PayPal vs Stripe: Pricing Comparison (2026)
PayPal and Stripe both start at Free on their entry tier.
The consumer + business payments network with 400M+ active accounts globally. Positioned as the trusted-name alternative to Stripe for merchants selling to buyers who want the PayPal 'Buy Now' checkout familiarity. Distinctive for its 20+ year buyer/seller protection reputation and cross-border reach (200+ markets, 100+ currencies). Priced as pure transaction fees (no monthly subscription for Standard/Checkout); PayPal Advanced at $30/mo unlocks virtual terminal + customization. Owns Braintree (developer-focused payments) and Venmo (consumer P2P) — sold as separate products. Publicly traded (NASDAQ: PYPL). Global market share behind Stripe on developer-first SaaS but ahead in mainstream e-commerce brand recognition.
The payments infrastructure standard, private, valued $95B (2024). Positioned as the alternative to legacy payment processors (First Data, Worldpay) for developer-friendly integration. Distinctive for its API design that commoditized payment complexity and its expansion into billing (Stripe Billing), tax, and financial infrastructure. Priced 2.9% + 30¢ per US card transaction — the tax on every SaaS subscription in the world. IPO watched but never happens.
All plans compared
| # | Plan | PayPal monthly | PayPal annual | Stripe monthly | Stripe annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PayPal Standard / Standard | 0 | 0 | 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction | — |
| 2 | PayPal Checkout / Custom | 0 | 0 | custom | — |
| 3 | PayPal Advanced (Pro) | 30 | 30 | — | — |
What each is best for
The consumer + business payments network with 400M+ active accounts globally. Positioned as the trusted-name alternative to Stripe for merchants selling to buyers who want the PayPal 'Buy Now' checkout familiarity. Distinctive for its 20+ year buyer/seller protection reputation and cross-border reach (200+ markets, 100+ currencies). Priced as pure transaction fees (no monthly subscription for Standard/Checkout); PayPal Advanced at $30/mo unlocks virtual terminal + customization. Owns Braintree (developer-focused payments) and Venmo (consumer P2P) — sold as separate products. Publicly traded (NASDAQ: PYPL). Global market share behind Stripe on developer-first SaaS but ahead in mainstream e-commerce brand recognition.
The payments infrastructure standard, private, valued $95B (2024). Positioned as the alternative to legacy payment processors (First Data, Worldpay) for developer-friendly integration. Distinctive for its API design that commoditized payment complexity and its expansion into billing (Stripe Billing), tax, and financial infrastructure. Priced 2.9% + 30¢ per US card transaction — the tax on every SaaS subscription in the world. IPO watched but never happens.
At a glance
| PayPal | Stripe | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | Free | Free |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | — | Per Usage |
| Last verified | August 12, 2026 | August 10, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified August 12, 2026. Tracked daily.