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Stripe Issuing
What Stripe Issuing is
Stripe Issuing provides infrastructure for creating and managing virtual and physical card programs. It supports commercial and consumer debit programs, with secured and charge cards listed for commercial use and revolving credit, prepaid debit, and wallets for consumer programs. Organizations can choose program management, where Stripe handles bank partnerships, compliance, card networks, and fulfillment, or processing only, which lets customers keep existing banking relationships and licenses. Real-time spend limits and custom rules help control expenses, alongside real-time authorization and instant virtual cards. Other features include card design, physical fulfillment, digital wallets, and cardholder support. Stripe says it supports programs across 75+ global markets and issuing through Connect, and lists Apple Pay and Google Pay support. Cards are issued by Stripe’s bank partners, and some program features need bank approval. Pricing is paid, with virtual card creation at $0.10, paid once and standard physical card creation at $3.50, paid once; shipping and custom cards may add costs. There is no free plan.
Who it suits
Stripe Issuing suits startups, platforms, and fintechs that need to issue cards and manage program operations. It can also fit teams that want processing while retaining their banking relationships and licenses.
What it does well
- Supports virtual and physical card programs
- Real-time spend controls with custom rules
- Program management or processing-only options
- Cardholder support and dispute handling available
What to know first
- No free plan
- Standard physical card shipping rates are additional
- Some program features require bank approval
Limits
Virtual card creation is $0.10 per card. Standard physical card creation is $3.50 per card, excluding shipping; custom cards have additional pricing.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual card creation | per virtual card · Custom cards subject to additional pricing | $0.10, paid once |
| Standard physical card creation | per standard physical card; shipping rates not included · Custom cards subject to additional pricing | $3.50, paid once |
As stripe.com lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Stripe Issuing website.
- Choose whether you need virtual cards, physical cards, or both.
- Select program management or processing only for your operating model.
- Use the API or web platform to manage the program.
- Check bank approval requirements for the features you need.
Verdict
Stripe Issuing covers both card creation and operational services, with a choice between managed programs and processing-only support. Consider bank approval requirements and the listed per-card charges when planning a program.
Questions
Does Stripe Issuing have a free plan?
No. Stripe Issuing is a paid product.
How much does card creation cost?
Virtual card creation costs $0.10 per card. Standard physical card creation costs $3.50 per card, with shipping excluded; custom cards have additional pricing.
Which platforms does Stripe Issuing support?
It is available through web and API.
What types of cards can programs issue?
Commercial programs can use secured and charge cards. Consumer programs include revolving credit cards, prepaid debit cards, and wallets.
Does Stripe manage the banking and compliance work?
Under program management, Stripe manages bank partnerships, compliance, card networks, and card fulfillment. With processing only, customers keep their banking relationships and licenses.
Does Stripe Issuing support digital wallets?
The listed features include digital wallets, and Stripe lists Apple Pay and Google Pay support.
Facts from Stripe Issuing's own pages
- Bank and approval limits
- The product page says consumer and commercial cards are issued by Stripe's bank partners and that certain card program features are subject to bank approval. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Card features
- Features listed include instant virtual cards, customizable card design, physical card fulfillment, digital wallets, and real-time authorization. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Cardholder support
- Stripe says cardholders can receive 24/7 live support and that Stripe can handle disputes on the program's behalf. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Card programs
- Stripe Issuing supports commercial and consumer debit card programs, including virtual and physical cards. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Card types
- The product page lists secured and charge cards for commercial programs and revolving credit cards, prepaid debit cards, and wallets for consumer programs. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Fraud protection
- Stripe says Issuing fraud tools are trained on data from trillions of transactions and work with real-time spend controls. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, United States, and Dublin, Ireland · stripe.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Stripe Issuing supports issuing cards through Connect and lists Apple Pay and Google Pay support in Stripe's Issuing launch post. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Stripe describes startups, platforms, and fintechs as users of Stripe Issuing. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Processing option
- With processing only, customers keep their existing banking relationships and licenses while Stripe handles processing and optional services such as card design, fulfillment, and dispute management. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Program management
- With program management, Stripe manages bank partnerships, compliance, card networks, and card fulfillment. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Regional availability
- The product page reports support across 75+ global markets. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Spend controls
- The product offers real-time spend controls, including limits and custom rules, to help control expenses and prevent fraud. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Stripe Issuing provides infrastructure to create and manage virtual and physical card programs. · stripe.com, 7 Oct 2026
Where Stripe Issuing stands on Freedom251
- Card Issuing Platforms#17 of 22