Stripe vs PayPal Fee Calculator — Which Keeps More of Your Money?
Last updated 2026-05-14 · Reviewed by Jordan Lee
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Stripe and PayPal both charge a percentage fee plus a fixed amount per transaction, but the numbers differ enough to matter. Enter your payment amount below and see a side-by-side breakdown of fees, net earnings, and effective rates — for domestic and international payments.
Stripe vs PayPal Fees on $500, $2k, and $10k
Standard domestic rates. Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30. PayPal: 3.49% + $0.49. Fees grow at scale — see where the gap widens.
| Invoice Amount | Stripe Fee | PayPal Fee | Savings | Cheapest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500.00 | -$14.80 | -$17.94 | $3.14 | Stripe | Full comparison → |
| $2,000.00 | -$58.30 | -$70.29 | $11.99 | Stripe | Full comparison → |
| $10,000.00 | -$290.30 | -$349.49 | $59.19 | Stripe | Full comparison → |
Standard domestic rates as of 2026. International transactions carry additional surcharges.
Payment processor fees sound small — 2.9% here, $0.30 there — but they add up fast when you're invoicing clients every week. This calculator does the exact math so you can see which processor leaves more money in your pocket before you commit to one.
How It Works
Enter the payment amount your client will send. Choose your currency and whether the payment crosses borders. Hit Calculate and you'll see the fee each processor deducts, the net amount you'd receive, and the effective rate as a percentage. The cheaper option is highlighted automatically.
The Fee Formula
Each processor charges a percentage of the transaction plus a fixed amount. Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30. PayPal: 3.49% + $0.49. For international payments, both add 1.5% on top. The fixed fee matters more on small payments; the percentage matters more on large ones. That's why Stripe can be cheaper for some amounts and PayPal for others.
Domestic vs International Payments
If your client's card or PayPal account is in a different country than your business, the cross-border fee applies. Toggle 'International payment' in the calculator to include the extra 1.5% in the comparison. Most freelancers working with global clients should always use the international mode.
Which Should You Use?
For most freelancers, Stripe comes out cheaper — especially on larger invoices where the lower base rate (2.9% vs 3.49%) makes a real difference. PayPal can win on very small amounts because of perception and ease of use for clients who already have a PayPal account. If your clients strongly prefer one over the other, that convenience may outweigh a few cents per transaction.
Tips for Reducing Payment Fees
A few practical habits can meaningfully reduce what you hand over to payment processors. Invoice in larger amounts when possible — the fixed per-transaction fee ($0.30 for Stripe, $0.49 for PayPal) hits hardest on small payments. If a client pays a $50 invoice, the fixed component alone is 0.6% of the total. Bundle smaller milestones into a single invoice to lower the effective rate. Enable ACH bank transfers in Stripe if your client is US-based — the fee drops to 0.8% capped at $5, far cheaper than card processing. For recurring clients, set up automatic billing so payments never lapse and you avoid manual-invoice overhead. Always quote clients in a major currency (USD, EUR, GBP) rather than your local currency when possible — currency conversion markups can add 1–2% on top of processor fees, eating into your take-home without any line item to show for it.
How much does Stripe charge per transaction?
Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per successful card charge for domestic US transactions. International cards add a 1.5% cross-border fee, bringing the total to 4.4% + $0.30.
How much does PayPal charge per transaction?
PayPal charges 3.49% + $0.49 for standard checkout and invoicing. International payments add a 1.5% cross-border fee, for a total of 4.99% + $0.49.
Which is cheaper for small payments — Stripe or PayPal?
For small amounts (under ~$20), PayPal's lower percentage can be offset by its higher fixed fee ($0.49 vs $0.30). Stripe tends to be cheaper for amounts under roughly $10. Use the calculator above with your exact amount to compare.
Does Stripe or PayPal charge more for international payments?
Both add 1.5% for cross-border payments. Because Stripe's base rate is lower, it remains the cheaper option for most international transactions.
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