Head-to-head fee guide

Stripe vs PayPal fees

Compare two widely used payment processors across small sales, larger invoices, and international edge cases.

St

Stripe

2.9% + $0.30
VS
Pa

PayPal

3.49% + $0.49
Gross revenueStripe keepsPayPal keepsDifference
$10.00$9.41$9.16$0.25
$50.00$48.25$47.77$0.48
$100.00$96.80$96.02$0.78
$500.00$485.20$482.06$3.14
$1000.00$970.70$964.61$6.09

ClearFeeMath verdict

Stripe’s reference US online-card rate is lower in our baseline model. PayPal may still earn its place when buyer familiarity and PayPal-native checkout improve conversion.

St

Choose Stripe when…

Businesses that want flexible checkout, developer tools, and a lower baseline domestic card rate.

Pa

Choose PayPal when…

Sellers whose customers actively prefer PayPal or who need a familiar wallet-style checkout.

Common questions

Is Stripe cheaper than PayPal?

In the simplified US baseline used here, Stripe has a lower standard online-card rate. Your product, country, payment method, and account pricing can change the result.

Should I offer both Stripe and PayPal?

Offering both can improve customer choice, but it adds operational complexity. Compare conversion gains with the extra reconciliation work.