Stripe accepts cards, bank transfers, digital wallets, and regional payment methods depending on your location and business type

Stripe processes payments through multiple channels. The core methods are credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), bank transfers via ACH in the US and SEPA in Europe, and digital wallets including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Klarna. Beyond these, Stripe also handles iDEAL (Netherlands), Bancontact (Belgium), Giropay (Germany), EPS (Austria), Multibanco (Portugal), and dozens of other region-specific payment methods. What you can actually accept depends on where your business is located, where your customers are, and what Stripe products you have enabled in your account.

The payment methods available to you are not all active by default. You turn them on through your Stripe dashboard under Settings > Payment Methods. Some require additional setup or verification before they become available. For instance, accepting ACH transfers requires you to have a US bank account connected to Stripe, and some international methods require your business to be registered in that country.

Key Takeaways

  • Stripe accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cards in nearly all countries where Stripe operates.
  • Bank transfers work through ACH in the US and SEPA in Europe, but require separate setup and have longer settlement times than cards.
  • Digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay are available in most regions and process as fast as card payments.
  • Regional methods like iDEAL, Bancontact, and Giropay are only available if your customers are in those countries and you have enabled them in your dashboard.
  • Not all payment methods are turned on automatically—you must enable them in your Stripe account settings before customers can use them.

Credit and debit cards: the default payment method

Cards are the most widely supported payment method on Stripe. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are accepted in virtually every country where Stripe operates. Customers can enter card details directly on your checkout page, or Stripe can tokenize the card so repeat charges do not require re-entry.

Card payments settle to your bank account within one to two business days in most cases. Stripe charges a standard rate per transaction (typically 2.9% plus $0.30 in the US, though rates vary by country and card type). There is no additional setup required beyond connecting your bank account to Stripe—cards are enabled by default.

One limitation: some cards decline for reasons outside your control—insufficient funds, fraud holds, or the card issuer blocking the transaction. Stripe provides decline codes that tell you why a card was rejected, and you can retry the payment or offer an alternative method.

Bank transfers: ACH and SEPA for direct account payments

Bank transfers move money directly from a customer's bank account to yours, bypassing the card network entirely. In the US, this is called ACH (Automated Clearing House). In Europe, it is SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area). Both methods are slower than cards but typically cheaper for high-value transactions.

ACH transfers in the US take three to five business days to settle. SEPA transfers in Europe take one to two business days. Stripe charges a lower percentage rate for bank transfers than for cards, making them cost-effective for invoices or subscription payments where speed is less critical. You must enable ACH or SEPA in your Stripe dashboard before customers see these options at checkout.

Bank transfers require the customer to provide their account and routing number (ACH) or IBAN (SEPA). This creates friction at checkout compared to card entry, so many businesses offer bank transfers as an option for customers who prefer them or for high-value orders where the lower fee justifies the slower timeline.

Digital wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay, and others

Digital wallets store card or bank account information on a device or online account, so customers do not re-enter details at every purchase. Stripe supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, Microsoft Pay, and Samsung Pay depending on the device and browser. Customers can also save payment methods to their Stripe account for faster checkout on repeat visits.

Digital wallet payments process at card speed (one to two business days settlement) and carry the same transaction fees as card payments. They are enabled by default in most Stripe accounts and require no additional setup. The main benefit is faster checkout—a customer taps or clicks once instead of typing a full card number.

Klarna, a buy-now-pay-later service, is also available through Stripe in supported regions. Klarna lets customers split purchases into installments, and Stripe settles the full amount to you immediately while Klarna collects from the customer over time. Klarna is not enabled by default and must be turned on in your dashboard.

Regional payment methods: iDEAL, Bancontact, Giropay, and others

Stripe accepts dozens of payment methods that are popular in specific countries but not globally. These include iDEAL (Netherlands), Bancontact (Belgium), Giropay (Germany), EPS (Austria), Multibanco (Portugal), Przelewy24 (Poland), and many others. Each method connects to a local banking network and is the preferred way customers in that country pay online.

Regional methods are only useful if your customers are in those countries. If you sell to customers in Germany, enabling Giropay increases conversion because German shoppers recognize it. If you sell only to US customers, these methods add no value. You enable regional methods in your Stripe dashboard, and they appear at checkout only to customers in the relevant country.

Settlement times and fees vary by method. Most regional methods settle within one to three business days. Stripe charges a percentage fee similar to card rates, though some methods have slightly higher fees due to local banking costs. Check your Stripe pricing page for the specific rate in each region.

How to enable and manage payment methods in your Stripe account

Log into your Stripe dashboard and go to Settings > Payment Methods. You will see a list of all methods Stripe supports in your region. Toggle each method on or off. Some methods require additional information before they activate—for example, ACH requires a US bank account, and some regional methods require your business to be registered in that country.

Once enabled, payment methods appear at checkout in the order you set them. Customers see only the methods available in their location and browser. For instance, a customer in Germany using a desktop browser will see Giropay, but a customer in the US will not.

You can also set payment method restrictions by customer location. If you only want to accept cards and ACH from US customers, you can disable other methods for that region. This reduces checkout confusion and focuses customers on your preferred payment routes.

What happens when a payment method is not available

If a customer tries to use a payment method you have not enabled, they will see an error message at checkout. This is why enabling methods matters—a customer in the Netherlands who expects iDEAL will abandon checkout if only cards are available, even if they have a card.

If a payment method fails (a card declines, a bank transfer is rejected, a digital wallet times out), Stripe provides a decline code and reason. You can retry the payment, offer an alternative method, or contact the customer to resolve the issue. Stripe does not automatically retry failed payments unless you have set up automatic retry rules in your dashboard.

Some payment methods have higher decline rates than others. Cards decline more often than bank transfers because card issuers block transactions for fraud prevention. Regional methods have lower decline rates in their home countries because they are integrated directly with local banking systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Stripe accept PayPal?

No, Stripe does not process PayPal payments directly. However, you can accept PayPal alongside Stripe by integrating both payment processors into your checkout. Some platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce allow you to enable both Stripe and PayPal at the same time, giving customers both options.

Can I accept cryptocurrency on Stripe?

Stripe does not accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other cryptocurrencies as a payment method. Stripe stopped offering cryptocurrency processing in 2021. If you want to accept crypto, you will need a separate processor like Coinbase Commerce or BTCPay.

What is the difference between Stripe and Stripe Connect?

Stripe is the standard payment processor for your own business. Stripe Connect is a platform for marketplaces and platforms that need to accept payments on behalf of multiple sellers. Connect uses the same payment methods as standard Stripe but adds features for splitting payments and managing seller payouts.

Do I have to enable all payment methods?

No. Enable only the methods your customers actually use. If your customers are in the US and prefer cards, enable cards and Apple Pay. If you sell to Europe, add SEPA and regional methods for your target countries. Fewer enabled methods can actually improve conversion by reducing checkout confusion.

How long does it take for money to reach my bank account?

Card and digital wallet payments settle in one to two business days. ACH transfers take three to five business days. SEPA transfers take one to two business days. Regional methods vary but typically settle within one to three business days. Stripe shows the expected settlement date in your dashboard for each transaction.