Top 10 Free Alternatives to Stripe in 2025: A Detailed Overview

As Stripe continues to be a popular choice for payment processing, many businesses are looking for alternatives that offer competitive features and lower costs. Here we explore the top 10 free alternatives to Stripe in 2025, comparing their pricing, features, and ideal use cases.

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1. Square

Monthly Fees: $0
Online Transaction Fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
In-Person Transaction Fees: 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction
Features: Free POS and invoicing software, instant signup, no application or approval required, flat-rate fees.
Best for: Omnichannel businesses, local businesses. Learn more about Square

2. PayPal

Monthly Fees: $0
Online Transaction Fees: 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction
In-Person Transaction Fees: 2.29% + $0.09
Features: Supports multiple currencies, integrates with major e-commerce platforms, strong fraud detection, and buyer/seller protection.
Best for: E-commerce, affiliate programs, small to medium-sized businesses, freelancers. Explore PayPal

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3. Helcim

Monthly Fees: $0
Online Transaction Fees: Interchange + 0.15% + $0.20
In-Person Transaction Fees: Interchange + 0.08% + $0.05
Features: Interchange-plus pricing, suitable for businesses looking for lower transaction costs, no monthly fees, no contracts, and no monthly minimums.
Best for: Businesses looking for low processing fees. Learn more about Helcim

4. Google Pay

Fees: No fees for bank account or debit card transactions.
Features: Seamless way to accept payments, integrates with Google services, easy to set up and use.
Best For: Small businesses looking for a simple payment solution. Discover Google Pay

5. Zoho Invoice

Pricing: Free for invoicing.
Features: Expense tracking, payment gateway integrations.
Best For: Entrepreneurs and small businesses. Check out Zoho Invoice

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6. Cash App (Square Cash)

Fees: Small fee per transaction for business use.
Features: Quick setup, direct transfers to bank accounts, offers a free debit card.
Best for: Businesses seeking a fast and easy way to get paid. Explore Cash App

7. Zelle

Fees: No fees for transactions between bank accounts.
Features: Instant transfers, integrated with many banking apps.
Best for: Small businesses with US-based customers. Learn about Zelle

8. Authorize.net

Fees: May have monthly gateway fees and processing fees that vary depending on the provider.
Features: Secure authorization, settlement, and management of credit card and electronic check transactions, customizable payment pages.
Best For: A robust payment gateway with advanced security features. Discover Authorize.net

9. Wave

Monthly Fees: $0
Online Transaction Fees: From 2.9%
Features: Primarily focused on invoicing and payment collection, free accounting software.
Best For: Businesses that need payment collection via invoicing. Learn more about Wave

10. Instamojo

Fees: Allows passing convenience fees to customers.
Features: Free online payments.
Best For: Businesses in India looking for free payment gateways. Explore Instamojo

Important Considerations:

Transaction Fees: Many options offer "free" accounts but charge transaction fees. Compare these fees as they can impact your bottom line.
Features: Evaluate features such as invoicing, recurring billing, POS systems, and integration with other software platforms.
Scalability: Consider if the solution will scale with your business as you grow.
Geographic Limitations: Some services may only be available in certain countries.
Contract Requirements: Some "free" options may require long-term contracts or have monthly minimums.

This list provides a starting point for exploring alternatives to Stripe. Thoroughly research each option and choose one that best fits your specific business needs.

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FAQ

1. What are some free alternatives to Stripe for businesses?

Some free alternatives to Stripe for 2025 include Square, PayPal, Helcim, Google Pay, and Zoho Invoice. These payment solutions offer various features and fee structures tailored to different business needs. Learn more about Square | Explore PayPal | Discover Helcim | Check out Google Pay | Learn more about Zoho Invoice

2. Which Stripe alternative is best for omnichannel businesses?

Square is a top choice for omnichannel businesses because it offers both online and in-person payment processing, along with a free suite of software including POS and invoicing. Explore Square

3. What are the transaction fees for PayPal?

PayPal charges 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction for online payments and 2.29% + $0.09 for in-person transactions. It also supports multiple currencies and integrates with major e-commerce platforms. Learn more about PayPal

4. Which payment processor is known for transparent pricing?

Helcim is known for its transparent interchange-plus pricing, lower transaction fees, and no monthly fees or contracts. This makes it a great choice for businesses looking to save on processing costs. Discover Helcim

5. Is there a payment solution with no transaction fees for bank account transfers?

Google Pay offers fee-free transactions when using bank accounts or debit cards, making it a cost-effective solution for small businesses. Learn more about Google Pay

6. Which tool is ideal for free invoicing for small businesses?

Zoho Invoice is an excellent tool for free invoicing, and it is suitable for entrepreneurs and small businesses. It includes expense tracking and payment gateway integrations. Explore Zoho Invoice

7. What is a quick and easy payment solution for businesses looking for fast payouts?

Cash App (Square Cash) offers quick setup, direct transfers to bank accounts, and lower transaction fees, making it ideal for businesses that need fast and easy payment processing. Check out Cash App

8. Which payment gateway integrates directly with US banks?

Zelle integrates directly with many major US banks and allows fee-free bank transfers, making it suitable for small businesses with US-based customers. Learn more about Zelle

9. What is a robust payment gateway with advanced security features?

Authorize.net is a secure payment gateway that supports a variety of payment methods and offers customizable payment pages, making it a strong option for businesses needing advanced security. Discover Authorize.net

10. Are there free online payment gateways for businesses in India?

Instamojo is a free payment gateway for businesses in India, allowing them to pass convenience fees to customers and offering free online payments. Learn more about Instamojo

References

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.

Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).

She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.

For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:

Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:

3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
100+ startup tools built
5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.