Yes, Shopify uses Stripe. Shopify Payments, the built-in processor in the Shopify admin, runs on Stripe's infrastructure, a partnership that goes back to the launch of Shopify Payments in 2013. But using Shopify Payments does not give you a Stripe account or a Stripe dashboard. You manage payouts, disputes and settings in Shopify.
Connecting your own Stripe account is a different question, and the answer depends on where your business is registered. Shopify Payments is available in 41 countries. Where it is available, Stripe is generally not offered as a separate card provider. Where it isn't, you may be able to add Stripe through the Stripe Card Payments provider, and Shopify then charges an extra fee of 0.2% to 2% per sale on top of Stripe's own fees. The rest of this guide shows how to tell which case you are in and what each setup costs.
Shopify Payments vs your own Stripe account
| Shopify Payments | Your own Stripe account on Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on Stripe? | Yes, behind the scenes | Yes, directly |
| Where you manage it | Shopify admin | Stripe dashboard and Shopify admin |
| Where it is available | Businesses in the 41 supported countries | Only where Shopify offers Stripe Card Payments, which is generally not where Shopify Payments is available |
| Shopify's extra transaction fee | None | 2% Basic, 1% Grow, 0.6% Advanced, 0.2% Plus (US rates) |
| Card processing fee | Shopify Payments rate for your plan | Stripe's rate for your country |
| How to add it | Settings > Payments > Activate Shopify Payments | Settings > Payments > add a provider > search "Stripe Card Payments" |
Is Shopify Payments the same as Stripe?
No. Shopify Payments is Shopify's product. Shopify describes it as a way to accept payments without setting up a third-party provider or merchant account, and Stripe processes the card payments underneath. You sign up, get paid and handle chargebacks through Shopify, under Shopify's terms. You never log in to Stripe.
That is also why Stripe shows up in some Shopify documents. For example, Shopify's bank account requirements for Europe name Stripe Payments Europe Ltd in the SEPA debit authorization. It does not mean you have a Stripe account, only that Stripe is part of the payment chain.
Can I use my own Stripe account with Shopify?
Only if Shopify offers Stripe for your store's country. Check it in two minutes:
- In the Shopify admin, go to Settings > Payments.
- Click to add a payment provider and search for Stripe Card Payments.
- If it appears, you can connect Stripe. If it doesn't, Stripe is not available for your store.
Shopify doesn't publish a list of the countries where Stripe is offered. In practice, Shopify staff and merchants on the Shopify Community report that Stripe is blocked as a separate card provider in countries where Shopify Payments is available, because Shopify Payments already runs on Stripe. If your business is in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia or one of the supported EU countries, plan on using Shopify Payments.
How to connect Stripe to Shopify where it is available
Stripe's own instructions for the Stripe Card Payments provider are:
- Go to Settings > Payments in the Shopify admin.
- Choose a new payment provider and search for Stripe Card Payments. If it doesn't appear but you believe it should, ask Stripe Support for an installation link.
- Click Install and confirm the app permissions.
- Log in to Stripe and select the Stripe account for this store.
- Choose your settings and click Activate.
Stripe Card Payments replaced the older "Stripe" provider. Stripe asked merchants to finish moving to it by August 31, 2025, so if your store still shows the legacy Stripe provider, switch now. Stripe Card Payments supports Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and it works with the Shopify Subscriptions app.
What does Stripe on Shopify cost?
You pay two fees on every order: Stripe's processing fee and Shopify's third-party transaction fee. Shopify charges the second one on all sales through providers other than Shopify Payments. These are the US rates from Shopify's pricing page, checked on October 21, 2026:
| Shopify plan | Shopify's third-party transaction fee | On $20,000 a month in sales |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 2% | $400 |
| Grow | 1% | $200 |
| Advanced | 0.6% | $120 |
| Plus | 0.2% | $40 |
Stripe's own fee comes on top of that. In the US, its standard online card rate is 2.9% plus 30 cents; check Stripe's pricing for your country. To see the full monthly cost for your sales volume and market, use our Shopify fee calculator, and see Shopify fees explained for how each fee works.
Can I use Stripe with Shopify Plus?
The same rules apply. Plus does not unlock Stripe in a country where Shopify only offers Shopify Payments. Where Stripe Card Payments is available, Plus pays the lowest third-party fee, 0.2%. Plus brands that need a specific acquirer usually look at the other payment providers Shopify supports in their market. Our Shopify Plus pricing guide covers the payment side of the total cost.
Where is Shopify Payments available?
According to Shopify's help center, Shopify Payments is available to businesses in: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Some business categories are excluded even in those countries. If your country is not listed, you use a third-party provider. That might be Stripe, if Stripe supports your country and Shopify offers it there, or another provider such as PayPal. Serbia is one example where neither Shopify Payments nor Stripe is available. We cover the options there in how Serbian online stores take payments.
Which should you choose?
- Shopify Payments is available to you: use it. There is no third-party fee, Shop Pay and local methods are built in, and Stripe is generally not offered anyway.
- Shopify Payments isn't available, but Stripe Card Payments is: Stripe is a solid choice. Add the third-party fee to your cost and compare it with the other providers listed for your country.
- Neither is available: look at the providers Shopify lists for your country, or at a business entity in a supported country, after talking to an accountant.
FAQ
Does Shopify Payments use Stripe?
Yes. Shopify Payments runs on Stripe's payment infrastructure, but you manage it entirely in Shopify and don't get a Stripe account or dashboard.
Can I use Stripe with my Shopify store?
Only if Shopify offers the Stripe Card Payments provider for your store's country. Go to Settings > Payments, add a provider and search for "Stripe Card Payments". If it isn't listed, Stripe isn't available for your store.
Why can't I find Stripe in my Shopify payment settings?
Usually because your business is in a country where Shopify Payments is available, where Stripe is generally not offered as a separate provider, or in a country Stripe doesn't support. The older "Stripe" provider was also replaced by "Stripe Card Payments", so search for that name.
Can I use Shopify Payments and Stripe at the same time?
In most cases, no. Where Shopify Payments is available, Stripe is generally not offered as a second card provider. You can add other methods, such as PayPal, next to Shopify Payments.
Does Shopify charge extra if I use Stripe?
Yes. Shopify charges a third-party transaction fee on every sale through a provider other than Shopify Payments: 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced and 0.2% on Plus at US rates. Stripe's own processing fee comes on top.
Are Shopify and Stripe the same company?
No. They are separate companies. Stripe provides the payment infrastructure behind Shopify Payments as a partner.
Can I connect Stripe to Shopify Plus?
Under the same conditions as other plans. Plus doesn't make Stripe available where Shopify offers only Shopify Payments, but where Stripe Card Payments is available, Plus pays the lowest third-party fee, 0.2%.
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