Quick answer
On a $30 online card sale, Stripe keeps $1.17 at 2.9% + 30¢, while PayPal keeps $1.54 when the buyer pays with a PayPal account at 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. Stripe costs less than the PayPal button and fits a shop that wants card checkout on its own site, though PayPal's advanced card processing at 2.89% + $0.29 per transaction is slightly below Stripe's card rate. PayPal's main draw is that buyers can pay with the PayPal account they already have.
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. It is pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, so it is not in the list or the fee example. See where Nation fits.
How we compared
Stripe and PayPal were checked against the same four questions, for a US shop selling online in US dollars.
- Fees on each sale The percentage and fixed fee on one online order, read from each company's own pricing page.
- Checkout How the buyer pays: a card form on your site, or a PayPal button that logs into a PayPal account.
- Disputes What a chargeback or buyer dispute costs you, on top of losing the sale if you lose the case.
- Payouts How the money reaches your bank account, how long a standard payout takes, and what a faster transfer costs.
Stripe vs PayPal at a glance
Stripe is shown at its standard online card rate and PayPal at its PayPal Checkout rate. The source and check date for every number are listed at the end of the page.
Stripe vs PayPal fees on one $30 sale
Fees are easier to compare on one order than as percentages. The example is one $30 item sold on your own site. On Stripe the buyer types a card into your checkout and pays 2.9% + 30¢. On PayPal the buyer clicks the PayPal button and pays from a PayPal account, at 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction.
- Stripe baseline $1.17 no monthly plan Card 2.9% + 30¢ $1.17
- PayPal $1.54 no monthly plan PayPal 3.49% + $0.49 $1.54
Assumes a $30 item, a domestic US buyer, no tax, no currency conversion and no dispute. If the buyer pays by card through PayPal's standard checkout instead, PayPal charges 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction; with PayPal's advanced card processing it is 2.89% + $0.29 per transaction. International cards add +1.5% on Stripe and 1.50% on PayPal.
Stripe and PayPal in detail
Each company gets the same five lines: price, fees per sale, what it is strong at, who it is best for and its main limit.
The baseline. Stripe processes cards on your own checkout with pay-as-you-go pricing and no monthly fee.
- Price
- Stripe lists its pricing as None (pay-as-you-go), with no monthly fee.
- Fees per sale
- Online cards cost 2.9% + 30¢. International cards add +1.5% and currency conversion adds +1%. Refunds: No refund fee; original fees not returned. Payouts to your bank follow a payout schedule you choose and can change in the Stripe Dashboard. Manual payouts take 1–4 business days, and Instant Payouts cost 1.5%, minimum fee of 50¢.
- Strong at
- A card checkout on your own site, plus payment links, which Stripe lists as Included at no additional charge.
- Best for
- Shops that want the lowest card rate and a checkout that stays on their own site.
- Limit
- Each dispute costs $15.00, and responding to one costs another $15.00, which you get back only if you win.
A wallet and payment processor. Buyers who already have a PayPal account can pay without typing a card.
- Price
- PayPal lists no monthly fees or setup costs for PayPal Checkout. The monthly fee for advanced card processing is listed as No fee; Payments Pro is 30.00 USD a month.
- Fees per sale
- PayPal Checkout costs 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. Cards through standard checkout cost 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction, and Pay Later costs 4.99% + $0.49 per transaction. International payments add 1.50%. A standard withdrawal to a linked bank account: No Fee (when no currency conversion is involved). An instant withdrawal costs 1.50% of amount transferred.
- Strong at
- Buyers who trust the PayPal button or prefer not to type a card into a new shop.
- Best for
- Shops whose buyers expect a PayPal option, often next to a card checkout.
- Limit
- The fixed part of 0.49 USD per order is higher than Stripe's, so small orders cost more. A dispute costs 15.00 USD and a card chargeback 20.00 USD.
Which one fits you
You want a low fee on each sale and a checkout on your own site.
Stripe
On a $30 order Stripe keeps $1.17 against $1.54 on PayPal Checkout. For card-only payments, PayPal's advanced card processing at 2.89% + $0.29 per transaction is slightly lower.
Your buyers ask for PayPal.
PayPal
Buyers can pay with their PayPal account. You pay 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction for that.
You want both options at checkout.
Both
Use Stripe for cards and add a PayPal button. Each sale pays only the fee of the method the buyer picked.
You sell many small orders.
Stripe
Stripe's fixed fee is part of 2.9% + 30¢, lower than PayPal's 0.49 USD, which matters most on small orders.
You need sales money in your bank the same day.
Either
Both offer instant transfers for a fee: 1.5%, minimum fee of 50¢ on Stripe and 1.50% of amount transferred on PayPal.
Where Nation fits
Nation
Category: an AI store builder
Nation says one description of what you make builds the store, then agents handle orders, customers and delivery and run ads, content and social posts, with you approving the work. Because pricing is not announced yet, it is not compared on fees here.
Limits today
- Status: pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai.
- Pricing and fees: not announced yet.
- Shopper marketplace: no shopper marketplace has been announced.
- Track record: no independent reviews or public stores yet.
Nation publishes this page. Nation is not a payment processor and is not ranked here or added to the fee example.
Describe what you makeDisclosure and method
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and is not part of the fee comparison.
The page compares two payment processors a small US online shop can use. Neither company paid to be included, and none of the links are affiliate links.
Every fee was read on Stripe's and PayPal's own pricing and help pages on 2 Oct 2026. The full list of sources is below.
Questions about Stripe vs PayPal
Is Stripe or PayPal cheaper?
Stripe is cheaper than the PayPal button on a typical online sale. On a $30 order, Stripe keeps $1.17 at 2.9% + 30¢, while PayPal Checkout keeps $1.54 at 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. For card payments only, PayPal's advanced card processing at 2.89% + $0.29 per transaction is slightly lower than Stripe.
What are the Stripe vs PayPal fees for cards?
Stripe vs PayPal card fees differ by checkout. Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ for online cards. PayPal charges 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction for cards through its standard checkout and 2.89% + $0.29 per transaction with advanced card processing. International cards add +1.5% on Stripe and 1.50% on PayPal.
Which charges more for disputes, Stripe or PayPal?
Stripe and PayPal both charge for disputes. Stripe charges $15.00 for each dispute and $15.00 to respond, returned if you win. PayPal charges 15.00 USD on disputes through PayPal checkout and 20.00 USD on card chargebacks that did not go through a PayPal account.
How do Stripe and PayPal payouts compare?
Stripe and PayPal pay out in different ways. Stripe sends sales money to your bank on a payout schedule you choose and can change in the Stripe Dashboard, and a manual payout takes 1–4 business days. PayPal holds money in your PayPal balance until you withdraw it. Instant transfers cost 1.5%, minimum fee of 50¢ on Stripe and 1.50% of amount transferred on PayPal.
Can I use Stripe and PayPal on the same store?
You can use Stripe and PayPal on the same store. A common setup is Stripe for card payments plus a PayPal button for buyers who prefer it. Each order pays only the fee of the method the buyer chose, so the PayPal rate of 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction applies only to PayPal payments.
Do Stripe and PayPal charge a monthly fee?
Stripe and PayPal do not charge a monthly fee for standard online payments. Stripe lists its pricing as None (pay-as-you-go). PayPal lists no monthly fees or setup costs for PayPal Checkout. PayPal Payments Pro, a separate gateway product, costs 30.00 USD a month.