Build vs Stripe
Payment infrastructure for the internet — Should you build, vibe code, or buy?
Our Verdict
🛒 Buy
Do NOT build a payment processor. Build billing logic on top.
Pricing
$2.9-$2.9/% + 30¢
Founded
2010
HQ
San Francisco, CA
Vibe Time
N/A
What is Stripe?
Stripe is a payment infrastructure for the internet. The company is private ($95b valuation). With 8,000+ employees, Stripe serves teams looking for payments solutions.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Best DX
- Extensive API
- Global payments
- Fraud prevention
- Reliable
Weaknesses
- Not cheapest
- Account holds
- Support can be slow
Who Should Use Stripe?
Best For
- Saas
- Marketplaces
- Ecommerce
- Developers
Not Ideal For
- High Risk
- Lowest Cost Priority
Why You Should NOT Build This
Stripe operates in a domain that typically requires:
- Regulatory compliance and certifications
- Infrastructure that takes years to build
- Partnerships not available to startups
- Scale and reliability guarantees
Instead: Build your business logic on top of Stripe. Focus engineering effort on what makes your product unique.
Alternatives to Stripe
Paddle
MoR - handles tax
LemonSqueezy
Simpler, digital products
PayPal
Consumer recognition
The Bottom Line
Stripe is the right choice for most teams. The engineering effort to build an alternative would cost more than years of subscription fees. Focus your development resources on what makes your product unique.
Calculate Your Build vs Buy Costs →