---
title: Agentcard vs Stripe | API Docs
description: Two payment providers, two different models — pick the right one for your use case.
---

Linq’s payments API supports two providers. They solve different problems, so the choice is about *who pays whom*, not just a config flag.

## At a glance

|                              | **Agentcard**                                                                                        | **Stripe**                                                        |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Model                        | Your users **connect their cards**; their agent **spends** on their behalf from the Agentcard Wallet | You **collect** money from customers                              |
| Direction of money           | Out — your user’s connected card pays a third-party merchant                                         | In — a payer pays your connected account                          |
| Onboarding                   | Dashboard: connect Agentcard, then connect each customer handle                                      | Dashboard: connect a Stripe Standard account, complete onboarding |
| Merchant of record           | The merchant the agent pays                                                                          | Your connected account (direct charges)                           |
| Card details                 | Single-use card handed to the agent, never stored by Linq                                            | N/A — Stripe hosts checkout                                       |
| Gate before you can transact | Customer handle connected                                                                            | `charges_enabled` on the Stripe account (else `403`)              |
| Best for                     | Agents buying things for a user (subscriptions, purchases, top-ups)                                  | Getting paid — invoices, payment links, subscriptions you bill    |

## Choose Agentcard when

- An **agent needs to pay a merchant** for your user (e.g. buy a subscription, place an order, top up an account).
- You want a **per-transaction virtual card** with a hard spend limit and no stored credentials.
- The customer is reachable by a **handle** (phone/email) and can do a one-time verification.

→ [Agentcard quickstart](/guides/agentcard/quickstart/index.md)

## Choose Stripe when

- **You are the merchant** collecting money — payment links, checkout, subscriptions billed to your connected account.
- You want Stripe to be the merchant of record via direct charges.
- Onboarding through the Linq dashboard + Stripe Standard is acceptable.

→ [Connected accounts (Stripe)](/guides/payments/connected-accounts/index.md)

## Can I use both?

Yes — they’re independent providers on the same API. Use Stripe to get paid and Agentcard to let agents spend, in the same integration.

## Next

- [Agentcard quickstart](/guides/agentcard/quickstart/index.md)
- [Connect a customer](/guides/agentcard/connect-a-customer/index.md)