Finance · Free browser tool
Stripe vs. PayPal Fee Comparison & Reverse Calculator
Compare transaction fees side-by-side between Stripe and PayPal, calculate FX margins, and reverse-calculate required charges.
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Results update instantly as you type.
Rates are approximate 2026 US standard pricing and can vary by account, volume, and negotiated pricing. Reverse mode approximates the required charge and may drift slightly at very small or very large amounts where payout-fee minimums or caps apply.
You save $0.64 with Stripe
Higher net payout on the same charge
Stripe
$485.20
Net payout · fee $14.80
PayPal
$484.56
Net payout · fee $15.44
Side-by-side comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the core fee structure difference between Stripe and PayPal?
For standard US domestic cards, Stripe is commonly priced at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, while PayPal Goods & Services runs slightly higher at 2.99% + $0.49 (PayPal's Online Checkout product is priced even higher, around 3.49% + $0.49). The percentage difference looks small, but the higher fixed fee on PayPal adds up fast on smaller transactions—run your typical order size through this calculator to see the real gap.
How much more do international cards and currency conversion cost?
Both processors add a surcharge for cards issued outside your home country—commonly an extra 1.0–1.5 percentage points on top of the domestic rate. If you also need currency conversion (charging in a currency different from your payout currency), that adds another layer: Stripe's conversion markup tends to run around 1%, while PayPal's real-world foreign exchange spread is often noticeably higher, frequently in the 2.5%+ range—one of the biggest hidden costs for sellers who accept many international payments.
Is Instant Payout worth the extra fee?
Both platforms charge roughly 1.5% for moving funds out immediately instead of waiting for the standard payout schedule (typically 1–3 business days), though minimums and caps differ—Stripe applies a small minimum fee, while PayPal typically applies both a minimum and a maximum cap per transfer. For most sellers, Instant Payout is worth it only when cash-flow timing genuinely matters; otherwise the standard payout schedule keeps more money in your pocket.
Is my transaction or pricing data uploaded anywhere?
No. Every fee calculation runs locally in your browser using plain arithmetic—your transaction amounts and settings are never sent to a server.
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Stripe vs. PayPal Fees in 2026: Which Processor Actually Pays You More?
Stripe and PayPal both charge a percentage plus a small fixed fee per transaction, but the details diverge quickly once you look past the headline rate. Stripe's standard US domestic card rate is commonly 2.9% + $0.30, while PayPal Goods & Services runs a bit higher at 2.99% + $0.49—and PayPal's Online Checkout product carries an even higher 3.49% + $0.49. On a $20 sale the fixed-fee gap alone can outweigh the percentage difference, so the "cheaper" processor depends heavily on your typical order size.
International cards and cross-border currency conversion widen the gap further. Both processors add roughly 1.0–1.5 extra percentage points for cards issued outside your home country, but their foreign exchange markups differ significantly: Stripe's conversion fee is typically close to 1%, while PayPal's real-world FX spread is often noticeably higher. For sellers who take a meaningful share of international payments, that spread can be the single biggest line item in your total processing cost—use the currency conversion toggle in this calculator to see the effect on your own numbers.
Instant Payout trades a small fee (around 1.5% on both platforms, with different minimums and caps) for same-day access to funds instead of the standard 1–3 business day payout schedule. It's a reasonable trade when cash flow is tight, but for most steady-volume sellers the standard payout schedule keeps more revenue in your account over a year.
Use Reverse mode when you already know the exact amount you need to land in your account—for example, to cover a vendor payment or hit a specific take-home number—and want to see what to actually charge the customer on each platform. Pair this comparison with the Etsy Fee Calculator , Amazon FBA Calculator , or the Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator to see how payment processing fees stack up alongside marketplace fees and your target take-home pay. For a quick, single-platform estimate instead of a side-by-side comparison, try the Stripe & PayPal Fee Calculator . This free calculator runs entirely in your browser—your transaction amounts and settings are never uploaded to a server.