payware vs Stripe
A comprehensive comparison of modern account-to-account (A2A) payments versus traditional card processing
Quick comparison
| Feature | payware | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fee | 0.5% | 2.9% |
| Fixed Fee Per Transaction | $0.00 | $0.30 |
| Cost on $50 Transaction | $0.25 | $1.75 |
| Monthly Cost ($100k revenue) | $500 | $2,900+ |
| Settlement Time | Instant | 2 days |
| Payment Initiation Methods | 7 methods | Cards, wallets |
| Chargeback Risk | Minimal (A2A) | High (cards) |
| PCI Compliance Required | No | Yes (managed) |
Cost comparison by business size
Small Business
$20,000/month | 400 transactions
Save $7,200/year
86% cost reduction
Medium Business
$100,000/month | 2,000 transactions
Save $36,000/year
86% cost reduction
Enterprise
$1,000,000/month | 20,000 transactions
Save $360,000/year
86% cost reduction
Feature comparison
| Feature | payware | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Payment Initiation Methods | QR, NFC, BLE, Link, Text, Barcode, Soundbite | Cards, wallets |
| Settlement Speed | Instant (real-time) | 2 days (standard) |
| Settlement Holds | None | Possible reserves for risk |
| API Quality | RESTful, webhooks, open standard | RESTful, webhooks |
| SDK Libraries | Comprehensive | Comprehensive |
| Chargeback Risk | Minimal (A2A) | Higher (card exposure) |
| PCI Compliance | Not required | Managed by Stripe |
| Security Model | Bank-level authentication | Fraud prevention tools |
| Platform Type | Open standard | Card network rules |
Beyond cost savings: New business models
payware enables innovative revenue streams and business opportunities that traditional card networks can't support
Revenue Sharing Models
Create partner ecosystems where ISVs, merchants, and payment institutions share transaction value—impossible with card network fee structures
Embedded Payment Platforms
ISVs can become payment facilitators with white-label solutions, earning recurring revenue from every transaction their platform processes
Instant Settlement Services
Build premium services around real-time money movement—merchants pay for instant access to funds, creating new revenue streams
Context-Aware Payments
7 initiation methods (QR, NFC, text, link, barcode, BLE, soundbite) enable payments in contexts where cards don't work—events, vending, transit, IoT
Multi-Sided Marketplace Revenue
Platform economics where payment institutions, ISVs, and merchants all participate in network growth—each new participant increases value for all
Data & Analytics Services
Lower transaction costs free up budget for value-added services—fraud detection, customer insights, financial reporting that generates recurring revenue
When to choose each
Choose payware if:
- You want to dramatically lower costs and unlock new revenue models
- Instant settlement creates competitive advantage for your business
- You want to build embedded payment platforms or revenue-sharing ecosystems
- Multiple payment initiation methods (QR, NFC, text, etc.) enable new use cases
- Reducing chargeback risk and compliance burden matters
Consider Stripe if:
- You must accept traditional credit cards
- International card acceptance is critical
- You're not ready to transition from cards
- You need Stripe-specific integrations
Pro tip: Use both
Many merchants run payware alongside Stripe. Offer payware for lower-cost A2A payments, keep Stripe as fallback for card-only customers. Gradually shift volume to payware as adoption grows.
Ready to transform your payment infrastructure?
Lower costs, unlock new revenue models, and enable innovative payment experiences
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I save switching from Stripe to payware?
Businesses typically save 80-86% on payment processing fees. For a business processing $100,000 monthly, that's significant annual savings. payware charges as low as 0.5% with no fixed fees (rates vary by region) compared to Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
Does payware have an API like Stripe?
Yes! payware provides a RESTful API with webhooks, comprehensive SDK libraries, and a sandbox environment. The developer experience is comparable to Stripe, with the added benefit of supporting 7 payment initiation methods (QR, NFC, text, link, barcode, BLE, soundbite).
How does payware's settlement compare to Stripe?
payware offers instant settlement (real-time) with no holds or reserves, compared to Stripe's standard 2-day settlement with possible reserves for risk management. This means immediate cash flow for your business.
Can I use both payware and Stripe together?
Absolutely! Many merchants run payware alongside Stripe. You can offer payware for lower-cost account-to-account (A2A) payments while keeping Stripe as a fallback for card-only customers, then gradually shift volume to payware as adoption grows.
What about chargebacks with payware?
Account-to-account (A2A) payments have minimal chargeback risk because they use bank-level authentication and direct account transfers. Unlike card payments which can be disputed months later, A2A payments are authenticated and authorized by the customer's bank in real-time.
Ready to Save Up to 86%?
See exactly what you'll pay with transparent pricing from €0/month. All plans include low flat % transaction fees and instant settlement.
View Pricing PlansJoin the payment revolution
Cut costs by 86%, launch new revenue streams, and reach customers in ways cards can't