890: Accepting Money on the Internet in 2025

This episode explores the complexities of accepting online payments, examining the various options available to app developers. Against this backdrop, the hosts discuss the trade-offs between fully custom solutions and readily available services like Stripe, PayPal, and Braintree, highlighting the cost implications of each approach. More significantly, the conversation delves into the nuances of checkout flows, comparing embedded, custom, and redirect options, emphasizing the importance of PCI compliance and avoiding direct handling of sensitive customer data. For instance, the hosts share their experiences with different payment processors, detailing the pros and cons of each, including the challenges of integrating PayPal and the complexities of Apple Pay. As the discussion pivots to merchant of record services like Lemon Squeezy and Gumroad, the hosts weigh the benefits of offloading tax responsibilities against the higher transaction fees. Finally, the episode concludes with a consideration of fraud prevention strategies, dispute resolution, and the challenges of handling international transactions and currency conversions.