Compare Stripe, PayPal & Square Fees
US payment processors take different cuts per online transaction. As seed values verified 2026-11-07: Stripe 2.90% + $0.30, PayPal 3.49% + $0.49, and Square 2.90% + $0.30. On a $100 charge, Stripe takes $3.20, PayPal $3.98, and Square $3.20. Compare all three below and confirm current rates on each official pricing page. See the sourced fee data and verification date →
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Current rates (US, online)
| Processor | Percentage | Fixed fee | Scope | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 2.90% | $0.30 | US standard online card payments (successful charges). | Stripe Pricing (official) | 2026-11-07 |
| PayPal | 3.49% | $0.49 | US standard domestic commercial transactions (online). | PayPal US Merchant Fees (official) | 2026-11-07 |
| Square | 2.90% | $0.30 | US standard online payments. | Square Payments Pricing (official) | 2026-11-07 |
Informational only — not financial or tax advice.
NetFee Tools is an independent reference. Fee figures are seed values captured from each processor's official US pricing page and may be outdated or not apply to your specific account, transaction type, or volume. Always confirm current rates on the processor's official site. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Stripe, PayPal, or Square, and we do not display their logos.
Stripe vs PayPal fees: side-by-side
A Stripe vs PayPal fees comparison is only meaningful at the same charge amount, because the fixed component does not scale. Enter one amount above and the calculator applies each processor's US standard online seed rate to it, then shows the fee and the net payout together. Add Square to the same view to see all three on identical terms.
What a side-by-side number does not tell you
These are bundled per-transaction rates for standard US online payments. Card mix, average ticket size, in-person volume, refunds, chargebacks, add-ons and negotiated pricing all change real cost, and our dataset does not cover them. For a structured way to decide, read best payment processor for small business and the full comparison guide.
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. Stripe and Square are identical on this narrow US online rate, while PayPal is higher. On $100 the fees are $3.20 / $3.98 / $3.20 respectively. "Cheapest" changes with card mix, average ticket size, and negotiated pricing.
What are the fees for Stripe, PayPal and 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. Each rate is a percentage plus a fixed fee per successful online transaction, sourced from the processor's official pricing page and last verified 2026-11-07.
How much do they take on a $100 charge?
Stripe $3.20, PayPal $3.98, Square $3.20. The difference is small on large charges but the fixed fee matters more on small ones.
Do processing fees change with transaction size?
The percentage part scales with the charge, but the fixed fee does not. That means the effective rate is higher on small payments. Try $5 and $500 in the calculator above to see it.
Why do Stripe and Square show the same rate?
Both publish 2.90% + $0.30 for US standard online payments in our seed dataset. Other fees (in-person, international, add-ons, hardware, payouts) differ, so a matching headline rate does not mean matching total cost.