 states, DC, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (Montana not listed). Non-US Stripe entities not checked on the pages read. |
| Stablecoins and networks | Payments: 'USDC (Tempo, Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, and Base networks), USDP (Ethereum and Solana, US-only), USDG (Ethereum, US-only)'. Financial accounts hold OUSD or USDC. USDT not listed. |
| Bank rails | Payments settle 'in your Stripe balance in your local currency'. Financial accounts hold USD, EUR and GBP; Stripe blog: USD 'via ACH and wire, EUR via SEPA'. |
| Fees | Pricing page: stablecoin payments '1.5%' 'of the transaction amount in USD', including conversion to fiat, screening and gas. Link 0.8% is promotional and not scored. No fee listed for stablecoin financial accounts or stablecoin payouts. |
| Settlement | 'Payout timing: Varies by network.' |
| Access | Stablecoin payments for US businesses; private preview in the EU, Hong Kong, Mexico and Switzerland. Stablecoin balances in public preview in the US and private preview in about 100 listed countries. Dashboard and API. |
| Protection | 'Bridge custodies USDC and OUSD.' Segregation and reserves not described on the Stripe pages read. |
| Date read | 21 October 2026 |
A fact that is not published is scored as not offered or, for a fee, as if it were high. It is never estimated.
Facts read on 21 October 2026 from: stripe.com/pricing, stripe.com/en-be/spc/licenses, docs.stripe.com/crypto/stablecoin-payments.md, docs.stripe.com/crypto/…, docs.stripe.com/treasury/stablecoins, stripe.com/blog/….
Each score with the evidence behind it.
Each criterion is scored 0 to 5 against the best published offer in the Payment Processing and Acquiring Index. 0 means not offered or not published. How it is scored
Each criterion is scored 0 to 5 against the best published offer in the Stablecoin Settlement Index. 0 means not offered or not published. How it is scored
The other providers in the same ranking, ordered by score.
| Provider | Score out of 5 | Rank | Strongest for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adyen | 3.9 | 2 of 10 | Large merchants wanting local acquiring and many payment methods from one licensed bank |
| Mollie | 3.6 | 3 of 10 | UK and European small businesses wanting simple published rates and daily payouts |
| Razorpay | 3.6 | 4 of 10 | Businesses selling to customers in India through UPI, cards and netbanking |
| Airwallex | 3.5 | 5 of 10 | Businesses wanting card acceptance with settlement into a multi-currency account |
| Nuvei | 3.4 | 6 of 10 | Merchants in gaming, travel and high-volume sectors needing many local methods |
| PayPal Braintree | 3.0 | 7 of 10 | Online merchants wanting card and PayPal acceptance with published UK rates |
| Checkout.com | 2.8 | 8 of 10 | Large online merchants needing local acquiring across many regions |
| SumUp | 2.6 | 9 of 10 | Small UK retailers and sole traders taking card payments in person |
| Worldpay | 1.6 | 10 of 10 | UK merchants wanting an established acquirer with next-day settlement |
Full Payment Processing and Acquiring Index ranking
| Provider | Score out of 5 | Rank | Strongest for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circle Mint | 4.0 | 1 of 14 | Minting and redeeming USDC at scale |
| Bridge | 3.7 | 2 of 14 | Moving between stablecoins and local bank rails |
| Brale | 3.6 | 3 of 14 | US businesses wanting a full public price list |
| BVNK | 3.4 | 4 of 14 | Businesses needing US, EU and UK rails together |
| Paxos | 3.3 | 5 of 14 | Fee-free minting of USDG and PYUSD |
| Ramp | 3.0 | 7 of 14 | US firms paying suppliers in stablecoins at no fee |
| Bitso Business | 2.8 | 8 of 14 | Real-time payouts in Mexico and Brazil |
| Conduit | 2.5 | 9 of 14 | Emerging market firms needing USD accounts and payouts |
| Reap | 2.4 | 10 of 14 | Asian firms paying suppliers from USDC or USDT |
| MoonPay Enterprise | 2.0 | 11 of 14 | Platforms paying out stablecoins as local fiat |
| Revolut Business | 1.9 | 12 of 14 | Firms already banking with Revolut |
| Coinbase Business | 1.9 | 13 of 14 | US and Singapore firms invoicing in USDC |
| Triple-A | 1.1 | 14 of 14 | Merchants in Asia and Europe settling to IBAN |
Side by side on every criterion, fact and award.
Tell us what you need and where you operate.