ThriveCart vs Stripe: The One Tool You’re Missing That Could Double Your Sales

You might already be using Stripe to process payments — and that’s a solid start. But what if you’re leaving money on the table? What if there’s a simple tool that could significantly increase your sales without changing how you collect payments?

Enter ThriveCart — not a replacement for Stripe, but a powerful companion designed to do what Stripe doesn’t: boost conversions, increase average order value, and turn more visitors into customers.

What Stripe Does (and Doesn’t Do)

Stripe is a best-in-class payment processor trusted by millions of businesses globally. It securely handles credit card transactions, ACH transfers, and even digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Stripe’s strengths:

  • Highly secure and reliable
  • Global support (135+ currencies)
  • Developer-friendly API access

However, Stripe is not built to optimize your checkout experience. It lacks native tools for marketing, upsells, or conversion-focused design.

What ThriveCart Brings to the Table

ThriveCart is a high-converting shopping cart platform made for marketers, creators, and online sellers. It connects with Stripe or PayPal and brings sales-focused tools that Stripe simply doesn’t offer.

ThriveCart’s key features:

  • Drag-and-drop checkout design
  • One-click upsells and downsells
  • Order bumps and coupon codes
  • Built-in affiliate center
  • A/B testing and conversion tracking

It’s designed for maximizing every transaction — perfect for digital products, memberships, and courses.

Why They’re Better Together

Stripe handles secure payments, while ThriveCart handles sales optimization.

Think of it like this:

  • Stripe = The engine that powers your payments
  • ThriveCart = The turbocharger that drives more conversions

Integrating them is simple. Once connected, ThriveCart feeds all payment data directly into Stripe while giving you full control over checkout design and behavior.

👉 Note: ThriveCart requires either Stripe or PayPal — it doesn’t process payments on its own.

A Side-by-Side Comparison That Matters

Feature ThriveCart Stripe
Checkout Design Fully customizable Basic hosted forms
Upsells & Bumps Built-in Not included
Affiliate Management Included Requires third-party tools
Pricing Model One-time lifetime fee Per-transaction fees
Email Integration Native support for autoresponders None without custom setup
Developer Use No-code interface Full API control for custom apps
Tax Handling Automatic VAT/tax support Available, but setup required

What You Can Do with ThriveCart (That Stripe Can’t)

  • Run affiliate programs to grow your reach — without third-party plugins
  • Add upsells like bonus offers or upgrades after purchase
  • A/B test checkout pages to see what layout converts best
  • Use urgency tools like countdown timers to increase conversion rates

These are all proven methods to increase your revenue per customer — and Stripe doesn’t offer them.

Which Tool Is Right for You?

  • Stripe is ideal for developers and SaaS businesses who need control over payments and billing logic.
  • ThriveCart is perfect for creators, solopreneurs, coaches, and info-product sellers who need better conversions and done-for-you tools.
  • Best setup? Use both. Stripe takes care of secure payments. ThriveCart takes care of everything else that drives revenue.

Extra Insights You’ll Want to Know

  • ThriveCart works best for digital-first businesses: courses, coaching, memberships, templates.
  • Stripe shines when you need advanced features or build-your-own flexibility.
  • ThriveCart doesn’t host content — pair it with platforms like Teachable, Thinkific, or MemberVault.
  • Stripe’s support and dashboard can feel overwhelming if you’re not tech-savvy.
  • ThriveCart includes tools like automatic tax calculation (VAT) for international selling.
  • When used together, you get the best of both: conversion power + global payment infrastructure.

Final Thoughts: The Tool That Could Be Doubling Your Sales

Stripe is powerful, no question — but it doesn’t help you sell more.

That’s where ThriveCart comes in. It’s the missing piece that transforms your payment setup into a conversion machine. From upsells to affiliates, A/B tests to urgency elements — ThriveCart gives you everything Stripe doesn’t.

If you’re serious about maximizing revenue and minimizing lost sales, it’s time to consider the ThriveCart + Stripe combo.

👉 Ready to boost your sales? Click here to try ThriveCart or watch the demo →