The first payment processor you choose rarely turns out to be the last one you need. Stripe works well for many businesses in their early stages, when flat-rate pricing feels simple and the tooling seems sufficient.
But as transaction volumes grow and operational needs become more specific, the cracks tend to show. Fees that once felt reasonable start compounding. Support tickets pile up without resolution.
And for some businesses, there’s the unsettling possibility of account termination without warning, with funds held for up to 90 days.
These aren’t hypothetical concerns. Software vendors and growing companies often find that Stripe’s one-size-fits-all model no longer fits them.
Industries dealing with supplements, CBD, online coaching, or lending may face restrictions that feel sudden and unexplained. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re likely here because you’ve started weighing your options.
This article walks through 8 Online Payment Solutions worth considering. Each has a different pricing model, feature set, and ideal use case. The goal is to give you enough context to narrow down what might work for your business, without overpromising or glossing over trade-offs.
| Provider | Best For | Pricing Model | Monthly Fee | In-Person Fee | Online Fee |
| Finix | High-risk and scaling businesses | Subscription + interchange | From $79 | 0% + 8¢ + interchange | 0% + 15¢ + interchange |
| Square | Small businesses and retail | Flat rate | Free to $79 | 2.6% + 15¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| PayPal Business | Global reach and brand trust | Flat rate | None | 2.29% + 9¢ | 2.99% to 3.49% + 49¢ |
| Adyen | Enterprise operations | Interchange++ | None | €0.10–€0.15 + scheme fees | Varies by method |
| Braintree | Startups and mobile payments | Flat rate | None | N/A | 2.59% + 49¢ |
| Authorize.net | Stable gateway needs | Flat rate + gateway fee | $25 | N/A | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| GoCardless | Recurring bank payments | Pay-as-you-go | None | N/A | 1% + 20p (capped at £4) |
| Paddle | SaaS and digital products | Merchant of Record | None | N/A | 5% + 50¢ |
Square
Square has built its reputation around straightforward pricing and an all-in-one ecosystem. The company processes hundreds of billions of dollars annually and serves millions of businesses globally, offering payment processing alongside point-of-sale solutions and business management tools.
In-person transactions cost 2.6% plus 15¢. Online payments through websites or eCommerce APIs run 2.9% plus 30¢. Manually entered transactions are priced at 3.5% plus 15¢, while invoices cost 3.3% plus 30¢ for cards or 1% with a $1 minimum for ACH transfers.
Three subscription plans are available as part of these Online Payment Solutions: Free, Plus at $60 per month, and Premium at $79 per month. Businesses processing over $250,000 annually may qualify for custom pricing. There are no long-term commitments required, and the modern tooling includes mobile payments and real-time analytics.
Finix
Finix operates as a full-stack processor with direct connections to major card networks. This matters because it allows the company to handle underwriting, compliance, fraud prevention, and settlement within a single platform. For businesses in high-risk industries like nutraceuticals, CBD, lending, or gambling, this setup can make onboarding faster and scaling more manageable.
The pricing model is subscription-based, starting at $79 per month for merchants processing at least $5,000 in card payments monthly. Transaction fees are 0% plus 8¢ for in-person payments and 0% plus 15¢ for online payments, both added to interchange fees. There’s no markup beyond that.
Finix stands out among modern Online Payment Solutions by not charging extra for PCI compliance, setup, or fraud protection tools. Platforms and marketplaces can choose between flat rate, dynamic, or custom pricing structures. The absence of long-term contracts gives growing businesses flexibility without locking them into agreements that no longer fit.
PayPal Business
PayPal has over 400 million active users across more than 200 countries. That reach makes it a recognizable option for businesses with international customers who prefer a familiar checkout process.
Express checkout transactions carry a 3.49% plus 49¢ fee in the United States. When customers pay through debit or credit cards via their PayPal account, the fee drops to 2.99% plus a fixed cost. In-person transactions through PayPal’s point-of-sale system cost 2.29% plus 9¢.
Seller Protection helps businesses avoid chargebacks, reversals, and associated fees on eligible transactions. Payflow, the optional payment gateway for custom checkouts, adds 10¢ per transaction plus monthly fees of $30 for Payflow Pro, $10 for recurring billing, and $10 for additional fraud protection. Chargeback fees are $20 per instance for US-based sellers. Custom rates and interchange plus pricing are available for high-volume businesses.
Adyen
Adyen is built for mid-market and enterprise sellers, trusted by global brands like Uber, Spotify, and eBay. The platform supports over 250 payment methods and includes built-in acquiring along with advanced risk tools.
The pricing model is Interchange++, which tracks interchange rates and scheme fees at the transaction level. Processing fees typically range from €0.10 to €0.15 per transaction. There are no setup or monthly fees, but there is a minimum monthly invoice requirement, making it better suited for businesses with meaningful volume.
This level of visibility means you can calculate the cost of each payment before it completes. For businesses that need to understand exactly where their money goes, this transparency can be valuable.
Braintree
Braintree, now part of PayPal’s enterprise payments offering, uses a flat rate approach. The standard transaction fee is 2.59% plus 49¢ for debit cards, credit cards, and mobile wallets in the United States. Venmo transactions cost 3.49% plus 49¢, while ACH direct debit runs 0.75% per transaction, capped at $5.
There are no setup or monthly fees for standard payment methods. Cards issued outside the US or non-USD currency transactions incur a 1% fee. Chargebacks carry a flat $15 fee.
The platform accepts over 130 currencies, reducing currency conversion complications for global customers. Custom flat rates and interchange-plus pricing become available for businesses processing more than $80,000 per month. This makes Braintree a reasonable option for startups and small businesses that want to start simple and grow into more complex arrangements.
Authorize.net
Authorize.net is a payment gateway service owned by Visa, known for reliability, uptime, and a stable API. It has been around long enough to earn integrations with thousands of shopping cart plugins, CRM systems, and business software.
Three pricing plans are available. The All-in-One plan costs $25 per month plus 2.9% and 30¢ per credit card transaction. The Payment Gateway plan is $25 per month plus 10¢ per transaction and a 10¢ daily batch fee. The Payment Gateway and eCheck option runs $25 per month plus 0.75% per eCheck transaction, plus 10¢ and a 10¢ daily batch fee.
There’s no contract fee for early termination, and the platform received an award for fraud protection from Forbes in 2025. The pricing structure is consistent, with no additional hidden fees beyond what’s listed.
GoCardless
GoCardless focuses on bank-to-bank payments and direct debit schemes, processing around $20 billion annually. It operates in the US, various European countries, and Australia, serving small, mid-sized, and large companies.
The Standard plan has no monthly fee. Transaction pricing is 1% plus 20p, capped at £4 per transaction. Charities and nonprofits receive a 25% discount on standard transaction fees.
The platform provides hosted payment pages and API access for direct website integration at no additional charge. Over 350 third-party software integrations are available, including QuickBooks, Salesforce, and Xero. GoCardless supports regional direct debit schemes and instant bank payments in some markets, but it does not support card payments or digital wallets.
Paddle
Paddle operates as a Merchant of Record, handling tax compliance, fraud protection, global payments, and customer billing support. This model is built for SaaS companies, digital product sellers, and mobile app businesses selling internationally.
The pricing is 5% plus 50¢ per transaction. There are no hidden fees, monthly charges, or migration costs. That rate includes everything: global payments, tax compliance, fraud protection, and more.
While the headline fee appears higher than Stripe’s 2.9% plus 30¢, the comparison changes when you factor in Stripe’s additional costs for billing tools, tax compliance, and international processing. For businesses selling across multiple countries, Paddle’s all-inclusive approach can simplify operations and potentially match or reduce total costs.
Paddle receives positive feedback from SaaS developers and digital product companies for simplifying compliance, automating tax management, and reducing chargebacks.
Online Payment Solutions Compared: Find the Perfect Fit
The right payment processor depends on your transaction volume, industry, geographic reach, and how much you want to manage internally. If you’re in a high-risk industry, Finix offers a direct path with fewer restrictions. If you need global recognition and customer trust, PayPal delivers that. For enterprise-scale operations with complex payment method needs, Adyen provides the infrastructure.
Smaller businesses or those focused on in-person retail may find Square’s all-in-one ecosystem sufficient. Startups with mobile-first approaches might lean toward Braintree. Companies built around recurring bank payments should look closely at GoCardless, while cost-conscious merchants processing steady volumes often benefit from the interchange plus model.
SaaS and digital product businesses selling internationally have a compelling case for Paddle, where compliance and tax management are handled without separate tools.
Each option here addresses specific gaps that Stripe may leave as your business grows. Take the time to match your current needs and your expected trajectory against what each provider offers. The payment processor that serves you best is the one aligned with where you’re going, not only where you’ve been.
