If you sell online in the US, you will almost certainly be paid through PayPal, Stripe or both. Both charge a percentage plus, in most cases, a fixed amount per payment. The difference looks tiny on paper (a few tenths of a percent and a few cents), but on hundreds of orders a year it adds up, and on small orders the fixed part can matter more than the percentage.
This guide puts the standard US rates side by side, works through three order sizes, and shows how to make sure the fee does not quietly come out of your profit. PayPal's rates come from its US business fees page (last updated November 4, 2026) and Stripe's from its US pricing page, both checked in November 2026. If you just want the numbers for your own payment, use the PayPal fee calculator or the Stripe fee calculator.
The standard US rates
| How you are paid | Fee |
|---|---|
| Stripe, US card | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Stripe, international card | 4.4% + $0.30 (plus 1% if currency conversion is needed) |
| PayPal, goods & services (PayPal to PayPal) | 2.99%, no fixed fee |
| PayPal, standard card payment | 2.99% + $0.49 |
| PayPal Checkout, Guest Checkout, Venmo | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| PayPal Pay Later | 4.99% + $0.49 |
Two things stand out. First, Stripe's fixed fee ($0.30) is lower than PayPal's ($0.49). Second, PayPal's goods-and-services rate has no fixed fee at all, which makes it the cheapest option for small invoices paid from one PayPal account to another.
Side by side at three order sizes
| Payment | Stripe (US card) | PayPal card | PayPal Checkout | PayPal goods & services |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $0.88 | $1.09 | $1.19 | $0.60 |
| $100 | $3.20 | $3.48 | $3.98 | $2.99 |
| $500 | $14.80 | $15.44 | $17.94 | $14.95 |
Working for the $100 row: Stripe is 2.9% of $100 = $2.90, plus $0.30 = $3.20. PayPal card is 2.99% = $2.99, plus $0.49 = $3.48. PayPal Checkout is 3.49% = $3.49, plus $0.49 = $3.98. Goods and services is just 2.99% = $2.99.
On a website checkout, the fair comparison is usually Stripe's card rate against PayPal Checkout, because that is what a shopper paying with a PayPal button triggers. At $100 that is $3.20 against $3.98, a difference of 78 cents per order. On 500 orders a year, that is $390.
Where the fixed fee hurts
The fixed part is the same on a $5 sale as on a $500 sale, so the smaller the order, the bigger its share:
- On a $5 Stripe charge, the fee is $0.145 + $0.30 = about $0.45, roughly 9% of the payment.
- On a $1 PayPal card payment, the fee is $0.52, more than half the payment.
- On a $1 PayPal goods-and-services payment, the fee is 3 cents, because there is no fixed fee.
If you sell low-priced digital products, stickers or small add-ons, look at your average order value before choosing a processor, and consider bundles so the fixed fee is spread over more revenue.
International buyers cost more on both
Stripe adds 1.5% for cards issued outside the US (4.4% in total) and another 1% if currency conversion is required. A $100 international card payment costs $4.70, or $5.70 with conversion. PayPal also charges extra for international payments and currency conversion; the exact percentage depends on the buyer's country, so check PayPal's fee page for your case. Neither calculator adds PayPal's international fees automatically.
How to receive an exact amount
When you invoice a client for a set amount, the fee normally comes out of what you receive. To land exactly that amount, you have to ask for a little more. Because the fee is a percentage of the total, you cannot just add the fee on top; you divide:
Amount to ask for = (amount you want + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage rate)
- To receive $100 through PayPal goods and services: $100 ÷ 0.9701 = $103.08.
- To receive $100 through a PayPal card payment: $100.49 ÷ 0.9701 = $103.59.
- To receive $100 through Stripe with a US card: $100.30 ÷ 0.971 = $103.30.
Both calculators have an "I want to receive" tab that does this for you. Before you add a surcharge at checkout, check your state's rules and the card network's terms; surcharging is restricted in some places.
So which should you use?
- Website card payments: Stripe's standard rate is lower than PayPal Checkout at every order size in the table above.
- Invoices to clients who have PayPal: goods and services at 2.99% with no fixed fee is hard to beat, especially for small amounts.
- Shoppers who want PayPal: many buyers trust the PayPal button and some will only pay that way. Offering both often costs less than the sales you would lose by leaving PayPal out.
- Small orders: the fixed fee dominates. Compare the effective rate on your typical order, not the headline percentage.
Whatever you choose, put the fee into your pricing. The profit margin calculator takes "other costs per sale", so you can see your real margin after the processor's cut.
FAQ
Is Stripe cheaper than PayPal?
For standard US card payments on a website, yes: 2.9% + $0.30 against PayPal Checkout's 3.49% + $0.49. PayPal's goods-and-services rate (2.99%, no fixed fee) is cheaper than Stripe for payments between PayPal accounts.
How much does PayPal take from $100?
$2.99 for goods and services, $3.48 for a standard card payment and $3.98 through PayPal Checkout, using the US rates listed in November 2026.
How much does Stripe take from $100?
$3.20 on a US card at the standard rate, $4.70 on an international card, and $5.70 if the international payment also needs currency conversion.
Do PayPal and Stripe charge fees on sales tax?
Both charge their percentage on the full amount the customer pays, so any sales tax you collect is included in the fee calculation. Paying the tax to the state is still your job.
Last reviewed: November 2026 · By Muhammad Shujah Uddin Qazi · Fees change; always check the platform's official fee page.