How Stripe Works
The infrastructure behind millions of online businesses
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0 / 5 completed🚀 The Operating System for Internet Commerce
Stripe processes over $640 billion annually for millions of businesses, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Unlike traditional payment processors that require months of integration, Stripe's developer-first API enables businesses to accept payments in hours. With 7 lines of code, you can charge a credit card. With 135+ currencies, 45+ payment methods, and built-in fraud detection, Stripe handles the complexity while you focus on your product.
⚡ Why Stripe Dominates
Stripe's success comes from abstracting payment complexity. Most businesses don't need to understand PCI compliance, tokenization, or bank settlement—Stripe handles it automatically. Their API-first approach means developers can integrate payments into any platform (web, mobile, IoT) using familiar REST patterns. Add subscription billing, invoicing, or marketplace payments with simple API calls. This ease of use, combined with transparent 2.9% + $0.30 pricing, made Stripe the default choice for internet businesses.
Annual Volume
Total payment volume processed (2023)
Currencies
Global currency support built-in
Uptime
Platform reliability guarantee
Quick Start
Code needed to charge a card
🎯 Core Value Propositions
Developer-First API
RESTful API with SDKs for 10+ languages, comprehensive docs, and interactive examples
Global Infrastructure
Process payments in 135+ currencies with local payment methods (Alipay, SEPA, UPI)
Built-in Fraud Prevention
Stripe Radar uses machine learning to block fraudulent transactions with 99.9% accuracy
Complete Product Suite
Payments, subscriptions, invoicing, identity verification, and financial services—all unified
💡 Who Uses Stripe
SaaS Companies
Slack, Shopify, Zoom, DocuSign use Stripe for subscription billing and global payments
Marketplaces
Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart use Stripe Connect to split payments between sellers
E-commerce
Amazon, Target, Wayfair use Stripe for online checkout and fraud prevention
Platforms
Stripe powers platforms like Substack, Patreon, and Kickstarter with embedded payments