Stripe vs PayPal Fee Calculator: Cross-Border & FX Conversion
Headline rates of 2.9% and 3.49% hide the part that actually decides your payout: cross-border surcharges and currency conversion spreads. Enter one transaction and this calculator stacks every layer for both processors side by side.
On a $500.00 domestic payment, Stripe nets you $3.14 more.
| Component | Stripe | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Base percentage | 2.90% | 3.49% |
| Fixed fee | $0.30 | $0.49 |
| International card | — | — |
| Currency conversion | — | — |
| Total fee | $14.80 | $17.94 |
| Net payout | $485.20 | $482.06 |
Formula & step-by-step maths
- Intl
- Applied only when the card was issued abroad
- FX
- Applied only when funds are converted to another currency
Where the real gap opens up
For a domestic same-currency sale the two processors differ by well under a percentage point. Add a foreign card and a currency conversion and PayPal's 3.5% FX spread against Stripe's roughly 1% turns a rounding error into real money — often 2-3% of every international sale.
Fixed fees punish small transactions
A $0.49 fixed component on a $5 payment is nearly 10% before any percentage applies. If your average order value is low, the fixed fee, not the percentage, is the number to optimise — which is also the argument for bundling or minimum order values.
Currency conversion is a hidden spread
Conversion charges are applied to the mid-market rate as a margin, so they never appear as a separate line on your payout. The only way to see them is to compare the received amount against the mid-market rate on the settlement date.
When PayPal still wins
Checkout conversion matters more than fees for many stores. If offering PayPal lifts completed checkouts by a few percentage points, that gain can comfortably exceed a 1-2% fee difference — which is why many merchants offer both and route by geography.
Practical ways to cut cross-border cost
Hold a balance in the sending currency where the processor supports it, settle to a multi-currency account, price in the customer's local currency to avoid double conversion, and negotiate custom rates once monthly volume passes roughly $80k.
Published rate components (US merchant accounts)
| Component | Stripe | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic card | 2.9% + $0.30 | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| International card surcharge | +1.5% | +1.5% |
| Currency conversion | +1.0% | +3.5% (approx) |
| Chargeback fee | $15 | $20 |
| Refund fixed fee | Not returned | Not returned |
| Payout timing | 2 days rolling | Instant to 1 day |
Rates are standard published US pricing and change periodically; verify before large decisions.
People also ask
How much does PayPal take from $1,000?
On a domestic same-currency sale, roughly $35.39 (3.49% plus $0.49). Add international and FX layers and it can exceed $85.
Is Stripe always cheaper than PayPal?
On raw fees for card payments, usually yes — especially with currency conversion. But PayPal can win on checkout conversion and on buyer trust in some markets.
What counts as an international card?
A card issued by a bank outside your merchant account's country. The surcharge is triggered by card issuance country, not the customer's shipping address.
Can I avoid the FX fee entirely?
Sometimes. Both processors let you settle into a bank account held in the payment currency, which avoids conversion at the processor level.
Are the fixed fees refunded on a refund?
Generally no. Both processors keep the fixed component when you refund a sale, so high-refund businesses pay a hidden fee on every reversal.
Do these rates apply to invoices and subscriptions?
Subscription billing typically uses the same card rate; invoicing products often add a small extra percentage, so check the specific product page.
Which is better for a low-ticket digital product?
Stripe, almost always, because the lower fixed fee dominates when the transaction value is small.
Can I negotiate lower rates?
Yes. Both processors offer custom interchange-plus pricing once monthly volume is substantial, commonly discussed from around $80k per month.
Do these figures include payout or withdrawal fees?
No. Instant payouts and cross-border bank withdrawals carry additional charges on both platforms.
How do chargebacks compare?
Stripe charges around $15 per dispute and PayPal around $20, with both returning the fee if you win the dispute.
Three worked examples
Same engine, three different starting points — useful if you want to see how sensitive the answer is before you type your own numbers in.
Example 1: transaction amount 390 $, sender country "Domestic card"
On the lower / more conservative end. On a $390.00 domestic payment, Stripe nets you $2.49 more.
Example 2: transaction amount 500 $, sender country "Domestic card"
A typical middle-of-the-road setup. On a $500.00 domestic payment, Stripe nets you $3.14 more.
Example 3: transaction amount 650 $, sender country "International card"
On the higher / more demanding end. On a $650.00 international payment, Stripe nets you $4.02 more.
Quick answers about the Stripe vs PayPal Fees
What exactly does the Stripe vs PayPal Fees work out?
Headline rates of 2. You enter transaction amount, sender country and currency conversion needed? and the result panel updates straight away, so you can compare two or three versions of the same question in a few seconds.
What do I need before I start?
Only 3 fields: transaction amount, sender country and currency conversion needed?. Nothing else is needed and nothing is stored.
How is it calculated — where the real gap opens up?
For a domestic same-currency sale the two processors differ by well under a percentage point. The same maths runs inside this page, so hand-checking the result on paper gives you the identical figure.
Why do two calculators give me different answers for stripe vs PayPal Fees?
A $0. Different sites pick different assumptions, so always check which method a calculator states before you trust the gap between two numbers.
What does the "Published rate components (US merchant accounts)" table on this page tell me?
It is the reference range this tool works against — 6 rows from "Domestic card" (2.9% + $0.30) up to "Payout timing" (2 days rolling). Use it to sanity-check whether the number you just calculated sits where you expected it to. Rates are standard published US pricing and change periodically; verify before large decisions.
Which sender country should I pick?
The dropdown offers 2 choices — Domestic card and International card. Pick the one that matches your real situation rather than the one you would like to be true; sender country usually moves the final figure more than any other single input, so it is worth running it twice with the option above and below your guess.
Does it work in both metric and imperial (or another currency)?
Yes. The "Currency conversion needed?" control converts every field and every result, so you never have to convert anything by hand before typing it in. Switch it after entering your numbers and the output re-renders instantly in the new system.
Do I have to press a button or reload the page to see the result?
No. Stripe vs PayPal Fees runs completely inside your browser, so the moment you change a value the cards recalculate — there is no submit step, no page reload and no waiting for a server round trip. That also means it keeps working on a weak or intermittent mobile connection.
Is it free, and do you keep what I type?
It is free with no sign-up, no app install and no usage limit. Nothing you enter into Stripe vs PayPal Fees leaves your device — the calculation is JavaScript running locally, so there is no upload of your figures to DrHint or anyone else.
Can I use it on a phone?
Yes — the layout stacks to a single column on small screens and the number fields open the numeric keypad on both Android and iOS. Many people bookmark this page or add it to their home screen and re-open it whenever the question comes up.
Anything to be careful about with the result?
On a domestic same-currency sale, roughly $35. Treat the output as a well-grounded estimate for planning, not as a professional, legal or medical decision on its own.
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