Stripe

Check the prohibited-business list before you build

Stripe's developer experience is excellent, which makes it easy to integrate first and read the rules later. Do the opposite. Stripe's Services Agreement and Restricted Businesses list exclude or restrict many categories — adult content, certain CBD/supplements, some financial services, regulated gambling — and the list varies by country. An account can be integrated, live, and then frozen if the business turns out to be ineligible.

Practical implications

• Restricted vs prohibited are different. Restricted may be allowed with extra review; prohibited is a hard no. Confirm your category for your country before launch.
• Hosted Checkout is fast but visually constrained; Payment Element and the underlying APIs give deep customization at the cost of more PCI scope and build effort.
• Stripe Connect is the piece to study if you are building a marketplace or platform that pays out to third parties.

When to choose it

Stripe is the default for developer-led, subscription-heavy, or platform/marketplace businesses. For maximum consumer-wallet reach, pair it with or compare it to PayPal — see the comparison.