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UK businesses looking for a Stripe alternative have several credible routes. The right choice depends on where customers pay, which payment methods they expect, how transaction values vary and how much operational work the business can support.
Stripe covers online card payments, payment links, subscriptions, invoicing, marketplaces and in-person payments. A useful comparison starts with the parts of that stack your business actually uses. Replacing a card checkout with another card processor is a different decision from adding Pay by Bank, choosing a counter payment system or collecting regular payments by Direct Debit.
This guide compares five Stripe alternatives for UK businesses using live provider information checked on 18 August 2026. Prices and product terms change, so open each provider's current pricing page before signing a contract.
Stripe alternatives at a glance
| Provider | Strongest fit | Published pricing signal | Main decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wonderful | UK Pay by Bank online, in person or by link | Monthly plans from £24 plus VAT, with transaction allowances and no percentage fee | Whether bank coverage and the Pay by Bank journey suit your customers |
| Square | Businesses combining point of sale, online sales and operational software | 1.75% for in-person UK card transactions; 1.4% + 25p for online UK card transactions | Which Square software and hardware the business needs |
| SumUp | Simple card acceptance for mobile and counter sales | 1.69% in person on pay as you go; 2.50% online | Whether pay as you go or the monthly Payments Plus plan is cheaper at your volume |
| PayPal | Businesses whose customers value PayPal account checkout | UK domestic commercial rates vary by payment type; the standard published rate for all other commercial transactions is 2.9% + 30p | The exact payment type, customer location and international fee exposure |
| GoCardless | Regular bank collections and Direct Debit | Standard UK domestic pricing of 1% + 20p, capped at £4, excluding VAT | Mandate, collection and failure-management requirements |
For context, Stripe's standard UK online card price is currently 1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards. Premium UK cards, EEA cards, international cards, currency conversion and additional products can carry different charges.2 The comparison above uses each provider's published standard position. A negotiated rate can change the result.
1. Wonderful for UK Pay by Bank payments
Wonderful is designed for UK businesses that want customers to approve payments from their bank account. A business can create a payment link or QR journey, take payments in person, or integrate Pay by Bank into an online flow. The customer chooses their bank, authenticates with that bank and authorises the prepared payment.
Current Wonderful plans start at £24 plus VAT per month for 300 included payments. Plus is £48 for 800 included payments, and Pro is £96 for 2,400 included payments. The published table shows a 0% percentage fee and different overage rates by plan.1 This structure can be attractive when percentage-based card charges rise with the value of the sale.
Pay by Bank has a distinct customer journey. It relies on the customer's bank being supported and on the customer being comfortable approving the payment in their banking app. Check the current supported-bank lists for receiving and sending accounts before deciding.
Wonderful is a strong option when direct bank payments, payment links and predictable monthly pricing fit the business. Businesses should retain another payment route where customer preference or bank availability makes that useful.
2. Square for connected point of sale and online payments
Square combines card processing with point-of-sale software, online checkout, invoicing, appointments, retail and restaurant tools. That breadth is useful for businesses that want payments, stock, bookings and staff workflows in one product family.
Square currently publishes 1.75% for in-person transactions with UK cards and 1.4% + 25p for UK cards taken through its Online Store, Online Checkout or ecommerce API. Manually entered and invoice card payments carry separate rates. Square also offers a free software plan and paid packages for more advanced operating features.3
The total cost depends on the channel mix, hardware and software plan. A business processing mainly low-value counter sales will model Square differently from an online retailer. Include device purchase, optional monthly software, non-UK card rates and the features staff will actually use.
Square is a practical Stripe alternative when a conventional card journey and connected commerce tools matter more than a payments-only API decision.
3. SumUp for straightforward card acceptance
SumUp focuses on accessible card acceptance through readers, terminals, point-of-sale products, Tap to Pay and online tools. Its pay-as-you-go plan has no monthly fee and charges 1.69% for in-person card transactions. Online payments are currently 2.50% per transaction.4
The Payments Plus plan costs £19 per month and reduces the published in-person rate to 0.99% for debit and credit cards. American Express, international, corporate and premium cards are charged at higher published rates. SumUp says the plan becomes relevant around £3,000 or more in monthly processing, though each business should calculate its own break-even point.
SumUp can suit trades, market sellers, mobile services and small shops that want familiar card acceptance with limited setup. Online businesses needing a highly customised checkout or complex platform payments should compare the integration depth carefully.
4. PayPal for wallet recognition and account checkout
PayPal gives customers the option to pay through a PayPal account as well as supporting card-funded journeys. Its brand recognition and customer account base can be valuable where buyers already expect PayPal at checkout.
PayPal's UK fee table has several commercial transaction categories. The current standard rate for all other domestic commercial transactions is 2.9% plus a fixed fee, which is 30p when the payment is received in pounds sterling. Card-funded payments from users without a PayPal account, QR payments and international transactions use different published rates.5
A headline comparison can therefore mislead. Model the payment types customers will use, the countries they buy from and any additional international percentage. Businesses should also decide whether PayPal is a primary checkout or an additional customer choice alongside another method.
PayPal is a relevant Stripe alternative when wallet checkout and customer recognition are central to the sale.
5. GoCardless for recurring bank collections
GoCardless is built around bank payments, with particular strength in Direct Debit and regular collections. It supports one-off, subscription, membership and instalment payments. Its Standard UK domestic price is currently 1% + 20p per transaction, capped at £4, and prices exclude VAT.6
Direct Debit follows a mandate and collection timetable. That makes it suitable for regular bills where the amount or date may vary. The customer does not approve each collection through the same journey used for a one-off Pay by Bank checkout. Notice requirements, collection timing and failure handling are important parts of the decision.
GoCardless is a strong choice when regular bank collection is the main job. A retailer needing immediate counter acceptance or a broad card checkout will usually need another route as well.
How to choose a Stripe alternative
- List the Stripe products you use. Record payments, Billing, Connect, Terminal, Invoicing, Tax, fraud tools and reporting separately. A replacement may cover one part of the stack well and leave another untouched.
- Separate sales channels. Count online checkout, counter, invoice, telephone and recurring payments. Each channel can justify a different provider.
- Model realistic transaction values. Compare fixed fees, percentage fees, subscriptions, allowances, hardware and staff time across a typical month and a peak month.
- Check the customer journey. Test the payment on a real phone. Confirm what the customer sees, how they authenticate and how a failed or abandoned attempt appears.
- Check payment status and access to funds. Card authorisation, payment initiation, provider status notification, bank credit and payout are different events. Ask which event produces the status shown to staff.
- Verify integrations and reconciliation. Confirm that order references, fees and payment status reach the systems used by finance and support.
- Plan the change. Run a controlled test, retain a fallback and avoid moving every channel at once unless the operational case supports it.
Our payment systems guide compares the underlying payment routes. The cards and Pay by Bank cost guide explains how percentage and fixed-fee models behave at different transaction values. For the precise bank-payment sequence, read how Pay by Bank works step by step.
Questions to ask before switching
- Which customer payment methods must remain available?
- What is the full cost at current and forecast volume?
- Which provider event confirms authorisation, processing and receipt?
- How are failed, expired and duplicate attempts handled?
- Which order reference reaches the bank entry and accounting system?
- What happens if the primary payment route is unavailable?
- Who owns the implementation, testing and customer communication?
A good Stripe alternative solves the business's most important payment job with a clear customer journey and an operating model the team can support. Many UK businesses will get a better result from a deliberate combination of card, Pay by Bank and recurring collection options.
Footnotes
- Wonderful: plans and pricing, accessed 18 August 2026.
- Stripe: UK pricing, accessed 18 August 2026.
- Square: UK processing fees and plans, accessed 18 August 2026.
- SumUp: UK pricing, accessed 18 August 2026.
- PayPal: UK merchant fees, last updated 22 January 2026 and accessed 18 August 2026.
- GoCardless: UK pricing, accessed 18 August 2026.