(Image credit: Stripe)
Stripe: The Ultimate Payment Solution for E-Commerce
Overview
Stripe, established in 2011, is a renowned payment processing and merchant services company. With accreditation from the Better Business Bureau and an impressive A+ rating, it offers a global payment system that supports over 135 currencies, making it a top choice for startups and established businesses alike.
Ease of Use
Stripe’s platform is designed for quick setup, allowing most merchants to gain instant account approval and start processing payments immediately. However, integrating Stripe into a website’s shopping cart might require some technical expertise or the assistance of a developer.
Features
- Advanced reporting tools with customized reports for revenue, refunds, fees, and more.
- Subscription and recurring transaction capabilities.
- Instant Payouts option for accessing funds within 30 minutes post-transaction.
- Integration with popular online shopping carts like Drupal, PrestaShop, Magento, Shopware, WooCommerce, and WordPress.
- Multi-currency support with over 135 currencies.
Pricing
Stripe does not have a monthly fee. Instead, it charges per transaction. For online sales, the cost is 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction. In-person card processing is priced at 2.7% plus 5 cents per transaction. International and currency conversion transactions come with an additional 1% fee.
Customer Support
While many users praise Stripe for its features and ease of use, some have expressed concerns regarding customer support and issues with unwarranted refunds.
Popularity
Stripe is a favorite among web developers and e-commerce specialists. It boasts a 4.7-star rating on Capterra based on over 2,000 reviews and has similar positive feedback on G2 with over 140 reviews.
Pros
- Comprehensive reporting tools.
- Subscription management features.
- Instant Payouts for quick access to funds.
Cons
- Requires a technical understanding for integration.
- Limited options for in-person transactions.
- Does not support high-risk industries and has a list of restricted businesses.
Overall Rating
4.4/5 – Stripe stands out as a versatile and robust payment processing solution, especially for online businesses. Its comprehensive features and transparent pricing make it a top choice, though some users have pointed out areas for improvement in customer support.