Payment Calculators & Fee Guides 2026

Compare Stripe vs PayPal fees, calculate exact transaction costs, estimate VAT and sales tax. Free calculators backed by official processor rate schedules. Updated April 2026.

Stripe vs PayPal Comparator Stripe Fee Calculator PayPal Fee Calculator

Stripe vs PayPal in 2026: The Short Version

Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per domestic transaction — no monthly fees, no setup costs. Best for: SaaS businesses, subscription billing, developer-first integrations, and any business doing $50K+/month.

PayPal charges 3.49% + $0.49 per domestic transaction — no monthly fee. Best for: ecommerce businesses that benefit from PayPal's buyer recognition, international-heavy businesses, and sellers who also sell on eBay.

For a $100 sale, Stripe saves $0.78. At $100,000/month in volume, that's $780/month — or $9,360/year. Use our Stripe vs PayPal Comparator to calculate the exact difference for your volume.

Free Payment Calculators

Stripe vs PayPal Fee Comparator

Enter any transaction amount to see Stripe and PayPal fees side-by-side. Calculate exactly which processor is cheaper for your volume.

Open Comparator →

Stripe Fee Calculator

Calculate exact Stripe fees for domestic and international transactions. Includes reverse calculation: how much to charge for a target net.

Open Calculator →

PayPal Fee Calculator

Calculate PayPal transaction fees for domestic and international payments. Compute processing fees, net payout, and required charge for target net.

Open Calculator →

VAT Calculator

Add or remove VAT from prices for EU and UK. Supports standard and reduced rates. Instant calculation for any VAT-inclusive or exclusive amount.

Open Calculator →

Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate US sales tax for all 50 states. Select state and locality for combined rates. Covers county, city, and special district taxes.

Open Calculator →

Currency Converter

Convert between USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, AUD and 50+ currencies. Essential for international ecommerce and cross-border payment calculations.

Open Converter →

Payment Fee Guides (2026)

Payment Processor Fee Reference (2026)

Payment Processor Fees Comparison 2026
Processor Domestic Card Fee Intl Card Fee Fixed Fee Monthly Fee Refund Fee
Stripe 2.9% + 1% $0.30 None None
PayPal 3.49% + 1.5% $0.49 None None
Square (online) 2.9% + 1.5% $0.30 None None
Square (in-person) 2.6% $0.10 None None

Sources: Stripe Pricing, PayPal Business, Square — rates as of April 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Stripe or PayPal cheaper in 2026?
Stripe is cheaper for most businesses. Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 vs PayPal's 3.49% + $0.49 for domestic transactions. For a $100 sale, Stripe saves $0.78 per transaction. At $100K/month in volume, that's roughly $780/month in savings. Use our Stripe vs PayPal Comparator to calculate the difference for your specific volume.
What are Stripe's fees in 2026?
Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per successful card charge for US domestic transactions. International cards add 1%. ACH bank transfers are free (or 0.8% capped at $5 for ACH debit). No monthly fees, setup fees, or hidden charges for standard accounts. Volume discounts become available at $80K+/month.
What are PayPal's merchant fees in 2026?
PayPal charges 3.49% + $0.49 per domestic transaction for standard business accounts. International transactions are 4.99% + fixed currency fee. No monthly fee for basic selling. Offsite ads are optional at 12–15% of orders from Google/Facebook traffic.
Do Stripe and PayPal charge refund fees?
Neither charges a fee to issue refunds. However, neither refunds the original transaction fee either. Stripe withholds 20% of the original fee; PayPal keeps the full original fee. Budget for this when setting refund policies.
How do I calculate sales tax for US ecommerce?
US sales tax rates vary by state and locality. Base rates range from 0% (Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware) to 9.55% (Louisiana). Most states add district/city taxes. Use our Sales Tax Calculator to find the combined rate for any US address.

Compare Payment Processors for Your Business

Enter your transaction volume and see exactly how much Stripe vs PayPal would cost you per month in 2026.

Open Stripe vs PayPal Comparator