Stripe vs GoCardless Fees

Stripe vs GoCardless — Stripe handles cards, GoCardless handles direct debit. Most businesses use both. Compare fee structures and use cases for B2B subscriptions.

At a glance

Stripe US card
2.9% + 30¢
GoCardless ACH (US)
1% + 25¢
Stripe ACH (US)
0.8% capped at $5
GoCardless Bacs (UK)
1% + 20p
GoCardless SEPA (EU)
~1% per debit

Stripe and GoCardless aren't direct competitors — Stripe is a card processor, GoCardless is a direct-debit specialist. Most businesses use both: Stripe for card transactions, GoCardless for recurring direct debit on B2B and high-ticket payments. The economic comparison is about choosing the right method per use case, not the right vendor.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use Stripe ACH or GoCardless ACH?
Stripe ACH at 0.8% capped at $5 is meaningfully cheaper than GoCardless ACH at 1% + 25¢ for higher-ticket transactions. GoCardless wins on multi-region direct debit support — if you need Bacs UK + SEPA EU + ACH US in one platform, GoCardless is purpose-built for that. Stripe handles US ACH well but is less polished on European direct debit.
Does GoCardless handle cards?
No — GoCardless is direct-debit-only. You'll need Stripe (or another card processor) alongside GoCardless if you want to accept cards.

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