Stripe usually wins when
You're online-first and want simpler card pricing.
- Mostly domestic cards
- Higher average order value
- You want clean API / billing workflows
Quick scenarios
Fee breakdown
Payment stack — next step
- Stripe all-in costRefunds + international
- Stripe vs PayPalHead-to-head
- Square detailIn-person vs online mix
Fee sources & last verified
Rates checked: 2026-07-24 · US published rates · Custom pricing and optional services excluded
- Stripe pricing (US) — 2.9% + $0.30 per successful card charge; +1.5% international cards
- PayPal merchant fees (US) — Product-specific: PayPal/Venmo 3.49% + $0.49; Standard Checkout cards 2.99% + $0.49; international commercial +1.50%
- Square processing fees (US) — 2.6% + $0.15 in-person; 2.9% + $0.30 e-commerce
Recommendation
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Estimates only · Not financial advice · Not affiliated with third-party brands
US published rates modeled · checked 2026-07-24
| Processor | Percentage | Per transaction | Online / intl note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 2.9% | $0.30 | +1.5% international cards |
| PayPal / Venmo | 3.49% | $0.49 | +1.50% international commercial |
| Square | 2.6% in-person | $0.15 | 2.9% + $0.30 e-commerce |
Sources:Stripe,PayPal,Square. Your negotiated rate may differ.
Which processor wins for your setup?
This is the product pattern the better competitors use: not just one answer, but a quick “when it wins” explanation so people can act on the result.
Square usually wins when
In-person volume matters and lower fixed fees help.
- Retail, cafe, event, or POS-heavy
- Smaller tickets where fixed fees bite
- You need hardware + online together
PayPal usually wins when
Buyer trust is worth paying a little more.
- Checkout familiarity helps conversion
- Clients insist on PayPal
- You want wallet + BNPL behavior
How the fee math changes
Competitor pages explain the moving parts right under the tool. Ours should too.
| Scenario | Who benefits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Low ticket orders | Square | Lower in-person fixed fee helps more when order size is small. |
| Mostly domestic online | Stripe | Simple 2.9% + $0.30 stays competitive without wallet markup. |
| Cross-border / wallet demand | Depends | PayPal may convert better, but its fee stack can erase that gain. |
Compare other fee tools
Stripe vs PayPalHead-to-head monthly cost comparison at your own volume and ticket size.Stripe hidden feesModel refund leakage, international cards, and all-in effective cost.PayPal fee detailSee per-sale fee math before you send invoices or quotes.Square fee detailUseful when in-person sales and lower fixed fees change the winner.
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