Stripe Integration: Instant Payments, Automated Fulfillment, Better Experience

Today marks a major milestone for Valor AI: we've fully integrated Stripe payments and moved away from manual payment processing. Veterans can now subscribe to Valor AI Plus or Premium, or purchase one-time services like DD214 Analysis Reports and Claim Strategy Blueprints—all with secure, automated checkout.

Why We Built This

For months, we've been processing payments manually. That meant delays, manual verification, and a frustrating experience for veterans who just wanted to get started with their claims. Every veteran deserves instant access to the tools they need, not a waiting period while we manually process payments.

Stripe integration changes that. Now veterans can:

• Subscribe instantly – Start using Valor AI Plus ($20/month) or Premium ($50/month) immediately after checkout
• Purchase one-time services – Get DD214 Analysis Reports ($29) or Claim Strategy Blueprints ($49) without a subscription
• Manage subscriptions – Access the customer portal to update payment methods, view invoices, or cancel anytime
• Automatic fulfillment – Your purchases are automatically recorded and fulfilled, so you can start using services right away

What's Available Now

Subscription Plans

Valor AI Plus – $20/month Perfect for veterans starting their claim journey. Includes:

• Full access to AI chat assistant
• Document chat & DD214 parsing
• Personalized claim guidance
• Document organization & storage
• AI-powered form filling
• Claim tracking dashboard

Valor AI Premium – $50/month Designed for veterans managing complex disabilities or appeals. Includes everything in Plus, plus:

• DD214 auto-profile creation
• Advanced document analysis
• Step-by-step claim building
• Priority responses
• Complex disability & appeals support
• Unlimited document storage

One-Time Services

DD214 Analysis Report – $29 A comprehensive analysis of your DD214 with personalized recommendations for disability claims, benefits, and next steps. Perfect if you're not ready for a subscription but want expert guidance on your service record.

Claim Strategy Blueprint – $49 A detailed, personalized plan outlining which claims to file, evidence to gather, and steps to maximize your VA disability outcome. This is your roadmap to a stronger claim.

How It Works

For Subscriptions

1. Click "Get Started" on any subscription plan
2. Complete checkout through Stripe's secure payment form
3. Your subscription is activated immediately
4. Access all features right away

For One-Time Purchases

1. Click "Purchase Now" on any one-time service
2. Complete checkout
3. Your purchase is recorded and fulfilled automatically
4. Access your service immediately

Managing Your Subscription

All subscribers have access to our customer portal where you can:

• Update payment methods
• View billing history
• Download invoices
• Cancel or modify your subscription

Security & Privacy

We take your payment security seriously. All transactions are processed through Stripe, which is:

• PCI DSS Level 1 compliant – The highest level of payment security certification
• Encrypted end-to-end – Your payment information never touches our servers
• Protected by Stripe's fraud detection – Advanced machine learning detects and prevents fraudulent transactions

We store only the minimum necessary information:

• Stripe customer ID (for subscription management)
• Purchase records (for service fulfillment)
• Subscription status (for feature access)

Your full payment details are never stored on our servers—they're handled entirely by Stripe.

What Changed Under the Hood

This wasn't just adding a payment button. We built a complete payment infrastructure:

New API Routes

• /api/stripe/checkout – Handles subscription checkout sessions
• /api/stripe/checkout-one-time – Handles one-time purchase checkout
• /api/stripe/customer-portal – Manages subscription portal access
• /api/webhooks/stripe – Processes Stripe webhooks for payment events

Database Schema

• New purchases table tracks all one-time purchases
• Enhanced subscriptions table for better subscription management
• stripe_customers table links users to Stripe customer records

Webhook Processing Our webhook handler automatically processes:

• Successful payments
• Subscription updates
• Payment failures
• Refunds
• Subscription cancellations

All of this happens automatically, so you never have to wait for manual processing.

Moving Forward

This integration sets the foundation for future payment features:

• Annual plans – Coming soon for veterans who want to save with yearly subscriptions
• Team plans – For VSOs and organizations managing multiple veterans
• Gift subscriptions – Let veterans gift Valor AI to fellow service members
• Payment plans – Flexible payment options for larger services

For Existing Users

If you're an existing user who signed up before Stripe integration:

• Your account remains active
• You can upgrade to a paid plan anytime
• Previous manual payments are still honored
• Contact support if you need help transitioning

What This Means for You

Faster Access – No more waiting for manual payment processing. Subscribe or purchase and start using services immediately.

Better Experience – Professional checkout flow, automatic receipts, and easy subscription management.

More Options – Choose between subscriptions or one-time purchases based on your needs.

Transparent Pricing – Clear pricing with no hidden fees. What you see is what you pay.

Get Started

Ready to upgrade? Visit our pricing page to see all available plans and services.

Questions about payments or subscriptions? Our support team is here to help. Start a chat or reach out through our community platform.

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Note: All prices are in USD. Stripe handles currency conversion automatically for international customers.