Ask HN: Dwolla vs Stripe

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3231197

by EwanG • 15 years ago

7 5 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

OK, I am getting ready to launch an idea where at different levels I would like to be able to accept $1, $5, $25, and $100 from payers. I would like to keep the monthly costs low initially in case I am about to learn more about the viability of my idea than how to build on it :-)

Given that, and given all transactions would be on the web, would you use Dwolla, Stripe, or something else (PayPal?) to accept the transactions?

RobGR• 15 years ago

I would think a lot depends on the demographics of your market. Impulse buyers will be deterred by a non-standard payment method, meaning you have to have the most common. An audience like ycombinator readers will be more likely to evaluate, sign up, and use something alternative, and may be more likely to refuse to use Paypal at all.

My advice is to pick on what is easiest to integrate with at first. Regardless of the payment method, you should be able to validate the idea by getting at least a few customers, and then add payment options going forward.

EwanG• 15 years ago

Good points. Integration is definitely something I'm starting to look into, but reducing friction is also important. I'll see if there's anymore contributions to the discussion, but at least that gives me a couple additional points to consider. Thanks!

damoncali• 15 years ago

Payal is, um, horrible, but a standard paypal button is the simplest thing I've seen by a large margin. Just cut and paste.

I just did a Stripe implementation. It's pretty slick, but no more so than Braintree - although I will say the webhooks are a nice feature. The stripe benefit (over Braintree) is cost and not having to have to set up a merchant account.

Never used Dwolla.

Element_• 15 years ago

I could be wrong but I believe Dwolla is a totally new payment system that actually bypasses the credit card system by directly depositing/debiting bank accounts. It designed to replace credit cards and requires the customer to signup for a Dwolla account to pay[1]. Stripe on the other hand is just an API for processing credit cards.

[1] http://www.businessinsider.com/this-28-year-old-is-making-su...

bpmilne• 15 years ago

It depends what you're trying to process. Keep in mind Dwolla is it's own network. It doesn't process VISA/MAST/ other like Stripe. In theory Dwolla is another payment form that could easily be built into Stripe but the two do very different things.

Using both obviously gives you the ability to do cc/debit transactions for those who want and have the upside of when someone pays using Dwolla.

Ask HN: Dwolla vs Stripe

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