Platforms using Stripe's Custom or Express Connect product should almost always be using which of the following?

Using Stripe's Custom or Express Connect product is designed to offer platforms a more sophisticated way to handle transactions, especially in multi-party environments. In such cases, Destination charges and Separate charges and transfers are the recommended practices.

Destination charges allow platforms to charge the customer directly while automatically transferring a portion of the funds to the connected accounts (like third-party sellers or service providers). This setup helps in effectively managing revenue sharing between the platform and connected accounts. It ensures that the funds are split according to the agreements made and funds are transferred seamlessly.

Separate charges and transfers enhance this flexibility even more. In scenarios where the platform needs to manage payments differently, it can charge the customer and then transfer funds to multiple connected accounts separately. This method allows for detailed control over the transaction flow, which is essential for platforms dealing with multiple sellers or service providers.

Other options like single charge methods or direct payments only would not offer the same level of sophistication required for multi-stakeholder transactions. Single merchant accounts would limit the platform's ability to effectively manage and facilitate payments to different users. Thus, relying on a structure that includes Destination charges or Separate charges and transfers is paramount for offering a complete and functional payment solution in this context.