Comparison
Stripe Issuing vs Pleo
A side-by-side look at Stripe Issuing and Pleo — pricing, regions, integrations, pros and cons. Use the recommender if you'd rather have an AI pick for you.
Stripe Issuing
Programmable cards via API.
Stripe Issuing lets platforms issue physical and virtual cards via API — used by fintechs, marketplaces and embedded finance products.
Pleo
Smart company cards for European teams.
Pleo is Europe's leading spend management platform, pairing physical and virtual cards with automated expense reports, invoice management and accounting integrations across 30+ EU/UK markets.
Side-by-side
| Spec | Stripe Issuing | Pleo |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Programmable cards via API. | Smart company cards for European teams. |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Founded | 2018 | 2015 |
| Regions | US, EU, UK, Global | EU, UK |
| Card type | Visa programmable | Prepaid + credit (market dependent) |
| Pricing | Per-card and interchange revenue share. | Starter free up to 3 users; Essential €45/mo; Advanced €89/mo; Beyond custom. |
| Rewards | — | 1% cashback on Advanced+ in select markets. |
| Best for | Fintechs, Platforms, Marketplaces | European SMBs, Distributed teams, Companies using Xero/QuickBooks EU |
| Integrations | Stripe APIs | Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, Datev, Economic, Visma |
Stripe Issuing: pros & cons
- Best-in-class API
- You build the product on top
Pleo: pros & cons
- Strong European footprint
- Best-in-class UX
- Local accounting integrations
- Per-user pricing adds up
- Limited US presence