Stripe
Payments infrastructure that powers most job management tools behind the scenes. You're probably already using it without knowing. Not a standalone business tool, it's the plumbing, not the tap.
Starting from
Quote
Free trial
No
Free plan
Yes
Overall rating
4.7/5 (3,120)
“Reliable payment processing that works behind the scenes in most job management tools. You probably don't need to set it up directly, your existing software likely already uses it.”
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Overview
Stripe is the global payments infrastructure that powers millions of businesses worldwide, including a large number of Australian trade and service businesses. It's not a trade-specific tool, but it's deeply integrated into many of the platforms tradies already use, Tradify, Jobber, ServiceM8, and GoHighLevel all offer Stripe as a payment option.
For tradies, Stripe typically comes into play in one of three ways: invoice payment links (customers click to pay an invoice by card), tap-to-pay using a Stripe Terminal reader on-site, or automated payment requests triggered by a completed job in their job management software.
Strengths: Competitive AU transaction rates (1.7% + $0.30 for domestic cards as of April 2026). Extremely reliable payment infrastructure. Near-instant setup, accepting first payment within an hour is realistic. Developer-friendly for custom workflows.
Limitations: Stripe is an infrastructure layer, not a full business tool. Managing invoices, customers, and jobs still requires a separate platform. Customer support is primarily documentation-based, less accessible than Square for non-technical users. Not purpose-built for in-person trade use cases.
Most tradies encounter Stripe through their job management or invoicing tool rather than as a standalone product. If your existing tools already offer Stripe, you're set. If you want a simple tap-to-pay option without a job management platform, Square is more accessible.
Pros & Cons
What we like
- ✓Competitive AU rates, 1.7% + $0.30 domestic, no monthly fee
- ✓Near-instant setup, first payment accepted within an hour
- ✓Deeply integrated into most AU tradie tools (Tradify, Jobber, ServiceM8)
- ✓Invoice payment links dramatically reduce late payment
- ✓Extremely reliable, industry-leading uptime
Watch out for
- ✕Not a standalone business tool, needs a job management or invoicing platform on top
- ✕Support is primarily documentation, not great for non-technical users
- ✕Terminal hardware required for tap-to-pay (Square is more accessible for in-person only)
- ✕International card fees are high, not relevant for most AU-only businesses
Best for
Trade businesses that use Tradify, Jobber, ServiceM8, or similar tools that offer Stripe integration, enabling card payment directly from invoices and job management.
Not ideal for
Businesses that want a simple all-in-one tap-to-pay solution without integration work, Square is a better fit for that use case.
Key Features
Frequently Asked Questions
Ratings
3,120 reviews
Source: Capterra
Checked April 2026
Pricing
No monthly fee, pay per transaction only
1.7% + $0.30 AUD per domestic card transaction
3.5% + $0.30 AUD per international card transaction
Stripe charges per transaction: no monthly fee on the standard plan. Rates shown are indicative as of April 2026 and may change. Verify current AU rates at stripe.com/au/pricing.
Technical
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