Connecting Stripe to Heartbeat unlocks the ability to monetize your community — sell memberships, create offers, accept payments, and manage payouts all in one place. This guide walks you through connecting Stripe and configuring your payment settings.
Before You Begin
You'll need the following to complete your Stripe setup:
- A Heartbeat admin account
- Your business name and email address
- Banking details (IBAN or account number) for receiving payouts
- Any relevant business authentication documents
How to Connect Stripe
Step 1: Open Payment Settings
Log in to your Heartbeat account. Click the cog icon in the top-right corner to open Community Settings, navigate to Configure Payments, and click Connect Stripe.
Step 2: Create Your Heartbeat-Managed Stripe Account
Heartbeat uses a managed Stripe account to process payments on your behalf. Follow the prompts to create your account — you'll provide your business details, banking information for payouts, and any required authentication.
Step 3: Add a Payout Account
During setup, you'll be prompted to add a bank account to receive your earnings. Make sure to complete this step so payouts aren't delayed.
Customize Your Payment Settings
Once connected, visit Payments Settings to configure:
- Tax Collection — Manage taxes through Stripe. Learn how to set up Stripe Tax →
- Terms of Service — Require users to agree to your terms before checkout. →
- Promo Codes — Create discount codes for your community. →
- Confirmation Emails — Customize the payment confirmation emails sent via Stripe. →
Payment Processing Fees
Heartbeat charges a transaction fee based on your plan, on top of Stripe's standard credit card processing fee (typically 2.9% + $0.30).
| Starter | Growth | Enterprise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heartbeat Transaction Fee | 3% | 2% | 1% |
View all plan details → Heartbeat Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I collect payments without connecting Stripe? No — Stripe is required to process any payments in Heartbeat, including membership fees and offers. You won't be able to publish paid Offers until your Stripe account is connected.
Can I use my existing Stripe account? No. Due to recent regulations, you must create a new Heartbeat-managed Stripe account. If you prefer to use a different payment provider, see our guide on setting up external payments →.
How do I disconnect Stripe? Learn how to disconnect Stripe from your Heartbeat community →
How long does it take for payouts to arrive? Stripe typically processes payouts within 2–7 business days, depending on your bank and region.
What payment methods are supported? Heartbeat Payments supports major credit and debit cards through Stripe.
⚠️ Known Issue: Stripe is currently experiencing an issue with the Link payment method. Please do not enable Link at this time. If users see the error "The PaymentMethod provided (link) is not allowed for this SetupIntent…", disable the Link payment method in your Stripe settings. We are monitoring this issue (last updated: April 22, 2025) and will update this notice when resolved.