For integrated software vendors (ISVs), choosing the right payment processor is a crucial decision that impacts scalability, revenue, and user experience. While Stripe is popular for its ease of use, its rigid pricing, limited customization, self-service support, and various other issues can create roadblocks as ISVs grow.
Software vendors need more than payment acceptance—they require flexibility, revenue control, seamless onboarding, and dedicated support to scale efficiently.
Many ISVs find Stripe’s structure limiting due to:
- Flat-rate pricing that restricts profitability
- Limited branding & customization options
- Slow merchant onboarding with strict approval processes
- Minimal revenue control over transaction fees
- Self-service support instead of dedicated assistance
Enter Celero Fusion—a full-service payment processing solution designed specifically for ISVs. It provides greater customization, revenue optimization, and hands-on partnership than Stripe. For software providers seeking more control, scalability, and a strategic payment partner, Celero Fusion is the smarter choice.
In this blog, we’ll explore why Celero Fusion stands out as a powerful Stripe alternative, break down key features and pricing models, and discuss the advantages of a provider built for ISV success.
Comparing Stripe vs. Celero Fusion
Stripe is known for its simple and standardized approach, making it easy for startups to begin accepting payments quickly. However, this simplicity comes at the cost of flexibility.
On the other hand, Celero Fusion is designed with integrated software vendors in mind, offering a more tailored experience that allows for deeper integration, enhanced support, and better pricing options.
If you’re searching for a Stripe alternative, Celero Fusion provides the features and support software providers need to scale without limitations.
Customization and Branding
For software providers, maintaining a seamless and branded payment experience is essential.
However, Stripe offers limited white-labeling, making it challenging to create a payment solution that fully aligns with your platform’s look and feel.
With Celero Fusion, ISVs have access to fully customizable solutions, allowing them to integrate payments in a way that enhances their brand identity. From custom checkout experiences to white-label capabilities, Celero Fusion ensures that the payment process feels like a natural extension of the software vendor’s platform rather than a third-party add-on.
Security and Compliance
Payment security and regulatory compliance are top priorities for any ISV, and while Stripe provides standard security measures, its compliance support is essentially self-service.
Altogether, Celero Fusion meets the highest industry standards with PCI Level 1 certification, ensuring your platform and your merchants operate in a secure and fully compliant environment while going beyond basic security by offering universal tokenization, which enhances transaction security while reducing PCI compliance burdens. Additionally, Celero Fusion helps software providers navigate complex regulatory requirements with expert support tailored to their industry. This ensures that ISVs stay ahead of compliance changes while minimizing security risks.
Support and Partner Experience
When payment-related issues arise, having direct access to expert support can make all the difference. Stripe relies on a self-service support model, requiring software vendors to troubleshoot issues independently or rely on community forums for help.
In contrast, Celero Fusion provides hands-on, dedicated support, ensuring ISVs receive personalized guidance and strategic assistance. Whether it’s optimizing payment flows, resolving technical issues, or scaling operations, Celero Fusion’s expert team can help software providers maximize their payment processing strategy and long-term success.
Seamless Scalability
As integrated software vendors grow, their payment processing needs become more complex. Stripe’s rigid framework can create limitations, making it difficult to scale efficiently while maintaining control over pricing, merchant onboarding, and transaction processing.
Celero Fusion is built to support ISVs at every growth stage, offering the flexibility to handle increasing transaction volumes, expanding merchant bases, and evolving business models.
With a scalable infrastructure and adaptable solutions, Celero Fusion ensures software providers can grow without encountering the constraints of a one-size-fits-all payment platform.
Whether adding new merchants, entering new markets, or optimizing revenue streams, Celero Fusion provides the agility and resources needed to scale seamlessly.
Pricing Models: Breaking Down the Costs
One of Stripe’s biggest drawbacks is its fixed pricing structure, which can eat into ISVs’ profit margins. Stripe’s standard pricing structure means software providers have little control over transaction fees, making it difficult to optimize revenue streams.
Celero Fusion offers dynamic pricing models, allowing software vendors to set their own pricing, optimize transaction costs, and create revenue-sharing opportunities. By enabling ISVs to control their margins, Celero Fusion helps maximize profitability while offering competitive pricing to merchants.
Let’s compare:
If you’re a software vendor using Stripe, you may be losing money. With Celero Fusion, a Stripe alternative, you gain control over your pricing structure, helping you optimize profitability and provide better value to your merchants.
Advantages of Celero Fusion as a Stripe Alternative
Payment Acceptance Everywhere
Today’s businesses must accept payments across multiple channels—online, in-store, self-service kiosks, and mobile devices.
Celero Fusion’s unified payment gateway ensures that your platform can support seamless transactions anywhere, including Europay/Mastercard/Visa (EMV) and contactless payments, allowing you to offer a modern and convenient payment experience.
Embedded Payment Acceptance
Celero Fusion allows for built-in payment acceptance directly within your software. This enables your customers to seamlessly accept payments from invoicing systems and other financial workflows without the need for third-party tools, creating a more intuitive, frictionless experience for end users.
Designed For Developers
Empower your software with our modular payment gateway platform, the fastest way to bring your payment solutions to market. Our single, scalable solution reduces engineering time and effortlessly integrates across all channels. Use only the features you need, and let us handle or support your payments team on all the complexities of payment processing so you can focus on continuously delivering value to your customers without delay.
Surcharging and Dual Pricing Options
With Celero Fusion, you can reduce credit card processing fees and increase profitability with built-in surcharging and dual pricing options. Give customers the choice to pay a non-cash service fee or receive a discount for paying with cash, helping you offset transaction costs without negatively impacting sales.
White-Labeled Payment Solutions
Deliver a seamless, branded payment experience with Celero Fusion’s white-label capabilities. Unlike Stripe, which limits customization, Celero Fusion allows you to integrate payments as an extension of your brand—ensuring that every customer interaction remains consistent, professional, and fully aligned with your business identity.
Real-Time Portfolio Data & Analytics
Gain deep insights into your payment operations with real-time portfolio data and analytics. Celero Fusion provides access to the industry’s most advanced reporting tools, empowering you to track transaction trends, optimize revenue streams, and make data-driven decisions that support long-term growth.
Revenue-Sharing Opportunities
Your success is our success. Celero Fusion offers competitive revenue-sharing programs, allowing software vendors to maximize earnings while providing best-in-class payment solutions to your merchants. As a true partnership-driven provider, we ensure that your business benefits from every transaction processed through our platform.
Next Steps: Making the Switch
As an ISV, your payment processing solution should empower your growth—not limit it.
While Stripe offers a simple starting point, its rigid pricing, lack of customization, and self-service model can hold you back as you scale. As a Stripe alternative, Celero Fusion provides flexibility, revenue optimization, and hands-on support to help your business thrive.
With Celero Fusion, you control pricing and revenue, optimizing profitability without fixed structures. Fast, efficient merchant onboarding removes approval delays, enabling seamless scaling. Altogether, our platform grows with your business, while our expert support ensures smooth payment flows and long-term success.
If you’re ready to move on from Stripe but unsure where to start, download our Stripe Migration Guide for a step-by-step roadmap to a seamless transition.
Don’t let Stripe limit your growth! Contact us today and dive deeper into how Celero Fusion can help drive your growth and streamline your payment operations as a Stripe alternative.