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Stripe vs PayPal fees

Rates checked against Stripe's and PayPal's pricing pages, oldest check October 19, 2026 · Not affiliated with Stripe or PayPal

For a US card payment Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30. PayPal charges 2.99% + $0.49 for a card through its card processing, and 3.49% + $0.49 when the buyer pays with PayPal Checkout. On a $100 payment you receive $96.80 with Stripe, $96.52 with PayPal card processing and $96.02 with PayPal Checkout. Only for buy now, pay later from $20 does PayPal cost less.

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How the customer pays
Adds 1.5% at Stripe and PayPal.

Which costs you less

Enter a payment amount to compare Stripe and PayPal.

Estimates from Stripe's and PayPal's published fees. Not affiliated with either. Your entries stay in this browser. Nothing is sent to our servers.

How much do Stripe and PayPal charge?

Fees on a domestic online payment:

PaymentStripe cardPayPal card processingPayPal Checkout
$10.00$0.59$0.79$0.84
$25.00$1.03$1.24$1.36
$50.00$1.75$1.99$2.24
$100.00$3.20$3.48$3.98
$500.00$14.80$15.44$17.94
$1,000.00$29.30$30.39$35.39

No currency conversion. International cards add 1.5% at both.

How it works

Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 for a domestic online card or wallet payment, plus 1.5% for an international card. PayPal has several rates: 2.99% + $0.49 for card payments through its standard card processing, 3.49% + $0.49 when the buyer pays with PayPal, Venmo or as a guest through PayPal Checkout, and 1.5% extra for international payments. For bank payments, Stripe's ACH Direct Debit costs 0.8% capped at $5, and a PayPal invoice paid by bank costs 1% capped at $10. For buy now, pay later, Klarna on Stripe costs 5.99% + $0.30 and PayPal Pay Later 4.99% + $0.49. So Stripe costs less for card payments at every amount and never more for bank payments, and PayPal Pay Later costs less than Klarna from $20. This page runs your payment through the same calculators as the Stripe and PayPal pages.

Worked examples

  1. A $100 card payment: Stripe charges $3.20 and you receive $96.80; PayPal card processing charges $3.48 and you receive $96.52; PayPal Checkout charges $3.98 and you receive $96.02.
  2. A $1,000 invoice paid by bank: Stripe ACH charges $5.00 (0.8%, capped at $5); a PayPal invoice paid by bank charges $10.00 (1%, capped at $10).
  3. A $500 purchase on buy now, pay later: Klarna on Stripe charges $30.25 and PayPal Pay Later $25.44, so PayPal leaves you $4.81 more.

Common questions

Is Stripe or PayPal cheaper?

For card payments, Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 against PayPal's 2.99% + $0.49 for cards and 3.49% + $0.49 for PayPal Checkout. On a $50 payment Stripe charges $1.75, PayPal $1.99 for a card and $2.24 through PayPal Checkout. PayPal is cheaper only for buy now, pay later from $20, where PayPal Pay Later costs less than Klarna on Stripe.

How much do Stripe and PayPal charge on $1,000?

Stripe charges $29.30 for a card. PayPal charges $30.39 for a card and $35.39 through PayPal Checkout. Paid by bank, Stripe ACH costs $5.00 and a PayPal invoice paid by bank $10.00.

What is the difference between PayPal Checkout and PayPal card processing?

PayPal Checkout is the PayPal button: the buyer pays with a PayPal account, Venmo or as a guest, at 3.49% + $0.49. Card processing is a card your site takes through PayPal's standard credit and debit card payments, at 2.99% + $0.49.

Which is cheaper for international payments?

Stripe. An international card adds 1.5% at both, so a $100 payment costs $4.70 with Stripe, $4.98 with PayPal card processing and $5.48 through PayPal Checkout. Currency conversion costs more at both and is not included here.

Which is cheaper for bank payments (ACH)?

Stripe. ACH Direct Debit costs 0.8%, capped at $5. PayPal charges 1%, capped at $10, when a customer pays a PayPal invoice by bank. On $200 that is $1.60 against $2.00; from $1,000 it is $5 against $10.

What does this comparison assume?

US accounts, online payments not keyed in by hand, no currency conversion, and Stripe's standard published rates without Billing or invoicing add-ons. Each company's own calculator lets you change more of these.

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