PayPal standard rate: 2.9% + $0.30 (account holders), 3.49% + $0.30 (guest checkout). See plans, fees, and get alerts when they change.
| Payment Type | Transaction Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Checkout (PayPal Account) | 2.9% + $0.30 | Existing PayPal users, repeat customers |
| Guest Checkout (No Account) | 3.49% + $0.30 | One-time buyers, non-PayPal users |
| International Transfer | 2.9% + $0.30 + 2–4% cross-border fee | Payments across countries |
| Subscription Billing | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction | Recurring/subscription payments |
Rates verified May 2026. PayPal adjusts fees by transaction type and regional regulations — get alerts when their pricing updates.
| Plan | Monthly Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Free | Basic payments, standard reporting |
| Plus | $10/mo | Enhanced reporting, API access, priority support |
| Professional | $30/mo | Advanced analytics, bulk operations, custom solutions |
| Enterprise | Custom | Dedicated support, custom integrations, volume discounts |
Most small businesses operate on the free Starter plan. Upgrade only if you need advanced reporting or higher transaction volumes.
Stripe (2.9% + $0.30) is typically $0.60 cheaper per $100 transaction than PayPal. However, PayPal's strength is customer trust — 400M+ users recognize the PayPal brand, increasing conversion rates by 5–10% for merchants with a mix of buyer types.
Strategic consideration: Many e-commerce businesses offer both payment options (Stripe + PayPal) to capture maximum conversion. Stripe handles card checkout; PayPal handles PayPal-preference buyers. For B2B SaaS, Stripe's superior subscription billing features make it the primary choice.
PricePulse monitors PayPal's pricing page every hour. When fees change, you get an email with the before/after diff — so you can react before your competitors.
Set up PayPal alert — free See how it works 💬 Get Slack alertsPayPal's standard rate is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for customers paying with a PayPal account. For non-account holders (guest checkout), the fee increases to 3.49% + $0.30. Both rates are lower than credit card processing at traditional banks.
PayPal offers a free Starter tier with no monthly fees. Premium subscription tiers ($10–$30/mo) add advanced reporting, API access, and priority support. Most small businesses never upgrade from the free tier.
For standard transactions: Stripe is 0.6% + $0.30 cheaper per transaction. On a $100 payment, Stripe costs $3.20 vs PayPal's $3.80. However, this assumes all PayPal payments are guest checkout (3.49% rate). For PayPal account holders (2.9%), the cost difference shrinks to $0.00, and the decision shifts to features and customer preference.
PayPal rarely negotiates transaction fees for small merchants. However, high-volume sellers ($1M+/year) can contact PayPal Sales to discuss volume discounts. Large sellers typically cannot achieve the same discount as Stripe offers.
PayPal charges 2.9% + $0.30 + an additional 2–4% cross-border fee depending on the destination country. For example: UK transfers add ~3.5%, Canada adds ~2.5%, India adds ~4%. This makes PayPal more expensive than Stripe for cross-border SaaS payments.
PayPal isn't the only payment processor adjusting fees. These other services also changed pricing:
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