Stripe vs PayPal
Stripe and PayPal both publish a percentage-plus-fixed-fee structure for card payments, but they differ in the fixed fee, wallet checkout and bank-payment pricing. This comparison uses each provider's own published US fees, checked on 2026-10-15.
Quick verdict
Choose Stripe if…
- You want the lower published fixed fee on standard online card payments (30¢ versus PayPal's 49¢ fixed fee).
- You take bank payments: Stripe lists ACH Direct Debit at a lower percentage and cap than PayPal's invoicing bank payments.
- You want a pay-as-you-go page that lists no setup, monthly or hidden fees.
Choose PayPal if…
- Your buyers want to pay with PayPal or Venmo: both appear in PayPal's fee table.
- You take QR code payments: PayPal lists a lower percentage and a fixed fee of 9¢ for them.
- You want Pay Later options in your checkout, which PayPal lists with their own rate.
Side by side, from published data
| Feature | Stripe | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Standard online card rate | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.99% + $0.49 |
| Wallet checkout | No separate wallet rate listed on the pricing page | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| QR code or in person | 2.7% + $0.05 | 2.29% + $0.09 |
| International cards (extra) | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Bank payment | 0.8% (cap $5.00) | 1% (cap $10.00) |
| Dispute or chargeback fee | $15.00 per dispute (network fees can also apply) | $20.00 USD (US dollar entry in PayPal's chargeback fee table) |
| Overall score | 8.3/10 | 6.6/10 |
Limitations to know about
Stripe: limitations
Scores from our methodology
Scores come from a public checklist applied equally to both providers. They measure what each publishes, not product quality, and a high score does not mean it fits your business. Read the methodology.
Stripe
Score breakdown: Overall score 8.3/10
| Category | Weight | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 30% | 10/10 | 4 of 4 checks |
| Total cost for a typical small business | 25% | 6.5/10 | $350 → 6.5 |
| Features | 20% | 10/10 | 6 of 6 checks |
| Contract and fee fairness | 15% | 7.5/10 | 3 of 4 checks |
| Support and reputation signals | 10% | 5/10 | 1 of 2 checks |
Cost input: Estimated monthly fees on $10,000 of card-not-present sales at a $50 average sale, using the provider's published base rate (online or keyed-in) with no plan fee: $350
PayPal
Score breakdown: Overall score 6.6/10
| Category | Weight | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 30% | 7.5/10 | 3 of 4 checks |
| Total cost for a typical small business | 25% | 6/10 | $397 → 6 |
| Features | 20% | 10/10 | 6 of 6 checks |
| Contract and fee fairness | 15% | 2.5/10 | 1 of 4 checks |
| Support and reputation signals | 10% | 5/10 | 1 of 2 checks |
Cost input: Estimated monthly fees on $10,000 of card-not-present sales at a $50 average sale, using the provider's published base rate (online or keyed-in) with no plan fee: $397
The checklist behind the scores
- Base card rates are published on the provider's page
- The dispute or chargeback fee amount is published
- Monthly or plan fees (or their absence) are published
- Amounts for extra fees (international, keyed-in, instant payout and similar) are published
- In-person card acceptance
- Online payments or payment links
- Invoicing
- Bank (ACH) payments
- Recurring billing or subscriptions
- A faster payout option is published
- No monthly fee on the base option
- No long-term contract or cancellation fee is stated
- No setup fee is stated
- How the pricing works (flat vs interchange-based) is explained on the page
- A phone number, hours or support channel is published on the page
- Dispute or chargeback tools or protection are described
Cost: Estimated monthly fees on $10,000 of card-not-present sales at a $50 average sale, using the provider's published base rate (online or keyed-in) with no plan fee. Each $100 subtracts one point from 10 (floor 0).
Where to go next
Go to StripeGo to PayPalFrequently asked questions
Is Stripe or PayPal cheaper for online payments?
On standard cards, Stripe's published base rate is lower and its fixed fee is smaller. PayPal's wallet checkout is priced higher than its standard card rate. Run your numbers in our PayPal fee calculator and processing fee calculator.
Do both charge extra for international cards?
Both list an additional percentage for international transactions; see the table for each provider's figure. Currency conversion has separate pricing.
Which charges more for disputes?
Compare the dispute and chargeback fees in the table; they are defined differently on each provider's page, so read the terms.
Can I use both?
Many sellers offer more than one checkout option. Check each provider's integration and terms.
How current is this comparison?
We read both fee pages on 2026-10-15. PayPal's page showed a last-updated date of October 1, 2026.
Related tools and guides
Sources
- Stripe: pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
- PayPal: merchant fees (US) (checked 2026-10-15)
Last updated: · Prices verified: