Stripe vs PayPal
Stripe vs PayPal compares published lines. Stripe's US domestic cards are 2.9% + $0.30, read November 9, 2026. PayPal is listed at 3.49% + $0.49 checkout · 2.99% + $0.49 cards. Dispute fees that day: Stripe $15 received, and PayPal $15 dispute · $20 card chargeback.
What is the verdict on Stripe vs PayPal?
PayPal publishes 3.49% + $0.49 checkout · 2.99% + $0.49 cards, read on November 9, 2026. Stripe's US domestic card rate on that date is 2.9% + $0.30.
For a low-risk online business, Stripe's published US card rate is lower than PayPal Checkout, and the product is broader. PayPal wins when a meaningful share of buyers will pay only because PayPal or Venmo is on the page. Neither one is a specialist for a business Stripe has already restricted.
How do Stripe and PayPal compare on features?
PayPal is a payment service provider with the dispute line $15 dispute · $20 card chargeback, read on November 9, 2026. Stripe's dispute line on that date is $15 received.
| Feature | Stripe | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Card rate | 2.9% + $0.30 | 3.49% + $0.49 checkout · 2.99% + $0.49 cards |
| Dispute fee | $15 received | $15 dispute · $20 card chargeback |
| Pricing | Flat rate | Flat rate |
| Payout | Standard schedule free. Instant 1.5%, minimum $0.50. | See PayPal's fee page for withdrawals. |
| Region | Global. Rates here are the US list prices. | Global. Rates here are the US commercial schedule. |
| Underwriting | Instant signup. Stripe can review, restrict, or close the account later. | Instant signup, with later review and reserves. |
| Merchant of record | ||
| In the fee calculator |
What does Stripe vs PayPal cost at $10,000, $100,000, and $1 million a month?
The dollar columns use a $50 average ticket and successful charges only, on rates read November 9, 2026. PayPal's published line is 3.49% + $0.49 checkout · 2.99% + $0.49 cards.
Stripe
Published standard rate, read November 9, 2026.
- Manually entered cards. +0.5%
- International cards. +1.5%
- Currency conversion. +1% when required
PayPal
checkout · 2.99% + $0.49 cards. Published standard rate, read November 9, 2026.
- Standard credit and debit card payments. 2.99% + $0.49
- International commercial transactions. +1.50%
- Dispute fee, USD. $15. Applies when a buyer files a dispute on a PayPal account or PayPal checkout payment. High-volume dispute pricing is higher.
| Monthly volume | Stripe, $50 ticket | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $350.00 | PayPal Checkout, Guest Checkout, Venmo: $447.00. PayPal standard credit and debit cards: $397.00 |
| $100,000 | $3,500.00 | PayPal Checkout, Guest Checkout, Venmo: $4,470.00. PayPal standard credit and debit cards: $3,970.00 |
| $1 million | $35,000.00 | PayPal Checkout, Guest Checkout, Venmo: $44,700.00. PayPal standard credit and debit cards: $39,700.00 |
Read on November 9, 2026 from each provider's pricing page. A figure that says "from" is a floor, not the rate a business is charged. International cards, currency conversion, and disputes are not inside these totals. Stripe pricing · PayPal pricing
Where does Stripe win, and where does PayPal win?
Stripe wins on the job in the left column. PayPal wins on the job in the right column, at the rate 3.49% + $0.49 checkout · 2.99% + $0.49 cards read on November 9, 2026.
Stripe wins when
You want an API, subscriptions, and a domestic card rate of 2.9% + $0.30, and your buyers will type a card number.
PayPal wins when
You have measured that the PayPal button recovers more margin than the extra fee. On PayPal's own schedule that button is 3.49% + $0.49, half a point above PayPal's standard card rate of 2.99% + $0.49.
How do underwriting and account stability differ?
Stripe's underwriting note is instant signup, with the right to review later, as recorded on November 9, 2026. PayPal's note is: Instant signup, with later review and reserves.
A live API key is not the same thing as a written approval. If Stripe closed the account for the business model, an instant-onboard processor can reach the same answer after you have moved customers. A prohibited category does not become lawful because the logo changed.
How do you switch from Stripe to PayPal?
Stripe's data export page, read on November 10, 2026, says Stripe transfers saved cards only to a PCI DSS Level 1 processor and does not export subscriptions or payment history. The switching guide is the longer checklist.
- Export Stripe customers, prices, and disputes while the dashboard still allows it.
- Ask PayPal in writing whether a Stripe token import exists. This page does not claim one.
- Recreate plans and run five real customers in a test, including one annual plan.
- Map webhooks before cutover. Do not bill the same period twice.
- If the Stripe account is already closed, plan for customers to enter cards again.
What did PayPal publish on the pricing page?
PayPal contributed 5 fee lines to this comparison, read on November 9, 2026. The headline beside those lines is 3.49% + $0.49 checkout · 2.99% + $0.49 cards.
PayPal Checkout, Guest Checkout, and Venmo
3.49% + $0.49
Standard credit and debit card payments
2.99% + $0.49
International commercial transactions
+1.50%
Dispute fee, USD
$15. Applies when a buyer files a dispute on a PayPal account or PayPal checkout payment. High-volume dispute pricing is higher.
Card chargeback, USD
$20. For card transactions that were not processed through a PayPal account or guest checkout.
Where is the source page?
These figures were last updated November 9, 2026. The provider's own page is the source.