Global Payments Integrated vs. Stripe: How features, security and partnerships compare

Considering the seemingly endless number of technologies vying for merchants’ attention these days, your role in helping them build the perfect tech stack and the expertise you bring to the table have never been more important. We know being knowledgeable and curating the right solutions is important to your business. We’re here to help. Read on for a high-level comparison between two of the industry’s leading payment processors and ecommerce payment providers, and the advantages they offer merchants, developers and independent software vendors (ISVs) like you.

Let’s get started.

Stripe and Global Payments Integrated share important product features and functionality 

Both Stripe and Global Payments Integrated have served merchants and developers alike with robust payments capabilities. Stripe launched their platform in 2011 while Global Payment Integrated’s technology evolved from its parent company Global Payments, which has been in business since 2000. Over the years, both providers have expanded their offerings. And while we couldn’t possibly cover them all in this blog, we will explore what we consider to be business-critical features and functionality, and how Stripe and Global Payments Integrated compare.

Both providers offer robust payment processing capabilities…

Stripe and Global Payments Integrated both provide solutions that make it easy for businesses to accept and process a myriad of payment methods, including major credit and debit cards from Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover, ACH, contactless payments, gift cards, digital wallets and online payments. Both providers also facilitate mobile payments through iOS or Android operating systems.

A person holds a credit card in their left hand. 

… But Global Payments Integrated’s POS solution goes a little further

Stripe has consistently positioned itself in the marketplace as a leading processor for ecommerce businesses. Recently, they’ve expanded their offerings to include hardware, like terminals and card readers. While this expansion has empowered brick-and-mortar merchants to offer convenient payment options, it doesn’t mean Stripe offers a complete point of sale (POS) solution. 

Global Payments Integrated also boasts hardware offerings, like card readers, ACH devices and check readers, and kiosk readers for unattended environments. But unlike Stripe, Global Payments Integrated’s solutions can function as a complete POS, with versions built specifically for retailers and restaurateurs.

Ultimately, both providers make it easy for merchants to accept and process all of the ways today’s tech-savvy customers want to pay. Depending on the merchant’s chosen integrations, Global Payments Integrated provides a more well-rounded POS solution for most brick-and-mortar businesses and many of those with omnicommerce models. 

Stripe and Global Payments Integrated both provide robust billing and invoicing tools  

Both Stripe and Global Payments Integrated offer the type of billing and invoicing functionality you would expect from modern payment gateways and processors. Whether merchants need to send one invoice or set up a recurring schedule, they can easily do that with both solutions. Merchants can also send invoices via email or payment links via text.

Both providers offer hosted invoice pages, pre-built, customizable payment portals — so merchants can incorporate their brands into their customers’ checkout and payment experiences  — and automatic tax collection.

Merchants who need automated and recurring payment services are in luck

Stripe and Global Payments Integrated have built-in functionality that also lets merchants maintain their cash flow without manually chasing payments or updated information. For users whose business relies mostly on subscription-based, recurring or card-on-file payments, both providers’ systems  automatically identify and update expired credit card data. Stripe’s solution will also retry charging card numbers that are initially declined. Both providers’ reporting and analytics capabilities give merchants a better understanding of important payment trends on customers, payment types, billing cycles and more.

When it comes to functionality, Stripe and Global Payments Integrated have a lot in common. They both provide a robust set of tools to help merchants streamline their billing and invoicing processes. For merchants or organizations that rely on recurring payments or a subscription-based service model — like government utilities or gyms  — Stripe or Global Payments Integrated would be a good solution. 

A woman in a boutique stands over her desk and looks at her laptop.

In addition to payment processing, merchants can easily meet other business needs with both solutions 

Stripe and Global Payments Integrated provide powerful tools so merchants can easily accept and process payments for online or in-person transactions. They both make it easy to manage billing and invoicing. But how do these providers stack up when it comes to helping businesses build and manage other parts of their business, like customer loyalty programs and more?

Stripe’s solution doesn’t offer solutions like these per se, but they partner with several platforms that help businesses better manage their customers. As of this post, they work with 393 different commerce enablement solutions that run the gamut from business management to customer relationship management (CRM) software.

Because all of these solutions require integration, businesses can enjoy the flexibility that comes with assembling the solution they want using several different platforms. But that route isn’t without its challenges. For all of the layers a business adds to its tech stack, they have to pay for, update and manage them separately. Depending on the integration, reporting across different platforms can also be a problem if they don’t store the same type of information in the same way.

Global Payments Integrated’s single solution streamlines merchants’ tech stacks 

Global Payments Integrated handles commerce enablement a little differently. Their tools exist as native functionality and equip merchants to better understand and serve their customers.

Global Payments Integrated’s customer analytics features allow merchants to compare data from different locations to assess financial performance and easily adjust their sales or growth strategies. The system even provides competitor insights, empowering merchants to maintain an edge in the marketplace without spending hours on research, or money on marketing consulting firms. Reputation tools give merchants real-time insight into online chatter, making it easy to quickly resolve issues or spread positive reviews.

Global Payments Integrated’s solutions also equip businesses to improve the in-person experience for appointment-based businesses. Online Booking offers customers the convenience they expect, while Forms Management tech lets customers ditch the process of filling out paper forms upon arrival. And Streamlined Check-In uses QR codes to save time and provide convenience for customers.

While you could technically get the same functionality out of both solutions, how you go about it is the biggest difference. With Stripe, you will need to combine their solution with at least one of their partners to enjoy the same functionality. Because Global Payments Integrated’s solution is native to their platform and offers robust features, merchants can utilize this solution through a single offering.

How both providers’ roles in the payments ecosystem affects pricing  

While a payment ecosystem may sound like an academic term, it actually describes a powerful framework that facilitates the completion of more than one billion credit card transactions everyday, worldwide. And while it’s not technically a product feature or function, the difference between how Stripe and Global Payments Integrated fit in does affect you and your customers.

Within the payment ecosystem, no fewer than five separate entities work together every time a card is swiped to provide a purchase approval in seconds. But no one is working for free. Those entities all charge transaction fees for running their leg of the proverbial payments relay race. And your merchants pay them. Let’s see how the differences between Stripe and Global Payments Integrated can affect the amount merchants pay.

Stripe acts as a gateway and a payment processor, which means they make it possible for businesses to accept credit card payments, and they manage the transaction between the business and different financial institutions. That means that when a business works with Stripe, they are also working directly with — and remitting payment to — a single entity. Because Stripe performs two distinct functions in the payment ecosystem, businesses who work with them end up getting the same result, while having to deal with and pay fewer entities.

Infographic depicting the Global Payments Integrated payments ecosystem

Global Payments Integrated takes this idea one step further by acting as the payment gateway, payment processor and acquirer. That means Global Payments Integrated equips businesses to accept credit card payments, manages the transaction between the business and financial institutions, and settles transactions in the merchant’s account. 

Because both Stripe and Global Payments Integrated play multiple roles, they cut costs — like expensive cost layers with resellers — for merchants. They also give merchants and ISVs greater control and visibility into transactions, simplifying the technical and customer service aspects of payment processing.

But Global Payments Integrated’s expanded role cuts costs even more, because there are no third-party gateway fees. And as a result of Global Payments Integrated’s expanded ownership across touchpoints in the payments ecosystem, troubleshooting any technical or service issues can be a little easier as well. 

Stripe’s and Global Payments Integrated’s approach to customer support can make a big difference for merchants 

Because you build solutions for other businesses, service has to be a two-pronged spear. When it comes to selecting a provider to partner with, it’s important to consider how they equip you and the merchants you serve to meet important business needs. Let’s dive in.

Merchants who need phone-based customer service may prefer Global Payments Integrated’s model 

When it comes to providing support for developers, Stripe and Global Payments Integrated have an impressive offering of resources and communities. Round-the-clock phone and email support, online FAQs and customer knowledge forums exist for developers and ISVs. The biggest difference between these two providers comes down to you and your merchants’ ability to get in touch with someone by phone if and when help is needed. To speak with the support team, Stripe users would need to go to the Stripe website and sign in to request a phone call. At this time, they do not have an inbound phone number for customer support listed online.

On the other hand, Global Payments Integrated publishes several customer service numbers on their website, broken down by who’s calling and what they need help with. Also, Global Payments Integrated clients receive a dedicated specialist. That means inquiries are directed to the person who knows their business best.

Call center workers wearing headsets are sitting along a desk, providing customer support over the phone. 

Underwriting plays a bigger role in merchants’ customer experience than you might think

You probably don’t think much about underwriting unless you’re in the process of securing a loan to make a large purchase. And you may not think it matters much when it comes to the vendors or platforms you choose. But it can change a merchants’ experience depending on when it happens.

Before we dive in, here’s a quick refresh: Underwriting is essentially the process an institution or organization goes through to verify financial assets and determine how much risk a lender will accept on an applicant’s behalf. All payment processors use an underwriting process to assess a merchant’s financial reliability and risk. Underwriting doesn’t just affect the ability to have a merchant services account, but can also play a role in how they will be charged — daily vs. monthly — and the costs they’ll pay.

Stripe performs underwriting after a client’s onboarding process and continues to evaluate risk over time by observing and analyzing the merchant’s transactions. Transactions that seem high risk or suspicious can be flagged for investigation or canceled altogether. As a result, merchants can face holds on their funds or find their entire account has been frozen, quashing their ability to accept payments and even conduct business. This isn’t entirely uncommon with payment processors, and Stripe does take steps to make the process less painful. According to Merchant Maverick, Stripe typically provides a five-day notice before it closes a merchant’s account and offers an alternative payment processing solution.

Global Payments Integrated does things a little differently by completing the underwriting process up front. Before onboarding, Global Payments Integrated performs risk assessments and custom risk analyses for each potential client. With this model, once the merchant has been approved for a payment processing account, risky or fraudulent transactions won’t be authorized, but the merchant won’t be left high and dry without the ability to process standard transactions. 

For businesses who need help fast — like one who is opening a location and didn’t realize they needed a payment processor until the last minute — going through the underwriting process first may not be an option. Stripe may be their best bet. However, for businesses that can spare a day or two for the underwriting process before they need to be up, running and taking payments, Global Payments Integrated is a good choice. 

Stripe and Global Payments Integrated offer similar partnership benefits 

When choosing a provider, “partnership” isn’t just a fluffy, feel-good word. You really need an organization to act as your right-hand, see your vision and be invested in your success. Let’s take a look at how Stripe and Global Payments Integrated do that for ISVs and developers.

You can expect a wealth of resources and tools to meet your business needs

Stripe and Global Payments Integrated provide partners with pre-made, customizable marketing and sales materials they can use to grow their business. Partners also receive templated sales tools their clients can use to attract and win new customers. Both providers also offer regular product updates and the chance to meet one-on-one with experts.

With Stripe, all partners receive access to different battle-tested strategies and best practices. Some premium partners may also benefit from custom pricing and support agreements. Global Payments Integrated takes a hands-on approach to reseller collaboration from the start, offering strategic support for top partners and enterprise merchants, while providing a dedicated specialist for merchants of all sizes.

So which one is right for you? That depends on how much direct support and customized tools you need. For those with teams that are capable of building their own marketing and sales strategies, Stripe’s offering may be a welcome addition to those plans. For those who appreciate more personal attention and hands-on planning, Global Payments Integrated’s approach may be the better fit.

Both solutions make integrating with different APIs easy 

Both Stripe and Global Payments Integrated are strong contenders when it comes to integration and partnership with other software providers. Stripe integrates with many platforms, and their active developer community constantly fuels the creation of different libraries and plugins. According to Merchant Maverick, developers can quickly and easily integrate the Stripe payment platform using several different languages or frameworks, including Ruby, Python, PHP, Java, Node, Go and more.

A software developer sits at a desk and looks at 3 screens with code on them. 

Global Payments Integrated also offers cloud-based, restful json APIs that help developers connect and easily integrate their tech with a lot of major platforms.

Both providers offer robust APIs and tools to use them to easily integrate with other solutions, If you’re looking for an easy way to connect with and work with major ecommerce platforms, Stripe and Global Payments Integrated are both good options.

Stripe and Global Payments Integrated offer lucrative revenue sharing models

For developers or ISVs who partner with both Stripe and Global Payments Integrated, revenue sharing opportunities exist. Both providers offer many ways to build your revenue stream with reimbursements.

Perhaps the biggest difference between these two is that Global Payments Integrated is a direct acquirer. This allows them to own the entire partnership and support relationship. Additionally, because their tools are not third-party solutions, ISVs that work with Global Payments Integrated can offer more competitive merchant pricing and take advantage of high revenue potential.

Count on robust PCI compliance functionality from both providers

Both Stripe and Global Payments Integrated make it easy for merchants to become — and remain — PCI compliant. Their payments functionality and fraud prevention tools protect credit and debit card data with hosted payments fields and validated servers as it travels throughout the payments ecosystem. They also offer breach support and protection. The cost of Global Payments Integrated's PCI compliance assistance and breach protection services is generally a modest, double digit number, for $100,000 in coverage, whereas Stripe advertises their Layr integration, which starts at $250 per month for $1 million in coverage.

In addition, just by processing with these providers, merchants have access to the resources they need to understand and maintain all of the aspects of PCI compliance. Part of PCI requirements involves reporting the steps you’ve completed to comply with PCI standards to the PCI Council — which is also known as validation. Because Stripe populates the PCI self-assessment form in their dashboard, users can complete that task with one click. 

Stripe and Global Payments Integrated also provide help and support. Both companies help you decide on which PCI form to use and if you have to change how you validate compliance. For large merchants, Stripe and Global Payments Integrated will connect them with a PCI Quality Security Assessor (QSA) if needed. Global Payments Integrated’s PCI Assure program guides you through the requirements and the necessary Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and is backed by breach protection and dedicated support.

Stripe and Global Payments Integrated are both industry leaders when it comes to secure payment processing and PCI compliance support. The biggest difference here is that with Stripe, developers must serve their payment pages securely using Transport Layer Security (TLS), making use of HTTPS, and reviewing and validating their account’s PCI compliance annually. Global Payments Integrated will provide a dedicated team who will do that for you.

Which solution is right for you and your merchants?  

Now that you’ve seen the breakdown between these two service providers, hopefully you have a better idea of how to weave them into the perfect payments processing experience for you and your merchants.

Again, we could never cover every feature or function in detail in this blog. But you can always learn more by reaching out. Contact us today to learn how we can help you incorporate robust payments functionality into your software solution.

Amy Double-Trent

Senior Copywriter

Amy is a seasoned writer for Heartland Payment Systems, a Global Payments company with expertise in payments, payroll and point of sale technologies. She is passionate about sharing how SaaS applications and emerging digital trends help entrepreneurs make the best decisions for their businesses.

Amy Double-Trent author photo