Most traditional merchant accounts offer lower processing rates, especially for a business that processes a lot of volume. They also have more room for negotiation and a direct relationship with the processor. Stripe delivers transparent flat-rate pricing, but merchants with a higher volume are likely to pay more. Merchant accounts offer more flexibility and control over the payment processing, enhanced features, better support, and overall reliability. Stripe focuses on simplicity and integration for your business, which allows for implementation, although offering more limited options in terms of custom processing terms.