Stripe and PayPal are the two most common online payment options, and on a like-for-like sale Stripe is the cheaper of the two. Here is the math on real ticket sizes, plus when PayPal still earns its higher fee. Figures are a June 2026 snapshot.
Estimate — verify with each provider. Rates vary by country, account type and transaction method; confirm on the Stripe and PayPal pricing pages.
The answer first
| Sale amount | Stripe (2.9% + $0.30) | PayPal (3.49% + $0.49) | You save with Stripe |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.59 | $0.84 | $0.25 |
| $20 | $0.88 | $1.19 | $0.31 |
| $50 | $1.75 | $2.24 | $0.49 |
| $100 | $3.20 | $3.98 | $0.78 |
| $500 | $14.80 | $17.94 | $3.14 |
Stripe is cheaper at every ticket size. Run your own numbers in the payment fee calculator, and see the full Stripe vs PayPal matchup.
Why the fixed fee matters most on small sales
PayPal’s higher fixed fee ($0.49 vs $0.30) bites hardest on low-ticket transactions, where the fixed component is a big share of the total. On a $5 sale, PayPal’s $0.49 alone is nearly 10% before the percentage is added. If your average order value is low, the gap widens. See how much payment processing fees really cost for the full effect of fixed fees.
When PayPal still wins
- Conversion: the PayPal/Venmo button carries buyer trust that can lift checkout completion enough to outweigh the fee gap.
- Card-only tiers: PayPal’s Advanced/card processing is cheaper (~2.59–2.99% + fixed) than the wallet rate — closer to Braintree, which PayPal owns.
But for raw cost and developer experience, Stripe leads. Compare other options in the full payments comparison, including Square (matches Stripe online) and Adyen (interchange++ for volume).
Sources and accuracy
Rates are snapshots of the Stripe and PayPal public pricing pages captured in June 2026; the fee table is computed as percent × amount + fixed fee. Estimates only — verify before relying on them. See our methodology.