Short answer: Stripe is a global payments platform. Bolt is one-click checkout, payments and fraud protection for US online businesses. Choose Stripe if you sell in many countries or need in-person payments, tax or card issuing from the same provider. Choose Bolt if you sell in the US and want more shoppers to finish checkout, lower dispute costs, and fraud chargebacks covered on approved orders*. You don't have to pick one: Bolt works with 11 processors, and Stripe is one of them.
This guide is for teams that sell online in the US: retail brands, subscription and digital goods businesses, platforms and marketplaces, higher-risk categories and enterprise. Stripe facts come from Stripe's own pages, read November 11, 2026, and each one cites a source ID.
*Qualifying transactions, under your Bolt agreement.
Bolt vs Stripe at a glance
Stripe cells cite a source ID. Sources and read dates are listed near the end of this page.
| Bolt | Stripe | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | One-click checkout, payments and fraud protection for US online businesses | Payments platform available to businesses in 51 countries, with products for billing, platforms, in-person payments, tax and more [S21][S23] |
| Card rate (list price) | 2.5% + 30¢ per card transaction on Bolt Payments, or keep your own processor's rate | 2.9% + 30¢ for domestic cards, plus 1.5% for international cards and 1% for currency conversion. Custom and IC+ pricing for large volume [S1] |
| One-click network fee | 1.35% Bolt Network fee, only when an existing Bolt user signs in. None on guest orders or on shoppers who created their account on your site | Link cards are priced like other cards, with no extra Link fee [S1][S11] |
| Dispute or chargeback fee | $7.50 per chargeback on Bolt Payments | $15 when a dispute is received, which Stripe does not return. Another $15 if you counter it, returned only if you win [S1][S2][S3] |
| Fees on refunds | Bolt fees are returned. Payment processing fees are not | Processing fees from the original payment are not returned [S4] |
| Fraud screening | Basic fraud protection included. Assisted is $0.30 per transaction | Radar Lite is free on standard pricing. Radar Standard starts at $10 a month or 5¢ per screened transaction, Plus at $14 a month, Pro at $20 a month [S5] |
| Fraud chargeback cover | Total Fraud Protection covers 100% of fraud chargebacks on approved orders*, at 0.79% per transaction (rates may vary by industry) | No product on Stripe's current pricing or Radar pages pays fraud chargebacks. Stripe's 2019 Chargeback Protection terms are still online, but the product is no longer listed [S1][S6][S7][S8] |
| One-click network | Over 100 million shoppers. Recognized by email plus a one-time code | Link: "over 300 million consumers worldwide". Recognized by email, phone or browser cookie, then a one-time passcode [S11][S12] |
| Processor choice | Bolt Payments or your existing processor. Works with 11 processors, including Stripe | Link and Stripe Checkout run on Stripe. Link credentials can't move to another processor. Stripe's multi-processor Orchestration is in private preview and excludes Link [S12][S13][S14] |
| Commerce platforms | Shopify (Managed Checkout), Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, or custom via API | Stripe-built apps for Salesforce B2C Commerce and Adobe Commerce, plus Stripe's own APIs and hosted checkout [S16] |
| Support | Every plan includes access to Bolt's commerce experts, up to a dedicated team; paid support plans from $100 a month | 24x7 phone, email and chat for all users. Paid Growth, Premium and Enterprise plans, priced through sales. A technical account manager comes with Premium and Enterprise [S17] |
| Contract | No lock-in | No termination fee or minimum term in Stripe's standard Services Agreement [S20] |
| Where it works | US merchants only | 51 countries, 125+ payment methods [S21] |
*Qualifying transactions, under your Bolt agreement. Stripe figures are US list prices as published by Stripe on November 11, 2026. Large merchants often negotiate custom pricing with either company, so confirm current terms for your volume.
Cost: what you pay per order, per refund and per dispute
List prices are a starting point. Compare the full cost of an order, including what happens when it is refunded or disputed.
Card processing
Stripe's US list price is 2.9% + 30¢ for domestic cards, with 1.5% added for international cards and 1% when currency conversion is needed [S1]. Bolt Payments is 2.5% + 30¢ per card transaction. On a $1,000 order that is $29.30 on Stripe and $25.30 on Bolt Payments, before any custom pricing. Stripe offers custom and IC+ pricing for large volume and doesn't publish a threshold [S1].
The Bolt Network fee, stated plainly
Bolt charges a 1.35% Bolt Network fee only when an existing Bolt user signs in. There is no network fee on guest orders or on shoppers who created their account on your site. On orders where the fee applies, Bolt's total can be higher than Stripe's list rate. Stripe doesn't charge extra for Link [S11]. So judge the fee against what recognition is worth to you: Bolt account holders convert 50% better than guest shoppers (Bolt internal data). Merchants who go live by January 1, 2027 get discounted network fees.
Refunds
When you refund an order on Stripe, the processing fees from the original payment are not returned [S4]. On Bolt, Bolt's own fees (checkout, network, Checkout OS and add-on fees) are returned on refunds. Payment processing fees are not returned, on Bolt Payments or on Stripe. For a business with a high return rate, check how each provider treats refunds.
Disputes
Stripe charges $15 when a dispute is received and never returns that fee. For disputes opened after June 17, 2025, it charges another $15 if you counter the dispute, and returns that second fee only if you win in full. A dispute you fight and lose costs $30 in Stripe fees, on top of the order value [S2][S3]. On Bolt Payments a chargeback costs $7.50, half the industry standard of $15.
Fraud tools
Radar Lite is free on Stripe's standard pricing. Radar Standard starts at $10 a month or 5¢ per screened transaction. Radar Plus, which adds custom rules and manual review, starts at $14 a month, and Pro at $20 a month [S5]. Stripe's support site says the new Radar plans take effect January 22, 2027 [S29]. Bolt includes Basic fraud protection, and Assisted costs $0.30 per transaction.
Subscriptions
Stripe Billing costs 0.7% of billing volume on pay-as-you-go, or from $620 a month on a one-year plan [S24]. Bolt's pricing page lists subscriptions at no charge. The 1.35% network fee applies to each later transaction on a subscription started by an existing Bolt user.
Lock-in
Neither company requires a long contract on standard terms. Stripe's Services Agreement has no termination fee or minimum term [S20]. Bolt has no lock-in. The real switching cost is saved payment details, covered under "Who keeps the customer" below.
Total Fraud Protection vs Stripe Radar
Radar and Total Fraud Protection do different jobs. Radar scores payments and lets you allow, block, review or request 3D Secure [S6]. It reduces fraud. It doesn't pay you back when a payment it allowed turns out to be fraud. None of Stripe's Radar pages mention a guarantee [S5][S6].
With Total Fraud Protection, Bolt covers 100% of fraud chargebacks on approved orders*. It costs 0.79% per transaction (rates may vary by industry). It works with Bolt Payments or an approved third-party processor with API hook-ins, and it is also available as a standalone add-on. For merchant-liable disputes, Bolt gives you a dispute portal and a tool that compiles the evidence, but you represent yourself and carry the loss if the dispute is lost.
What Stripe offers today, stated exactly:
- Chargeback Protection (2019). Stripe launched it in June 2019 at 0.4% per transaction for payments through Stripe Checkout [S8]. The 2019 terms are still online and cover fraud disputes only [S7]. Today Stripe's pricing page has no Chargeback Protection line, and the old product page redirects to Radar [S1][S6]. We found no Stripe page that offers it to new users.
- Smart Disputes. Stripe prepares and submits dispute evidence for you and charges 30% of the disputed amount when you win. Stripe doesn't guarantee the outcome [S10].
- Managed Payments. Stripe acts as merchant of record and handles disputes for you, for 3.5% on top of payment fees. It is for digital products only, not physical goods, and you still pay the dispute received fee [S9].
- Third-party apps. Stripe's support site points merchants to dispute management apps from other companies [S28].
So the difference is this: on Stripe, a fraud chargeback on an approved payment is your loss plus Stripe's dispute fees. On Bolt with Total Fraud Protection, a fraud chargeback on an approved order is covered*.
*Qualifying transactions, under your Bolt agreement.
The one-click experience: Bolt vs Stripe Link
Both companies run a shopper network that fills in checkout for returning shoppers. Link is Stripe's. For a detailed product comparison, see Bolt vs Stripe Link.
- Recognition. Bolt recognizes shoppers by email plus a one-time code, and can recognize them on their first visit to your store. Link recognizes shoppers by email, phone or browser cookie, then sends a one-time passcode [S12].
- Network size. Bolt's one-click checkout network has over 100 million shoppers. Stripe says Link reaches "over 300 million consumers worldwide" [S11]. Bolt serves US merchants, and the two figures aren't measured the same way.
- Saved shipping addresses. A Bolt account stores the shopper's shipping addresses as well as payment details, and Bolt checkout pre-fills both. Link also saves and autofills address and payment details [S11].
- Wallets and other payment methods. Bolt checkout offers Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm, Amazon Pay and Sezzle; availability varies by setup. Stripe supports 125+ payment methods worldwide [S21].
- Results. Bolt account holders convert 50% better than guest shoppers (Bolt internal data). Revolve saw a 10% lift in checkout conversion and 4% higher revenue with Bolt. Stripe publishes its own Link figures on its Link page [S11]. Each company measures its own way, so test on your own traffic.
- Guarantee. Bolt offers a 10-20% conversion rate lift guaranteed. If you don't get the results you like, you can terminate at any time and get out of lock-in contracts. See the revenue guarantee.
Payment and processor flexibility
This is the biggest structural difference. Stripe's checkout products run on Stripe. Link credentials can't be transferred between payment processors, and Stripe's card data export excludes Link credentials [S12][S13]. Stripe's Orchestration product, which routes payments to other processors, is in private preview and excludes Link [S14]. Its Vault and Forward API is only for businesses with a dedicated Stripe account team, and it also excludes Link [S15].
Bolt works with Bolt Payments or your existing processor. It works with 11 processors, and Stripe is one of them. Embeddable and Hosted Checkout work with third-party processors. If you change processors later, your checkout and your shopper network stay in place.
Tech stack and platform integrations
Bolt runs on Shopify through Managed Checkout, and on Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, WooCommerce and custom stacks through its API and Embeddable Checkout.
Stripe builds and maintains apps for Salesforce B2C Commerce and Adobe Commerce [S16]. Beyond those, Stripe gives engineering teams APIs, a hosted Checkout page and embeddable Elements to build their own flows [S27]. On Stripe's hosted checkout page, branding is set through brand settings, and a custom domain is a paid feature [S27].
Who keeps the customer
With Bolt, the store keeps the customer data. With Bolt SSO Commerce, accounts shoppers create stay with the merchant, including if the merchant leaves Bolt.
On Stripe you are the merchant of record, except on Managed Payments [S9]. If you leave, Stripe exports card data only to a PCI DSS Level 1 processor. The export excludes payment history, subscriptions and Link credentials [S13]. Shoppers who paid with Link manage their details in their Link account [S12].
Customer care and account stability
Stripe gives all users 24x7 phone, email and chat help. Its paid support plans (Growth, Premium, Enterprise) are priced through sales, and a technical account manager comes with Premium and Enterprise [S17]. That is real coverage, around the clock.
Every Bolt plan includes access to Bolt's commerce experts, up to a dedicated team for hands-on help and ongoing optimization. Paid support plans start at $100 a month.
The concern merchants raise most about Stripe in public is account stability, not support hours. Stripe's own FAQ says it can place a reserve, "a temporary hold on a portion of a business's funds", when it sees higher dispute rates, sharp volume increases or long delivery times [S18]. Its Services Agreement lets Stripe suspend service immediately for risk reasons [S20]. Merchants on the Better Business Bureau filed 1,902 complaints about Stripe in three years, and BBB notes that they concern the release of funds and account suspension or termination [T1]. Most public complaints come from small businesses, and Stripe also earns high marks from many users, including 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra's UK site [T2]. If this is a concern, ask any provider, Bolt included, to put its reserve and payout terms in writing before you sign.
Beyond retail: subscriptions, digital goods, platforms and high-risk
- Subscriptions. Bolt supports recurring plans, subscription management, usage-based pricing and payment recovery. See subscriptions. Stripe Billing covers the same ground [S24].
- Digital goods. Bolt serves gaming, software and creator businesses with embedded checkout or hosted payment links. You handle fulfillment. See digital goods. If you want a merchant of record for digital products, Stripe Managed Payments does that for an added 3.5% [S9].
- Platforms and marketplaces. Bolt Connect serves marketplaces and commerce platforms. See platforms. Stripe Connect is Stripe's product for platforms and marketplaces [S23].
- High-risk categories. Stripe prohibits some categories, including adult content, and requires pre-approval for others, such as dating, tobacco and e-cigarettes and low-THC CBD. Stripe says "approval isn't guaranteed" [S25]. Bolt's high-risk page lists adult and dating, gaming, travel, CBD and wellness, and tobacco and e-cigarettes, subject to underwriting. High-risk chargebacks cost $22.50.
- Enterprise. Both sell to large brands. Stripe names URBN, Amazon, H&M, Wayfair and Peloton among its customers [S23]. Bolt's customers include Revolve and FWRD. See enterprise.
When Stripe may be the better fit
- You sell in many countries. Stripe is available to businesses in 51 countries and supports 125+ payment methods [S21]. Bolt serves US merchants only.
- You need in-person payments, tax or card issuing. Stripe offers Terminal, Tax and Issuing on the same account [S23]. Bolt also offers subscription billing with usage-based pricing, and Bolt Connect for platforms.
- Your engineers want to build the whole flow. Stripe offers APIs, a hosted Checkout page and embeddable Elements with detailed styling control [S27].
- Scale and uptime are your first test. Stripe reports $1.9 trillion in volume in 2025 and "99.999% historical uptime" [S22][S23].
- You want one-click with no network fee. Link has no extra fee, and its network is larger worldwide [S11].
- You want to accept stablecoins. Stripe accepts stablecoin payments from US businesses at 1.5% [S26].
Can you use both?
Yes. Many teams treat this as "Bolt or Stripe" when it can be "Bolt on Stripe". Bolt works with 11 processors, and Stripe is one of them. You keep your Stripe account, your Stripe rates and your Stripe payouts. Bolt becomes the checkout your shoppers see.
You connect your own Stripe account to Bolt, and Bolt authorizes and captures payments through it. You can set Stripe Radar to skip Bolt traffic so orders aren't screened twice. Total Fraud Protection works with an approved third-party processor with API hook-ins, so ask Bolt to confirm it for your Stripe setup.
One limit: Bolt and Link are both one-click networks, so you choose one for a given storefront. See Bolt vs Stripe Link.
How to switch, and what implementation takes
Implementation typically takes between a few days and a few weeks. Headlights Depot was live in 27 days and saw a 51% checkout conversion lift.
- Pick the processing model. Keep Stripe as your processor, or move card processing to Bolt Payments at 2.5% + 30¢ per card transaction.
- Connect your platform. Use Managed Checkout on Shopify, the integration for Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce or WooCommerce, or the API for a custom stack.
- Plan saved cards. If you move processing off Stripe, request a card data export. Stripe sends it only to a PCI DSS Level 1 processor [S13]. Bolt is Level 1 PCI compliant. Saved-card migrations can require additional configuration.
- Test before you commit. Bolt supports a controlled rollout, so you can send a share of traffic to Bolt first. Measure checkout completion against your current flow.
- Decide on fraud cover. Add Total Fraud Protection if you want fraud chargebacks on approved orders covered*.
*Qualifying transactions, under your Bolt agreement.
Sources
Stripe sources (read 2026-11-11):
- [S1] stripe.com/pricing
- [S2] docs.stripe.com/disputes/how-disputes-work
- [S3] support.stripe.com: June 2025 pricing updates for disputes
- [S4] support.stripe.com: fees for refunded payments
- [S5] stripe.com/radar/pricing
- [S6] stripe.com/radar
- [S7] stripe.com/legal/chargeback-protection (last updated June 3, 2019)
- [S8] stripe.com/newsroom/news/chargeback-protection (June 3, 2019)
- [S9] docs.stripe.com/payments/managed-payments
- [S10] docs.stripe.com/disputes/smart-disputes
- [S11] stripe.com/payments/link
- [S12] docs.stripe.com/payments/link
- [S13] docs.stripe.com/get-started/data-migrations/pan-export
- [S14] docs.stripe.com/payments/orchestration
- [S15] docs.stripe.com/payments/forwarding
- [S16] docs.stripe.com/connectors
- [S17] stripe.com/support-plans
- [S18] support.stripe.com: reserves FAQ
- [S19] docs.stripe.com/payouts
- [S20] stripe.com/legal/ssa (last modified September 28, 2026)
- [S21] stripe.com/global
- [S22] stripe.com/annual-updates/2025
- [S23] stripe.com/enterprise and stripe.com/customers
- [S24] stripe.com/billing/pricing
- [S25] stripe.com/legal/restricted-businesses (updated September 22, 2026)
- [S26] docs.stripe.com/payments/stablecoin-payments
- [S27] docs.stripe.com/payments/checkout/customization
- [S28] support.stripe.com: dispute management and chargeback protection
- [S29] Stripe Support: Updates to Radar pricing (January 2027)
Third-party sources (read 2026-11-11):
- [T1] Better Business Bureau profile: Stripe, Inc.
- [T2] Capterra UK reviews of Stripe: 4.6 out of 5
Bolt sources: pricing, fraud protection, checkout, payments.
FAQ
Does Bolt work with Stripe?
Yes. Bolt works with Bolt Payments or your existing processor, and Stripe is one of the 11 processors it works with. You keep your Stripe account and rates, and Bolt provides the one-click checkout on top.
Is Bolt a payment processor?
Bolt is one-click checkout, payments and fraud protection for US online businesses. You can process cards on Bolt Payments at 2.5% + 30¢ per card transaction, or keep your existing processor and use Bolt for checkout.
How much is the Stripe fee for $1000?
At Stripe's US list price of 2.9% + 30¢ for domestic cards, a $1,000 payment costs $29.30. International cards add 1.5% and currency conversion adds 1%. On Bolt Payments, at 2.5% + 30¢ per card transaction, the same payment costs $25.30. A 1.35% Bolt Network fee applies only when an existing Bolt user signs in.
Does Stripe protect against chargebacks?
Stripe Radar screens payments for fraud, but it doesn't pay you back for a fraud chargeback. Stripe launched Chargeback Protection in 2019, and its current pricing and Radar pages no longer list it. Stripe charges $15 per dispute received, plus $15 if you counter it. Bolt's Total Fraud Protection covers 100% of fraud chargebacks on approved orders, for qualifying transactions under your Bolt agreement.
What are the disadvantages of Stripe?
The costs buyers raise most are fees kept on refunds, a $15 dispute fee that isn't returned even when you win, and paid Radar plans. Link, Stripe's one-click checkout, only runs on Stripe. Merchants on the Better Business Bureau also report funds held and accounts suspended. Stripe's strengths are global reach, in-person and tax products, and its developer tools.
How long does Stripe hold your money?
Stripe says US payouts settle in 2 business days, and a first payout typically takes 7 to 14 days. Stripe can also place a reserve on part of your funds when it sees risk, such as higher dispute rates. Its FAQ says that in rare cases a reserve may be required indefinitely.
Is there a better alternative to Stripe?
It depends on what you want to change. If you need a different processor, see Stripe alternatives. If you want more shoppers to finish checkout, you can keep Stripe and add Bolt. Revolve saw a 10% lift in checkout conversion and 4% higher revenue with Bolt. Bolt serves US merchants.
Talk to Bolt
Send us your platform, processor and monthly volume. We'll show you what Bolt would cost next to your current Stripe setup, and whether to run Bolt on Stripe or on Bolt Payments. Talk to Bolt.
*Qualifying transactions, under your Bolt agreement. Stripe, Link and Radar are trademarks of Stripe, Inc. Bolt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Stripe. Stripe information comes from Stripe's public pages as read on November 11, 2026, and may have changed since.