One place for invoices
Give customers access to outstanding invoices, past payments and downloadable invoice copies. Keep billing questions next to the customer relationship.
Explore this featurePayRequest vs Stripe Customer Portal
A Stripe customer portal alternative for billing, support & services
PayRequest is a hosted customer billing portal for service businesses that need invoices, subscriptions, support requests and connected services in one place. Connect Stripe for payments, or choose Mollie or PayPal, and give customers a portal under your own brand.
- Your brand & custom domain
- Invoices, subscriptions & support
- Stripe, Mollie or PayPal
Your business · Customer portal
Illustrative customer workflow
Invoices
View, pay & download
Subscriptions
Manage billing
Support requests
Ask about an invoice
Connected services
Domains & VPN subscriptions
Available actions depend on your configuration and connected provider.
PayRequest vs Stripe Customer Portal: what changes?
Stripe already offers a capable billing portal. Choose PayRequest when you also want customer requests and supported services alongside billing. This compares the portals, not every feature available through Stripe’s APIs or other products.
| Customer workflow | PayRequest | Stripe Customer Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Invoices & billing details | View and pay invoices, download copies and update billing details | View and pay invoices, download copies and update billing details |
| Subscription management | Customer actions follow your subscription settings and provider support | Configurable changes and cancellation; some subscription models have restrictions |
| Invoice questions & attachments | Support request threads with messages and file attachments | A separate support tool or custom integration is needed |
| Refund requests | Customers submit a request for your team to review | Refund processing exists in Stripe; a customer request workflow needs another tool |
| Payment provider choice | Connect Stripe, Mollie or PayPal | Built for billing records and payments managed through Stripe |
| Service management | Openprovider domain services and VPNResellers subscriptions | Domain or VPN service management needs another application |
| Branding & access | Logo, colors, custom domain and secure email links | Logo, colors, email login link and an optional paid custom domain |
| Hosted, no-code setup | Hosted portal; configure your brand and payment provider | Hosted portal with a no-code login link; advanced flows use the API |
Neither connecting Stripe nor changing the portal proves that existing Stripe Billing subscriptions, payment methods or mandates have migrated. Verify compatibility before moving active customers.
When is PayRequest the better fit?
The difference is the work your customers can complete around a payment. Start with the workflows your team handles manually today.
Recurring customer relationships
Offer subscription self-service with actions governed by your configuration. Check the exact upgrade, cancellation and payment-method workflow for your provider.
Explore this featureInvoice questions with context
Let customers raise questions in the portal, exchange messages and attach files instead of starting a disconnected email conversation.
Explore this featureRefund requests you control
A refund request opens a support workflow for review. Submitting the request does not automatically refund a payment.
Explore this featureServices alongside billing
Connect Openprovider for domains or VPNResellers for VPN subscriptions. DirectAdmin, Enhance and VirtFusion integrations are planned, not available to activate yet.
Explore this featurePayment provider flexibility
Use Stripe, Mollie or PayPal as a connected provider. Payment methods, recurring support and availability depend on the provider and your account.
Explore this featureExample: a maintenance client needs more than a receipt
Consider an agency selling monthly website maintenance and a domain service. This is an illustrative workflow, not a customer case study.
- 01
The customer opens their portal
A secure email link takes them to invoices and the subscriptions they have with your business.
- 02
They check billing and services
They download an invoice and access a supported connected service, such as an Openprovider domain.
- 03
They ask a question in context
They submit an invoice question with an attachment. Your team replies in the support thread; a refund request still needs review.
Can you keep Stripe and switch the customer portal?
Yes, Stripe can remain your connected payment provider. Treat a portal change and a billing migration as separate decisions: connecting an account does not establish compatibility with every existing Stripe Billing record.
- 1.
List your customers, invoices, subscriptions, payment methods and required portal actions.
- 2.
Confirm how existing records and active mandates will be handled before promising continuity.
- 3.
Configure PayRequest branding, your provider and the customer actions you want to allow.
- 4.
Test with one customer: invoice access, payment, subscription changes, a support request and cancellation.
Compare the total billing cost
PayRequest Free is €0/month with a 2% standard payment fee. Premium is €5/month and Business €20/month, with 0% standard platform fees while the paid plan is active. Provider fees and commission-payment exceptions remain separate. Stripe’s customer portal is included with paid Stripe Billing; applicable Billing, payment and optional custom-domain charges are separate from PayRequest pricing.
Practical guides to customer self-service
Check subscription actions, missing records and company contact access before inviting customers into your portal.
Stripe Customer Portal: Can Customers Pause a Subscription?
Understand Stripe portal pausing, payment collection and service access. Use a four-state checklist before choosing a self-service subscription portal.
Read the guideStripe Customer Portal Not Showing Subscriptions? Check These Records
Diagnose missing Stripe portal subscriptions without creating duplicate customers. Includes a customer-ID worksheet and a practical portal migration check.
Read the guideB2B Customer Portal Access: Owners, Finance Contacts and Viewers
Give company contacts access to billing without sharing one login. Compare PayRequest portal roles with a task-based permission checklist.
Read the guideStripe customer portal alternative: common questions
What is a Stripe customer portal alternative?
It is another customer-facing billing interface for tasks such as invoices, subscriptions and account details. PayRequest adds support requests and supported service integrations, while allowing Stripe to remain a connected payment provider.
Does PayRequest replace Stripe payment processing?
No. You can connect Stripe to process payments through PayRequest. PayRequest provides the billing and customer-portal experience; Stripe’s provider fees still apply when you use Stripe.
Will my existing Stripe subscriptions appear automatically?
Do not assume so. Confirm how existing subscription records, invoice history, payment methods and mandates are supported or migrated for your setup before moving active customers.
Can customers request a refund from the portal?
Yes. Customers can request a refund for a paid invoice through PayRequest. The request creates a support workflow for your review; it does not automatically issue the refund.
Does Stripe Customer Portal support custom branding?
Yes. Stripe supports a logo, colors and an optional paid custom domain. PayRequest also supports a branded portal; its distinction is the additional support and connected-service workflows.
Is PayRequest a WHMCS alternative too?
PayRequest can fit businesses seeking hosted billing and a customer portal. Compare your required registrar, hosting and provisioning actions separately; do not assume every WHMCS module has an equivalent integration.
Sources & comparison scope
Stripe capabilities are based on its official portal, no-code setup and pricing documentation. PayRequest features link to their product pages above. Confirm your exact provider, plan and customer actions before switching.
Give customers one place to manage their relationship with you.
Bring invoices, subscriptions, support and supported services together in your branded PayRequest customer portal.