Payment Processor Comparison
PaymentsPlus vs Stripe
Stripe's flat-rate pricing seems simple, but it costs most businesses thousands more per year. See how interchange-plus pricing compares.
Average Savings Example
A business processing $25,000/month typically saves:
With Stripe
$875/mo
With PaymentsPlus
$500/mo
Monthly Savings
$375/mo
Annual Savings
$4,500/yr
Side-by-Side Comparison
See how we stack up on the features that matter most
| Feature | PaymentsPlus | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Interchange + 0.20% | 2.9% + 30¢ flat rate |
| In-Person Rate | Interchange + 0.20% | 2.7% + 5¢ |
| Monthly Fee | $10/month | $0 |
| Contract | Month-to-month | No contract |
| Debit Card Rate | Interchange + 0.20% (~1.2%) | 2.9% + 30¢ (same as credit) |
| Canadian Support | Phone & Email | Email & chat only |
| Developer Tools | Standard gateway | Best-in-class API |
| In-Person Hardware | Free Clover/PAX terminals | Stripe Reader ($59 USD) |
| Funding Speed | Next-day | 2 business days (standard) |
| Recurring Billing | Available | Stripe Billing (excellent) |
Common Stripe Complaints
Why businesses are looking for Stripe alternatives
Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ on every transaction regardless of card type. Debit cards that cost 0.5% at interchange still cost you 2.9%. On $25k/month, that is thousands in overpayment.
Stripe has no phone support for standard accounts. When something goes wrong with your payments, you are stuck with email and chat — which can take days for resolution.
Stripe is known for suddenly holding funds or freezing accounts, especially for newer businesses. This can cripple cash flow with no warning.
The 30¢ per-transaction fee disproportionately hits businesses with small average tickets. A $5 coffee costs 8.7% in fees with Stripe.
Why Canadian Businesses Are Switching to PaymentsPlus
- Interchange-plus pricing - pay the real cost, not a flat markup
- Debit cards at true interchange (~1.2%) not 2.9%
- Free terminal placement - no $59 USD reader purchase
- Phone support from a Canadian team - not just email and chat
- Next-day funding standard - not 2 business days
- No surprise account holds or freezes
Get a free quote showing exactly how much you'll save compared to Stripe's flat-rate pricing. No obligation, no pressure.
Get Your Free QuoteWhen Stripe Might Be Better
Stripe is genuinely better for SaaS companies needing subscription billing, developers wanting best-in-class APIs, businesses with very low volume (under $5k/month where the $0 monthly fee matters), and marketplace or platform businesses needing Stripe Connect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stripe cheaper than interchange-plus?
Almost never for in-person businesses. Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ on every transaction regardless of card type. With interchange-plus, debit cards cost ~1.2% and credit cards average 1.5-2.0%. The savings grow with your volume.
Why do businesses switch from Stripe?
The most common reasons are: overpaying on debit transactions, no phone support when issues arise, unexpected account holds or freezes, and the per-transaction fee eating into margins on small sales.
Does PaymentsPlus have an API like Stripe?
PaymentsPlus provides gateway integration for online payments. While Stripe's developer tools are more extensive, most businesses don't need custom API integrations — they need reliable, affordable processing.
Can I use PaymentsPlus for online payments?
Yes! PaymentsPlus supports both in-person and online payment processing. We integrate with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and more.
How much can I save switching from Stripe?
It depends on your volume and average transaction size, but most businesses processing $10k+/month save 25-40% on processing fees. A business doing $25k/month typically saves $375/month or $4,500/year.
Stop Overpaying with Stripe
See exactly how much you could save by switching to transparent interchange-plus pricing. Get your free comparison quote today.