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Fee comparison

Stripe vs PayPal Fee Calculator

Stripe is lower on both the percentage and the fixed fee. That makes the arithmetic short and the decision something else.

Stripe net = amount − (2.9% + $0.30); PayPal net = amount − (3.49% + $0.49). On a $100 charge Stripe takes $3.20 and leaves $96.80, while PayPal takes $3.98 and leaves $96.02 — Stripe keeps you $0.78 ahead. At $1,000 the gap is $6.09. There is no crossover: Stripe is lower on the percentage and the fixed fee, so it is cheaper at every positive amount, which is rare among processor pairs and makes fee comparison a poor way to choose between them. Effective rates make the small-ticket cost visible — on a $25 charge Stripe is 4.10% all-in and PayPal 5.45%, against 2.93% and 3.54% at $1,000, because the fixed fee dominates small transactions. Choose on the things this table cannot show: PayPal's checkout is a recognized brand that measurably lifts conversion for unfamiliar stores, while Stripe is the cheaper rail with better developer tooling. A 1% conversion lift is worth far more than 0.59% of fee. Single-charge detail: Stripe fee calculator and PayPal fee calculator.

Stripe vs PayPal Fee Calculator — your numbers

Net gap (Stripe − PayPal)

$0.78

Stripe net payout

$96.80

PayPal net payout

$96.02

Stripe effective rate

3.2%

PayPal effective rate

4.0%

Estimate only. Results reflect exactly the numbers you enter — verify against your own accounting before making pricing decisions.

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Fee defaults last reviewed 2026-08-15. Platforms change their fees — every rate above is editable, so enter your current numbers for an exact result.

Worked examples

A $100 charge

Charge amount $100.00
Stripe fee rate 2.9%
Stripe fixed fee $0.30
PayPal fee rate 3.49%
PayPal fixed fee $0.49
Net gap (Stripe − PayPal) $0.78
Stripe net payout $96.80
PayPal net payout $96.02
Stripe effective rate 3.2%
PayPal effective rate 4.0%

Stripe $96.80 vs PayPal $96.02: $0.78, or 3.20% against 3.98%.

A $25 small-ticket charge

Charge amount $25.00
Stripe fee rate 2.9%
Stripe fixed fee $0.30
PayPal fee rate 3.49%
PayPal fixed fee $0.49
Net gap (Stripe − PayPal) $0.34
Stripe net payout $23.98
PayPal net payout $23.64
Stripe effective rate 4.1%
PayPal effective rate 5.5%

Effective rates blow out to 4.10% and 5.45% — the fixed fee dominates.

The Stripe vs PayPal fee difference is small enough that it should rarely decide anything on its own. On a store doing $20,000 a month across $100 orders, the whole gap is about $156 a month — real, but less than a single point of conversion rate on the same volume. Work out what a point is worth to you with the conversion rate calculator before optimizing the rail.

Where processor choice does move real money is the small-ticket end and the payout timing. If your average order is under about $20, the fixed fee is the dominant cost and the credit card processing fee calculator will show how much of your margin it eats at your own rate. For the wider picture of what payment costs do to unit economics, run the numbers through the net profit calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Is Stripe or PayPal cheaper?

Stripe, at every amount. It is lower on both components — 2.9% against 3.49%, and $0.30 against $0.49 — so no crossover price exists. The gap is $0.78 on a $100 charge and $6.09 on a $1,000 charge, roughly 0.59% of the amount plus $0.19.

Then why do so many stores still offer PayPal?

Because it converts. A recognized checkout button reduces the friction of handing card details to an unfamiliar store, and the resulting lift in completed checkouts is usually worth more than the 0.59% rate difference. Most stores offer both and let the buyer choose rather than optimizing the fee alone.

Why is the effective rate so much higher on small charges?

The fixed fee does not shrink with the amount. At $25, PayPal's $0.49 is nearly 2% on its own, pushing the all-in rate to 5.45% against a headline 3.49%. Below about $10, fixed fees dominate entirely — bundling small orders into one charge is worth more than switching processor.

Do these rates cover international and currency conversion?

No. Both add cross-border and currency-conversion surcharges — typically another 1% to 1.5% each — plus differing chargeback fees. This page compares the standard domestic card rate. Adjust the rate fields upward to model international volume, and check each processor's current schedule.

Are these the current rates?

They are the published 2026 US standard online rates, and every one is an editable field because both processors change them and negotiate at volume. Verify against Stripe's and PayPal's live pricing pages before making a decision at the margin. Treat the output as an estimate.

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Part of the Marketplace & Payment Fees collection.