Stripe is the default API for accepting card payments online. There's no monthly fee — you pay a percentage per transaction. Here's the cost and how to get your keys (test mode works in seconds).
| Type | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard card charge | 2.9% + $0.30 | Per successful charge, US cards |
| International cards | +1.5% | Added to standard |
| Currency conversion | +1% | When converting |
| Monthly / setup fee | $0 | Pay only per transaction |
| Refunds | free | But original fee isn't returned |
On a $50 charge: 2.9% ($1.45) + $0.30 = $1.75, so you keep $48.25. On $10: $0.29 + $0.30 = $0.59 (the flat 30¢ hurts small charges most). High-volume or large-ticket businesses can request custom rates.
1. Create an account at dashboard.stripe.com.
2. Go to Developers → API keys. You instantly get test-mode keys: a publishable key (pk_test_…) for the frontend and a secret key (sk_test_…) for the backend.
3. Build and test with the test keys — no real money, no approval needed.
4. Activate your account (add business + bank details) to flip to live keys and accept real payments.
Create a test charge object:
PayPal, Adyen, Paddle (handles sales tax for you, good for SaaS) and Lemon Squeezy are common alternatives. For most developers Stripe wins on docs and ease; Paddle/Lemon Squeezy win if you want a merchant of record that handles global tax.
US: 2.9% + $0.30 per successful card charge, no monthly fee. International cards +1.5%, currency conversion +1%.
Create an account, go to Developers → API keys, and you instantly get test-mode publishable and secret keys. Activate the account for live keys.
Yes — no monthly or setup fee, and test mode is completely free. You only pay the percentage when you take a real payment.
Not affiliated with Stripe. Fees are reference estimates — always verify on the official pricing page.