PayPal vs Stripe

Fees, WordPress integration, and where each one wins — side by side for PayPal and Stripe.

Across 10 criteria, PayPal 1 Stripe 3

PayPal vs Stripe, Summarized

Universal consumer wallet · Pay-as-you-go processor

PayPal

Universal consumer wallet

Domestic
3.49% + $0.49
International
4.99% + $0.49
Conversion
+4%
Type
Gateway

PayPal remains a fixture of consumer e-commerce due to its brand recognition and existing user base. For merchants selling digital products globally, the 4% currency conversion fee and lack of merchant-of-record services make it a costly choice compared to alternatives like Paddle.

Best for

Stores with consumer buyers who already use PayPal.

PayPal Fee Calculator

Stripe

Pay-as-you-go processor

Domestic
2.9% + $0.30
International
4.4% + $0.30
Conversion
+1%
Type
Gateway

Stripe is the de facto standard for developer-friendly payments. Its API-first approach and extensive feature set make it the top choice for startups and scaling businesses. However, merchants handle their own tax compliance and chargeback disputes — significant overhead for digital product sellers.

Best for

Engineering teams who want maximum flexibility.

Stripe Fee Calculator

Where Each One Wins

Highlighted cells mark the side that's more favorable for a merchant on each row.

Criterion
PayPal
Stripe
Domestic fee
3.49% + $0.49
2.9% + $0.30
International fee
4.99% + $0.49
4.4% + $0.30
Currency conversion
+4%
+1%
Monthly cost
Free
Free
Merchant of Record
No
No
Tax handling
You handle
You handle
Chargebacks
You handle
You handle
WooCommerce
Compatible
Compatible
Easy Digital Downloads
Compatible
Not compatible
Founded
1998
2010

What Each One Is Great At

PayPal Strengths

  • Massive consumer brand recognition — buyers trust PayPal
  • 400M+ active accounts globally
  • Express Checkout enables one-tap purchasing
  • Strong buyer protection reputation
  • Multiple funding sources (bank, card, balance)

Stripe Strengths

  • Industry-leading API and developer experience
  • Supports 135+ currencies with automatic conversion
  • Extensive dashboard and analytics
  • Large ecosystem of third-party integrations
  • Advanced fraud detection (Radar)

Which One Should You Pick?

There's no universal answer — the right call depends on your model, technical capacity, and growth plan. Here's a quick decision framework.