Comparison
Stripe vs Shopify Payments
Shopify Payments is powered by Stripe under the hood, but pricing, integration and flexibility differ meaningfully for UK ecommerce merchants.
| Consideration | Stripe | Shopify Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Blended (Interchange Plus at volume) | Set by Shopify plan tier |
| Third-party gateway fee | N/A | Extra % if using non-Shopify processor |
| Best channel | Any ecommerce stack | Shopify stores only |
| Contract | No fixed term | No fixed term beyond Shopify plan |
| Best fit for | Custom stacks, headless commerce, marketplaces | Merchants fully within Shopify |
Pricing
At mid volume, Shopify Payments is usually cheapest because the third-party gateway fee outweighs Stripe's rate. At higher volume, Interchange Plus can flip that.
Lock-in
Using Shopify Payments tightens the Shopify ecosystem lock-in. Weigh convenience against flexibility.
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