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Best payment processing tools

Payment APIs, checkout solutions, and merchant of record platforms for online businesses.

Free Payment Processing tools (6)
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Payment processing tools handle the complex infrastructure of accepting money online — credit cards, subscriptions, invoicing, and tax compliance. The right choice depends on your business model, geographic scope, and technical capabilities.

Stripe dominates among developers for its powerful API and flexibility. Merchant of record services like Paddle and Lemon Squeezy handle tax compliance and billing, which is increasingly valuable as global tax regulations tighten. Creator-focused platforms like Gumroad prioritize simplicity over customization.

When choosing a payment processor, consider transaction fees (they add up fast), subscription management needs, international selling requirements, and whether you need a merchant of record for tax compliance. The cheapest option isn't always the best when you factor in development time and operational complexity.

All payment processing tools

1
Stripe Free tier

Payment processing platform with powerful APIs for online payments, subscriptions, and marketplaces.

No monthly fees · Paid from 2.9% + $0.30 Developers wanting the best payment API
Payments API Subscriptions Invoicing Connect
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2
Paddle Free tier

Payment infrastructure that handles tax, compliance, and billing as your merchant of record.

No upfront costs · Paid from 5% + $0.50 SaaS companies wanting a merchant of record
Merchant of Record Tax Handling Billing Checkout
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3
Lemon Squeezy Free tier

All-in-one platform for selling digital products with merchant of record and tax handling.

No monthly fees · Paid from 5% + $0.50 Indie developers wanting simple digital product sales
Digital Products Subscriptions Tax Handling Checkout
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4
Gumroad Free tier

Simple e-commerce platform for creators to sell digital products, memberships, and courses.

No monthly fees (10% flat) · Paid from 10% Creators wanting the simplest way to sell online
Digital Sales Memberships Email Analytics
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5
PayPal Free tier

Global payment platform for online and in-person payments, invoicing, and transfers.

No monthly fees · Paid from 2.9% + $0.30 Businesses wanting universal payment acceptance
Payments Invoicing Checkout Global
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6
Square Free tier

Payment processing with point-of-sale hardware, online payments, and business tools.

No monthly fees · Paid from 2.6% + $0.10 Small businesses wanting POS and online payments
POS Online Payments Invoicing Hardware
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7
Braintree

PayPal's payment gateway for online and mobile payments with support for multiple payment methods.

Paid from 2.59% + $0.49 Businesses that need PayPal, Venmo, and credit card processing in one integration
Payment processing PayPal integration Venmo Drop-in UI
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8
Adyen

Enterprise payment platform processing for global businesses with unified commerce.

Paid from Custom pricing Enterprise and large businesses that process high volumes internationally
Payment processing Unified commerce Global payments Fraud prevention
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9
Mollie

European payment service provider with simple integration and transparent pricing.

Paid from €0.25 + % European businesses that want easy payment integration with local payment methods
Payment processing European payments iDEAL Klarna
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Popular payment processing comparisons

Stripe vs Paddle
Stripe vs Paddle
Stripe is built for developers wanting the best payment api. Paddle is built for saas companies wanting a merchant of record. Pick the one that fits.
Stripe vs Lemon Squeezy
Stripe vs Lemon Squeezy
Stripe is built for developers wanting the best payment api. Lemon Squeezy is built for indie developers wanting simple digital product sales. Pick the one that fits.
Stripe vs Gumroad
Stripe vs Gumroad
Stripe is built for developers wanting the best payment api. Gumroad is built for creators wanting the simplest way to sell online. Pick the one that fits.
Stripe vs PayPal
Stripe vs PayPal
Stripe is built for developers wanting the best payment api. PayPal is built for businesses wanting universal payment acceptance. Pick the one that fits.
Stripe vs Square
Stripe vs Square
Stripe is built for developers wanting the best payment api. Square is built for small businesses wanting pos and online payments. Pick the one that fits.
Stripe vs
Stripe vs Braintree
Stripe is built for developers wanting the best payment api. Braintree is built for businesses that need paypal, venmo, and credit card processing in one integration. Pick the one that fits.

Find alternatives

Stripe alternatives
5 alternatives compared
Paddle alternatives
5 alternatives compared
Lemon Squeezy alternatives
5 alternatives compared
Gumroad alternatives
5 alternatives compared
PayPal alternatives
5 alternatives compared
Square alternatives
5 alternatives compared

Frequently asked questions

Should I use Stripe or a merchant of record like Paddle?
With Stripe, you're the merchant of record — responsible for tax collection and compliance globally. Paddle and Lemon Squeezy handle this for you as your merchant of record, which simplifies international selling significantly. If you sell globally and want to avoid tax headaches, a MoR is worth the higher percentage fee.
What are the real costs of payment processing?
Beyond the headline transaction fee (typically 2.9% + $0.30), consider: currency conversion fees, dispute fees, subscription management costs, and the developer time to build and maintain integrations. Merchant of record services charge more per transaction but eliminate many hidden costs.
Can I switch payment processors later?
Technically yes, but it's painful. Subscriber migrations, webhook rewiring, and compliance updates make switching costly. Choose carefully upfront, especially for subscription businesses where you'll accumulate recurring payment methods that are hard to move.

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