Payments
Stripe vs PayPal Fee Calculator
See exactly what each processor keeps on a transaction — and flip the calculation around to find out what to charge so you receive an exact amount.
Stripe
$1,456.20
- You charge
- $1,500.00
- Processor keeps
- $43.80
- You receive
- $1,456.20
Cheapest option for this amount
2.9% + $0.30 (US domestic card)
Square
$1,456.20
- You charge
- $1,500.00
- Processor keeps
- $43.80
- You receive
- $1,456.20
2.9% + $0.30 (US online)
PayPal
$1,447.16
- You charge
- $1,500.00
- Processor keeps
- $52.84
- You receive
- $1,447.16
3.49% + $0.49 (Checkout/invoice, US)
Rates shown are standard published United States online-card rates and are estimates — your actual rate may differ based on account type, transaction type and negotiated pricing.
How this calculation works
Standard fee formula
Each processor charges a percentage of the transaction plus a small fixed fee: fee = amount × percentage + fixed fee.
Reverse calculation
To receive an exact net amount, we solve for the charge: charge = (net + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − percentage). This is the calculation most fee calculators skip.
Frequently asked questions
Does this work outside the US?+
Yes — select your country from the dropdown to switch to UK, EU, Canada or Australia domestic rates for Stripe, PayPal and Square. Each region has its own standard percentage and fixed fee.
How much does Stripe charge per transaction?+
Stripe's standard domestic online-card rate is 2.9% + $0.30 in the US, 1.5% + £0.20 in the UK, 1.5% + €0.25 in the Eurozone, 2.9% + C$0.30 in Canada, and 1.75% + A$0.30 in Australia. International cards and currency conversion add extra fees on top — always confirm your exact rate in your Stripe dashboard.
How much does PayPal charge per transaction?+
PayPal's standard US rate for Goods & Services payments is 3.49% plus $0.49 per transaction. Other payment types (invoicing, PayPal Pay Later, international) use different rates.
What does 'I want to receive exactly this amount' calculate?+
It reverse-calculates the amount you need to charge a client so that, after the processor's percentage and fixed fee are deducted, the amount that lands in your account matches the net figure you entered.
Is Stripe always cheaper than PayPal?+
For most standard US online card payments, yes — Stripe's combination of percentage and fixed fee tends to be lower. The gap narrows for very small transactions and can reverse for certain PayPal payment types or negotiated volume pricing, so it's worth comparing per transaction size rather than assuming.
Once you know your real hourly rate, use the Project Quote Calculator to turn it into a full project price, then the Invoice Calculator to bill it.