Pricing overview
Stripe Radar offers a pricing model primarily based on the number of transactions screened for fraud, integrating directly with Stripe Payments processing. There are two primary offerings: Stripe Radar and Stripe Radar for Fraud Teams, each designed to address different levels of fraud prevention needs. The base Stripe Radar functionality, which includes machine learning-based fraud detection, is included with standard Stripe payment processing for many transactions at no additional cost beyond the payment processing fees.
For more advanced fraud prevention capabilities, users can opt for the paid tiers. The standard Radar tier applies a per-screened transaction fee, while Radar for Fraud Teams adds an incremental fee per screened transaction, providing access to more granular controls, expert fraud review tools, and enhanced reporting. This tiered approach allows businesses to scale their fraud protection in alignment with their transaction volume and specific risk profiles. The pricing structure is designed to be transparent, with fees typically applied on a per-transaction basis rather than fixed monthly subscriptions, aligning costs directly with usage.
Plans and tiers
Stripe Radar is structured into two main plans: Radar and Radar for Fraud Teams. Both plans leverage Stripe's machine learning infrastructure to identify and prevent fraudulent transactions, but they differ in the depth of features and the associated costs. The choice between plans often depends on the business's transaction volume, risk tolerance, and the need for manual review capabilities.
| Plan | Price (per screened transaction) | Key Limits / Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe Radar (Basic) | Included with Stripe Payments processing (some transactions) | Core machine learning fraud detection, default rules, basic risk scores | Businesses using Stripe Payments needing essential, automated fraud protection. |
| Stripe Radar | $0.05 | Advanced machine learning, custom rule creation and management, block/allow lists, detailed risk insights. | Businesses with moderate transaction volumes requiring customizable fraud rules and deeper insights. |
| Stripe Radar for Fraud Teams | $0.07 (in addition to standard Radar fee) | All Radar features plus review queues, human-in-the-loop review, advanced analytics, expert guidance. | High-volume businesses or those with complex fraud patterns requiring manual review workflows and dedicated fraud prevention teams. |
The pricing for Stripe Radar is additive. If a business uses Stripe Radar for Fraud Teams, they incur the fee for Radar for Fraud Teams in addition to the base Radar fee for each screened transaction. For example, a transaction screened by Radar for Fraud Teams would incur the $0.05 Radar fee plus the $0.07 Radar for Fraud Teams fee, totaling $0.12 per screened transaction. This module pricing enables businesses to select the specific fraud prevention tools they need without paying for unused features.
Free tier and limits
Stripe Radar offers a foundational level of fraud prevention that is included with Stripe Payments processing. This free tier primarily covers basic machine learning fraud detection for transactions processed through Stripe. It automatically assesses the risk of each payment and helps block many common fraudulent attempts based on Stripe's network data and default rules. This inclusion means that businesses already utilizing Stripe for payment processing gain immediate access to a baseline level of fraud protection without incurring additional per-transaction fees for basic screening.
However, the capabilities of this free tier are limited compared to the paid Radar offerings. It does not include advanced features such as custom rule creation, block and allow lists, manual review queues, or the detailed analytics available in the paid Radar plans. For businesses with higher transaction volumes, more complex fraud patterns, or a need for more control over their fraud prevention strategy, upgrading to one of the paid Radar tiers becomes necessary. The specific transactions that qualify for the free tier of Radar are those processed through Stripe, with the more advanced features becoming available upon activation of the paid Radar plans. For detailed information on what's included, consult the official Stripe Radar pricing page.
Real-world cost examples
To illustrate the pricing structure of Stripe Radar, consider the following scenarios for businesses with varying transaction volumes and fraud prevention needs:
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Small Business with Basic Fraud Protection:
- Scenario: A new e-commerce store processing 500 transactions per month, relying on Stripe Payments and the included basic Stripe Radar features. Most transactions are low risk.
- Cost: $0 for Stripe Radar (beyond Stripe's standard payment processing fees).
- Explanation: This business utilizes the baseline fraud detection included with Stripe Payments. No custom rules or manual reviews are needed, making the free tier sufficient.
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Growing Online Retailer with Custom Rules:
- Scenario: An established online retailer processing 5,000 transactions per month, experiencing some fraud and needing custom rules to manage specific risk factors.
- Plan: Stripe Radar (paid tier).
- Cost Calculation: 5,000 transactions * $0.05/transaction = $250 per month.
- Explanation: The retailer benefits from custom rule creation and more detailed insights, justifying the $0.05 per-screened transaction fee to reduce chargebacks and false positives.
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High-Volume Marketplace with Fraud Teams:
- Scenario: A large online marketplace processing 50,000 transactions per month, with a dedicated fraud team requiring manual review capabilities and advanced analytics.
- Plan: Stripe Radar for Fraud Teams.
- Cost Calculation: (50,000 transactions * $0.05/transaction for Radar) + (50,000 transactions * $0.07/transaction for Radar for Fraud Teams) = $2,500 + $3,500 = $6,000 per month.
- Explanation: This business leverages the full suite of Radar for Fraud Teams features, including review queues and enhanced expert tools, to manage complex fraud patterns efficiently. The combined fee provides comprehensive protection.
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Seasonal Business with Variable Volume:
- Scenario: A business with highly seasonal sales, processing 1,000 transactions in off-peak months and 10,000 transactions in peak months, requiring custom rules.
- Plan: Stripe Radar (paid tier).
- Cost Calculation (Off-peak): 1,000 transactions * $0.05/transaction = $50.
- Cost Calculation (Peak): 10,000 transactions * $0.05/transaction = $500.
- Explanation: The per-transaction pricing model is advantageous here, as costs scale directly with usage, avoiding fixed monthly fees during low-volume periods.
These examples highlight how the pay-as-you-go model of Stripe Radar allows businesses to align their fraud prevention costs directly with their transaction activity and the level of protection required. For a comprehensive overview of Stripe's offerings and to understand how Radar integrates with other services, refer to the Stripe Radar documentation.
How the pricing compares
When evaluating Stripe Radar's pricing, it is useful to compare it against alternative fraud prevention solutions available in the market. Competitors like Signifyd, Forter, and Sift offer similar capabilities, often with different pricing models that can influence overall cost for businesses. While Stripe Radar integrates seamlessly with the Stripe ecosystem, external solutions may offer broader platform compatibility or specialized features at varying price points.
Many alternative fraud prevention services, such as Signifyd's solutions, often employ a combination of per-transaction fees, monthly base fees, or even guarantee models where they absorb the cost of approved fraudulent chargebacks. This can be attractive to businesses prioritizing chargeback guarantees over direct per-transaction costs. Forter and Sift, for instance, typically cater to larger enterprises with more complex needs, and their pricing models may involve custom quotes based on transaction volume, industry, and required features, potentially including a higher per-transaction fee or substantial minimum commitments.
Stripe Radar's primary advantage in pricing often lies in its deep integration with Stripe Payments. For businesses already using Stripe, activating Radar involves minimal setup and no additional API integrations, which can result in significant cost savings in development time and ongoing maintenance. The pay-as-you-go model for the base Radar and Radar for Fraud Teams tiers is straightforward: you only pay for the transactions screened. This contrasts with some competitors who might have higher minimum monthly fees or require separate contracts for different features.
Ultimately, the most cost-effective solution depends on several factors:
- Existing Payment Processor: If Stripe is already in use, Radar's integration advantage often makes it the most economical choice.
- Transaction Volume: High-volume businesses might find custom enterprise solutions from competitors competitive, especially if they offer economies of scale or comprehensive chargeback guarantees.
- Feature Requirements: If manual review, advanced analytics, or specific industry compliance features are critical, comparing the feature sets and their associated costs across providers is essential.
- Development Resources: The ease of integration with Stripe Radar can lower implementation costs compared to integrating a third-party solution that requires separate API calls and data synchronization.
Businesses should conduct a total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis, considering not just per-transaction fees but also setup costs, ongoing maintenance, developer time, and the potential savings from reduced fraud and chargebacks. For example, while a competitor might have a slightly lower per-transaction fee, if it requires extensive custom development, the overall cost could be higher. Conversely, a chargeback guarantee model, while potentially more expensive upfront, could offer peace of mind and predictable costs for businesses highly sensitive to chargeback losses.