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Stripe vs PayPal fees ยท fees checked 2026-10-29

On $1,000: Stripe, card $29.30, PayPal Checkout $35.39.

On the same $1,000 online payment, Stripe's card fee and PayPal Checkout's fee differ by a few dollars. Both lose to a bank transfer. Here are the exact numbers.

$

Side by side

PaymentStripe, cardPayPal Checkout
$100.00$3.20 (3.2%)$3.98 (3.98%)
$500.00$14.80 (2.96%)$17.94 (3.59%)
$1,000.00$29.30 (2.93%)$35.39 (3.54%)
$5,000.00$145.30 (2.91%)$174.99 (3.5%)

Stripe, card is cheaper on a $1,000 payment, by $6.09. Both charge more than a bank transfer.

What beats both on a $1,000 payment

  1. Melio, bank transfer request: $0.00 instead of $29.30, so you keep $29.30 more per $1,000 payment, $1,406.40 a year at 4 a month.
  2. Zelle for business (through your bank): $0.00 instead of $29.30, so you keep $29.30 more per $1,000 payment, $1,406.40 a year at 4 a month.
  3. Wise Business, USD account ($31 once): $0.00 instead of $29.30, so you keep $29.30 more per $1,000 payment, $1,406.40 a year at 4 a month.
  4. Payoneer receiving account, then withdraw: $1.50 instead of $29.30, so you keep $27.80 more per $1,000 payment, $1,334.40 a year at 4 a month.

Sources

PlatformMethodFeeChecked
stripecard online2.9% + $0.30source, 2026-10-29
stripecard in person2.7% + $0.05source, 2026-10-29
stripeach debit0.8%, cap $5source, 2026-10-29
stripestablecoin1.5%source, 2026-10-29
paypalpaypal checkout3.49% + $0.49source, 2026-10-29
paypalcard online2.99% + $0.49source, 2026-10-29
paypalgoods and services2.99%source, 2026-10-29
paypalach pay by bank1%, cap $10source, 2026-10-29
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