Accept a payment

First, you need a Stripe account. Register now.

Server-side

This integration requires endpoints on your server that talk to the Stripe API. Use the official libraries for access to the Stripe API from your server:

# Available as a gem
sudo gem install stripe

# If you use bundler, you can add this line to your Gemfile
gem 'stripe'

Client-side

The Stripe iOS SDK is open source, fully documented, and compatible with apps supporting iOS 13 or above.

Configure the SDK with your Stripe publishable key on app start. This enables your app to make requests to the Stripe API.

import UIKit
import StripePaymentsUI

@main
class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate {

    func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {
        StripeAPI.defaultPublishableKey = ""
        // do any other necessary launch configuration
        return true
    }
}

Securely collect card information on the client with STPPaymentCardTextField, a drop-in UI component provided by the SDK that collects the card number, expiration date, CVC, and postal code.

Create an instance of the card component and a Pay button with the following code:

import UIKit
import StripePaymentsUI

class CheckoutViewController: UIViewController {

    lazy var cardTextField: STPPaymentCardTextField = {
        let cardTextField = STPPaymentCardTextField()
        return cardTextField
    }()
    lazy var payButton: UIButton = {
        let button = UIButton(type: .custom)
        button.layer.cornerRadius = 5
        button.backgroundColor = .systemBlue
        button.titleLabel?.font = UIFont.systemFont(ofSize: 22)
        button.setTitle("Pay", for: .normal)
        button.addTarget(self, action: #selector(pay), for: .touchUpInside)
        return button
    }()

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        view.backgroundColor = .white
        let stackView = UIStackView(arrangedSubviews: [cardTextField, payButton])
        stackView.axis = .vertical
        stackView.spacing = 20
        stackView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
        view.addSubview(stackView)
        NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
            stackView.leftAnchor.constraint(equalToSystemSpacingAfter: view.leftAnchor, multiplier: 2),
            view.rightAnchor.constraint(equalToSystemSpacingAfter: stackView.rightAnchor, multiplier: 2),
            stackView.topAnchor.constraint(equalToSystemSpacingBelow: view.topAnchor, multiplier: 2),
        ])
    }

    @objc
    func pay() {
        // ...
    }
}

Run your app, and make sure your checkout page shows the card component and pay button.

Stripe uses a PaymentIntent object to represent your intent to collect payment from a customer, tracking your charge attempts and payment state changes throughout the process.

Server-side

On your server, make an endpoint that creates a PaymentIntent with an amount and currency. Always decide how much to charge on the server side, a trusted environment, as opposed to the client. This prevents malicious customers from being able to choose their own prices.

curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/payment_intents \
  -u 
sk_test_4eC39HqLyjWDarjtT1zdp7dc
: \
  -d "amount"=1099 \
  -d "currency"="usd" \
  -d "payment_method_types[]"="card"

Instead of passing the entire PaymentIntent object to your app, only return its client secret. The PaymentIntent’s client secret is a unique key that lets you confirm the payment and update card details on the client, without allowing manipulation of sensitive information, like payment amount.

Client-side

On the client, request a PaymentIntent from your server and store its client secret.

class CheckoutViewController: UIViewController {
    var paymentIntentClientSecret: String?

    // ...continued from previous step

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        // ...continued from previous step
        startCheckout()
    }

    func startCheckout() {
        // Request a PaymentIntent from your server and store its client secret
        // Click View full sample to see a complete implementation
    }
}

When the customer taps the Pay button, confirm the PaymentIntent to complete the payment.

First, assemble a STPPaymentIntentParams object with:

1. The card text field’s payment method details
2. The PaymentIntent client secret from your server

Rather than sending the entire PaymentIntent object to the client, use its client secret. This is different from your API keys that authenticate Stripe API requests. The client secret is a string that lets your app access important fields from the PaymentIntent (for example, status) while hiding sensitive ones (for example, customer).

The client secret should still be handled carefully because it can complete the charge. Don’t log it, embed it in URLs, or expose it to anyone but the customer.

Next, complete the payment by calling the STPPaymentHandler confirmPayment method.

class CheckoutViewController: UIViewController {

    // ...

    @objc
    func pay() {
        guard let paymentIntentClientSecret = paymentIntentClientSecret else {
            return
        }
        // Collect card details
        let paymentIntentParams = STPPaymentIntentParams(clientSecret: paymentIntentClientSecret)
        paymentIntentParams.paymentMethodParams = cardTextField.paymentMethodParams

        // Submit the payment
        let paymentHandler = STPPaymentHandler.shared()
        paymentHandler.confirmPayment(paymentIntentParams, with: self) { (status, paymentIntent, error) in
            switch (status) {
            case .failed:
                self.displayAlert(title: "Payment failed", message: error?.localizedDescription ?? "")
                break
            case .canceled:
                self.displayAlert(title: "Payment canceled", message: error?.localizedDescription ?? "")
                break
            case .succeeded:
                self.displayAlert(title: "Payment succeeded", message: paymentIntent?.description ?? "", restartDemo: true)
                break
            @unknown default:
                fatalError()
                break
            }
        }
    }
}

extension CheckoutViewController: STPAuthenticationContext {
    func authenticationPresentingViewController() -> UIViewController {
        return self
    }
}

If authentication is required by regulation such as Strong Customer Authentication, STPPaymentHandler presents view controllers using the STPAuthenticationContext passed in and walks the customer through that process. See Supporting 3D Secure Authentication on iOS to learn more.

If the payment succeeds, the completion handler is called with a status of .succeeded. If it fails, the status is .failed and you can display the error.localizedDescription to the user.

You can also check the status of a PaymentIntent in the Dashboard or by inspecting the status property on the object.

By this point you should have a basic card integration that collects card details and makes a payment.

There are several test cards you can use in test mode to make sure this integration is ready. Use them with any CVC, postal code, and future expiration date.

For the full list of test cards see our guide on testing.

Stripe sends a payment_intent.succeeded event when the payment completes. Use the Dashboard, a custom webhook, or a partner solution to receive these events and run actions, like sending an order confirmation email to your customer, logging the sale in a database, or starting a shipping workflow.

Listen for these events rather than waiting on a callback from the client. On the client, the customer could close the browser window or quit the app before the callback executes, and malicious clients could manipulate the response. Setting up your integration to listen for asynchronous events also makes it easier to accept more payment methods in the future. Check out our guide to payment methods to see the differences between all supported payment methods.

Manually

Use the Stripe Dashboard to view all your Stripe payments, send email receipts, handle payouts, or retry failed payments.

• View your test payments in the Dashboard

Custom code

Build a webhook handler to listen for events and build custom asynchronous payment flows. Test and debug your webhook integration locally with the Stripe CLI.

• Build a custom webhook

Prebuilt apps

Handle common business events, like shipping and inventory management, by integrating a partner application.

• Browse shipping apps and extensions
• Browse inventory management apps and extensions
• See all partner solutions