Stripe is better suited for businesses needing extensive international payment support, detailed analytics, and customizable fraud prevention. Affirm may be a better choice for businesses prioritizing flexible payment plans and easy integration with digital wallets, but with higher processing fees.
| Attribute | Stripe | Affirm |
|---|---|---|
| Payment processing fees | Transaction fees around 2.9% + $0.30 for online transactions; 2.7% + $0.05 per transaction for in-person payments via Stripe Terminal; Currency conversion fees starting at 2%; 1.5% charge for international card transactions; ACH direct debit transactions at 0.8% (capped at $5); ACH credit payments at $1 per transaction; Wire transfers at $8 per transaction. | Approximately 6% + $0.30 per purchase; can fluctuate based on business size, risk profile, and program. |
| Integration complexity | Best suited for businesses that make most of their sales online and can take advantage of the platform's developer tools and customizability. Offers tools like Stripe Checkout and Elements that use hosted payment fields, reducing the scope of PCI DSS responsibilities. | Integrates with most modern POS systems and online platforms using APIs and SDKs; prioritizes easy integration with digital wallets and financial apps. |
| Supported payment methods | Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, UnionPay), debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay), ACH transfers, Buy Now, Pay Later options (Klarna, Afterpay/Clearpay), bank transfers, and local payment methods depending on the region. | Customer: Debit cards, checking accounts, the Affirm Money account, and Apple Pay (with debit card). Credit cards are accepted for down payments and "Pay in 4" plans. In Canada, pre-authorized debits from a Canadian bank account or a Visa/Mastercard debit card are accepted. Merchant: Nearly all payment methods, including bank checks, ACH payments, debit or credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. |
| Fraud prevention capabilities | Stripe Radar uses machine learning to detect and prevent fraud. It scans every payment using thousands of signals from across the Stripe network. Radar's algorithms adapt to shifting fraud patterns and can be customized for specific businesses. Stripe also uses AI to identify legitimate transactions that were declined and recover them. In 2017, Radar helped prevent $4 billion in attempted fraud. | Employs machine learning algorithms, fraud scoring models, tokenization, and encryption; monitors accounts for suspicious activity; conducts regular security assessments and audits. |
| Reporting and analytics features | Provides detailed transaction reporting through its dashboard. Businesses can track key financial metrics, identify trends, and gain insights into customer behavior. Offers prebuilt reports, revenue analytics, and options to download data in CSV, PDF, or Excel formats. | Provides data insights into customer purchasing behavior to optimize marketing campaigns and personalize customer experiences. |
| Customer support responsiveness | Complaint process is considered predictable, reliable, and based on human efforts. Stripe typically confirms complaints in a few days and issues a substantive response in about 14 days after confirmation. | Phone support: (855) 423-3729, Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Response times vary. Email: 1 to 7 business days. Live chat: Monday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, initial responses within a few minutes to 30 minutes. Social media: A few hours to a day. |
| Scalability for growing businesses | Designed to handle both small-scale and large-scale sales. Its infrastructure can manage significant increases in transaction volume. | Offers customizable programs and flexible payment options suitable for businesses of all sizes. |
| International payment support | Supports payments in more than 135 currencies. It allows businesses to present prices in the customer's native currency and collect taxes in multiple countries. | Available in the United States and Canada; supports domestic transactions only. |
| Developer tools and API documentation | Well-suited for businesses that can utilize its developer tools and customizability. Provides comprehensive and user-friendly API documentation for developers. | Offers APIs and SDKs for easy integration with existing systems. |
| Security compliance (PCI DSS, etc.) | Certified as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider. Employs security measures like encryption, tokenization, and secure payment pages. Also uses AES-256 encryption to protect sensitive payment details. | PCI DSS Level 1 compliant; adheres to strict data security standards and undergoes regular audits. |
| Dispute resolution process | When a chargeback occurs, Stripe notifies the merchant and provides details of the dispute. The merchant can respond with evidence to prove the transaction was valid. Stripe requires merchants to respond with evidence between 7 and 21 days after a dispute. The card issuer then reviews the evidence and decides the outcome, which can take 60-75 days. | Customers can open a dispute within 60 days of the transaction. Affirm investigates and may pause payments during the investigation. |
| Customization options | Offers customization options, allowing businesses to create custom fraud rules and tailor the platform to their specific needs. | Merchants can design their own payment plans, including APR and term lengths; offers customizable programs for merchants across various industries. |