Stripe: The complete guide for South Asian businesses [2027]

Stripe is unavailable in some South Asian markets. Get a clear overview on how it works in supported markets, its UK pricing and alternatives you can consider instead

Key takeaways

• Stripe provides online payments, invoicing, subscriptions and marketplace payment tools in supported markets
• Stripe does not currently support businesses registered in Pakistan or Bangladesh as merchants
• The World Account is a multi-currency account that can help South Asian users send, receive, hold and convert international funds

Stripe is a global payment processing platform used by businesses to accept customer payments and manage related financial workflows like subscriptions and billing.¹ But businesses registered in Pakistan or Bangladesh cannot currently open Stripe merchant accounts.²

This guide explains Stripe’s operations in South Asia, the alternatives available and also explores the World Account, a multi-currency account for cross-border payment flows.

Is Stripe available in Pakistan and Bangladesh?

No. Stripe’s current supported-country list does not include Pakistan or Bangladesh, so businesses registered in either market cannot sign up as Stripe merchants in their home country.²

What is Stripe?

Stripe is an international payments provider that allows businesses to accept customer payments, manage recurring revenue, send payments internationally and handle all other payment-related operations.¹ Its product range covers online payments, checkout, invoicing, billing, marketplaces and developer tools.¹  Stripe currently supports 125+ payment methods and 135+ currencies across its global payments infrastructure.³

Payment processing and checkout

Stripe provides a payments platform for businesses to accept payments online via cards, digital wallets, bank-based payment methods and in person across global markets.³  It supports 125+ payment methods like Apple Pay, Klarna, PayPal, SEPA bank transfers and WeChat Pay, one-click checkout, and local currency pricing to improve conversion rates and simplify cross-border sales.^3,4

Businesses can transfer international funds to 195+ countries and handle payments in 135+ currencies.^3,4 Stripe also uses AI-powered fraud prevention and authorisation tools to reduce payment risks.³

Stripe Checkout is a ready-to-use payment page that businesses can use to accept one-time payments and recurring subscriptions.⁵ Businesses can direct customers to a Stripe-hosted page, add a payment form to their website or share payment links.⁵

Checkout supports 75+ payment methods, 135+ currencies and 30+ languages.5 Customers can pay using cards and other supported methods like FPX, iDEAL, Affirm, Clearpay and more.⁵ Businesses can also customise the checkout page, collect taxes, send email receipts and use built-in tools to detect fraudulent payments.⁵

Invoicing and billing

Stripe Invoicing lets businesses create and send invoices online without writing code.⁶ Businesses can add product details, prices, taxes, discounts and payment terms, then email customers a PDF or a link to pay online.⁶

Customers can pay using cards, bank transfers and other supported methods.⁶ Businesses can also track unpaid invoices, send automatic payment reminders, retry failed payments and reconcile transactions.⁶ Invoicing integrates with accounting tools such as Xero and QuickBooks as well.⁶

With Stripe Billing, businesses can charge customers for subscriptions and usage-based services.⁷ It supports 15+ pricing models, including flat-rate, per-user, tiered and hybrid pricing.⁷ The platform automates recurring payments, invoicing, tax calculation and payment reminders.⁷

It also includes tools to retry failed payments, update expired card details and track revenue, subscription cancellations and payment failures.⁷ Stripe Billing supports 100+ payment methods and 35+ languages.⁷

Marketplaces and platforms

Stripe Connect helps platforms and marketplaces such as WooCommerce, HubSpot, Shopify and DoorDash integrate payments into their products.^8,10 It provides tools to onboard and verify sellers, route payments, split funds between multiple parties and manage global payouts.⁸

Connect also supports refunds, dispute management, tax reporting and compliance checks.⁸ Plus, platforms can customise payment flows, track transactions and automate reconciliation.8 Businesses can use pre-built interfaces or APIs to add payment features to their platforms.^8,10

Dashboard and APIs

The Stripe Dashboard lets businesses view payments, payouts, refunds, disputes and financial reports in one place.^9,10 APIs, webhooks and SDKs help developers connect Stripe with websites, apps and other software to automate payment processing and receive updates when transactions occur.^9,10

Stripe’s REST API uses standard web requests and JSON responses, with client libraries available in languages such as Python, PHP, Java and Ruby.^9,10  Developers can also test integrations in sandboxes without affecting live transactions and use API keys to control access.^9,10

Stripe Onelink

Businesses can use Onelink with Stripe Checkout and Payment Links to let returning customers pay using saved payment details, without additional setup or fees.²¹ Onelink is available across Stripe-powered websites and supports access to over 300 million consumers worldwide.²¹

Businesses can also integrate Stripe Online through Stripe Elements, which lets businesses add customisable payment forms to their websites or apps.^21,22  It supports cards, digital wallets and other payment methods, with built-in tools to collect and validate payment details.²²

Stripe pricing: UK reference

*Fees checked in October 2026

Stripe alternatives: Payment gateways available in Pakistan and Bangladesh

Businesses that cannot register for Stripe can use payment gateways in South Asia operating in their respective markets to accept online payments:

Pakistani payment gateways

• PayFast: PayFast provides online payment acceptance through hosted checkout, payment links, cards, digital wallets, and POS options.¹² It also integrates with e-commerce platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce and supports QR and tap-and-pay transactions¹²
• Safepay: Safepay offers hosted checkout and payment links, with support for international payments, recurring transactions and integrations through Shopify plugins.13 Businesses can also use SDKs and APIs for custom integrations, while its platform supports payment routing across multiple gateways¹³
• PayPro: PayPro supports card, online banking, digital wallet and over-the-counter payments, alongside payment links, recurring payments and invoicing.¹⁴ It also offers integrations with Shopify, WordPress and OpenCart, as well as APIs for custom setups and international payment acceptance¹⁴
• XPay: XPay supports online payments through cards, payment links, wallets, bank transfers and Google Pay.¹⁵ Businesses can also use on-site checkout, recurring payments and fraud monitoring, with Shopify and WooCommerce integrations¹⁵

Bangladeshi payment gateways

• SSLCOMMERZ: SSLCOMMERZ supports 30+ payment options covering cards, internet banking, e-wallets and mobile banking.¹⁶  It also offers hosted and embedded checkout, payment links, reporting tools and international payment acceptance¹⁶
• PortPos: PortPos supports payments for e-commerce, social commerce, retailers, subscriptions and platforms through cards, mobile wallets and net banking, with APIs, integrations and payment links.¹⁷ Its SendBill service lets businesses share payment requests through email, SMS, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger¹⁷
• AamarPay: AamarPay accepts domestic and international cards, mobile financial services, wallets and net banking, including Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay and bKash, alongside payment links, QR payments and invoicing.¹⁸ It also provides APIs and supports international payments with settlements in BDT¹⁸
• ShurjoPay: ShurjoPay provides online payment acceptance through cards and other payment channels, alongside QR payments, payment links and transaction reporting.¹⁹ Businesses can integrate the gateway with websites and applications using its developer resources, and offer instalment payments through more than 36 banks¹⁹
• 2Checkout (Verifone): 2Checkout supports 45+ payment methods, 100+ currencies and sales across 200+ countries and territories, with card payments available in both Pakistan and Bangladesh.²⁰ It also supports recurring billing, subscriptions and payment methods such as PayPal, with payouts available through wire transfer and ACH in USD, GBP and EUR²⁰

The World Account: The multi-currency companion for South Asian businesses

The World Account is WorldFirst’s multi-currency account for businesses that receive, hold, convert and send money in different currencies. It provides local receiving account details for 15+ currencies, allowing businesses to keep funds in the currency received instead of converting them immediately.

Businesses can handle multiple currency balances from one account and convert funds when needed. The account also supports international transfers, marketplace and payment gateway collections, and business spending through the World Card. The virtual card can make payments in 150+ currencies, with no fees applying to payments made in the 15 supported currencies.

Key features of the World Account

• Hold funds in 15+ currencies, including USD, GBP, EUR and more
• Receive international payouts from 130+ supported marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon and Etsy
• Transfer funds instantly between World Account holders at zero cost
• Send international payments across 200+ countries and regions
• Issue up to 20 multi-currency cards at zero additional cost for business spending, with zero fees when paying from sufficient balances in 15 supported currencies
• Pay suppliers through World Pay, the authorised international payment provider for 1688.com. Learn how to source from 1688
• Integrate with Xero and NetSuite for accounting and reconciliation

*Fees checked in October 2026

FAQs

1. Is Stripe available in Bangladesh?

No. Bangladesh is not currently listed among Stripe’s supported merchant countries, so businesses registered there cannot open a Stripe merchant account.²

2. Can I create a Stripe account in Pakistan?

No. Stripe does not currently list Pakistan as a supported merchant country, so a Pakistan-registered business cannot create a local Stripe merchant account.²

3. What is a Stripe business account?

A Stripe business account gives an eligible business access to Stripe’s payment products, including payment acceptance, checkout, billing, invoicing, reporting and other tools available in its registered market.¹

4. Are there alternatives to Stripe in Pakistan and Bangladesh?

Yes, alternatives include PayFast, Safepay, PayPro and XPay in Pakistan, and SSLCOMMERZ, PortPos, AamarPay and ShurjoPay in Bangladesh. WorldFirst is another option for businesses needing a multi-currency account to receive, convert and send international payments.

Sources

1. https://stripe.com/gb
2. https://stripe.com/gb/global
3. https://stripe.com/gb/payments
4. https://stripe.com/gb/payments/payment-methods
5. https://stripe.com/gb/payments/checkout
6. https://stripe.com/gb/invoicing
7. https://stripe.com/gb/billing
8. https://stripe.com/gb/connect
9. https://docs.stripe.com/api
10. https://marketplace.stripe.com
11. https://stripe.com/gb/pricing
12. https://gopayfast.com
13. https://getsafepay.pk
14. https://paypro.com.pk/gateway/
15. https://xpay.postexglobal.com
16. https://sslcommerz.com
17. https://portpos.com
18. https://www.aamarpay.com
19. https://shurjopay.com.bd
20. https://www.2checkout.com/products/2monetize/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=MoR+Stripe+Payment&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12694022879&gbraid=0AAAAAD5luToQtCheD2tqbvKAVgkXpsYor&gclid=CjwKCAjwqJXUBhBNEiwA8BgG7giNlwAtaf5xvZrhVhFn-MEFagZize_rO8_PJfPHEQha8064Y9p27BoC1t8QAvD_BwE
21. https://stripe.com/gb/payments/onelink
22. https://stripe.com/gb/payments/elements

This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or professional advice. This article should not be regarded as constituting an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any regulated or financial products or services. WorldFirst makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content, and readers are encouraged to consult with legal professionals or other professionals for advice tailored to their specific situation. WorldFirst does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this article and expressly disclaims any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance on this article.