Choosing a provider

Stripe Alternatives for SaaS After a Shutdown

Updated October 21, 2026

If you run a SaaS business, losing your processor means losing recurring revenue, not just new sales. Here’s how to think about what to move to.

The three main paths

1. Merchant of record (MoR)

Platforms like Paddle and Lemon Squeezy become the legal seller of your software. They handle sales tax and VAT, and they deal with disputes.

• Good: fast to set up, tax handled, simple pricing.
• Less good: higher fees, less control over checkout, and they have their own acceptable-use policies. If Stripe closed you for category reasons, an MoR may decline you for the same ones.

More detail: merchant of record vs merchant account.

2. Underwritten merchant account

You apply, submit documents, and an underwriter reviews your business before you can take payments.

• Good: once approved, you’re approved for what you actually do. You often get more stable terms, and costs can be lower at volume.
• Less good: slower to set up, more paperwork, and sometimes a reserve or a contract term.

3. Another instant-signup processor

Signing up with a different “approve now, review later” provider.

• Good: fast.
• Less good: if your business triggered a review at Stripe, it may trigger the same review here. You could end up back where you started a few months from now.

Migration checklist

1. Export customers, subscriptions, invoices and payments from Stripe.
2. Ask your new processor whether it accepts card data imports from Stripe.
3. Request the migration from Stripe’s support team.
4. Recreate plans and prices in the new system.
5. Map old subscription IDs to new ones so renewals don’t double-charge.
6. Email customers before the first renewal, so the new statement descriptor doesn’t surprise them and lead to disputes.

That last step matters. Customers who don’t recognize a charge dispute it, and early disputes on a new account are exactly what you don’t need.

Which one?

• Small, low-touch, global B2C SaaS: try an MoR first.
• Established volume, or a category MoRs don’t like: go for an underwritten merchant account.
• Either way: keep a backup processor.

FAQ

What's the easiest Stripe alternative for SaaS?

A merchant-of-record platform is often the quickest to set up and also handles sales tax. But it reviews your business too, so it isn't a guaranteed fix if you were closed for category reasons.

How do I move my subscriptions off Stripe?

Export your customer and subscription data, ask Stripe to migrate saved card details to your new PCI-compliant processor, then recreate the plans and subscriptions there. If card migration isn't possible, email customers a secure link to update their payment method.