Stripe alternatives

Alternatives to Stripe for a paid community

Stripe is the default, but it isn't available in every country, doesn't take M-Pesa, and leaves sales tax to you. These are the alternatives a Ubunya community can connect, and when each makes sense.

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What a merchant of record is

A merchant of record is the company that legally sells to your buyer. It collects the payment, charges and files VAT and sales tax in each country, handles refunds and chargebacks, and pays you what's left.

With Stripe you're the merchant of record yourself, so registering for and filing sales tax is your job unless you add Stripe Tax. Dodo Payments, Creem, Lemon Squeezy, Paddle, Polar, Kelviq and Gumroad are merchants of record and take a higher fee in return.

The downsides of Stripe for a community

It only signs up businesses in its supported countries, and sends most of Africa to Paystack. It doesn't accept M-Pesa. Tax is yours. Fees add up: 2.9% + 30¢ for US cards, plus 1.5% for international cards, 1% for currency conversion and 0.7% for Stripe Billing on subscriptions.

Why people leave Gumroad

Gumroad takes 10% + 50¢ of direct sales, and 30% of sales through its Discover marketplace. Merchants of record such as Creem (3.9% + 40¢) or Kelviq (from 2.9% + 40¢) handle tax too, for less.

Side by side

Provider	Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record)	Card fee	Members can pay with	Recurring billing	Who can sign up as a seller
Stripe	No, you do	2.9% + 30¢ (US cards). Plus 1.5% for international cards and 1% if currency conversion is needed. Billing adds 0.7% on subscriptions. Optional Managed Payments (merchant of record) adds 3.5%.	cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link, Klarna, ACH Direct Debit, UPI, Pix, bank payments, stablecoins	Subscriptions through Stripe Billing, mainly by card, wallet or bank debit.	About 44 countries self-serve; Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Côte d'Ivoire are served through Paystack instead
Dodo Payments	Yes	4% + 40¢ (US cards). Plus 1.5% for international cards, 0.5% for subscriptions, 3% for PayPal or BNPL. $5 fee on payouts under $1,000; $25 for USD SWIFT payouts.	cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, ACH, SEPA, UPI, Pix, iDEAL, WeChat Pay, GCash	Subscriptions by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and some local methods (UPI, Pix, GCash); others are one-time only.	177 countries; not Kenya or Nigeria (new sign-ups)
Creem	Yes	3.9% + 40¢. No extra fee for international cards. Payout fee is 7 USD/EUR or 1%, whichever is higher.	cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay	Subscriptions by card or wallet.	87 countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa
Lemon Squeezy	Yes	5% + 50¢. Plus 1.5% outside the US, 1.5% for PayPal, 0.5% for subscriptions. 1% payout fee to non-US banks; PayPal payouts 3% (max $30) outside the US. Owned by Stripe, which is moving it toward Stripe Managed Payments.	cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cash App Pay, bank debits	Subscriptions by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal.	PayPal payouts in 200+ countries; bank payouts in a shorter list that includes Kenya
Paddle	Yes	5% + 50¢. Custom pricing for products under $10. Payouts are free for most countries; some pay a $15 SWIFT fee.	cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, Alipay, WeChat Pay, UPI, Pix, iDEAL, BLIK	Subscriptions by card, PayPal and wallets.	Most countries except sanctioned ones
Polar	Yes	5% + 50¢ (free plan). Plus 1.5% for non-US cards. Paid plans lower the rate (e.g. 3.8% + 40¢ for $20/month). Stripe payout fees apply: $2/month, 0.25% + 25¢ per payout, plus currency conversion.	cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link, Amazon Pay, Cash App Pay, WeChat Pay	Subscriptions by card or wallet.	Countries supported by Stripe Connect Express, including Kenya and Nigeria
Kelviq	Yes	3.5% + 40¢ (2.9% + 40¢ on your first $5,000). Plus 1.5% for non-US cards and 0.7% on subscription renewals.	cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, SEPA, iDEAL, UPI	Subscriptions by card and wallets; UPI AutoPay in India.	90+ countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa
Gumroad	Yes	10% + 50¢ (direct sales). 30% for sales through Gumroad Discover. PayPal payouts cost 2%. Whether card processing is extra wasn't confirmed.	cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal	Memberships renew automatically by card or PayPal.	Most countries; bank payouts in 100+ (including Kenya), PayPal elsewhere

Stripe

Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record): No, you do
Card fee: 2.9% + 30¢ (US cards). Plus 1.5% for international cards and 1% if currency conversion is needed. Billing adds 0.7% on subscriptions. Optional Managed Payments (merchant of record) adds 3.5%.
Members can pay with: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link, Klarna, ACH Direct Debit, UPI, Pix, bank payments, stablecoins
Recurring billing: Subscriptions through Stripe Billing, mainly by card, wallet or bank debit.
Who can sign up as a seller: About 44 countries self-serve; Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Côte d'Ivoire are served through Paystack instead

Dodo Payments

Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record): Yes
Card fee: 4% + 40¢ (US cards). Plus 1.5% for international cards, 0.5% for subscriptions, 3% for PayPal or BNPL. $5 fee on payouts under $1,000; $25 for USD SWIFT payouts.
Members can pay with: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, ACH, SEPA, UPI, Pix, iDEAL, WeChat Pay, GCash
Recurring billing: Subscriptions by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and some local methods (UPI, Pix, GCash); others are one-time only.
Who can sign up as a seller: 177 countries; not Kenya or Nigeria (new sign-ups)

Creem

Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record): Yes
Card fee: 3.9% + 40¢. No extra fee for international cards. Payout fee is 7 USD/EUR or 1%, whichever is higher.
Members can pay with: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Recurring billing: Subscriptions by card or wallet.
Who can sign up as a seller: 87 countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa

Lemon Squeezy

Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record): Yes
Card fee: 5% + 50¢. Plus 1.5% outside the US, 1.5% for PayPal, 0.5% for subscriptions. 1% payout fee to non-US banks; PayPal payouts 3% (max $30) outside the US. Owned by Stripe, which is moving it toward Stripe Managed Payments.
Members can pay with: cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cash App Pay, bank debits
Recurring billing: Subscriptions by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal.
Who can sign up as a seller: PayPal payouts in 200+ countries; bank payouts in a shorter list that includes Kenya

Paddle

Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record): Yes
Card fee: 5% + 50¢. Custom pricing for products under $10. Payouts are free for most countries; some pay a $15 SWIFT fee.
Members can pay with: cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, Alipay, WeChat Pay, UPI, Pix, iDEAL, BLIK
Recurring billing: Subscriptions by card, PayPal and wallets.
Who can sign up as a seller: Most countries except sanctioned ones

Polar

Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record): Yes
Card fee: 5% + 50¢ (free plan). Plus 1.5% for non-US cards. Paid plans lower the rate (e.g. 3.8% + 40¢ for $20/month). Stripe payout fees apply: $2/month, 0.25% + 25¢ per payout, plus currency conversion.
Members can pay with: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link, Amazon Pay, Cash App Pay, WeChat Pay
Recurring billing: Subscriptions by card or wallet.
Who can sign up as a seller: Countries supported by Stripe Connect Express, including Kenya and Nigeria

Kelviq

Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record): Yes
Card fee: 3.5% + 40¢ (2.9% + 40¢ on your first $5,000). Plus 1.5% for non-US cards and 0.7% on subscription renewals.
Members can pay with: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, SEPA, iDEAL, UPI
Recurring billing: Subscriptions by card and wallets; UPI AutoPay in India.
Who can sign up as a seller: 90+ countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa

Gumroad

Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record): Yes
Card fee: 10% + 50¢ (direct sales). 30% for sales through Gumroad Discover. PayPal payouts cost 2%. Whether card processing is extra wasn't confirmed.
Members can pay with: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal
Recurring billing: Memberships renew automatically by card or PayPal.
Who can sign up as a seller: Most countries; bank payouts in 100+ (including Kenya), PayPal elsewhere

From each provider's own website, checked November 2026. Prices change; check theirs before you sign up. Compare all 11 providers.

Questions

What is a merchant of record?+

The company that legally sells to your customer: it takes the payment, handles VAT and sales tax in every country, deals with refunds and chargebacks, and pays you. Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Dodo Payments, Creem, Polar, Kelviq and Gumroad are merchants of record; Stripe isn't.

What is a cheaper alternative to Stripe?+

For tax handled for you, Creem (3.9% + 40¢) and Kelviq (from 2.9% + 40¢) cost less than Paddle or Lemon Squeezy (5% + 50¢). Stripe itself starts at 2.9% + 30¢ but leaves tax to you.

What are the downsides of Stripe?+

It isn't available to businesses in many countries, including Kenya and Nigeria; it doesn't take M-Pesa; you handle sales tax yourself; and international cards, currency conversion and subscriptions each add fees.

Why are people leaving Gumroad?+

Mostly the fee: 10% + 50¢ on direct sales and 30% through Gumroad Discover. Other merchants of record handle tax too for 3% to 5% plus a small fixed fee.

Charge for your community with the account you already have

Connect it under Manage → Payments. Paying members are let in automatically.

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