# Stripe vs PayPal: Which Is Actually Cheaper?

URL: https://www.paydude.io/resources/tools/stripe-vs-paypal-fees
Type: Free interactive calculator
Summary: Stripe publishes 2.9% + 30¢; PayPal publishes 3.49% + 49¢. Which costs less depends on your average transaction — see where the answer flips.

Two of the most widely used payment providers, with rates that are not close. PayPal is more expensive on both components, and dramatically so on small transactions.

## Summary

Stripe publishes 2.9% + 30¢. PayPal publishes 3.49% + 49¢. Stripe is cheaper at every ticket size — the rate cards never cross. Compare at your own average transaction — the headline rate alone does not decide it.

## Published rates

**Standard published rates for domestic online cards, September 2026**

|  | Stripe | PayPal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Card rate | 2.9% | 3.49% |
| Fixed fee | 30¢ | 49¢ |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 |
| Pricing model | Flat rate | Flat rate |

## Which one is cheaper

PayPal charges more on both the percentage and the fixed fee, so there is no transaction size at which it wins on price. At a $10 ticket the gap is widest: PayPal works out at 8.39% against Stripe's 5.90%.

> **Price is not why people choose PayPal:** The wallet is. Some customers will complete a purchase with PayPal that they would abandon at a card form, and for consumer businesses that conversion difference can be worth more than the rate gap. Measure it before assuming either way.

## What actually decides it

If your customers specifically want to pay with PayPal, the conversion lift may justify the cost. If they are indifferent, Stripe is cheaper on every transaction.

## For reference

The calculator above also shows Paydude, which publishes 2.6% + 25¢ improving with volume. It is there as a third data point rather than as the answer to a question about Stripe and PayPal — for every provider side by side see the [full processor fee table](https://www.paydude.io/resources/payment-processor-fee-comparison).

**Compare every provider at once** Published rates for 18 processors, with the effective rate at three ticket sizes. — [See the table](https://www.paydude.io/resources/payment-processor-fee-comparison)

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stripe cheaper than PayPal?

No. PayPal publishes 3.49% + 49¢ against Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢ — higher on both components, so Stripe is cheaper at any ticket size. The gap is widest on small transactions, where PayPal's larger fixed fee compounds the difference.

### At what transaction size does the answer change?

It never changes on price. Because PayPal is higher on both the percentage and the fixed fee, there is no crossover point — Stripe wins at $5 and at $5,000.

### What is the difference between Stripe and PayPal?

Stripe is a developer-first payments platform; PayPal is primarily a consumer wallet with merchant services attached. The practical difference is that some buyers actively prefer paying with PayPal, which can lift conversion enough to offset its higher rate.

### Where do these rates come from?

Both are publicly published standard rates for domestic card payments as of September 2026. Neither is a negotiated or promotional rate, and either provider may quote you something different from its list price.