Why you can't just add Stripe in Shopify
Shopify Payments, Shopify's own payment system, runs on Stripe in many countries. Because of that, Shopify generally doesn't offer your own Stripe account as a separate payment provider in its checkout where Shopify Payments is available. That's why “Shopify Stripe not available” is such a common search.
If Shopify Payments works for you, that may be fine. But plenty of merchants want their own Stripe account: one they've had for years, that already runs their other sales, with their own settings, payout schedule and support contact. The way to use it on a Shopify store is a checkout page outside Shopify's checkout.
How Stripe's fees work
Stripe charges per successful payment, usually a percentage plus a small fixed amount. The rate depends on the payment method and where the card comes from: domestic and EEA cards are typically cheaper than international ones, and currency conversion costs extra. Local methods like iDEAL and Bancontact have their own pricing. On standard pricing there's no monthly fee from Stripe.
Rates differ by country and change from time to time, so check Stripe's pricing page for your country before you compare. What matters for your total cost: on Settl's checkout there's no Shopify third-party transaction fee and no per-order fee from Settl on top of what Stripe charges.
Which payment methods Stripe brings
Through Stripe, buyers can pay with cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, plus local methods like iDEAL in the Netherlands, Bancontact in Belgium, EPS in Austria, Przelewy24 in Poland and Klarna. Which ones you can offer depends on your Stripe account and country.
On a Settl checkout, Stripe is built into the page. The card form sits right inside your checkout, and iDEAL, Bancontact, EPS and Przelewy24 show as quick bank buttons on top. The method switches you see in Settl are Stripe's own: turn one on or off in your Settl dashboard and it changes in Stripe too.
Payouts and account checks
Money from each sale goes into your Stripe balance and is paid out to your bank on the schedule set in your Stripe account. New Stripe accounts often wait a bit longer for their first payout while Stripe verifies the business.
Stripe has a list of businesses it doesn't support, and it reviews accounts. Before you move volume, make sure your products are allowed and your business details are complete and correct. A provider that knows what you sell is a provider that keeps paying you out.
Setting up your Shopify Stripe checkout
You don't need a developer. In Stripe you copy two keys, you paste them in the Settl dashboard, and Settl checks them and sets up the payment confirmation (the webhook) in your Stripe account itself.
Prefer not to share a full secret key? Use a restricted key (it starts with rk_live_) with write access to PaymentIntents, Webhook Endpoints and Payment Method Configurations.
Stripe also works well next to another provider. Many stores put Whop or PayPal next to Stripe, so every buyer finds a way they like to pay. Each payment lands in the account of the provider it was made with.
Before you move your sales to Stripe
A few checks save you trouble in the first week:
- Activate the methods you want in your Stripe dashboard first. A method that isn't active in Stripe can't show on your checkout.
- Set your statement descriptor to your store name, so buyers recognise the charge on their bank statement.
- Check your payout schedule and any first-payout delay, and plan stock purchases around it.
- Run a real low-value order for each method you switch on, and refund it afterwards.
- Keep your ad tracking in mind. Purchases on your own checkout don't reach Shopify's browser pixels, so add server-side tracking (Pro) if you run paid ads.