Payments · Platform review
Stripe
Best for product businesses and SaaS — but expensive for pure freelancer invoice payments.
$39 less per $1,000 than Wise Business
Verdict
Stripe is the right tool for product businesses and SaaS. For freelancers billing hourly, the 2.9% + $0.30 card processing fee makes it expensive per invoice. The 1.5% FX margin on currency conversion is also higher than Wise. Where Stripe wins: developer tooling, subscription billing, and professional invoice presentation. Not the cost-optimal choice for pure payment receipt.
Fee breakdown
Example: $1,000 invoice, US client → your local bank
Pros & cons
Pros
- Best-in-class developer API and checkout experience
- Professional invoicing with automatic payment reminders
- Subscription and recurring billing built-in
- Supports 135+ currencies
- Fast payouts to bank account (T+2 standard, instant for fee)
Cons
- 2.9% + $0.30 fee on every card payment — adds up quickly
- 1.5% FX conversion margin (above mid-market)
- Not optimised for freelancer bank transfer receipts
- Stripe account creation requires a registered business in supported countries
- Dispute and chargeback process favours payers
Best for
Supported corridors
Platform integrations
Frequently asked questions
Can freelancers use Stripe to receive payments from clients?
Yes — Stripe Invoicing lets you send professional invoices and accept card or bank payment. The cost is 2.9% + $0.30 per card transaction. For bank transfer (ACH), it's 0.8% capped at $5. ACH is far cheaper for large invoice amounts.
How much does Stripe charge for currency conversion?
Stripe adds a 1.5% FX fee on top of the base card processing fee when a cross-currency conversion occurs. For example, a UK client paying in GBP while you receive USD incurs 2.9% + $0.30 + 1.5% FX = ~4.4% total cost.
Is Stripe available in India, Philippines, and Nigeria?
Stripe is available in India and the Philippines for businesses. Nigeria is not yet a supported country for Stripe accounts — Nigerian freelancers typically use Payoneer or Flutterwave instead.
What's the fastest way to get Stripe payouts?
Standard payouts take 2 business days. Stripe Instant Payouts (available for US, UK, EU, CA, AU) deliver within 30 minutes for a 1.5% fee (min $0.50). For regular payouts, T+2 is reliable.