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Software · head to head

FastSpring vs Stripe

FastSpring logo

FastSpring

Software

Merchant-of-record commerce platform for global payments, subscriptions, and tax compliance

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Stripe

Software

Financial infrastructure for the internet

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Stripe has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: FastSpring pricing is not published and requires contacting sales for a quote, making cost comparison difficult upfront.; Stripe requires developer setup and API integration for most use cases
  • They diverge on capability: FastSpring covers Global online payments, Stripe covers Payment processing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FastSpring and Stripe actually diverge.

Attributes where FastSpring and Stripe differ
AttributeFastSpringStripe
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modeltransactionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
Platformsweb, apiWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20062010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in FastSpring

  • Global online payments
  • Branded checkout
  • Tax compliance
  • Digital invoicing and quotes

Only in Stripe

  • Payment processing
  • Invoicing
  • Terminal (in-person payments)
  • 3D Secure
  • Global payouts
  • Financial reporting
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce

Both cover

  • Subscription billing
  • Fraud prevention

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

FastSpring

  • Selling software or SaaS internationally without a local tax entitynot Stripe
  • B2B invoicing and custom quotes for enterprise SaaS dealsnot Stripe
  • Recurring subscription billing for digital productsnot Stripe
  • Reducing fraud and chargebacks on digital purchasesnot Stripe

Stripe

  • Online paymentsnot FastSpring
  • Subscription managementnot FastSpring
  • Marketplace paymentsnot FastSpring
  • Global expansionnot FastSpring
  • Platform monetizationnot FastSpring

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

FastSpring

  • Pricing is not published and requires contacting sales for a quote, making cost comparison difficult upfront.
  • As a merchant-of-record, FastSpring takes on more control of the checkout and payment relationship than a pure payment gateway like Stripe.
  • Revenue share pricing can become more expensive than flat per-transaction gateway fees at very high volumes.
  • Primarily targeted at software/digital goods sellers, so it is less suited to physical product e-commerce.

Stripe

  • Requires developer setup and API integration for most use cases
  • Dispute fee of $15 per chargeback is standard industry cost
  • Limited offline payment capabilities

Pricing, plan by plan

FastSpring

On request
  • Custom$undefined/mo
    • All-in-one transaction-based pricing based on sales volume
    • No subscription fees or per-feature charges
    • Discounted rates for ACH and wire transfers

Stripe

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Stripe review.

Which should you pick?

Choose FastSpring if

  • You need global online payments.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want branded checkout.
FastSpring review

Choose Stripe if

  • You need payment processing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want invoicing.
Stripe review

Questions people ask

Is FastSpring or Stripe better?
Neither clearly leads. FastSpring starts at On request and Stripe at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FastSpring or Stripe?
Stripe has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for FastSpring and Free for Stripe.
Does FastSpring or Stripe run on more platforms?
FastSpring runs on web, api. Stripe runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Stripe for free?
Yes. Stripe has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. FastSpring starts at On request.
What is FastSpring best used for?
FastSpring is most often used for selling software or saas internationally without a local tax entity, b2b invoicing and custom quotes for enterprise saas deals, recurring subscription billing for digital products, reducing fraud and chargebacks on digital purchases. Of those, selling software or saas internationally without a local tax entity and b2b invoicing and custom quotes for enterprise saas deals are not what Stripe is typically brought in for.
What can FastSpring do that Stripe cannot?
FastSpring covers Global online payments, Branded checkout, Tax compliance, Digital invoicing and quotes. Stripe covers Payment processing, Invoicing, Terminal (in-person payments), 3D Secure. Both handle Subscription billing, Fraud prevention.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

FastSpring: What does FastSpring cost?

FastSpring uses flat-rate, all-in-one pricing based on transaction volume, with fees withheld from payouts. There is no minimum volume or subscription fee, and pricing is typically quoted based on expected sales volume after contacting their sales team.

Source
Stripe: What are Stripe's transaction fees?

Standard US rates are 2.9% plus 30 cents for online card payments, 2.7% plus 5 cents for in-person, 3.4% plus 30 cents for keyed/phone transactions, and 0.8% capped at $5 for ACH payments.

Source
FastSpring: Is there a free plan?

FastSpring does not offer a free plan; instead pricing is transaction-based with no upfront subscription cost, and merchants only pay a commission on completed sales.

Source
Stripe: How many currencies and countries does it support?

Stripe accepts 135+ currencies and supports payment acceptance in 40+ countries through Stripe Connect, enabling sellers to onboard and receive payouts in minutes.

Source
FastSpring: What does FastSpring integrate with or include compared to a payment gateway like Stripe?

FastSpring bundles international payments, subscription management, tax compliance, fraud prevention, reporting, and B2B invoicing into one price, whereas gateways like Stripe charge separately for many of these features.

Source
Stripe: What payment methods are supported?

Stripe supports dozens of payment methods including credit/debit cards, ACH transfers, and local payment options, with additional support through partnerships with Meta and Google.

Source
Stripe: Are there monthly fees or contracts?

No. Stripe charges no monthly fees or contracts, only per-transaction fees and dispute fees, making costs fully transparent and variable.

Source
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