Stripe supports over 135 payment methods across its platform, but what you can actually accept depends on your business location, your customer's location, and which Stripe product you use.

The number itself is less useful than knowing which methods matter for your customers. Stripe's count includes regional variations—a payment method available in the UK might not work in Australia, and vice versa. The core methods that work almost everywhere are credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit cards, and bank transfers. Beyond that, you're looking at digital wallets, local payment methods, and buy-now-pay-later options that vary by region.

Your actual payment method mix depends on three things: where your business is registered, where your customers are located, and which Stripe product you've set up. A US business using Stripe Payments gets a different set than a UK business using Stripe Connect. The easiest way to see your specific list is to log into your Stripe dashboard and check the Payments section—it shows exactly what you can turn on for your setup.

Key Takeaways

  • Stripe's 135+ payment methods are not all available to every business; your location and customer locations determine what you can actually accept.
  • Credit and debit cards work in nearly all countries, but digital wallets, bank transfers, and local methods vary significantly by region.
  • Your Stripe dashboard shows your specific available payment methods under the Payments settings, not a generic list from Stripe's website.
  • Enabling a new payment method usually takes minutes in your dashboard, but some methods require additional verification or setup steps.

Payment Methods That Work Nearly Everywhere

Credit and debit cards are the baseline. Stripe accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover in most countries. These four card networks cover the vast majority of card transactions globally. If you enable cards in your Stripe account, you're accepting all four networks by default—you cannot pick and choose between them.

Bank transfers and ACH payments (in the US) are also widely supported. ACH is the US domestic bank transfer system; Stripe calls this "Bank Transfers" in most dashboards. This method lets customers pay directly from their checking account. It's slower than cards—typically three to five business days—but it has lower fees and higher success rates for certain customer segments.

Digital wallets—Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Microsoft Pay—work across most Stripe setups. These are not separate payment methods in the traditional sense; they're card or bank account data wrapped in a wallet interface. When a customer uses Apple Pay, Stripe processes it as a card transaction behind the scenes. Enabling cards automatically enables these wallets on compatible devices.

Regional Payment Methods and Digital Wallets

Outside the US and Europe, Stripe supports dozens of local payment methods that dominate in specific regions. In India, this includes UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and local bank transfers. In Brazil, it's Boleto and Pix. In Mexico, OXXO and Spei. In Southeast Asia, you have GCash, GrabPay, and local bank transfers in each country.

These regional methods often have higher conversion rates in their home markets because customers prefer paying with the method they use daily. A customer in the Philippines is far more likely to complete a purchase with GCash than with a credit card. But these methods are only available if your customer is in that region—you cannot offer GCash to a US customer, and Stripe will not process it.

Digital wallets beyond the big three also vary by region. Alipay and WeChat Pay are available for customers in China and some other Asian markets. Klarna, Afterpay, and other buy-now-pay-later services are available in specific countries where those companies operate. Stripe's dashboard will show you which ones are available for your setup.

Buy-Now-Pay-Later and Installment Options

Stripe supports multiple buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) providers, though availability depends on your location and your customer's location. Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm, and Clearpay are the most common. These let customers split a purchase into installments, usually with no interest if paid on time.

From your perspective as a merchant, BNPL works like any other payment method—you enable it in your dashboard, and Stripe handles the connection to the BNPL provider. You get paid by Stripe when ready (minus Stripe's fee), and the BNPL company manages the customer's installment plan and collection.

Not all BNPL providers are available everywhere. Afterpay operates in Australia, New Zealand, and the US. Klarna is available in more countries but still not globally. Affirm is primarily US-focused. Your Stripe dashboard will show you which BNPL options are available for your specific business location and customer locations.

How to See Your Specific Available Payment Methods

Your Stripe dashboard is the source of truth. Log in, go to Settings, then Payments. You'll see a section called "Payment Methods" or "Enabled Payment Methods" depending on your Stripe product. This list shows exactly what you can accept right now, not what Stripe theoretically supports.

If you want to enable a new payment method, click the toggle or the "Enable" button next to it. Most payment methods set up when ready. Some—particularly certain regional methods or BNPL providers—may require additional verification, which can take a few hours to a few days.

If a payment method you expect to see is not listed, it's because Stripe does not support it for your business location, or your customer base does not include the regions where that method is available. You cannot force Stripe to offer a method it does not support in your area. If you need a specific payment method that Stripe does not offer, you would need to use a different processor or add a second processor alongside Stripe.

Payment Methods Stripe Does Not Support

Stripe does not process cryptocurrency payments directly. You cannot accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other cryptocurrencies through Stripe's standard payment methods. If you want to accept crypto, you would need a separate crypto payment processor like Coinbase Commerce or BTCPay.

Stripe also does not support cash payments, checks, or wire transfers initiated by the customer. These are offline or manual payment methods that require different infrastructure. Some Stripe partners offer cash collection through third-party integrations, but this is not a native Stripe feature.

Certain high-risk payment methods—like money transfer services (Western Union, MoneyGram) or certain prepaid card networks—are not available through Stripe. These restrictions exist because of fraud risk and regulatory requirements, not because of technical limitations.

Fees and Conversion Rates Vary by Payment Method

Stripe's fee structure is not uniform across all payment methods. Credit and debit cards typically cost 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction in the US. Bank transfers (ACH) cost 0.8% with a $0.30 minimum and $5 maximum. Digital wallets usually cost the same as cards. Regional payment methods and BNPL options often have different fee structures—some are higher, some lower, depending on the provider and region.

Conversion rates also vary. Customers are more likely to complete a purchase if you offer their preferred payment method. Offering only cards in a market where bank transfers dominate will cost you sales. This is why merchants in Europe often prioritize SEPA bank transfers, and merchants in Asia prioritize local digital wallets.

You can see Stripe's current fee schedule in your dashboard under Settings > Pricing. This shows your specific rates based on your business location and account type. Rates change occasionally, so check this section before making decisions about which payment methods to promote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I accept a payment method in one country but not another?

Yes. You can enable or disable payment methods by country in your Stripe dashboard. This is useful if you want to offer Klarna to UK customers but not US customers, or if you want to accept Pix in Brazil but not offer it elsewhere. Go to Settings > Payments and look for country-specific toggles.

Do I have to enable every payment method Stripe offers?

No. You enable only the payment methods you want to accept. Enabling more methods generally increases conversion rates, but you can start with cards and add others later. There is no penalty for not using a payment method Stripe supports.

What happens if a customer tries to pay with a method I have not enabled?

They will see an error message saying that payment method is not available. They will then have to choose a different method or leave your site. This is why checking your available methods and enabling the ones your customers use is important.

How long does it take to enable a new payment method?

Most payment methods set up when ready when you toggle them on in your dashboard. Some regional methods or BNPL providers may require verification, which typically takes a few hours to one business day. You will see a status indicator in your dashboard showing whether a method is active or pending.

Does Stripe charge different fees for different payment methods?

Yes. Credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets usually cost 2.9% plus $0.30 in the US. Bank transfers cost less (0.8% with a cap). Regional payment methods and BNPL options have their own fee structures. Check your Stripe pricing page to see the exact rates for each method available to your account.