| Feature | Stripe | PayPal | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Excellent (API-first) | Poor (Legacy systems) | | Subscription Logic | Advanced (Metered, tiered) | Basic (Fixed recurring only) | | Holding Funds | Low risk (rare holds) | High risk (notorious holds) | | Customer Brand Trust | Neutral (Checkout is white-labeled) | High but potentially damaging (PayPal logo can be seen as "dated") | | In-Person Payments | Stripe Terminal (modern) | PayPal Zettle (less robust) | | International Payments | Native for 135+ currencies | Complex, often requires redirects |
