Stripe Connect

Stripe Connect is Stripe's platform for building marketplaces and platforms that need to move money between multiple parties. It handles the complexity of splitting payments, managing payouts to sellers or service providers, tax reporting, and regulatory compliance across different countries. Examples include platforms like Shopify (paying merchants), Lyft (paying drivers), or freelance marketplaces (paying contractors). For non-technical readers, Stripe Connect solves a specific, complex problem: how to collect money from customers and distribute it to multiple recipients while handling all the legal and financial requirements. Without a solution like Connect, platforms would need to build banking relationships, handle compliance in each country, manage tax forms, and deal with fraud, all requiring significant expertise and resources. Stripe Connect offers different integration models depending on how much control you need. Standard accounts are easiest: sellers onboard directly with Stripe. Express accounts balance simplicity with customisation. Custom accounts give platforms full control over the user experience but require more development work.