Ruba field guide
Ruba vs Stripe
Practical detail for building, selling, and operating software with Ruba.
Ruba guide
Overview
Choosing the right payment infrastructure for your software business.
While Stripe is a powerful payment processor, Ruba is a complete billing infrastructure platform built specifically for developers who want to monetize software. The key difference: Ruba acts as a Merchant of Record, handling all tax compliance globally, while Stripe is a payment processor that leaves tax compliance to you.
Ruba guide
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Ruba | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Payment Processing | ||
| Subscription Management | ||
| Merchant of Record | ||
| Global Tax Compliance | ||
| Framework Adapters | ||
| Automated Benefits Engine | ||
| Open Source |
Ruba guide
Pricing
Ruba
per transaction (Starter plan — paid plans available with lower rates)
- Global tax compliance included
- No hidden fees
- Merchant of Record service
Stripe
per transaction
- Tax compliance is your responsibility
- Subscriptions at 0.7% added fee
- Additional costs for international sales
While Stripe's base processing fee appears lower, Ruba's pricing includes Merchant of Record services, global tax compliance, and international sales tax handling that would require additional Stripe products and accounting services.
Ruba guide
Developer Experience
Designed for developers
Both Stripe and Ruba offer excellent developer experiences, but Ruba is purpose-built for software monetization with modern frameworks and ergonomic SDKs.
6-line integration
Ruba provides a 6-line integration with framework adapters, making it easy to get started with minimal code.
Framework adapters
Ruba provides native support for Next.js, BetterAuth, Laravel, and more.
Transparent architecture
Ruba documents how payments, ledgers, seller balances, and payouts move through the platform.
Ruba guide
Merchant of Record
The key differentiator
This is where Ruba and Stripe fundamentally differ. Ruba acts as the Merchant of Record, meaning we handle all the complexity of international sales tax, VAT, GST, and compliance.
With Ruba (MoR)
- We handle all tax compliance
- We file tax returns globally
- We take on the liability
- You focus on building
With Stripe (Payment Processor)
- You handle tax compliance
- You file tax returns in each jurisdiction
- You carry the liability
- Requires accounting/legal support
Ruba guide
Why Choose Ruba?
Ruba is purpose-built for software businesses
While Stripe is a powerful general-purpose payment processor, Ruba is specifically designed for developers monetizing software. If you want to sell globally without worrying about tax compliance, Ruba is the better choice.
Zero tax complexity
Sell globally from day one without worrying about VAT, GST, or sales tax.
Lower total cost
No need for additional tax software, accountants, or legal counsel for international sales.
Built for software
Features designed specifically for SaaS, digital products, and software licensing.
Open source transparency
See exactly how the platform works and contribute to its development
Ready to simplify your payments?
Build global software monetization without assembling the entire commerce layer yourself.