PayPal fees vs Stripe, prices checked Oct 29, 2026
Stripe vs PayPal 2026: 2.9% Stripe vs 3.49% PayPal Rate
Reviewed by Barak BacharLast updated
Stripe costs less than PayPal's checkout button at every volume: 2.9% + 30¢ against 3.49% + 49¢, or 3.50% vs 4.47% on a $50 sale. That is about $97 a month less at $10K, $485 at $50K and $2,425 at $250K. If PayPal approves you for Advanced Credit and Debit (2.89% + 29¢), card fees are effectively tied, and in person PayPal POS (2.29% + 9¢) beats Stripe Terminal (2.7% + 5¢).
What you would pay a month, fees included
Online card payments
| Volume | Stripe2.9% + 30¢ | PayPal button3.49% + 49¢, Checkout | PayPal cards2.89% + 29¢, needs approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10K/mo | $3503.50% | $4474.47% | $3473.47% |
| $50K/mo | $1,7503.50% | $2,2354.47% | $1,7353.47% |
| $250K/mo | $8,7503.50% | $11,1754.47% | $8,6753.47% |
In person (card present)
| Volume | Stripe2.7% + 5¢, Terminal | PayPal POS2.29% + 9¢ |
|---|---|---|
| $10K/mo | $2802.80% | $2472.47% |
| $50K/mo | $1,4002.80% | $1,2352.47% |
| $250K/mo | $7,0002.80% | $6,1752.47% |
Cheapest in each row in bold. Prices read from each provider's own pricing page on Oct 29, 2026. Effective rate = percentage + fixed fee ÷ $50 average sale + any monthly plan fee ÷ volume, on a 60% credit, 40% debit card mix. Interchange-plus rates add our published estimate of the card networks' cost (1.55% in person, 1.70% online). Same method as our payment processor ranking; every provider at every volume is in the 2026 effective rates data. “PayPal cards” is Advanced Credit and Debit Card Payments, which PayPal approves case by case.
Most online stores that take both pay the PayPal rate only on the orders where a buyer picks the PayPal button. That is why the common setup is Stripe for cards plus PayPal as a second button, and why the real question is how many of your buyers insist on PayPal.
Stripe or PayPal: which actually fits you?
Tell us your volume, your channels and what you sell. We send back the processors that fit, with the questions to ask before you sign.
Quick Verdict
Choose Stripe if you sell online, bill subscriptions or want a checkout you control. It costs $97 a month less than the PayPal button per $10K of $50 sales, and the developer tools are deeper. See also our ecommerce payment gateway guide.
Choose PayPal if your buyers already pay with PayPal or Venmo, you want to sell today with no developer, or you sell in person and want PayPal POS at 2.29% + 9¢.
Use both if you can: Stripe as the card processor, PayPal as an extra button. You pay PayPal's higher rate only when a buyer chooses it.
Quick Comparison
“Stripe can process payments in more than 135 currencies. This can be valuable for small businesses that want to expand overseas.”
| Feature | Stripe | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Online card rate | 2.9% + 30¢ | 3.49% + 49¢ button; 2.89% + 29¢ with approval |
| In-person rate | 2.7% + 5¢ | 2.29% + 9¢ |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 on POS and Advanced Credit and Debit |
| Standard payout | 2 business days | Free withdrawal to bank |
| Instant payout | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Dispute fee | $15 (+$15 to counter) | $20 |
| Setup | Minutes for links, longer for custom | Minutes |
| Buyer-facing brand | Invisible to buyers | PayPal and Venmo buttons |
| Developer tools | Extensive | Good |
| Subscriptions | Full billing tools | Basic |
Stripe vs PayPal Fees, Side by Side
Read from Stripe's pricing page and PayPal's business fee table on Oct 29, 2026. PayPal sells several card products at different prices, so the first thing to check on any PayPal quote is which product it is. Our payment processor fees guide explains each line you will see on a statement.
| Type | Stripe | PayPal | Lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online, wallet button | n/a | 3.49% + 49¢ (4.47%) | n/a |
| Online card | 2.9% + 30¢ (3.50%) | 2.99% + 49¢ standard (3.97%); 2.89% + 29¢ Advanced (3.47%) | Stripe, or PayPal Advanced |
| Pay Later | n/a | 4.99% + 49¢ (5.97%) | n/a |
| Keyed card | 3.4% + 30¢ (4.00%) | 3.39% + 29¢ Virtual Terminal (3.97%) | Near tie |
| In person | 2.7% + 5¢ (2.80%) | 2.29% + 9¢ (2.47%) | PayPal |
| ACH bank payment | 0.8%, cap $5 | 0.8%, cap $5 | Tie |
| International card | +1.5%, +1% to convert | +1.5% | Tie in USD |
| Chargeback | $15 | $20 | Stripe |
Effective rates in brackets assume a $50 sale. PayPal says advanced card processing, interchange-plus-plus pricing and PayPal POS are subject to approval, and that it can raise rates on accounts it considers high risk with 30 days' notice.
Small Orders vs Large Orders
PayPal's checkout button carries a 49¢ fixed fee against Stripe's 30¢, so the gap is widest on cheap orders. Per sale:
| Order | Stripe | PayPal button | Extra on PayPal |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.59 | $0.84 | $0.25 |
| $50 | $1.75 | $2.24 | $0.49 |
| $200 | $6.10 | $7.47 | $1.37 |
| $500 | $14.80 | $17.94 | $3.14 |
A store selling $10 items gives PayPal about 8.4% of every button order, against 5.9% on Stripe. If your basket is small, steer buyers to the card form and keep the PayPal button as a fallback.
Payout Speed
Stripe pays out to your bank in 2 business days. A new account's first payout typically takes 7 to 14 days, which catches people who launch and expect money that week. Instant Payouts cost 1.5% with a 50¢ minimum and are not available to new accounts right away.
PayPal holds your sales in a PayPal balance. A standard withdrawal to your bank is free; an instant transfer costs 1.5% (50¢ minimum), up to $25,000 per bank transfer. If cash flow drives your choice, compare these with free next-day options in our guide to same-day deposit processors.
Disputes and Chargebacks
Stripe charges $15 when a buyer disputes a payment. If you counter the dispute manually, Stripe charges another $15, which it refunds if you win. PayPal charges $20 per card chargeback.
Ten disputes a month cost $150 on Stripe if you accept them, $300 if you fight and lose them all, and $200 on PayPal. Disputes also count against you: both providers can hold funds or close an account whose dispute rate climbs. For a deeper look, see the chargeback prevention guide.
Checkout Differences
What the buyer sees
Stripe
Your own card form or Stripe's hosted checkout, with wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Stripe's brand stays in the background.
PayPal
A PayPal or Venmo button that logs the buyer into an account they already have. Some buyers trust it more than typing a card number.
Winner: Depends on your buyers
Subscriptions
Stripe
Usage-based, tiered and per-seat plans, proration, retries for failed payments, a customer portal.
PayPal
Basic recurring payments.
Winner: Stripe
Developer tools
Stripe
Extensive APIs, webhooks, test mode and a CLI.
PayPal
Solid APIs and SDKs, less depth for custom flows.
Winner: Stripe
Selling in person
Stripe
Terminal readers at 2.7% + 5¢; Reader M2 $59; S700 and S710 $299; T600 $329.
PayPal
PayPal POS at 2.29% + 9¢, card reader or Tap to Pay in the app.
Winner: PayPal on rate
International
Stripe
135+ currencies; international cards add 1.5%, currency conversion another 1%.
PayPal
International commercial transactions add 1.5%.
Winner: Stripe on reach
Above $50K a Month
Both price on flat rates, so the markup grows with every sale. At $250K a month online, Stripe costs about $8,750 a month on our method and the PayPal button $11,175. Helcim's interchange-plus pricing comes to about $6,125 (2.45%), with no monthly fee.
That gap is worked out pair by pair in Helcim vs Stripe, and for merchants big enough to negotiate a contract, in Stripe vs Worldpay. If you also sell in person, Stripe vs Square covers the POS side, and PayPal vs Square the same for PayPal.
Who Should Pick Which
Choose Stripe If:
- - You run a SaaS product or bill subscriptions
- - Your orders are small, so the fixed fee matters
- - You have a developer or a cart that supports Stripe
- - You want one card rate on every online sale
- - You sell in many currencies
Choose PayPal If:
- - Your buyers ask for PayPal or Venmo
- - You need to start selling today with no code
- - You sell in person and want 2.29% + 9¢
- - PayPal approves you for Advanced Credit and Debit
- - You already keep a PayPal business balance
FAQ
Is Stripe cheaper than PayPal?
For online card payments, yes, unless PayPal approves you for its Advanced Credit and Debit product. Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢. PayPal's checkout button costs 3.49% + 49¢ and its standard card payments 2.99% + 49¢. On a $50 sale that is 3.50% on Stripe against 4.47% and 3.97% on PayPal. Advanced Credit and Debit, at 2.89% + 29¢, comes in a hair under Stripe.
What are PayPal's fees compared with Stripe's?
Online: Stripe 2.9% + 30¢; PayPal Checkout 3.49% + 49¢, standard card payments 2.99% + 49¢, Advanced Credit and Debit 2.89% + 29¢, Pay Later 4.99% + 49¢. In person: Stripe Terminal 2.7% + 5¢; PayPal POS 2.29% + 9¢. Keyed: Stripe 3.4% + 30¢; PayPal Virtual Terminal 3.39% + 29¢. Both add 1.5% for international cards and charge 0.8% capped at $5 for ACH.
How much more does PayPal cost on small orders?
The fixed fee does most of the damage. On a $10 order Stripe takes $0.59 and the PayPal button $0.84. On a $500 order the gap is $3.14, or about 0.6% of the sale.
Which has lower dispute fees, Stripe or PayPal?
Stripe charges $15 per dispute, plus another $15 if you counter it manually, refunded if you win. PayPal charges $20 per chargeback. If you fight most disputes, the two end up close; if you accept most of them, Stripe is $5 cheaper each time.
How fast do Stripe and PayPal pay out?
Stripe pays out in 2 business days, and a new account's first payout typically takes 7 to 14 days. Instant Payouts cost 1.5% (50¢ minimum). PayPal's standard withdrawal to a bank is free and its instant transfer costs 1.5% (50¢ minimum), up to $25,000 per bank transfer.
Should I use Stripe or PayPal for my business?
Use Stripe as your card processor if you sell online, bill subscriptions or want control over the checkout. Add the PayPal button if your buyers ask for it; you pay PayPal's higher rate only on the orders that use it. Pick PayPal alone if you need to start selling today with no development and most of your buyers already have PayPal or Venmo.
Does Stripe or PayPal charge a monthly fee?
Stripe has no monthly fee on its standard pricing. PayPal has none for PayPal POS or Advanced Credit and Debit; its Payments Advanced and Payments Pro products cost $5 and $30 a month.
Is there a cheaper option than both?
For card payments, yes. On the same assumptions, Helcim's interchange-plus pricing costs 2.70% online at $10K a month and 2.45% at $250K, against 3.50% for Stripe. You give up PayPal's wallet button and some of Stripe's developer tools, and your rate moves with your card mix.
Final Verdict
Best setup for most online stores: Stripe as the card processor, which saves about $485 a month against the PayPal button at $50K, with PayPal added as a second button for buyers who want it. For in-person sales, PayPal POS is the cheaper of the two.
Not Sure Which Is Right?
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