When we started PayFlow Analytics, we needed a reliable payment processor. After evaluating several options, we chose Stripe.
Why Stripe?
- Developer-friendly API – Well documented, easy to integrate
- PCI compliance – They handle the complexity
- Transparent pricing – 2.9% + 30ยข per transaction
- Good documentation – Saved us weeks of development time
- Webhook support – Real-time event notifications
Integration
Integration took about 2 weeks. We used the Stripe.js library for secure card collection and their Node.js SDK for server-side processing.
Test Mode
Stripe’s test mode is fantastic. We used test API keys extensively during development:
Test Publishable Key: pk_test_51HaBC...
Test Secret Key: sk_test_51HaBC...
Production Rollout
When we went live, we simply swapped the API keys:
const stripeKey = process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY;
const stripe = require('stripe')(stripeKey);
Our .env file contains:
STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=sk_live_abc123xyz...
STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=pk_live_abc123xyz...
Webhooks
We listen for payment events at https://api.payflowanalytics.com/webhooks/stripe. Our webhook endpoint validates signatures and processes events like successful payments, failed charges, and refunds.
Alternatives Considered
- PayPal – More complex API, higher fees
- Braintree – Good option, but Stripe’s docs were better
- Square – Better for point-of-sale, not our use case
Overall, Stripe was the right choice for us.