Payment processing fees look simple — “2.9% + $0.30” — but the number you actually pay, the effective rate, swings widely with your order value. Understanding why is the key to picking the cheapest processor. Figures are a June 2026 snapshot.
Estimate — verify with each provider. Rates vary by country, method and contract; confirm on the vendor’s pricing page.
The answer first: effective rate depends on ticket size
For Stripe at 2.9% + $0.30, here is what you really pay:
| Sale amount | Fee | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| $5 | $0.45 | 9.0% |
| $10 | $0.59 | 5.9% |
| $25 | $1.03 | 4.1% |
| $100 | $3.20 | 3.2% |
| $1,000 | $29.30 | 2.93% |
The fixed $0.30 is a huge share of a $5 sale and a rounding error on a $1,000 sale. Run your own amounts in the payment fee calculator.
How the major processors compare
| Provider | Rate | Fee on $50 | Effective on $50 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 2.9% + $0.30 | $1.75 | 3.5% |
| Square | 2.9% + $0.30 | $1.75 | 3.5% |
| Braintree | 2.59% + $0.49 | $1.79 | 3.6% |
| PayPal | 3.49% + $0.49 | $2.24 | 4.5% |
Note how Braintree’s lower percentage but higher fixed fee makes it slightly worse than Stripe at $50 — but it pulls ahead on large sales where the percentage dominates. See the full payments comparison.
When interchange++ beats flat-rate
Adyen uses interchange++: a small fixed markup (~$0.13) plus the card network’s interchange and scheme fees passed through at cost. For a business with high volume and a favorable card mix (lots of debit, few premium rewards cards), the all-in rate can fall below a flat 2.9%. The catch: the effective rate is variable, not a single advertised number, so you need a quote.
How to actually lower your fees
- Raise average order value — the fixed fee is the enemy of small tickets.
- Match the structure to your sales — low-ticket sellers should minimize the fixed fee.
- Negotiate interchange++ at volume — see Stripe vs PayPal for the flat-rate comparison first.
Sources and accuracy
Rates are snapshots of each vendor’s public pricing page captured in June 2026; effective rates are computed as (percent × amount + fixed) ÷ amount. Estimates only — verify before relying on them. See our methodology.