Payment infrastructure
Payment providers such as Stripe connect the business to card networks, wallets, local payment methods, fraud controls, and settlement. They expose APIs and hosted products that developers can use to build custom payment experiences.
A business can sometimes sell with only payment infrastructure, especially when products and billing are simple.
Checkout software
Checkout platforms package the selling experience: product configuration, checkout layout, coupons, order bumps, one-click upsells, subscriptions, taxes, receipts, cart recovery, reporting, and integrations. They still rely on an underlying processor for the transaction.
ThriveCart, for example, can connect to Stripe Connect+ and PayPal Enhanced rather than replacing the payment rails.
Why both can be useful
Using a processor plus checkout software separates concerns. The processor handles payment infrastructure while the checkout team can change offers and funnels without engineering every change. The tradeoff is another software layer and another set of settings to test.
What to compare
Check processor availability in your country, currencies, local payment methods, recurring billing support, refund behavior, authentication requirements, platform fees, and the level of checkout customization you need.
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Start the 30-day trialFrequently asked questions
Is Stripe a checkout platform?
Stripe offers checkout products as well as payment infrastructure, but its role is broader and more developer or infrastructure oriented than a creator-focused checkout suite.
Does ThriveCart process payments itself?
ThriveCart connects to payment processors such as Stripe Connect+ and PayPal Enhanced.
Do I need both?
Many sellers do, but simple or developer-built businesses may choose a processor-only stack.
Software plans and features can change. Verify final terms on the provider site before buying.
Last reviewed: September 13, 2026