Stripe vs PayPal Fees
Quick answer: On a $50 sale, Stripe fees are $1.75 and PayPal fees are $2.24, so Stripe is cheaper on fees alone.
Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per US online card payment, while PayPal Checkout charges 3.49% + $0.49. PayPal lists a lower card rate of 2.99% + $0.49 for some payment types.
Fees side by side
Fees on an item sold with no shipping charged. Platform fees only; shipping, ads, boosts and taxes are not included.
| Item price | Stripe fees | PayPal fees |
|---|---|---|
| $20 | $0.88 | $1.19 |
| $50 | $1.75 | $2.24 |
| $100 | $3.20 | $3.98 |
The short answer
On a $50 sale, Stripe takes $1.75 and PayPal takes $2.24, so Stripe is cheaper by $0.49 on fees alone. The cheaper fee is not always the better platform, because traffic, buyers and how fast items sell matter as much.
Check your exact numbers
Use the Stripe fee calculator and the PayPal fee calculator to include shipping and your item cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stripe cheaper than PayPal?
On a $50 sale with no shipping, yes: $1.75 versus $2.24 in platform fees.
Do these fees include shipping?
No. Use each platform's calculator to add shipping charged and your shipping cost.
How current are these rates?
Rates were checked in October 2026 and can change, so confirm them on each platform's official fee page.
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Estimates only, based on US seller rates. Fee rates change, so verify them on the official pricing page. Rates last verified October 2026 against each platform's published fees and independent fee guides. How we verify rates.