Can’t Use Stripe? The Best Stripe Payment Processor Alternatives for International Startups in 2025

Stripe is a go-to option for online payments. It’s sleek, powerful, and widely trusted… but it’s not always available for everyone. 

If you’re an international founder trying to set up your startup or e-commerce business, you might have already hit the roadblock: 

“We don’t support your country yet”. 

So now what? Let’s break down why Stripe might not be accessible to you, what to look for in an alternative, and the best Stripe payment processor alternatives in 2025 for global entrepreneurs.

You’ll also learn how doola helps entrepreneurs establish fully compliant US businesses with the right payment infrastructure to succeed globally.

Why Stripe Isn’t Always an Option for International Founders

Stripe is known for its elegant APIs, powerful integrations, and global brand trust. But for many international entrepreneurs, it remains frustratingly out of reach.

If you’re building a borderless business from day one, Stripe’s accessibility limitations can be a major roadblock.

Here’s a breakdown of the common barriers international founders face when trying to use Stripe, and why they matter:

🚫 Limited Country Support

Stripe may be “global,” but it’s not universal. As of 2025, Stripe is still unavailable in several countries across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. 

For founders in these regions, that means you can’t even begin the signup process, let alone start accepting payments. This exclusion limits your ability to tap into international markets or run a US-based digital business unless you find a workaround or alternative.

Business Impact:

• You can’t accept online payments through Stripe at all.

• Missed opportunities for monetizing ecommerce, SaaS, or service-based offerings.

• Forced to rely on less mainstream or less reliable payment processors.

🚫 Local Business Entity Requirements

Even in countries where Stripe is technically available, you may still need to form a local legal entity (such as a corporation or registered business) to access the platform. 

For solo founders or digital nomads, this creates an expensive and time-consuming hurdle, often requiring legal setup, tax filings, and local compliance.

Business Impact:

• Adds operational and financial overhead before you’ve earned your first dollar.

• Complicates tax obligations in jurisdictions you may not fully understand.

• Makes launching lean or MVP-style businesses significantly harder.

🚫 Bank Account Restrictions

Stripe typically requires a bank account in the same country where your business is registered, and in many cases, it must support payouts in USD, EUR, or other major currencies. 

For founders in emerging markets or countries with strict banking regulations, opening a compliant account can be difficult or even impossible.

Business Impact:

• Delayed access to funds or higher costs due to currency conversions.

• Difficulty receiving payments in your local currency.

• In some cases, total inability to withdraw Stripe earnings, even if your account is active.

🚫 Regulatory Constraints

Every country has its own set of financial, compliance, and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.

Stripe must adhere to these, which sometimes means blocking or delaying access in regions where the legal framework is unclear, unstable, or overly restrictive.

Business Impact:

• Unexpected delays in onboarding or approval.

• Ineligibility due to high-risk industry categorization or geopolitical restrictions.

• Greater scrutiny on founders without clear tax documentation or residency status.

🚫 Verification & Documentation Challenges

Stripe has strict KYC (Know Your Customer) and KYB (Know Your Business) policies.

If you’re a non-US founder without a Social Security Number (SSN), ITIN, or other US credentials, completing the verification process can be challenging. 

You may need to provide alternative documents that aren’t always accepted, especially if your country isn’t on Stripe’s priority list.

Business Impact:

• Rejected applications due to ID mismatches or unsupported documents.

• Accounts flagged or frozen due to incomplete verification.

• Long wait times, with no guaranteed resolution.

Bottom line, Stripe is undeniably powerful, if you can access it. But if you’re an international founder working outside of its supported zones or lacking US business credentials, your journey doesn’t have to stop there.

Luckily, a growing number of global-friendly payment processors are stepping up to fill the gap. 

From platforms like Payoneer and Flutterwave to Braintree and Adyen, these alternatives offer robust functionality, smoother onboarding, and wider international support, giving you the freedom to build your business from anywhere in the world.

What to Look for in a Stripe Payment Processor Alternative

International founders know the drill: different regions, currencies, and compliance requirements demand tailored solutions. And Stripe, definitely, isn’t one-size-fits-all, especially if you’re building your startup from outside the US. 

So, before jumping right into the first tool you find, here’s what to consider to ensure your payment processor works for your business.

Global Availability: Sign Up & Get Paid From Your Country

Some platforms may be powerful but offer limited onboarding for international founders.

Does the processor support your country for registration, onboarding, and payouts?

Before committing, make sure the provider supports business registration, KYC verification, and payouts in your country.

Payout Options: How You Get Your Money & How Fast

Check if the processor allows withdrawals to your local bank account or e-wallet, not just a US or EU-based account. The ability to access funds easily, in your own currency, can make or break your cash flow.

Currency Support & FX Transparency: Get Paid in Multiple Currencies

Many platforms advertise “multi-currency support,” but bury their FX markups in the fine print.

That 2%–4% fee might sound small, but it adds up fast, especially as you scale. \

⚡ doola Tip: Always look for a payment processor that allows you to accept payments in your customers’ local currencies and withdraw funds in your preferred currency without getting crushed by hidden FX (foreign exchange) fees.

Developer Support: Opt For Seamless Integration

Whether you’re building a custom checkout or using platforms like Shopify, your payment tool should offer clean APIs, SDKs, and rich documentation.

Can your tech team (or no-code builder) integrate it easily?

Some also offer no-code options for non-technical founders.

Integration Ecosystem: Will It Sync With Your Stack?

If you’re selling on Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, or using a SaaS billing platform, make sure the processor integrates natively. That means fewer workarounds, and faster go-to-market.

Fraud & Dispute: Protect Your Revenue

When vetting your options, always ask the following questions:

• How robust is their fraud monitoring system? 

• What’s the process like for handling chargebacks and disputes?

As your business scales, so does risk. The best processors should offer built-in fraud detection, encryption, and dispute resolution to keep your funds safe and your customers happy.

Checklist: How to Vet a Stripe Alternative

Don’t just hit “sign up” on any payment processor, make sure it checks all the boxes that matter for your business.

Here’s a cheat sheet to separate high-performance platforms from the hype:

With doola’s services, international founders don’t have to guess which platform works for them.

From US business formation to unlocking access to trusted payment processors, doola ensures you’re set up for smooth, compliant global payments, without the complexities.

Stripe vs. Alternatives: At a Glance

The Best Stripe Payment Processor Alternatives for International Startups for 2025

Stripe doesn’t work for everyone, and if you’re building a business outside its supported regions, you already know that.

Fortunately, 2025 offers a wide range of global payment platforms built to serve businesses of all sizes and from every corner of the world.

Whether you’re a freelancer in Kenya, a SaaS startup in India, or an e-commerce seller scaling from Brazil, there’s a payment solution built for your needs. 

Let’s explore the top Stripe alternatives and how they stack up.

1. PayPal Business

Best for: Freelancers, solopreneurs, and small businesses needing fast global access without deep customization.

What It Is:

PayPal Business is one of the most recognized and widely used global payment platforms. It allows users to accept credit cards, debit cards, PayPal balances, and even local wallets (in supported countries).

PayPal is especially appealing for small businesses due to its fast setup, broad reach, and integrations with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Wix.

Strengths:

✔️ Available in over 200 countries: Offers near-global accessibility, making it easy for international founders to get started without jumping through regulatory hoops.

✔️ Supports multiple currencies: Accept payments in multiple currencies and let customers pay in their local currency. This builds trust and improves conversion rates.

✔️ Integrates with almost every ecommerce platform: From Etsy to Shopify and Magento, PayPal is plug-and-play with most online sales channels.

Limitations:

❌ High fees (especially for currency conversion): Expect to pay more than competitors on international transactions, especially when converting funds into your local currency.

❌ Risk of sudden account holds: If PayPal flags your account for suspicious activity, funds may be frozen for 21+ days without warning.

Watch out: PayPal may freeze funds without clear reasoning. To avoid this, maintain a consistent transaction history, avoid abrupt changes in volume, and respond promptly to any buyer disputes.

2. Payoneer

Best for: Freelancers, Amazon/eBay sellers, remote teams receiving international payments.

What It Is:

Payoneer is a cross-border payment platform that enables individuals and businesses to receive payments from international clients and marketplaces.

Instead of acting as a front-facing checkout tool, it excels as a payout solution for global earnings, especially from platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon, Airbnb, and others.

Strengths:

✔️ Multi-currency accounts (USD, EUR, GBP, more): Receive payments in different currencies without needing separate foreign bank accounts.

✔️ Local bank withdrawals: Easily withdraw funds in your local currency to your bank account, often with lower FX rates than traditional banks.

✔️ Transparent FX fees: Clear conversion fee structures mean no unpleasant surprises when transferring your earnings.

Limitations:

❌ Not ideal for real-time ecommerce checkout: Doesn’t offer full payment gateway functionality like Stripe or Braintree.

❌ Limited customization or API access: Not the best fit for SaaS platforms or developers needing full control over the payment experience.

While it’s excellent for receiving payments, Payoneer isn’t designed to be a primary payment gateway for e-commerce checkout.

Think of it more as a digital bank for global payouts than a Stripe replacement.

3. Razorpay (India-focused)

Best for: Indian e-commerce stores, SaaS startups, or marketplaces serving Indian consumers.

What It Is:

Razorpay is one of India’s most advanced and developer-friendly payment solutions.

Built for Indian startups, it offers a complete suite of tools including payment acceptance, subscriptions, invoices, and even working capital solutions, all tailored to local compliance and banking systems.

Strengths:

✔️ UPI, netbanking, wallet support: Offers a wide range of localized payment options, increasing checkout success and customer satisfaction.

✔️ Local payout and INR settlement: Payments settle directly into Indian bank accounts in INR, avoiding conversion hassles for domestic businesses.

✔️ Developer-friendly APIs: Great for founders who want to create custom checkout flows, automate payouts, or integrate with Indian tax and billing systems.

Limitations:

❌ Mostly India-specific (limited international reach): While it supports international payments, its core functionality and regulatory setup are India-centric.

❌ Cross-border usage may need special approvals: Accepting foreign payments requires additional documentation and RBI compliance.

Important: If you’re a non-Indian founder, you’ll likely need an Indian legal entity and bank account to use Razorpay fully.

4. Adyen

Best for: Mid-to-large SaaS startups, marketplaces, or subscription platforms with global customer bases.

What It Is:

Adyen is an enterprise-grade global payments platform powering some of the biggest names in tech and retail, from Uber and Spotify to eBay and Microsoft.

It offers unified commerce, risk management, and a powerful API stack, ideal for businesses looking to scale internationally.

Strengths:

✔️ Unified commerce across channels: Whether you’re selling in-store, online, or in-app, Adyen consolidates payments into a single view.

✔️ Strong fraud tools and analytics: Built-in machine learning tools help detect fraud in real-time while keeping false positives low.

✔️ Wide geographic and currency support: Accepts payments in 150+ currencies across 30+ global markets.

Limitations:

❌ More complex setup and onboarding: Requires more documentation and technical support than plug-and-play tools like PayPal.

❌ May not be cost-effective for early-stage startups: With minimum volume requirements, Adyen may not be ideal for small businesses or MVPs.

Note: Adyen is good for scaling, but can feel like overkill if you’re a solopreneur or just testing your product-market fit. It’s built for businesses ready to scale.

5. Flutterwave (Africa-focused)

Best for: African ecommerce startups, service providers, and creators selling abroad.

What It Is:

Flutterwave is a fast-growing payment infrastructure company focused on Africa. It empowers businesses in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and beyond to accept payments from customers across the world, whether via card, bank transfer, or mobile money.

Strengths:

✔️ Accepts cards, mobile money, and bank transfers: Covers the most widely used payment methods across African markets.

✔️ Payouts in local African currencies: Helps businesses avoid high FX conversion costs and keeps financial operations simple.

✔️ Strong network in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, etc.: Built with deep local banking relationships and regulatory understanding.

Limitations:

❌ Still expanding globally: Compared to giants like PayPal, Flutterwave is younger and still building its international reputation.

❌ Support may vary based on country: Customer support and onboarding experience can differ across regions.

Important: Make sure you check local licensing and banking regulations in your country. In some jurisdictions, extra steps may be required for compliance.

6. Square

Best for: Physical stores, pop-ups, or hybrid businesses (in-person + online).

What It Is:

Square offers a robust ecosystem of payment hardware, software, and financial services. It’s widely used by small businesses in the US, Canada, Australia, and select other markets to power everything from in-store transactions to online invoicing and ecommerce.

Strengths:

✔️ Seamless hardware & software setup: POS systems, card readers, and online dashboards are designed to work together effortlessly.

✔️ Easy invoicing and virtual terminal: Great for service-based businesses or remote billing, even without a full ecommerce site.

Limitations:

❌ Limited international coverage: Square is currently only available in a handful of countries, excluding much of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

❌ Not suitable for unsupported regions: Even if you have a US LLC, Square may restrict access based on IP or banking location.

Always verify that Square is supported in your target region before investing in hardware or migrating your business.

7. Braintree (by PayPal)

Best for: SaaS businesses, apps, and marketplaces looking for custom payment flows.

What It Is:

Braintree is PayPal’s developer-first payments platform, offering advanced payment gateway capabilities for startups and high-growth businesses. It supports everything from credit card processing to recurring billing and one-touch mobile payments.

Strengths:

✔️ Owned by PayPal but more developer-friendly: While you get the trust and reach of PayPal, Braintree offers far more flexibility and API control.

✔️ Supports recurring payments and subscriptions: Perfect for SaaS companies and subscription boxes managing monthly or annual billing.

Limitations:

❌ Requires technical setup: While powerful, Braintree isn’t a plug-and-play solution. You’ll need developers to integrate and maintain your checkout.

❌ Support response times can vary: As a high-volume processor, support tickets may take longer for smaller accounts.

Important: Many confuse Braintree with PayPal Standard. While PayPal is quick to set up, Braintree offers much more control, especially for apps and SaaS tools that need custom logic and deep integration.

How to Choose the Right Stripe Alternative for Your Startup

While choosing a platform, don’t just follow the hype. The right payment solution should match your business DNA, from how you operate to where your customers live. 

Let’s break down what to look for with a few simple questions.

What’s my business model?

Your payment needs will vary drastically depending on what kind of business you run. Let’s discuss a few cases:

1. Freelancers or solopreneurs: They often need platforms that make it easy to invoice clients, accept international payments, and withdraw funds in local currencies. 

In this case, Payoneer or PayPal are the go-to options because they offer quick setup, ease of use, and broad global reach.

2. SaaS startups / subscription-based businesses: They should look for advanced features like recurring billing, multi-currency support, and robust API integrations. 

Platforms like Adyen, Braintree, or Paddle offer these capabilities along with fraud detection and enterprise-level scalability.

3. E-commerce brands: They may benefit from region-specific platforms like Razorpay in India or Flutterwave in Africa, which offer localized checkout experiences and seamless plugin support for platforms like WooCommerce or Shopify.

Where are my customers and team located?

Geography is a key factor, so consider the following scenarios:

• If your customers are mostly in Africa, solutions like Chipper Cash or Flutterwave provide deep local integration, including mobile money and bank transfer options.

• Serving Indian consumers or clients? Razorpay supports UPI, netbanking, and wallets, all local favorites, along with excellent support for Indian-registered businesses.

• For global SaaS companies, platforms like Checkout.com and Adyen offer strong multi-currency capabilities and global acquiring to reduce decline rates and optimize performance worldwide.

• If your team is spread globally, look for platforms that support multi-user access and seamless international payroll solutions, Payoneer is a good fit here.

Put simply, go where your customers (and collaborators) are, and make it easy for them to pay.

Do I need local currency payouts?

Foreign exchange (FX) fees can eat into your profits. Choosing a platform that supports local currency payouts is a smart move if:

• You’re receiving payments in USD or EUR but want to withdraw in your local currency without heavy conversion charges.

• You’re paying remote team members or vendors across multiple countries.

Platforms like Wise (formerly TransferWise), Payoneer, and Flutterwave are designed with local payouts in mind, often offering virtual accounts in multiple currencies, competitive exchange rates, and low withdrawal fees.

Note: If avoiding FX losses matters, prioritize platforms with smart local payout capabilities.

Am I scaling fast or staying lean?

Your payment stack should grow with you, but not overwhelm you from day one.

1. Early-stage or solo founders: They need solutions with low barriers to entry, fast onboarding, and minimal compliance headaches. You can consider Payoneer, Stripe Atlas with Mercury (if eligible), or PayPal for quick launch capabilities.

2. Scaling startups: Startups with high transaction volumes or complex payment flows may benefit from enterprise-grade platforms like Adyen, Checkout.com, or Braintree, which offer better rates and features, but may require technical integration and higher minimums.

You Don’t Need Stripe to Go Global, You Do Need doola

Stripe’s great. But what good is it if you can’t even sign up because your country isn’t supported or your paperwork isn’t in place?

That’s why smart founders start with doola.

Whether you’re Team PayPal, Team Flutterwave, or still figuring it out, none of those payment platforms will work unless you’ve got your US business foundation locked and loaded. 

doola makes that happen. Here’s what you get with doola:

1. US LLC or C Corp formation: Start with a legit US business entity, formed seamlessly no matter where you’re based.

2. EIN + US address: Essential for tax filing, opening bank accounts, and applying for payment gateways.

3. Business bank account: Accept payments from anywhere in the world and manage cash flow like a US-based startup.

4. Bookkeeping & compliance handled: We keep your books clean, your filings on track, and your inbox free from IRS “warning” emails.

5. Global payment gateway access: With a compliant US business in place, you can integrate with Stripe, PayPal, Braintree, Razorpay, and more.

6. More growth, less guesswork: doola handles the backend so you can stay focused on scaling, selling, and building your vision.

Your dream deserves more than Stripe’s availability list. 

With doola, global payments (and business legitimacy) are just a click away.

Sign up today and take your first real step toward going global.

FAQs

Can I use Stripe if I’m not a US citizen or resident?

Yes, but only if you set up a U.S. business entity (like an LLC), have an EIN, and meet Stripe’s verification requirements.

Do I need a US LLC or bank account to access global payment processors?

Often, yes, especially for Stripe, Braintree, and sometimes PayPal. doola helps set this up for you seamlessly.

Which payment processors offer the easiest onboarding for non-US founders?

Payoneer and PayPal offer some of the simplest onboarding experiences, especially for freelancers and ecommerce sellers.

Can I integrate these Stripe alternatives with my Shopify, Wix, or WooCommerce store?

Yes, most major processors like PayPal, Flutterwave, Razorpay, and Braintree have native integrations with leading ecommerce platforms.

Which is the cheapest Stripe alternative for international payments?

It depends on the country and use case. Payoneer tends to offer low FX fees for freelancers, while Flutterwave is optimized for African transactions.

What should I do if I’ve already tried Stripe and my account was rejected or frozen?

Don’t worry. You can set up a US entity via doola, check your documentation, and consider alternatives like Braintree or Adyen. You can also reapply once your documents are in order.