The Stripe alternative for businesses Stripe won't serve.
Stripe prohibits adult content, funded prop trading and other high-risk categories. PayLio lets those businesses accept cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay and receive every payment as USDC.
- No merchant KYC
- No rolling reserve
- No chargebacks to you
- USDC payouts
0%
Rolling reserve
0
Chargebacks to you
$0
Setup & withdrawal fees
15+
Card providers
Why merchants leave Stripe
Great for many businesses. Not for every business.
Stripe is a strong processor, but its rules and risk controls leave some legal businesses without a way to accept cards.
Restricted and prohibited categories
Stripe's restricted businesses list rules out adult content, online gambling and funded proprietary trading, among others, and restricts CBD and investment services.
Reserves on your funds
Stripe can place a fixed or rolling reserve, a temporary hold on part of your funds, for example after elevated disputes or sudden volume spikes.
Dispute fees and liability
In the US, Stripe charges a fee for every dispute you receive, and the merchant carries the chargeback risk on every card payment.
Compare
Stripe vs. PayLio
How Stripe and PayLio differ on the points that matter most to high-risk and crypto-friendly businesses.
| Topic | Stripe | PayLio |
|---|---|---|
| Card fees | 2.9% + 30¢ per US card payment, plus fees for international cards and conversion | 8% on Starter, or 5% + $59/month on Catalyst. No other fees. |
| High-risk categories | Prohibits adult content, online gambling and funded prop trading, among others | Built for legal high-risk businesses: adult, forex and prop firms, nutra and more |
| Reserves | Can place fixed or rolling reserves on your funds | No reserve. PayLio holds no balance. |
| Disputes | Merchant is liable; a fee per dispute received | Card payments cannot be charged back to you |
| Verification | Verifies the business and its beneficial owners | No merchant KYC |
| Payouts | Fiat to your bank; the first payout usually takes 7–14 days | USDC on Polygon to your wallet, typically within seconds to minutes |
Stripe details are taken from Stripe's own published pages, checked on November 3, 2026. Terms change; see the sources below.
Honest fit
Which one is right for you?
Stripe is a strong product for many businesses. PayLio is built for the ones it does not serve well.
Stay with Stripe if…
- Your business is clearly on Stripe's supported list.
- The lowest possible fee per transaction matters most to you.
- You need payouts in fiat to a bank account.
- You rely on Stripe-only tools such as Billing, Connect or Terminal.
Choose PayLio if…
- Stripe declined, restricted or closed your account.
- You sell in a category Stripe prohibits, such as adult content or funded prop trading.
- You want no reserve, no dispute fees and no chargebacks to you.
- You are happy to receive payouts in USDC.
Switching
Move from Stripe in an afternoon
No application to wait for. Keep your current setup running while you test PayLio side by side.
- 1
Create a free account
Sign up in minutes. There is no merchant application and no merchant KYC.
- 2
Add PayLio to your checkout
Send payment links, use the hosted checkout or API, or install a free plugin for WooCommerce, WHMCS and six more platforms.
- 3
Run both, then switch
Keep Stripe for what it supports and route the rest through PayLio, or move fully once you have seen your first USDC payouts.
What is the best Stripe alternative for high-risk businesses?
It depends on why Stripe does not work for you. If your category is restricted or prohibited by Stripe, you need a provider that serves it. PayLio lets legal high-risk businesses accept cards without a merchant account and receive USDC, with no reserve and no chargebacks to the merchant.
Is PayLio cheaper than Stripe?
Not per transaction. Stripe's standard US card rate is 2.9% plus 30 cents, while PayLio charges 8% on Starter or 5% plus $59 a month on Catalyst. PayLio has no dispute fees, no reserve and no setup fee, and it serves businesses Stripe does not.
Which businesses does Stripe not allow?
Stripe publishes a restricted businesses list. It prohibits, among others, adult content, online gambling, funded proprietary trading and supplements with misleading health claims, and restricts categories such as low-THC CBD and investment services.
Can I use PayLio and Stripe at the same time?
Yes. Many merchants keep Stripe for products it supports and add PayLio as a payment link or plugin for the rest, or test PayLio side by side before switching.
How do I receive money with PayLio?
Each card payment is paid out as USDC on Polygon to your own wallet, typically within seconds to minutes. PayLio holds no balance, so there is no payout schedule and nothing to freeze.
No KYC · No rolling reserve
Try PayLio next to Stripe.
Create a free account, send your first payment link and receive the payment as USDC in your wallet. No contract, cancel anytime.