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PayGlue/Alternatives/Stripe

Head-to-head comparison

Ghost + Stripe alone is not enough.

Stripe is a great payment processor. But when you use Ghost, Stripe alone locks your content business to a single provider that is not available in every country, does not handle VAT automatically, and gives you no way to switch. PayGlue is not a Stripe replacement. It is the layer that gives you provider choice.

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PayGlue

PayGlue works alongside Stripe, not against it. Keep your existing Stripe setup and add Polar, PayPal, or any other provider for markets where Stripe falls short. One connection for every provider you need.

  • Stripe coexistence: keep Stripe, add any other provider on top
  • Works in countries where Stripe is not available
  • Provider handles VAT and tax automatically (Polar, Paddle, etc.)
  • Run multiple providers simultaneously for different audiences
  • No migration, no disruption to existing members
Stripe

Stripe is a powerful payment processor natively integrated into Ghost. But it is the only option Ghost offers. No other provider, no VAT handling beyond the basics, and no availability in countries like India, Pakistan, or most of Africa.

  • Only available in ~47 countries
  • VAT and tax compliance is your responsibility
  • Cannot run Polar or PayPal alongside Stripe in Ghost
  • No built-in way to accept payments from Stripe-restricted markets
  • Locking your revenue stream to a single provider is a business risk

Independent third-party service

PayGlue is not affiliated with, authorized, sponsored, or endorsed by Ghost Foundation. Ghost® is a registered trademark of Ghost Foundation. PayGlue works alongside Ghost CMS as a separate, independent service.

Feature comparison

FeaturePayGlueStripe
Ghost membership sync
Native only
Global availability
135+ countries
~47 countries
VAT / tax handling
Provider handles it
Your responsibility
Run multiple providers
Polar support
PayPal support
Works in Stripe-restricted countries
Keep existing Stripe setup
Coexist
Already Stripe
Real-time event log
Dead-letter queue for failed events

Choose PayGlue if

  • You want to accept payments in countries where Stripe is not available
  • You need a provider that handles VAT and tax automatically
  • You want to run Polar or PayPal alongside your existing Stripe setup
  • You want provider independence without rebuilding your Ghost site

Choose Stripe if

  • Stripe is available in your country and covers all your markets
  • You have no need for Polar, PayPal, or other providers
  • You are happy with Ghost native billing as-is

Frequently asked questions

Is PayGlue a Stripe replacement?

No. PayGlue is not a payment processor. It is a relay layer that connects your Ghost membership system to payment providers that Ghost does not support natively. You can keep Stripe running exactly as-is and add Polar or PayPal on top through PayGlue.

Why would I need PayGlue if I already have Stripe?

Stripe is available in around 47 countries. If you have an audience in India, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, or most of Africa, Stripe simply does not work for them. PayGlue lets you add Polar or PayPal for those markets while keeping Stripe for everyone else.

Does PayGlue interfere with my existing Ghost + Stripe setup?

No. PayGlue works in parallel. Ghost keeps running Stripe memberships exactly as before. PayGlue only handles events from the providers you connect through it. The two flows are completely separate.

Who handles VAT and tax with PayGlue?

That depends on which provider you connect. Polar and Paddle act as Merchant of Record and handle VAT automatically. If you connect Stripe through PayGlue for a specific flow, VAT remains your responsibility as it is with native Ghost billing.

Other alternatives

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