Payment Processor Fee Comparison

How this comparison works

The comparison uses published standard US rates for one specific type of online payment: PayPal Checkout, Stripe card payments, and Shopify Payments on the Basic plan. It is not a universal ranking of the providers. Different Shopify plans, PayPal products, Stripe custom contracts, card types, countries, currencies, and payment methods can change the result.

Worked example

On a $1,000 domestic transaction, Stripe and Shopify Payments Basic both use a 2.9% + $0.30 assumption, while PayPal Checkout uses 3.49% + $0.49. The table calculates each fee from the same amount so the comparison is transparent rather than relying on a generic "cheapest processor" claim.

Sources and assumptions

Last reviewed: September 16, 2026. PayPal Checkout: 3.49% + $0.49 for US domestic transactions, plus 1.50% for international commercial transactions. Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 for US domestic cards, +1.5% for international cards, +1% if currency conversion is required. Shopify Payments Basic: 2.9% + $0.30 for US standard online cards, +1% for international online card rates.

PayPal official fees · Stripe official pricing · Shopify official pricing

FAQ

Why isn't Wise in this table? Wise is primarily a transfer and multi-currency service rather than a like-for-like online card checkout product, so including one assumed Wise conversion fee next to card checkout fees can be misleading.

Does the lowest fee mean the best processor? No. Fraud tools, checkout conversion, chargebacks, payout speed, subscriptions, international coverage, and platform integration can matter more than a small rate difference.

Can my actual rate differ? Yes. Use the provider links above to confirm the rate that applies to your account and transaction.