Quick Answer: Choose Stripe if developers and businesses needing programmable payments. Choose Shopify if entrepreneurs and brands selling physical or digital products.
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At a Glance
| Stripe | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Developers and businesses needing programmable payments | Entrepreneurs and brands selling physical or digital products |
| Starting Price | 2.9% + 30¢/txn | $39/mo |
| Free Plan | No monthly fee | 3-day free trial |
| Our Rating | 9/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Key Strength | Most developer-friendly payment infrastructure | Most complete e-commerce platform for online stores |
| Try It | Try Stripe | Try Shopify |
Stripe Overview
Stripe is a payments tool designed for developers and businesses needing programmable payments. Its key differentiator is most developer-friendly payment infrastructure.
Top Features:
- Payment processing
- Subscriptions
- Invoicing
- Connect marketplace
- Fraud prevention
Shopify Overview
Shopify is a e-commerce tool designed for entrepreneurs and brands selling physical or digital products. Its key differentiator is most complete e-commerce platform for online stores.
Top Features:
- Store builder
- POS system
- Shopify Payments
- App store
- Dropshipping
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Stripe | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Payment processing | Yes | — |
| Subscriptions | Yes | — |
| Invoicing | Yes | — |
| Connect marketplace | Yes | — |
| Fraud prevention | Yes | — |
| Store builder | — | Yes |
| POS system | — | Yes |
| Shopify Payments | — | Yes |
Pricing Comparison
| Stripe | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | No monthly fee | 3-day free trial |
| Starting Price | 2.9% + 30¢/txn | $39/mo |
When to Choose Stripe
- You need most developer-friendly payment infrastructure
- You are developers and businesses needing programmable payments
- You want a tool starting at 2.9% + 30¢/txn
When to Choose Shopify
- You need most complete e-commerce platform for online stores
- You are entrepreneurs and brands selling physical or digital products
- You want a tool starting at $39/mo
FAQ
Is Stripe better than Shopify?
It depends on your needs. Stripe is better for developers and businesses needing programmable payments, while Shopify excels at serving entrepreneurs and brands selling physical or digital products. Stripe rates 9/10 vs Shopify’s 8.5/10 in our testing.
Which is cheaper, Stripe or Shopify?
Stripe starts at 2.9% + 30¢/txn and Shopify starts at $39/mo. Stripe offers no monthly fee while Shopify offers 3-day free trial.
Our Verdict
Both Stripe and Shopify are excellent payments tools, but they serve different needs. Choose Stripe if you prioritize most developer-friendly payment infrastructure. Choose Shopify if you need most complete e-commerce platform for online stores.
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Related Pages
- Stripe Review — Full in-depth review with features, pros, cons, and verdict
- Stripe Pricing and Deals — Current plans, discount codes, and money-saving tips
- Shopify Review — Full in-depth review with features, pros, cons, and verdict
- Shopify Pricing and Deals — Current plans, discount codes, and money-saving tips