Four Stripe Alternatives to Consider in 2025

Dodo Payments

Overview: 

Dodo Payments is a Merchant of Record entity, it handles payment processing, taxes, and compliance on your behalf. This simplifies the paperwork of cross-border sales.

It also supports many local payment methods over 25+ like UPI, Apple Pay, Klarna, Cash App, etc. helping buyers pay in familiar ways.

Features:

Global reach: Accepts payments from 150+ countries; supports 25+ local payment methods 

Localized Payment Options: Supports popular local payment methods like UPI in India, and more, enabling businesses to serve a diverse global customer base.

Built-in compliance: As an MoR, handles international sales tax for you (no need to manage extra filings).

Subscription & Checkout: Includes tools for recurring billing, branded checkout pages, and fraud prevention

Pros:

• Transparent pricing with no hidden fees

• Flexible payment options

• Secure and seamless Global Transaction

• Localised Checkout Option

• 24/7 personalized customer support

• Hassle-free onboarding experience

Pricing: 

Standard plan charges 4% + $0.40 USD per transaction (no setup or monthly fees). 

Enterprise pricing is custom for high-volume clients.

Best for: Startups and digital product businesses (SaaS, apps, e-books) that sell globally and want an all-in-one solution.

Compared to Stripe: Dodo aims to be more accessible (no invite needed) and specifically built for exports. Its fees are comparable to Stripe’s cross-border rates, but it includes compliance support and a wide local-payment network. 

For an Indian creator or SaaS startup looking to expand overseas without fuss, Dodo is worth exploring.

2. PayPal

Overview: 

PayPal is one of the most recognized names in global payments, making it a go-to option for freelancers and digital creators who work with international clients. While it supports receiving foreign payments in India, it does not handle domestic INR transactions or allow sending money out of India. 

Essentially, you can accept USD, EUR, and other foreign currencies from clients abroad, but you can't use PayPal for paying vendors or partners within India.

Pros

• Trusted worldwide, as clients are already familiar with PayPal and feel secure using it.

• Quick and simple, no need for complex integrations.

• Multiple payment options

• Works with many e-commerce platforms and online marketplaces.

Cons

• You can’t use it for domestic transactions within India.

• The combined transaction and currency conversion fees can eat into your earnings.

• Not ideal for large transactions, especially with recurring or high-ticket payments.

• Can’t be used for paying Indian vendors or freelancers.

Pricing

PayPal Merchant Fees 4.40% + Fixed Fee

Fixed fee for commercial transactions (based on currency received)

Best For: Ideal for small service providers who need a quick and reliable way to receive payments from overseas clients. It’s especially convenient for one-off projects or marketplace payouts (like Upwork or Gumroad). Just be mindful of the high fees if you're doing recurring or large-volume transactions.

3. Razorpay

Overview: 

Razorpay is a leading Indian payment gateway that also caters to international transactions. It supports multiple currencies, automatically converting foreign payments into INR. Its APIs and payment buttons integrate seamlessly into websites and apps. Razorpay also offers built-in PayPal integration, allowing you to receive PayPal payments directly through the Razorpay dashboard. 

Pros:

• Supports multi-currency acceptance for cards, UPI, and wallets in 100+ currencies

• Easy integration through APIs, SDKs, and payment buttons

• Built-in PayPal integration for extra flexibility

• MoneySaver Export Account offers low-fee bank transfers from 160+ countries

• No withdrawal fees or hidden markups on MoneySaver accounts

Cons:

• International card transaction fee (3% + GST) still applies

• PayPal payments via Razorpay incur PayPal’s separate fees

• Domestic focus means fewer features for global compliance compared to dedicated MoR services

• User interface can be overwhelming for first-time users

Pricing:

Standard Razorpay rates (varies by volume, typically 2%–2.5% + GST)

International card transactions: 3% + 18% GST (≈ 3.54% total)

Best for: Businesses already using Razorpay domestically who want a unified platform for global sales, Freelancers and exporters looking to minimize cross-border transfer fees

4. Payoneer

Overview: 

Payoneer is a global cross-border payment platform widely used by freelancers, e-commerce sellers, and affiliate marketers. It provides local receiving accounts in USD, EUR, GBP, and other major currencies so international clients can pay you as if you had a local bank. 

Pros:

• Open local receiving accounts in multiple currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.)

• Clients can transfer money via ACH, SEPA, SWIFT, or credit card

• Free transfers between Payoneer users

• Integrates with major marketplaces for automatic disbursement

• Consolidates multiple currency balances in one dashboard

Cons:

• An annual account fee applies if you don’t meet the required volume (often waived for active users)

• Credit card payments incur a 3.2% + $0.49 fee, making smaller transactions expensive

• Forex conversion fee on currency conversions to INR or other balances

• Limited domestic INR payout options 

Pricing:

Credit card payments: 3.2% + $0.49 per transaction

ACH debits (US): 1% per transaction

Currency conversion: ~3% spread over the mid-market rate

Annual account fee: ~$29.95 (waived if minimum annual volume is met)

Bank transfer to Indian account (SWIFT): Standard SWIFT fee plus 3% forex conversion

Best for: E-commerce sellers and affiliate marketers collecting payments from global marketplaces, Freelancers, and small agencies serving international clients