If your customers and your bank account are outside India, connect Stripe. If your business is registered in India and your customers pay in rupees, connect Razorpay. Either way you connect your own account to LotsStore, the money lands in your own balance, and LotsStore takes 0% of your sales: the only percentage you pay is your payment provider's.
I'm the founder of LotsStore, and "which one do I connect?" is the first payment question every store owner hits. Below are the fees each provider publishes on its own pricing pages, how payouts work, and a short way to choose from where your customers and your bank account are. Every fee and timing here was read from Stripe's and Razorpay's own pages on 5 November 2026.
The short answer by situation
| Where you are | Connect | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Business registered in a country Stripe supports, customers anywhere | Stripe | Card payments in your currency, paid out to your local bank |
| Business registered in India, customers in India | Razorpay | UPI, netbanking, wallets and cards on one checkout, settled to your Indian bank |
| Business registered in India, customers abroad | Razorpay | Razorpay publishes an international card fee, and LotsStore's help page says to use Razorpay for India-registered businesses |
| Not sure Stripe covers your country | Check Stripe's country list first | Stripe publishes the list of supported countries |
What LotsStore does and does not do with your payments
LotsStore connects your own Stripe or Razorpay account. Shoppers pay on the provider's own checkout page, the money goes to your balance and then your bank, and LotsStore never holds it. On LotsStore's pricing page, opened on 5 November 2026, it says "LotsStore takes 0% of your sales", and the provider charges its own processing fee separately. You pay per store, not per order. If you want the safety details, I wrote them up in Is LotsStore Safe?.
Stripe: fees by country
Stripe publishes a different pricing page for each country. These are the standard online card fees I read on 5 November 2026:
| Country page | Standard card fee | International cards | Currency conversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (stripe.com/pricing) | 2.9% + 30¢ domestic | +1.5% | +1% |
| United Kingdom (stripe.com/en-gb/pricing) | 1.5% + 20p standard UK cards | 3.15% + 20p | +2% |
| Germany (stripe.com/en-de/pricing) | 1.5% + €0.25 standard EEA cards | 3.15% + €0.25 | +2% |
| Canada (stripe.com/en-ca/pricing) | 2.9% + CA$0.30 domestic | +0.8% | +2% |
| Australia (stripe.com/en-au/pricing) | 1.65% + A$0.30 domestic | see the page | +2% |
Two things to notice. First, the headline rate depends on where your business is and which card the customer uses, so open your own country's page rather than trusting one number. Second, selling in a currency other than your own can add a conversion fee. On the US page Stripe also lists a "Dispute received fee" of $15.00 for each dispute.
Stripe does not give one global country count. Its global availability page, opened 5 November 2026, says it is "currently supported in the following countries/regions, with more to come", and lists India as "Preview". Check stripe.com/global before you decide.
Stripe payout timing
From Stripe's payouts documentation, opened 5 November 2026:
- After your first live payment, Stripe "typically schedules your initial payout to complete within 7-14 days, depending on your industry, country of operation, and risk level."
- After that, the default timing is expressed as T+X. The page's examples include the United States at 2 business days, Germany at 3 business days and Japan at 4 business days.
- You can choose "a rolling basis, weekly, or monthly" transfers on the pricing page, and Instant Payouts are listed at 1.5% with a 50¢ minimum. Stripe says new users are not immediately eligible.
Your bank may take extra time after Stripe sends the money. LotsStore's Stripe setup guide says money goes "to your bank on Stripe's usual schedule", and it takes about five minutes with a restricted key.
Razorpay: India, UPI and rupees
This is the one section about India, because Razorpay is built for businesses registered there. From Razorpay's pricing page, opened 5 November 2026 (the page is marked "Last updated: May 2026"):
| Payment method | Fee |
|---|---|
| Domestic cards | 2% platform fee |
| UPI | Zero MDR, with the 2% platform fee applying |
| Netbanking | 2% platform fee |
| Wallets | 2% platform fee |
| International cards | Up to 3% per successful transaction |
| Setup fee and annual maintenance | Rs. 0 |
| GST on the platform fee | 18% |
Razorpay says net amounts are settled to your bank "on a T+1 or instant settlement cycle". Its settlement documentation adds that your account must be fully activated and the payment captured, and that the cycle can vary with your business type and risk. UPI is how most Indian shoppers expect to pay, so if your customers are there this is the deciding factor. I wrote the full walkthrough in How to Accept UPI Payments on Your Online Store, and the setup is in How to Connect Razorpay to Your Online Store. There is no key to copy: you approve LotsStore on Razorpay's own site.
How to choose
- Start with where your business is registered. Each provider supports businesses in certain places. LotsStore's help pages say Stripe is for businesses in Stripe's supported countries and Razorpay is for India-registered businesses.
- Then look at where your customers are. International cards cost more than domestic ones on both providers' pages, so a mostly local customer base keeps the rate lower.
- Then your currency. Stripe lists a conversion fee when currency conversion is needed. Sell in the currency your bank account uses where you can.
- Then payout speed. Compare Stripe's published T+X for your country with Razorpay's T+1, and remember the first Stripe payout can take longer.
Fees are only one number. Compare them against what you actually sell: a small average order makes the fixed part (30¢, 20p or €0.25) matter more than the percentage.
Things worth knowing
- Shoppers can also pay by UPI to your own ID or order on WhatsApp, with no gateway at all. I covered that in Can You Run an Online Store Without a Payment Gateway?
- The wider monthly bill, with the platform, domain and processing together, is in How Much It Costs to Run an Online Store Each Month.
- You can manage the store from the dashboard, and also from ChatGPT or Claude if you prefer to ask for changes in chat.
FAQ
Does LotsStore take a cut when I use Stripe or Razorpay?
No. LotsStore takes 0% of your sales. Your payment provider charges its own processing fee separately, and you pay LotsStore per store.
Which is cheaper, Stripe or Razorpay?
It depends on your country and your customers' cards. Stripe's rate differs by country page, for example 2.9% + 30¢ on the US page and 1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards. Razorpay lists a 2% platform fee plus 18% GST on that fee for domestic payments. Compare the page for your own country.
Can I use Razorpay if my business is outside India?
LotsStore's help page says Razorpay is for businesses registered in India, and to use Stripe elsewhere.
How long until the money reaches my bank?
Stripe typically schedules the first payout within 7-14 days, then follows your country's timing, such as 2 business days in the United States. Razorpay says T+1 or an instant settlement cycle. Your bank may add time.
Does LotsStore hold my money?
No. Shoppers pay on Stripe's or Razorpay's own checkout, and the money goes to your account, never through LotsStore.
Can I switch from one provider to the other later?
Both providers are set up on the store's Payments page, and each help page explains how to switch its card off. Orders already paid stay in your own provider account.
Checked on 5 November 2026: stripe.com/pricing and its en-gb, en-de, en-ca and en-au versions, stripe.com/global, docs.stripe.com/payouts, razorpay.com/pricing, razorpay.com/docs/payments/settlements and lotsstore.app/pricing.