Stripe alternatives compared
- Paddle: merchant of record. Handles US, EU, UK VAT. Best for SaaS and digital products. 5% to 7% per transaction. Accepts non-residents.
- Lemon Squeezy: merchant of record. Similar to Paddle but simpler interface. 5% to 7% per transaction.
- PayPal Business: accepts Wyoming LLCs but requires ITIN for personal verification. 2.9% to 4.4% per transaction. Useful for buyers who prefer PayPal.
- Wise Business: USD invoicing and receiving. Not a real "payment processor" but works for B2B invoicing. 1% to 2% FX margin.
- Airwallex: multi-currency, accepts global. Newer for US business banking. Approximately 80% acceptance for non-residents.
- Payoneer: payouts from Amazon, Upwork, freelance platforms. Limited US merchant features.
When to pick each
- Digital products sold globally (SaaS, courses): Paddle or Lemon Squeezy (handles VAT)
- Physical goods sold US-only: Stripe
- B2B invoicing with US clients: Wise Business or Stripe Invoicing
- Customers who only pay via PayPal: PayPal Business (with ITIN)
- Multi-currency operations: Airwallex or Wise Business