Stripe

Stripe is a payment processor: it takes card payments and many other payment methods on a website and pays the money out to your bank account. Many store builders and digital product platforms use Stripe behind the scenes, and you can also use it directly through payment links, a hosted checkout page or a developer API.

For a first shop, Stripe matters in two ways. If your store builder offers it, you connect an account during setup and it handles cards, wallets and payouts. If you sell a few items without a full store, a payment link from Stripe can be enough to start taking orders.

There is no monthly fee for the standard account; Stripe charges per transaction. Check the current fees for your country, how long payouts take, how disputes and refunds are handled, and which business details you need to verify before payouts start.