Stripe Payment Links vs Mandalo
Mandalo processes payments through Stripe, so this isn't a fight. It's a question of whether you want to work directly in Stripe or use a simpler layer on top.
Reviewed September 29, 2026 · Mandalo
The relationship
Mandalo uses Stripe to process cards and pay you out, and you connect your own Stripe account. Card details go straight to Stripe. So the real comparison is going straight to Stripe versus using Mandalo as the front end.
What Stripe Payment Links are great at
- Cheapest route. Payment Links are included with Stripe's standard payment pricing (2.9% + 30¢ for domestic cards, per Stripe's pricing page), with no extra platform fee.
- Lots of flexibility if you're comfortable in the Stripe dashboard: products, prices, subscriptions and more.
- Everything in one place if you already run your business through Stripe.
What Mandalo adds
- A faster per-job workflow. Type an amount, a contact and a note, then send. No creating a product or price first.
- A dashboard built around jobs. Pending, paid and overdue at a glance, with a receipt trail.
- Itemized invoices with a due date and a Pay now button.
- Message wording built in for texts and emails, including Spanish.
- Repeat-customer support. Customers can save a card, and each future charge still needs their approval.
What it costs
Mandalo adds a flat $1.50 per successful payment on top of Stripe's standard processing fees. On a $200 job that's $6.10 for Stripe plus $1.50 for Mandalo, or $7.60 in total versus $6.10 going direct.
| Option | Published card rate | Fee on a $200 payment |
|---|---|---|
| Zelle | Usually $0 from the sender; business terms vary by bank | Often $0, but no card checkout |
| Venmo business profile | 1.9% + 10¢ (Venmo) | $3.90 |
| Cash App business | About 2.6% + 15¢ (confirm in the app) | $5.35 |
| Stripe, standard | 2.9% + 30¢ (Stripe pricing) | $6.10 |
| Square Invoices, free plan | 3.3% + 30¢ (Square) | $6.90 |
| PayPal invoicing | 3.49% + 49¢ (PayPal) | $7.47 |
| Mandalo | Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢ plus $1.50 per payment | $7.60 |
Rates as published in September 2026 for standard US card payments. Actual fees vary by card type, plan, and payment method, so use this for orientation only.
If you're comfortable in Stripe and only send the occasional link, going direct will save you money. If you'd rather not think about Stripe's dashboard every time you finish a job, that $1.50 buys a simpler daily routine.
Connect your own Stripe account to Mandalo and send a first link in a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own Stripe account for Mandalo?
Yes. You connect a Stripe account during setup, and payouts go to your bank through Stripe.
Does Mandalo see my customers' card numbers?
No. Card numbers and CVCs go directly to Stripe's payment system. Mandalo never stores raw card data.
Who handles refunds and disputes?
You issue refunds through your Stripe account, and card disputes go through the customer's card issuer and Stripe. Mandalo keeps the payment record as part of your receipt trail.
Send your first payment link today
No monthly fee. Mandalo charges $1.50 per successful payment, plus Stripe's standard processing fees.