Stripe
The world's most popular payment API—but direct access is tough for China-based entities.
Not for: Domestic solo developers without an overseas company who need to start collecting payments today.
- Teams with a Hong Kong, US, Singapore, or other overseas entity that need highly custom payment flows
- Stripe offers a complete suite of payment, subscription, and billing APIs with a mature ecosystem and excellent docs
- Mainland China individuals and companies usually cannot open accounts directly; most Chinese developers use an overseas entity or route through an MoR instead
Mainland China identities typically cannot register directly; common paths are overseas entity + Stripe, or switching to Paddle/Lemon Squeezy.
Can China-based solo developers sign up directly?
This tool is not usually available directly to China-based individuals. In practice you often need an overseas entity or a more China-friendly alternative. Domestic solo developers without an overseas company who need to start collecting payments today.
What payment or payout methods matter most?
The most relevant methods here are Depends on the official payment methods. Confirm the exact flow for your use case on the checkout page and billing docs.
Does it offer a free tier or trial?
There is no long-term free tier. No monthly fee; roughly 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (varies by region).
What is it best for?
Teams with a Hong Kong, US, Singapore, or other overseas entity that need highly custom payment flows.
Is there an affiliate program worth considering?
Stripe Partner program targets agencies and integrators—high bar for individual promoters.