How Stripe Fees Work
Stripe charges a percentage plus a fixed fee for every transaction. Rates fluctuate -- online card payments usually cost more than in-person swipes, and international cards add extra charges.
Stripe simplifies payment processing -- a benefit for any business scaling up. There are no monthly fees, hidden setup costs, or unexpected charges in the terms and conditions. You're only billed when a transaction goes through, plain and simple. That predictability explains why so many startups and small businesses rely on Stripe.
Stripe Fee Types Explained
| Payment Type | Rate | Fixed Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Online (US cards) | 2.9% | $0.30 |
| In-Person (Terminal) | 2.7% | $0.05 |
| International cards | 3.9% | $0.30 |
| International + conversion | 3.9% + 1% | $0.30 |
| ACH Direct Debit | 0.8% | $0 (max $5) |
| Invoicing | 2.9% + 0.4% | $0.30 + $0.30 |
When Each Fee Applies
These days, almost every online business takes card payments. Stripe charges a standard fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 for each successful US card transaction. International card charges are slightly higher, at 3.9% plus the usual $0.30. If the payment also requires currency conversion, add another 1%.
Accepting in-person payments is straightforward with Stripe Terminal, at 2.7% plus $0.05 per transaction -- noticeably cheaper than online rates because card-present transactions carry less fraud risk.
ACH Direct Debit is Stripe's most affordable option. Transactions cost just 0.8% with a $5 maximum fee. Businesses handling larger payments, such as rent or business invoices, see substantial cost reductions compared to typical card fees.
Stripe Invoicing adds a 0.4% transaction fee, plus $0.30. This brings the total cost to roughly 3.3% and $0.60 per invoice paid -- worth noting for budget planning. Only use it when you actually need invoice features like payment terms and reminders.
Tips to Lower Your Stripe Costs
- Use ACH for large transactions -- a $500 payment costs only $4.00 via ACH versus $14.80 for a card payment.
- Ask about volume pricing -- processing over $80,000 monthly? Stripe offers custom rates for larger businesses.
- Skip Stripe Invoicing for simple payments -- that extra 0.4% plus $0.30 adds up. Use direct charges when you don't need invoice features.
- Try Stripe Tax -- it automates sales tax calculations and integrates natively, eliminating the hassle of separate tax solutions.
Stripe vs Other Platforms
Stripe's fees -- 2.9% plus $0.30 -- typically undercut PayPal Goods & Services' 3.49% plus $0.49. A $100 sale runs you $3.20 with Stripe, versus $3.98 through PayPal. That $0.78 difference per transaction adds up fast with substantial sales volume. Square, however, provides lower rates for in-person sales at 2.6% plus $0.10. Check our full comparison for all the details.