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Link by Stripe alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll digital wallet apps

Top picks

Common reasons people leave Link by Stripe: only works at merchants that accept Link through Stripe, and no in-store tap-to-pay like Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Link by Stripe, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. PayPal currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1PayPal logoPayPalFree plan + paid—NoWeb, iOS, Android8 of 868.8
2Apple Wallet logoApple WalletFree—NoiOS, macOS5 of 564.8
3Google Wallet logoGoogle WalletFree—NoAndroid, Web5 of 561.8
4Amazon Pay logoAmazon PayPaid—NoWeb5 of 551.2
  1. PayPal logo

    1. PayPalTop pick

    Best for: People who pay online often or send money to friends across iPhone and Android

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Link by Stripe

    Accepted at far more shops worldwide, with buyer protection and a balance you can send to people.

    Pros

    • Accepted at a very large number of online stores
    • Works on any phone and in the browser
    • Purchase Protection on eligible purchases

    Cons

    • Fees on some transfers, currency conversion and receiving payments
    • Not a full tap-to-pay phone wallet in most countries
    • Features like Pay Later and crypto vary by country
    Visit PayPal Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PayPal a good Link by Stripe alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Account cost
    Free to open
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    iOS, Android
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Buy now, pay later
    Pay in 4, Pay Monthly (US)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Buyer protection
    Purchase Protection
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    PayPal Checkout fee
    3.49% + fixed fee (US)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Card payments fee
    2.99% + fixed fee (US)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Fixed fee
    $0.49 per US dollar transaction
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
    International fee
    Extra 1.50% on international commercial payments
    Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Apple Wallet logo

    2. Apple Wallet

    Best for: iPhone and Apple Watch owners who want cards, passes and keys in one built-in app

    FreeiOS, macOS

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Link by Stripe

    Pays online and in stores with Face ID on Apple devices, at almost any card-accepting merchant.

    Pros

    • Built into iPhone and Apple Watch with no setup beyond adding cards
    • No Apple fees for paying with Apple Pay
    • Holds passes, tickets, transit cards, keys and some IDs as well as payment cards

    Cons

    • Only works on Apple devices
    • IDs, transit and key features are limited to certain countries, states and partners
    • Bank and card support depends on your issuer joining Apple Pay
    Visit Apple Wallet Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Apple Wallet a good Link by Stripe alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Fees
    No Apple fees for Apple Pay
    Checked Nov 8, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Driver's license and state ID
    Yes, eligible US states
    Checked Nov 8, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Digital car keys
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Express transit
    Yes, select cities
    Checked Nov 8, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Devices
    iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro
    Checked Oct 29, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Google Wallet logo

    3. Google Wallet

    Best for: Android and Wear OS users who want one free app for payments and passes

    FreeAndroid, Web

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Link by Stripe

    One-tap checkout online and contactless payments in stores on Android.

    Pros

    • Comes on most Android phones and works with Wear OS watches
    • Holds passes, tickets, loyalty cards and transit cards alongside payment cards
    • Uses tokenized card numbers instead of your real card number

    Cons

    • Android only; no iPhone app
    • Needs an NFC phone for tap-to-pay
    • Supported banks and features vary widely by country
    Visit Google Wallet Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Google Wallet a good Link by Stripe alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Platforms
    Android only
    Checked Nov 8, 2026wallet.google(opens source in a new tab)
    Transit and boarding passes
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026wallet.google(opens source in a new tab)
    Digital car keys
    Yes, select cars
    Checked Nov 8, 2026wallet.google(opens source in a new tab)
    Loyalty and gift cards
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026wallet.google(opens source in a new tab)
    Card security
    Encrypted payment codes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026wallet.google(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Amazon Pay logo

    4. Amazon Pay

    Best for: Online stores whose customers already shop on Amazon and want a familiar, quick checkout

    PaidWeb

    51.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Link by Stripe

    Uses your Amazon account's saved cards and addresses at participating online stores.

    Pros

    • Shoppers pay with details already saved in their Amazon account
    • No setup fee; you pay per successful transaction
    • One-click setup for Shopify and Stripe stores
    • A-to-z Guarantee gives shoppers extra confidence

    Cons

    • Useless to shoppers who don't have an Amazon account
    • Some merchants are wary of sharing customer data with a retail competitor
    • Features and availability differ a lot from country to country
    Visit Amazon Pay Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Amazon Pay a good Link by Stripe alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Setup fees
    None
    Checked Nov 8, 2026pay.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Fee model
    Per transaction
    Checked Nov 8, 2026pay.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Integrations
    Shopify, Stripe
    Checked Nov 8, 2026pay.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Buyer protection
    A-to-z Guarantee
    Checked Nov 8, 2026pay.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Buy now, pay later
    Affirm
    Checked Nov 8, 2026pay.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Link by Stripe alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

PayPal logo

Best Link by Stripe alternative for most people

PayPal

Accepted at far more shops worldwide, with buyer protection and a balance you can send to people.

Apple Wallet logo

Best Link by Stripe alternative for a free option

Apple Wallet

Pays online and in stores with Face ID on Apple devices, at almost any card-accepting merchant.

PayPal logo

Best Link by Stripe alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

PayPal

Accepted at far more shops worldwide, with buyer protection and a balance you can send to people.

Apple Wallet logo

Best Link by Stripe alternative for Mac

Apple Wallet

Pays online and in stores with Face ID on Apple devices, at almost any card-accepting merchant.

PayPal logo

Best Link by Stripe alternative for iPhone and Android

PayPal

Accepted at far more shops worldwide, with buyer protection and a balance you can send to people.

Google Wallet logo

Best Link by Stripe alternative for working in the browser

Google Wallet

One-tap checkout online and contactless payments in stores on Android.

Link by Stripe alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Link by Stripe?

PayPal ranks first right now. Accepted at far more shops worldwide, with buyer protection and a balance you can send to people. Apple Wallet and Google Wallet follow it in our ranking.

Link by Stripe vs PayPal: what's the difference?

Link by Stripe is free to use; PayPal is free with paid plans. Only PayPal runs on iOS and Android.

Is Link by Stripe free?

Link by Stripe is free to use.

Is there a free alternative to Link by Stripe?

Yes. PayPal (free plan + paid), Apple Wallet (free) and Google Wallet (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Link by Stripe?

None of the 4 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Link by Stripe?

The complaints we hear most: only works at merchants that accept Link through Stripe; no in-store tap-to-pay like Apple Wallet or Google Wallet; saved bank connections share account data with Stripe.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Link by Stripe, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.