5 Best Stripe Alternatives in 2026

Looking for a Stripe alternative? We've compared the best options based on 50+ real projects.

01

Paddle

Best Stripe alternative for EU VAT compliance

  • ✓ Merchant of Record
  • ✓ handles EU VAT automatically
  • ✗ Higher fees
  • ✗ less developer-friendly
02

LemonSqueezy

Best for indie hackers and digital products

  • ✓ Simple setup
  • ✓ Merchant of Record
  • ✗ Less mature
  • ✗ fewer integrations
03

Mollie

Best Stripe alternative for European businesses

  • ✓ Strong EU payment methods (iDEAL
  • ✓ SOFORT
  • ✓ Bancontact)
  • ✗ Smaller global reach
04

Braintree

Best for high-volume merchants with negotiated rates

  • ✓ PayPal ecosystem
  • ✓ good for marketplaces
  • ✗ More complex integration

Our recommendation

Stripe — Stripe remains the default for most SaaS products. Switch to Paddle only if EU VAT compliance via Merchant of Record is a priority.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Stripe good for European SaaS?

Yes — Stripe handles EU VAT with Stripe Tax. But if you want full Merchant of Record status, use Paddle instead.

What is the cheapest Stripe alternative?

Fees are similar across all major processors (2.9% + 30¢ is standard). Focus on which platform fits your business model.