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What is Stripe?

Stripe is a payments platform that processes cards for millions of businesses, online and in person. Here's how it works, what it costs, and how to use it without writing code.

Last updated June 2026

Quick answer

Stripe is a payment processing platform for accepting cards online and in person. Payment for Stripe is an independent app that connects to your Stripe account and turns your phone into a point of sale.

Official documentation: Stripe

Screen

Connected

Stripe Account

$900M+
processed since 2015
220K+
businesses worldwide
4.8
App Store rating
135+
currencies supported

Payments infrastructure

Stripe powers payments for millions of businesses, from solo sellers to Amazon. It handles cards, digital wallets, and 135+ currencies, with payouts straight to your bank account.

Per-transaction pricing

Stripe charges per transaction: 2.9% + 30¢ online and 2.7% + 5¢ in person in the US. There's no monthly fee for standard payment processing.

In-person payments

Stripe Terminal accepts cards face to face with readers like the Stripe Reader M2, or with Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android. The Payment for Stripe app handles both with no code.

Not a Stripe company

Payment for Stripe is built by PocketVendor Inc, a Stripe Verified Partner since 2015. It's not owned by Stripe Inc: it connects to the Stripe account you already have.

Common questions

What is Stripe payment?
A Stripe payment is a card or wallet transaction processed by Stripe on behalf of a business. If you see Stripe on a receipt or bank statement, a business you bought from uses Stripe to process cards.
What is stripe.com?
stripe.com is the website of Stripe Inc, the payment processor. Businesses use it to create and manage their Stripe account, view payouts, and configure how they accept payments.
How do I use Stripe?
Create a free account at stripe.com, then accept payments through your website, payment links, or an app. For in-person sales without code, connect your account to Payment for Stripe and start charging in 60 seconds.
Can I use Stripe for in-person payments?
Yes. Stripe Terminal supports card readers and Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android. The Payment for Stripe app gives you both without writing code, at Stripe's 2.7% + 5¢ in-person rate plus 1.2% per sale.
Is Stripe free?
Creating a Stripe account is free. You pay per transaction: 2.9% + 30¢ online or 2.7% + 5¢ in person in the US, plus any platform fee like the app's 1.2% per sale.

Ready to get started?

Download the free app and start accepting payments in minutes.