When PayPal came online, it was a revolutionary tool that streamlined eCommerce transactions and allowed for the safe transfer of money between both individuals and businesses alike. PayPal also soared in popularity alongside eBay, as it not only offered a simple and secure way to send and receive payment, but PayPal also provided buyers and sellers an unprecedented level of fraud protection. But PayPal isn’t the only game in town, and many online retailers are starting to consider PayPal alternatives that offer lower rates, better customer service and superior user interfaces.
There are lots of options out there, so if you’re considering making the switch, here are some pros and cons of the best PayPal alternatives on the market.
2Checkout
Pros
- No monthly or setup fees
- Accepts all major credit cards, debit cards and PayPal
- Advanced security and fraud protection measures
- Allows customers to connect a merchant account with a payment gateway
Cons
- 1% fee applies to payments from outside the US
- $20 fee for chargebacks
- Currency conversion is 3.5% (on average) above the daily bank exchange rate
Stripe
Pros
- Automatically deposits money into your designated bank account
- Accepts payments from around the globe
- Pay for what you use
- Mobile payment options are available
Cons
- Funds usually take about 7 days to get deposited into your account
- Merchant accounts are only available in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia
- Integration into your website requires some programming or coding knowledge
Skrill
Pros
- Similar rates and fees as PayPal, but also offers a prepaid debit card option
- Advanced security and fraud protection measures
- Can be used anywhere around the world
Cons
- Sending or transferring money between Skrill accounts carries a 1% fee (max $10)
- Similar to PayPal, strict fraud prevention tools can lead to funds being frozen
- Customer service is not known to be their strong suit
Braintree
Pros
- Pricing is simple and straightforward
- Significantly more advanced features than the competition
- Superior customer service
Cons
- Integration into your website requires some programming or coding knowledge
- A separate merchant account is required for the system to work
- Owned by PayPal, so if you’re opposed to PayPal as a concept, this isn’t for you
There is no one perfect eCommerce payment platform, but depending on your specific business needs, there are many good alternatives to PayPal on the market today.