best API to accept payments online

The best API to accept payments online depends on your use case, but for most businesses the top choices are:

1. Stripe

Best overall for most developers

• Easy to integrate
• Great docs and SDKs
• Supports cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, subscriptions, invoicing, marketplaces, and more
• Strong fraud tools and global payment support

Use it if: you want the most flexible, developer-friendly option.

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2. PayPal/Braintree

Best if you want PayPal support

• Customers trust PayPal
• Braintree supports cards + wallets + subscriptions
• Good for businesses with lots of consumer checkout traffic

Use it if: your audience expects PayPal as a payment method.

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3. Adyen

Best for larger/global businesses

• Strong international payment support
• Good for enterprises and high-volume merchants
• Many local payment methods

Use it if: you need global coverage and enterprise-grade tooling.

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4. Square

Best if you do both online and in-person payments

• Good omnichannel tools
• Simple setup
• Strong for small to medium businesses

Use it if: you also run physical stores or need POS integration.

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5. Checkout.com

Best for international cards and enterprise use

• Good performance
• Many currencies and regions
• Strong fraud and routing tools

Use it if: you’re scaling globally and want advanced payment control.

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My recommendation

• Start with Stripe if you’re building a product and want the easiest developer experience.
• Choose PayPal + Stripe if you want to maximize checkout conversion.
• Choose Adyen if you’re at enterprise scale or need lots of local payment methods.

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a top 3 comparison table,
2. the cheapest payment API, or
3. the best API for your country/business type.