Razorpay vs Stripe Subscription API Comparison
Published
•4 min readCore Subscription Management APIs
Plan/Product Management
| Feature | Razorpay API | Stripe API |
| Create Plan | POST /plans | POST /products + POST /prices |
| Retrieve Plan | GET /plans/{plan_id} | GET /products/{product_id} + GET /prices/{price_id} |
| Update Plan | PATCH /plans/{plan_id} | POST /products/{product_id} + POST /prices/{price_id} |
| List Plans | GET /plans | GET /products + GET /prices |
| Delete Plan | Not supported | DELETE /products/{product_id} |
Customer Management
| Feature | Razorpay API | Stripe API |
| Create Customer | POST /customers | POST /customers |
| Retrieve Customer | GET /customers/{customer_id} | GET /customers/{customer_id} |
| Update Customer | PUT /customers/{customer_id} | POST /customers/{customer_id} |
| List Customers | GET /customers | GET /customers |
| Delete Customer | Not supported | DELETE /customers/{customer_id} |
Subscription Lifecycle
| Feature | Razorpay API | Stripe API |
| Create Subscription | POST /subscriptions | POST /subscriptions |
| Retrieve Subscription | GET /subscriptions/{subscription_id} | GET /subscriptions/{subscription_id} |
| Update Subscription | PATCH /subscriptions/{subscription_id} | POST /subscriptions/{subscription_id} |
| List Subscriptions | GET /subscriptions | GET /subscriptions |
| Cancel Subscription | POST /subscriptions/{subscription_id}/cancel | DELETE /subscriptions/{subscription_id} |
| Pause Subscription | POST /subscriptions/{subscription_id}/pause | Update with pause_collection |
| Resume Subscription | POST /subscriptions/{subscription_id}/resume | Update with pause_collection: null |
Payment Method Management
Razorpay Payment Methods
| Feature | API Endpoint |
| Create Token | POST /customers/{customer_id}/tokens |
| Retrieve Token | GET /customers/{customer_id}/tokens/{token_id} |
| Delete Token | DELETE /customers/{customer_id}/tokens/{token_id} |
| List Tokens | GET /customers/{customer_id}/tokens |
Stripe Payment Methods
| Feature | API Endpoint |
| Create Payment Method | POST /payment_methods |
| Retrieve Payment Method | GET /payment_methods/{payment_method_id} |
| Update Payment Method | POST /payment_methods/{payment_method_id} |
| List Payment Methods | GET /payment_methods |
| Attach to Customer | POST /payment_methods/{payment_method_id}/attach |
| Detach from Customer | POST /payment_methods/{payment_method_id}/detach |
Invoice and Billing
Invoice Management
| Feature | Razorpay API | Stripe API |
| Retrieve Invoice | GET /invoices/{invoice_id} | GET /invoices/{invoice_id} |
| List Invoices | GET /invoices | GET /invoices |
| Create Invoice | POST /invoices | POST /invoices |
| Finalize Invoice | POST /invoices/{invoice_id}/issue | POST /invoices/{invoice_id}/finalize |
| Pay Invoice | POST /invoices/{invoice_id}/pay | POST /invoices/{invoice_id}/pay |
| Cancel Invoice | POST /invoices/{invoice_id}/cancel | DELETE /invoices/{invoice_id} |
Payment Processing
| Feature | Razorpay API | Stripe API |
| Retrieve Payment | GET /payments/{payment_id} | GET /payment_intents/{payment_intent_id} |
| List Payments | GET /payments | GET /payment_intents |
| Capture Payment | POST /payments/{payment_id}/capture | POST /payment_intents/{payment_intent_id}/confirm |
| Refund Payment | POST /refunds | POST /refunds |
Advanced Features
Webhooks
| Feature | Razorpay API | Stripe API |
| Create Webhook | Dashboard only | POST /webhook_endpoints |
| List Webhooks | Dashboard only | GET /webhook_endpoints |
| Update Webhook | Dashboard only | POST /webhook_endpoints/{webhook_endpoint_id} |
| Delete Webhook | Dashboard only | DELETE /webhook_endpoints/{webhook_endpoint_id} |
Add-ons & Usage-based Billing
| Feature | Razorpay API | Stripe API |
| Create Add-on | POST /addons | POST /subscription_items |
| List Add-ons | GET /addons | GET /subscription_items |
| Update Add-on | Not supported | POST /subscription_items/{subscription_item_id} |
| Usage Records | Not available | POST /subscription_items/{subscription_item_id}/usage_records |
| Usage Record Summaries | Not available | GET /subscription_items/{subscription_item_id}/usage_record_summaries |
Coupons & Discounts
| Feature | Razorpay API | Stripe API |
| Create Coupon | Dashboard only | POST /coupons |
| Retrieve Coupon | Not available | GET /coupons/{coupon_id} |
| List Coupons | Not available | GET /coupons |
| Apply Discount | Via subscription creation | POST /customers/{customer_id}/discount |
| Remove Discount | Via subscription update | DELETE /customers/{customer_id}/discount |
Key Differences Summary
Razorpay Advantages
Simpler API structure for basic subscription flows
Built-in Indian payment methods support
Lower complexity for straightforward subscription models
Direct plan-based approach without separate product/price entities
Stripe Advantages
More granular control with separate products and prices
Advanced usage-based billing with metering APIs
Comprehensive webhook management via API
Rich discount and promotion management
Better support for complex billing scenarios
More extensive documentation and SDKs
API Complexity Comparison
Razorpay: ~15-20 core APIs for full subscription functionality
Stripe: ~30-40 APIs for equivalent functionality (more granular control)
Integration Effort
Razorpay: Faster for simple subscription models (1-2 weeks)
Stripe: More setup time but greater flexibility (2-4 weeks)
Recommendation
Choose Razorpay if you need quick implementation for India-focused, straightforward subscription models
Choose Stripe if you need advanced billing features, global reach, or complex subscription scenarios
