Looking for an alternative to Stripe because your account has been suspended, your company was rejected, or you want a second payment provider? Start with what you used Stripe for: payment links, a checkout on your website, or automatic subscription billing.
For international businesses, company structure also matters. A US LLC, a UK limited company and an Estonian OÜ do not necessarily qualify for the same payment products. Where the owners live can also affect which services are available.
This guide compares Stripe alternatives for different business models, explains the requirements that matter for international companies, and shows how Bizkonto helps you prepare a suitable payment and business account setup.
Key Questions Answered
What are the alternatives to Stripe?
For payment links and online checkout, options include Rapyd, PayPal and ZEN. Airwallex combines payment acceptance with account features, but has additional requirements for US companies.
Payoneer may suit businesses collecting payments exclusively from other businesses. For software, online courses and digital products, merchant of record or reseller platforms such as FastSpring, Digistore24 and CopeCart provide another route.
If you also need a new business account, consider providers that combine the account and merchant services in one setup.
Do I need a new business bank account to replace Stripe?
Not necessarily.
You can keep your existing business account if the new payment provider can send payouts to it.
If you are rebuilding your entire setup, however, a service that combines a business account with payment acceptance may be useful.
Does the payment provider have to be based where my company is registered?
No.
A US LLC may use a European account and payment solution or a Swiss solution if the institution accepts the company and its owners and approves the required payment services.
Depending on your requirements, the search can therefore include providers in Europe, Switzerland, Asia or the US.
What information helps narrow down the options?
Start with five details:
- Company type and country of registration.
- Where the owners or directors live.
- Whether customers are businesses, consumers, or both.
- The required payment function: links, checkout or subscriptions.
- Where you want the account or payment provider to be based.
These details help establish which options are worth pursuing.
What Did You Use Stripe For?
Payment links for invoices and individual sales
You create a link for a payment and send it by email, messaging app or with an invoice. The customer opens the payment page and pays by credit or debit card.
For this use case, you need card payment links, not necessarily an online store.
Rapyd, for example, supports links with a fixed amount or an amount chosen by the customer. You can share them by email, WhatsApp, text message or alongside an invoice.
This approach can suit consultants, agencies and other service businesses that bill clients individually.
Checkout for an online store or website
With an integrated checkout, the customer pays as part of placing an order.
The new provider must work with your website or e-commerce platform. It needs to accept the payment and report whether the order has been paid successfully.
Rapyd offers hosted checkout and integrations for several e-commerce platforms.
A standalone payment link can collect an individual payment, but it does not automatically replace your store's existing integration.
Subscriptions and recurring payments
For subscriptions, the saved payment method needs to be charged automatically on the agreed dates.
You may also need different pricing plans, trial periods and retries after failed payments.
Look for recurring payments or subscription billing. A link that the customer must open and pay again every month does not provide automatic billing.
Payment Processor, EMI, Bank or Merchant of Record?
There are four main models to consider:
| Model | What it does | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Payment provider | Accepts customer card payments through payment links or checkout. | Rapyd, PayPal, Payoneer |
| Electronic money institution / financial platform | Combines account features with a separate payment acceptance service. | ZEN, Airwallex |
| Bank or financial institution with merchant services | Provides a business account alongside payment acceptance. | Chase as a bank; Bivial as a Swiss financial institution |
| Merchant of record / reseller | Acts as the seller to the end customer and handles the associated payments and transaction-level indirect taxes. | FastSpring, Digistore24, CopeCart |
The right model depends on your business and the Stripe features you need to replace. The comparison below summarises the main differences.
Stripe Alternatives Compared
| Provider | Model | Best-fit use cases and important requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Rapyd | Payment provider | Payment links and hosted checkout. Create links for fixed or customer-selected amounts and share them by email, WhatsApp or with invoices. E-commerce integrations and international payment methods are also available. |
| PayPal Business | Payment provider | Payment links, checkout and subscriptions. US registration requires a named representative, with proof of the representative's physical residential address and the business address. |
| Payoneer | B2B payment provider | Customers can pay payment requests by card, bank transfer and other supported methods. The payment request service is for B2B transactions, not consumer payments or a conventional online store checkout. |
| Airwallex | Financial platform with payment acceptance | Payment links and online payments. US companies must provide at least one associated US individual to activate card acceptance. For platform onboarding through Connected Accounts, that person needs an SSN or ITIN. The LLC's EIN does not replace a personal tax identifier. |
| ZEN | EMI with a merchant service | Payment links without an online store. The feature is available through the merchant area. |
| FastSpring | Merchant of record | For software, SaaS, games and digital products. FastSpring handles payment processing and the sales tax or VAT obligations arising from sales made through its platform. |
| Digistore24 | Merchant of record | Particularly relevant for digital products, courses, coaching and affiliate-led sales. Handles payments, invoicing, transaction-level VAT or sales taxes and refunds. You do not need your own Stripe account. |
| CopeCart | Reseller / sales platform | Supports digital products, services, courses and subscriptions. CopeCart Pro uses Stripe for KYC verification. Discuss any previous Stripe suspension or rejection of your LLC with CopeCart before applying; it does not automatically mean CopeCart will reject the business. |
| Chase – US | Bank with merchant services | A business account and card acceptance can be combined through Chase. QuickAccept includes payment links and other card acceptance features. Payment services are activated separately from the bank account. |
| Bivial – Switzerland | Swiss financial institution with merchant services | Card acceptance and international payment processing alongside Swiss multi-currency accounts. Bivial offers merchant accounts and business accounts in currencies including EUR, USD, GBP and CHF. |
What Determines Eligibility for a US LLC?
Registering an LLC in the US is only one part of the review.
The following factors can also affect access to payment acceptance:
Where the owners and directors live
An owner living in Germany or Spain may face different requirements from someone living in the US.
Some providers accept overseas owners, while others require an additional US connection for particular payment products.
Personal tax identification
The EIN identifies the LLC.
If a provider also requires an individual's SSN or ITIN, the company EIN is not a substitute.
Airwallex provides a concrete example. A US company must identify at least one associated US individual for card acceptance. In platform onboarding through Connected Accounts, that individual needs an SSN or ITIN.
Business activity
The provider also reviews how your company earns its revenue.
A business consultancy, SaaS company, coach and business in a more heavily regulated sector may face different acceptance criteria.
Describe the actual activity consistently across your website, invoices and application.
B2B or B2C customers
Your customer base can narrow the available options.
Payoneer's payment request service is designed for payments between businesses. A company that also bills consumers will need a different or additional solution for those customers.
Payment volume and typical transactions
Monthly volume and average transaction value can also form part of the provider's review.
A consultancy collecting ten payments of €1,000 has a different payment profile from a store processing thousands of small card purchases.
Digital Products: FastSpring, Digistore24 or CopeCart
For digital products, a merchant of record or reseller model may be worth considering instead of a conventional payment processor.
The platform does more than process the card: it becomes the seller to the customer.
FastSpring
FastSpring focuses on software, SaaS, games and digital products.
As merchant of record, it handles payment processing, invoicing and indirect taxes on sales made through its platform.
Digistore24
Digistore24 also operates as a merchant of record.
It can be relevant for digital products, online courses and businesses that use affiliates to generate sales. Digistore24 handles payments, invoicing, refunds and the related VAT or sales tax processes.
For a business looking for a replacement without its own Stripe account, that is an important distinction.
CopeCart
CopeCart acts as a reseller to the buyer and supports digital products, services and subscriptions.
CopeCart Pro uses Stripe to verify the business. Discuss a previous rejection by Stripe with CopeCart before applying. It does not automatically result in a CopeCart suspension.
CopeCart can therefore replace the functionality of your own Stripe checkout, but you should confirm that your company can be onboarded before moving your sales process.
Which Alternatives Still Rely on Stripe?
Some services offer their own checkout page while continuing to process payments through your Stripe account.
Tally is one example.
You can build payment forms with Tally, but accepting payments requires you to connect your own Stripe account.
If that account has been suspended, switching the form to Tally does not solve the payment processing problem.
Sales platforms also deserve a closer look. CopeCart does not simply use your existing Stripe account as its checkout, but CopeCart Pro does use Stripe for verification.
After a Stripe suspension, establish whether the new service needs your existing Stripe account or uses Stripe as part of its own payment processing or verification.
How Bizkonto Helps You Find a Suitable Setup and Apply
Bizkonto helps international businesses prepare and open business accounts, working with a range of banks and payment institutions.
When you need a Stripe alternative, we establish which payment features must be replaced and how your future account and payment setup should work.
The starting point is your company and its payment needs, not a predetermined provider.
Step 1: Review your situation and requirements
During the free initial consultation, we cover:
- Company type and country of registration.
- Where the owners live.
- Business activity.
- Business customers, consumers, or both.
- Existing business accounts.
- Monthly payment volume.
- Required currencies.
- Payment links, checkout or subscriptions.
- Why you are changing providers.
If Stripe has suspended your account, we also take the notice you received into account.
Step 2: Narrow down providers and jurisdictions
We then match those requirements against potential solutions.
This includes where you want your account and payment services to be based.
Depending on the business, the options may include Europe, Switzerland, Asia or the US. A combination may also suit your needs, such as a US bank account for USD and a European account for EUR and SEPA payments.
We consider keeping your existing business account if it can support the intended payment setup.
Step 3: Discuss the application with suitable institutions
Bizkonto has contacts at a range of banks and payment institutions.
We prepare a clear description of your company structure and required payment flow, then discuss the case with appropriate contacts. This allows key requirements to be addressed before the formal application wherever possible.
We then discuss the available options with you.
Step 4: Prepare documents and support the application
Depending on the institution, the documents may include:
- Formation documents.
- Evidence of ownership.
- Identity documents.
- Residential and business address information.
- Tax identification details.
- A description of the business activity.
- Expected transactions and payment volumes.
Our business account opening checklist provides an overview.
Bizkonto supports document preparation, coordinates the administrative submission and helps address follow-up questions during the review.
The institution makes the final decision on the account and payment acceptance application.
Step 5: Access your account and payment services
Once approved, the provider makes the agreed account and payment features available.
Bizkonto remains available for administrative questions after approval.
You or your technical service provider handle the integration of an online checkout or subscription billing system.
Conclusion: A Suspended Stripe Account Does Not Leave You Without Options
A suspended Stripe account is not the end of the road. Many business models have several alternatives, although the same providers will not suit every company.
If you mainly used Stripe for payment links and individual invoices, Rapyd, PayPal or ZEN may fit the required payment flow.
For an exclusively B2B business, Payoneer may also be an option. If you sell to consumers as well, you need a provider that supports B2C transactions.
For software, SaaS and digital products, merchants of record such as FastSpring or Digistore24 can take on more of the sales and payment process. CopeCart may also suit coaches, course creators and digital businesses; a previous Stripe rejection should be discussed before using CopeCart Pro's Stripe-based verification.
If you are rebuilding the full setup and need a new business account as well as payment acceptance, consider providers that combine both. This can include banks with merchant services or financial institutions with integrated payment acceptance.
For international companies, eligibility is just as important. Country of registration, owner residency, business activity, customer type and personal identification can all affect the available options.
That is why there is no single best Stripe alternative for every business.
Bizkonto reviews your requirements, narrows down account and payment models, coordinates the preparation with relevant contacts and supports your application throughout the account opening process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to Stripe?
There is no single best Stripe alternative for every business.
Rapyd, PayPal and ZEN offer payment links. Businesses selling exclusively to other businesses can also consider Payoneer's payment request service. For software, SaaS and digital products, FastSpring or Digistore24 offer merchant of record models.
An international company also needs to confirm that the provider accepts its particular company structure.
Which Stripe alternatives offer payment links?
Rapyd, PayPal and ZEN offer payment links or hosted payment pages.
Customers can pay by card without you having to build a complete online store.
What should I do if Stripe suspends or closes my account?
Start with the notice in your Stripe account. Is Stripe asking for additional documents, or has it ended the business relationship?
If you need to switch, list the features you must replace: payment links, checkout, subscriptions or a combination.
You can then look for a provider that accepts your company and business model.
Which Stripe alternatives work for a US LLC with a non-US owner?
That depends on the owner's residence, the business activity, the customer base and the payment service you need.
Some providers impose additional conditions on US companies. Airwallex, for example, requires an associated US individual with the relevant identification to activate card acceptance.
Which alternatives do not require my own Stripe account?
Rapyd, PayPal, FastSpring and Digistore24 do not require your business to have its own Stripe account for their respective payment services.
Tally is different: its payment forms require you to connect your own Stripe account.
CopeCart Pro does not simply use your existing Stripe account as its checkout, but it uses Stripe for verification.
Which Stripe alternatives support subscriptions?
Recurring billing requires a service that supports automatic subscription payments.
Depending on your business model, you can use a conventional payment provider or, for digital products, a merchant of record or reseller such as FastSpring, Digistore24 or CopeCart.
Are there Stripe alternatives for European businesses?
Yes.
European businesses can consider international payment providers as well as European payment and sales platforms. Digistore24, for example, serves businesses selling digital products and online courses.
The appropriate service depends on the business model, customers, required payment methods and company structure.