Best for SaaS, E-commerce & Digital Products
135+
Currencies
40+
Countries
T+2
Settlement (USA)
2.9%
Base Fee
Navigation
Overall Score
9.4
Industry Benchmark
YES, If...
NO, If...
North America
USA, Canada, Mexico
Europe
UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, +20 more
Asia Pacific
Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, +5 more
KYC Requirements
✓ Personal ID
✓ Business Docs
✓ Proof of Address
✓ Live Website
✓ Bank Account
✓ Director ID
| Industry | Status | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS / Software | ✅ EXCELLENT | Industry benchmark for recurring revenue |
| E-commerce | ✅ EXCELLENT | Best for global retail and digital stores |
| Marketplace | ✅ EXCELLENT | Stripe Connect is the gold standard |
| Travel & Booking | ⚠️ CASE BY CASE | Requires manual review, higher reserves |
| Forex / Trading | ❌ RESTRICTED | Strictly limited, high rejection rate |
| CBD / Adult | ❌ PROHIBITED | Account will be closed immediately |
Domestic Cards (USA)
2.9% + $0.30
Per successful transaction
ACH Direct Debit
0.8%
Capped at $5.00
Estimated Monthly Cost (USD)
Stripe Billing
Subscription management and recurring payments.
Stripe Connect
Multi-vendor marketplaces and complex money flows.
Stripe Radar
AI-powered fraud detection included with all accounts.
Stripe Issuing
Create virtual and physical cards for your business.
CBD / Cannabis
Reason: High Regulatory Risk
Forex / Binary Options
Reason: Chargeback & Financial Risk
Adult Content
Reason: High Chargeback Risk
Common Rejection Reasons
Stripe is built for developers. Integration is seamless with comprehensive SDKs and documentation.
const stripe = require('stripe')('sk_test_...');
const session = await stripe.checkout.sessions.create({
payment_method_types: ['card'],
line_items: [{
price_data: { currency: 'usd', product_data: { name: 'SaaS Sub' }, unit_amount: 2000 },
quantity: 1,
}],
mode: 'payment',
success_url: 'https://example.com/success',
});Recommended for: Subscription management + Developer-friendly API.
Best Choice
Recommended for: Complex split payments via Stripe Connect.
Best Choice
Not Recommended: Higher account review and fraud risk.
High Risk
Is Stripe suitable for high-risk businesses?
Generally no. Stripe has a low tolerance for high chargeback rates. If you operate in CBD, Adult, or Gambling sectors, consider specialized high-risk providers like Nuvei or PaymentCloud to avoid account freezes.
How long does the Stripe approval process take?
Standard business approvals are often instant or take 24-48 hours. If your business requires manual underwriting, it may take 2-5 business days. Ensure your website has a clear refund policy to speed up the process.
Can I use Stripe as a sole proprietor?
Yes, Stripe supports sole traders in many regions including the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. However, you may face higher scrutiny and lower initial processing limits compared to incorporated entities.
Does Stripe hold a rolling reserve?
For most low-risk businesses, Stripe does not hold a rolling reserve. However, for new accounts in higher-risk categories or those with sudden volume spikes, Stripe may hold 5-10% of funds for 90-180 days.
Rejected for High Risk?
Try Nuvei or PaymentCloud. They specialize in high-risk underwriting.
Need Better Pricing for Scale?
Try Adyen or Checkout.com. Better interchange++ rates for high volume.
Need Local Payments in Emerging Markets?
Try dLocal or EBANX for deep coverage in LATAM, Africa, and SE Asia.
Need Native Crypto Support?
Try BitPay or Coinbase Commerce for 20+ cryptocurrencies.