Stripe vs PayPal vs Square

Reviewed by The NetFee Tools Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-11-07

How the three most common US payment processors compare on online rates, fixed fees, and fit for freelancers and small businesses — with a side-by-side table and a calculator.

Rates at a glance (US, online, seed values)

The headline online rates for a standard US transaction are: Stripe 2.90% + $0.30, PayPal 3.49% + $0.49, and Square 2.90% + $0.30. Exact, current figures with sources are on the fee data pages.

How the math differs by amount

Because PayPal adds a higher fixed fee ($0.49 vs $0.30), it tends to cost more on small and mid-size charges, while Stripe and Square are identical on the standard online rate. On a $100 charge, Stripe and Square each take $3.20; PayPal takes $3.98. On a $25 charge, Stripe/Square take $1.03 and PayPal takes $1.36. Run your own numbers in the comparison calculator.

Fit for different businesses

Stripe — developer-friendly APIs and broad international support; common for SaaS, marketplaces, and custom checkouts. Best if you need flexibility and don’t mind some setup.
PayPal — widely recognized by customers and easy to start; strong for invoices and checkout buttons. The higher fixed fee matters more on smaller transactions.
Square — tight integration of in-person and online; attractive if you also sell at a counter or market. In-person rates are lower than online.

What we don’t compare here

This page focuses on the standard US online rate. Payout speed, dashboard features, disputes, and custom/volume pricing vary and should be checked on each provider’s site. Fee figures here are seed values — confirm on the official pricing pages before deciding.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheapest: Stripe, PayPal, or Square?

On our US standard online seed rates, Stripe is 2.90% + $0.30, PayPal is 3.49% + $0.49, and Square is 2.90% + $0.30. On $100 that is $3.20, $3.98, and $3.20 respectively. Compare with your own average ticket before choosing.

Compare with your amount →

What is the best payment processor for small business?

There is no single answer: it depends on how you sell (online vs in person), average transaction size, payout timing, and the tools you already use. We publish verifiable US online fee data rather than rankings, so use the fee table and calculator as one input and confirm current pricing with each provider.

Read the small-business decision guide →Compare fees side by side →

Do these rates apply to in-person payments?

No. The figures on this site are US standard online rates. Card-present (in-person) pricing is different for all three providers and is outside this dataset.

How much do the three take on a $100 charge?

Stripe $3.20, PayPal $3.98, Square $3.20, using our 2026-11-07 seed rates.

Open the comparison calculator →