Stripe and Square are popular payment processing platforms, but they may not be ideal for all small businesses due to their limitations such as account stability issues and lack of customization. Alternatives like Togai offer flexible pricing strategies, PayPal provides global reach and seller protection, Braintree offers dedicated merchant accounts, and QuickBooks integrates accounting features. Business owners should consider factors like integration capabilities, developer-friendliness, ability to handle global transactions, customer support quality, and ease of use when selecting a payment processing alternative.