Here’s a quick rundown of these three major ecommerce providers and how they compare to each other. In my 25+ years of ecommerce rollouts, I have dealt with Stripe, Square and Paypal implementations as well as deployments with other providers like Authorize.net, Beanstream (WorldPay), Moneris and others. I really think the three in this article can satisfy most use cases.
[et_pb_heading title=”Stripe” admin_label=”Stripe Heading” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Square” admin_label=”Square Heading” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Paypal” admin_label=”Paypal Heading” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading]- Primarily focused on online payments
- Offers more robust developer tools and customization options
- Better suited for large-scale e-commerce and software platforms
- Stronger international presence and multi-currency support
- Originated as a point-of-sale (POS) solution for in-person transactions
- Offers a more comprehensive ecosystem for small businesses (POS, inventory, payroll)
- User-friendly interface, easier setup for non-technical users
- Stronger in-person payment solutions, including hardware
Comparing to Stripe and Square:
- Fees: Generally higher than both Stripe and Square for standard transactions
- Implementation: More widely recognized by consumers, but less developer-friendly than Stripe
- Reputation: Stronger consumer trust, but more frequent complaints about account issues compared to Stripe and Square
Fees:
- Standard online transaction fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- International cards: Additional 1% fee
- ACH transfers: 0.8% (capped at $5)
Fees:
- Standard in-person transaction fee: 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction
- Online transaction fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Keyed-in transactions: 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction
Fees:
- Standard online transaction fee: 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction
- In-person transactions (with PayPal Here): 2.7% per swipe
- International transactions: Additional 1.5% fee
- Micropayments (under $10): 5% + $0.05 per transaction
Implementation by third-party providers:
- Widely supported by e-commerce platforms (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce)
- Extensive APIs and libraries for custom integrations
- Popular among SaaS and subscription-based businesses
(Editor’s note: we really like implemented Stripe for clients)
Implementation by third-party providers:
- Integrated with many POS systems and small business software
- Offers ready-made solutions for various industries (retail, restaurants)
- Less common for custom software integrations compared to Stripe
Implementation by third-party providers:
- Widely supported by e-commerce platforms (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento)
- Offers various integration options, including standard buttons and custom checkout
- Popular among small to medium-sized businesses and individual sellers
- Less extensive API offerings compared to Stripe, but more than Square
Public sentiment and reputation:
- Generally well-regarded for developer-friendly tools and documentation
- Praised for reliability and scalability
- Some criticism for complex pricing structure and account stability issues
Public sentiment and reputation:
- Appreciated for ease of use and all-in-one small business solutions
- Positive reputation for in-person payment processing
- Some concerns about customer support responsiveness
Public sentiment and reputation:
- Known for its widespread consumer adoption and trust
- Appreciated for its buyer and seller protection policies
- Criticized for account freezes and holds, especially for high-volume sellers
- Mixed reviews on customer support quality
