Stripe is one of the best-known payment systems for online businesses, but as this article makes clear, Stripe is not currently available in Ukraine and does not transfer balances to Ukrainian bank accounts. The article explains how Stripe works, what fees it charges, which documents you need to register, and how a Ukrainian seller can let buyers pay with Stripe through Western Bid.
In this article, we look at what Stripe is for and how to use it from Ukraine in 2026. Online sellers ask us a great many questions: how they can use Stripe, how Stripe works, what they need to do to get Stripe running in their store, and how to get paid for goods through Stripe in Ukraine in 2026.
So let’s go through the questions one by one.
What is Stripe for?
Stripe is used to handle payments, or more precisely, to get paid for goods both online and in person, and it also lets you manage financial operations. Stripe lets you both get paid for goods and pay for goods yourself, and it can automate your payment workflows. Stripe is essential for any online business, because there are only a handful of solutions like it on the market.
Where is Stripe available?
Stripe is available in 46 countries, including the US, Canada, most EU member states and some countries in Asia and Latin America. It is also available in Australia. Stripe is not currently available in Ukraine.
Which countries does Stripe support?
Stripe is supported in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, Germany, France, Japan and many other developed countries. Stripe operates in almost every market where people have strong purchasing power, in other words, in countries where people buy a lot online.
Who uses Stripe?
Stripe is used by all kinds of businesses, from private firms to large corporations. Major brands such as Lyft, Amazon, Shopify and Pinterest use Stripe, and so do small businesses and non-profit organizations. Businesses that get paid online add Stripe as one of the ways buyers can pay for their goods.
Stripe is essential to running a successful online business, which is why sellers use it so widely.
How does Stripe work?
Stripe handles a payment by passing payment information between the seller, the bank and the buyer. The process is very simple, yet it is also secure: it includes data encryption, transaction checks and a transfer of the balance to the seller’s bank account. In practice, Stripe is a payment tool the buyer uses to pay the seller for goods.
Which cards does Stripe support?
Stripe works with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club and UnionPay. A wide range of mobile wallets and buy now, pay later services also run on Stripe.
How do you open a Stripe account?
To open a Stripe account, you need to register on the Stripe website and confirm your email address. Once the account is activated, you add information about your business and your bank account, that is, the bank details Stripe uses to pay you for your sales. At the moment, you cannot open a Stripe account directly from Ukraine.
What do you need to register with Stripe?
To register with Stripe, go to the Stripe website, create an account, confirm your email address and provide information about your business.
What do you need for Stripe verification?
To get verified by Stripe, you need to provide documents that confirm your identity and your business details. A national ID, an international passport or a driver’s license will all work. If needed, you can also upload your company’s registration documents and other business documents that verify your address, such as a phone bill.
How do you set up Stripe payments?
To connect to Stripe, you need to register on the Stripe website and then link Stripe to your site. Stripe offers a large number of ready-made plugins for popular platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce, and you can also connect to Stripe through its API. Stripe does not work with stores set up from Ukraine, because Stripe does not transfer balances to Ukraine and therefore does not serve sellers based there. One way around this problem, however, is to join Western Bid, an online sales platform.
How much does it cost to connect Stripe?
Connecting Stripe is usually free, but a fee is charged on every transaction. Typically, the fee is 2.9% + $0.30 for online transactions and 2.7% + $0.05 for in-person transactions. For international transactions, the fee is 3.4% + $0.30.
How do you connect Stripe to Shopify?
To connect Stripe to Shopify, register with Stripe and then select Stripe as your payment provider in Shopify’s payment settings. Stripe provides integration instructions, and so does Shopify. Note, however, that this integration will not work for sellers in Ukraine who are not connected to the Western Bid platform.
How do you get paid for your sales through Stripe?
To get paid for sold goods, you link your bank account to your Stripe account, and Stripe transfers the balance to that account automatically. You choose the schedule yourself: daily, weekly or monthly. Again, to work with Stripe you need an American account, that is, an account with a US bank. As a result, Stripe does not transfer balances to Ukraine.
How can a Ukrainian seller connect Stripe?
Western Bid makes it possible to sell to the whole world from Ukraine, while your buyers can pay for their purchases through Stripe. All you need to do is sign up with Western Bid and submit a request. Our manager will contact you and integrate your store with our platform so that buyers can pay for your goods through Stripe. The process is quick and free of charge. You can find more details on the relevant page of our website.
I hope this article has answered any questions you may have had about Stripe. We look forward to welcoming you at Western Bid and wish you every success with your sales!
What Ukrainian sellers need to know about Stripe
| Question | Short answer | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Does Stripe work in Ukraine? | No, as the article notes, Stripe is not available in Ukraine | This is the main limitation for Ukrainian sellers |
| What is Stripe for? | Letting buyers pay online and in person, and automating financial processes | Shows the practical value of the system |
| Which cards does Stripe support? | Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, UnionPay | Shows the range of payment methods covered |
| Which documents are required? | Proof of identity, business documents and proof of address | Needed to verify the account |
| Where does the money from sales go? | To the linked bank account; the article specifies a US account | Critical to the seller’s financial model |
| How much does Stripe cost? | Setup is usually free, but there are transaction fees | Needed to calculate the cost of sales |
| How is Stripe integrated? | Through Shopify / WooCommerce plugins or via the API | Important for the store’s technical setup |
For a Ukrainian seller, the Stripe question is not just about a payment system. It is about country availability, a bank account, verification and a practical way to let buyers pay in your store.
Frequently asked questions
What is Stripe for?
Stripe lets buyers pay online and in person, handles transactions and helps manage financial operations. It helps businesses get paid for goods by their buyers, automate payment workflows and add checkout to a website or online store.
Is Stripe available in Ukraine?
Stripe is not directly available to sellers from Ukraine: it does not open accounts for them and does not transfer balances to Ukrainian bank accounts. Ukraine is also not listed among the supported countries on Stripe’s official global availability page.
How can a Ukrainian seller connect Stripe?
One option is to connect through the Western Bid platform. The seller signs up with Western Bid and submits a request, after which a manager helps set up the integration so that buyers can pay for goods through Stripe.
Can you connect Stripe to Shopify from Ukraine?
Stripe can be connected to Shopify as a payment provider if the seller has a supported Stripe account. But for sellers from Ukraine who don’t have such an account and are not connected to the Western Bid platform, this kind of direct integration will not work.
