Choosing between Stripe and PayPal is one of the first decisions every online business makes — and it comes down almost entirely to fees, features, and who your customers are. This comparison covers every fee scenario side by side so you can make a data-driven decision.
Stripe vs PayPal Fees: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Fee Type | Stripe | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Standard card transaction | 2.9% + $0.30 | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| International cards | +1.5% | +1.5% |
| Currency conversion | +1% | +3% to 4% |
| Monthly fee | None | None |
| Chargeback fee | $15 | $20 |
| Instant payout | 1.5% (min $0.50) | 1.75% (min $0.25) |
| ACH/bank transfer | 0.8% (max $5) | Free (standard, 1-3 days) |
On a $100 transaction, Stripe costs $3.20 vs PayPal at $3.98 — a $0.78 difference that adds up to $780 on every $100,000 in revenue. Use our Stripe fee calculator and PayPal fee calculator to compare for your specific volume.
When to Choose Stripe
- You are building a custom checkout or SaaS product
- You process more than $5,000 per month (Stripe custom pricing becomes available)
- You need advanced subscription billing or metered usage pricing
- You want lower currency conversion fees for international sales
When to Choose PayPal
- Your buyers expect to pay with a PayPal balance
- You sell on eBay or Etsy where PayPal is embedded
- You need to accept payments quickly without developer setup
- You send international payments to suppliers or freelancers (PayPal is more widely accepted)
See also: Square fee calculator | Venmo fee calculator | Payment processing fee comparison guide
