State of Stripe Failed Payments 2026
A living report for SaaS founders tracking failed payments, decline codes, and recovery opportunities across Stripe.
Public benchmark
Failed-payment ranges by MRR.
These ranges are the public model used by Dunlo's benchmark and audit pages. They are useful for estimation, not a substitute for connecting Stripe and reading your actual invoices.
< $5k MRR
Stripe defaults can hide the problem because volume is still low.
4.2%
$5k-$20k MRR
The first range where a dedicated recovery workflow usually pays back.
5.1%
$20k-$80k MRR
Failed payments become a visible retention problem, not just billing noise.
5.8%
$80k+ MRR
Recovery needs prioritization, account value, and human escalation.
6.4%
Failure-code playbook
The useful report is code-level, not just rate-level.
insufficient_funds
Retry timing matters, but the customer email should stay calm.
expired_card
Stop retrying blindly and send a direct card-update path.
authentication_required
Explain the bank authentication step before another charge attempt.
do_not_honor
Escalate carefully when account value justifies a personal touch.
Report scope
What this asset covers.
Public benchmark model by MRR range
Failure-code recovery playbook
Beta data publication rules
Approved screenshots and testimonials when available
Public proof
Trust built from visible mechanics, not vague uplift claims.
Dunlo is still in beta, so the page shows what can be verified today: assumptions, recovery mechanics, and a clear policy for publishing customer proof.
Failure-rate ranges are visible before signup.
The public calculator shows MRR bands, estimated failed MRR, and recovery assumptions without asking for an email first.
The workflow is failure-code first.
Dunlo is built around Stripe decline reasons, timed emails, hosted update links, and founder escalation.
Proof is published only when it is approved.
Customer screenshots, recovery stories, and beta metrics stay private until the sample is useful and the customer signs off.