Introduction
Contents
- Introduction
- Editor’s Choice
- Difference Between Stripe and PayPal
- PayPal vs Stripe Fees and Pricing Statistics
- PayPal vs Stripe: Which is better for online businesses?
- PayPal vs Stripe Availability Statistics
- PayPal vs Stripe Speed Statistics
- Stripe vs PayPal: Comparing International Payment Fees (2025)
- PayPal Regional Statistics
- Stripe Regional Statistics
- Pros & Cons
- Conclusion
PayPal vs. Stripe Statistics: As of 2025, PayPal and Stripe continue to dominate the digital payment processing industry, each serving distinct market segments with tailored offerings. PayPal maintains a leading position with a global market share of 45.52%, supported by a substantial user base of 436 million active accounts and a total payment volume (TPV) of USD 1.68 trillion in 2024. Its fee structure varies between 2.59% to 3.49% plus USD 0.49 per transaction, depending on the payment method and volume.
In contrast, Stripe holds a 17.15% share of the global payment processing market, processing USD 1.4 trillion in payment volume in 2024. Stripe offers a straightforward pricing model, charging 2.9% plus USD 0.30 per transaction for online credit card payments, with no setup or monthly subscription fees. Its platform is particularly favored by developers for its customizable APIs and extensive integration capabilities.
Both platforms provide robust security features and support a wide range of payment methods, including credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and cryptocurrencies. While PayPal offers broader international availability, Stripe is noted for its advanced customization options and developer-friendly tools. The choice between the two platforms depends on specific business needs, transaction volumes, and technical requirements.
Editor’s Choice
- Stripe gives 24/7 consumer support through smartphone, email and chat, whereas PayPal does not offer round-the-clock availability.
- Stripe lets you accept payments in over 135 currencies. It also makes it easy to switch between currencies and supports local payment methods, making it a good option for global businesses that want flexibility.
- PayPal, on the other hand, is available in more than 200 countries, giving it a wider international presence. However, it usually has higher currency exchange fees than Stripe.
- Stripe connects with over 610 apps and platforms, perfect for businesses that want to build custom payment systems or need more control.
- PayPal offers 500+ integrations and is easier for people with little technical background.
Difference Between Stripe and PayPal
Type | Stripe | PayPal |
Software type |
Payment | Payments and POS |
Monthly account fee | USD 0-USD 10 |
USD0-USD30 |
Fee structure |
Flat rate or custom interchange- plus | Flat rate, custom interchange-plus for enterprise business |
Customization | Advanced, developer-based |
Limited, no coding required |
Fast checkout |
Stripe link | Fast Lane |
Enterprise solutions | Available |
Available |
POS integration |
Custom software/app development, Server-driven integration | Integrates with/ some POS systems, Proprietary POS |
Bank funding speed | 2 business days, the first deposit takes up to 14 days |
3 business days (Instant access to funds in PayPal balance)
|
PayPal vs Stripe Fees and Pricing Statistics
Stripe | PayPal | |
Discounted processing rates |
Custom interchange plus rates for qualified businesses (by request) | Custom interchange plus rates for large businesses |
Chargeback fee | USD15 |
USD15 (PayPal checkouts) USD20 (guest checkouts) |
Same-day funding |
1.5% | 1.5% |
Available upgrades | Yes |
Yes |
Discount for nonprofits |
Yes | Yes |
Invoicing/recurring billing | + 0.4%–0.7% |
+USD14.99 for invoicing +USD10-USD30 for recurring billing services |
ACH/E-checks |
0.8%, USD5 cap (ACH) | 3.49% + 49 cents, USD300 cap (E-check)
0.8%, USD5 cap (ACH) |
Cross-border fee | 1.5% |
1.5% |
Online transaction fee |
2.9% + USD0.30 or custom interchange-plus rate | 2.29% + USD0.09 (QR) to 3.49% + USD0.49 |
Account upgrade option | USD10 for a custom domain |
USD30 |
Monthly account fee |
Starts at USD0 |
Starts at USD0 |
- At first, Stripe and PayPal look pretty similar in terms of fees.
- Both offer flat-rate pricing, which means you can create a basic account for free, but extra features might cost more each month.
- Stripe is more affordable than PayPal in terms of these add-ons.
(Source: kinsta.com)
Stripe’s Extra Charges:
- Custom domain for checkout: USD10/month
- Invoicing (Stripe Invoicing): 0.4%–0.5% per invoice
- Subscription billing (Stripe Billing): 0.7% of the billed amount
- Tap-to-pay feature on mobile: 10¢ per transaction
- International card payments: 1.5%
PayPal’s Extra Charges:
- Invoicing tools: USD14.99/month
- Virtual terminal access: USD30/month
- Advanced gateway (Payflow Pro): USD25/month
- Custom checkout design (Payments Pro): USD30/month
- Embedded checkout page (Payments Advanced): USD5/month
- International card payments: 1.5%
- Subscription billing: USD10/month
- Recurring payments tools: USD30/month
- A downside of PayPal is that its pricing structure can be confusing, making it tougher to compare with simpler platforms like Stripe.
- PayPal discounts nonprofits and charitable groups, while Stripe sticks to the standard nonprofit processing fees.
- PayPal charges less for in-person and mobile transactions than online payments.
PayPal vs Stripe: Which is better for online businesses?
(Reference: fitsmallbusiness.com)
#1. Pricing and Fees
#1. Transaction Costs
- Stripe and PayPal charge 2.9% + 30¢ for each U.S. transaction, regardless of the customer’s card type.
- Neither company charges a monthly fee nor sets a minimum requirement—they take their fee from each sale.
#2. Small Payments (Micropayments)
#3. These are payments under USD10.
- Stripe charges the same: 2.9% + 30¢
- PayPal has a special rate: 5% + 5¢ for each micropayment
-
- Disputed Charges (Chargebacks)
- If a customer complains to their bank and cancels a payment, you get charged:
- USD15 per case with Stripe
- USD20 per case with PayPal
#2. Payment Methods Accepted
- PayPal accepts all major credit and debit cards and also lets U.S. customers use PayPal Credit (a digital credit option not tied to a bank account).
- Stripe supports all big cards too, and more digital wallets like:
-
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Alipay
- WeChat Pay
- Microsoft Pay
- Visa Checkout
- Masterpass
- Amex Checkout
- Since Visa and Mastercard make up about 64.3% of cards used worldwide, Stripe’s wide range of options gives your customers more ways to pay.
#3. Safety and Fraud Protection
- Stripe and PayPal meet PCI compliance rules, which means they follow strong standards to protect credit card information.
- Stripe also offers a tool called Radar, which uses artificial intelligence to block fake payments. It costs 5¢ per transaction.
#4. Global Payments
- PayPal is available in 200+ countries and supports 25 currencies
- Stripe works with 135+ currencies, but it’s only available in 47 countries
#5. Software Integrations
You can connect both platforms with other tools to help your business.
- Stripe works with 610+ apps like HubSpot, Zapier, Slack, and Google Drive.
- PayPal connects with 500+ tools, including Shopify, WooCommerce, and GoDaddy.
#6. Easy to Use
- PayPal is simple to set up and doesn’t need any coding. Anyone can start using it quickly.
- Stripe has strong tools for developers and advanced setups, but it may be harder for beginners.
#7. Customer Service
- Stripe gives 24/7 help through phone, live chat, and email.
- PayPal has support by phone and chat, but only during set hours—Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST. They also offer help on Twitter via @AskPayPal.
PayPal vs Stripe Availability Statistics
- With PayPal, we can trade between almost 15 currencies, and the service is available in almost 200 nations.
- Stripe has very few nations available, at 39, but a very impressive 135 currencies support it.
- Whereas Stripe is available in a few nations, we can connect US-based businesses with Stripe Atlas.
Stripe | PayPal | |
Countries |
39 | 200+ |
Currencies | 135 |
25 |
PayPal vs Stripe Speed Statistics
- PayPal gives you faster access to your money. If you’re using PayPal Standard, your funds are available right away. But if you want to move that money to your bank, you’ll usually need to wait 2 to 4 days.
- Stripe takes a bit longer. Depending on the situation, you may have to wait from 1 hour up to 2 days before you can use your money.
Stripe | PayPal |
Up to 2 days |
Immediate (2-4 days if transferring to a bank account) |
- PayPal is quicker for getting your money immediately, although both services take a few days to send money to your bank.
Stripe vs PayPal: Comparing International Payment Fees (2025)
#1. Stripe International Payment Fees:
- Transaction Fee: Stripe takes 4.3% from each successful transaction
- Currency Conversion Fee: An extra 2% is added for currency exchange
Example:
If you receive USD10,000 through Stripe:
- 4.3% fee = USD430
- Amount after fee = USD9,570
- If the exchange rate is 1 USD = ₹86, Stripe reduces it by 2%, so the final rate is around ₹84.3
- Final amount in INR = 9,570 × 84.3 = ₹8,06,751
- Total fees = ₹8,60,000 – ₹8,06,751 = ₹53,249
So, on a USD10,000 transfer, you lose ₹53,249 in Stripe fees.
#2. PayPal International Payment Fees:
- Transaction Fee: PayPal charges 4.4%
- Currency Conversion Fee: Adds 4% extra for currency exchange
- Fixed Fee: A small fee based on currency, for USD it’s USD0.30
Example:
If you receive USD10,000 through PayPal:
- 4.4% fee + USD0.30 = USD440.30
- Amount after fee = USD9,559.70
- At 1 USD = ₹86, with a 4% forex markup, the final rate becomes ₹82.56
- Final amount in INR = 9,559.70 × 82.56 = ₹7,89,249 (approx.)
- Total fees = ₹8,60,000 – ₹7,89,249 = ₹70,751
So, on a USD10,000 payment, you pay around ₹70,751 in PayPal fees.
PayPal Regional Statistics
- Number of Websites Using PayPal In Different Countries
Country | Number of websites that use PayPal |
United States |
1,039,766 |
United Kingdom |
308,166 |
Germany |
291,640 |
Australia |
229,565 |
Canada |
128,161 |
Brazil |
118,697 |
Italy |
107,845 |
France |
97,555 |
Netherlands |
77,641 |
Russia |
75,955 |
- Neontri highlighted in its report, using “PayPal vs Stripe Statistics—what is better? “figures, that almost 16.8 million websites employ PayPal, with almost 17,317,147 websites utilizing this service worldwide.
- Only 1,039,766 websites in the United States have shown that they use PayPal, whereas in the United Kingdom, only 308,166 websites are used to make money online.
(Reference: oberlo.com)
Country | users |
United States |
271.8 million |
Germany |
137.7 million |
United Kingdom |
56.2 million |
Italy |
21.9 million |
France |
20.5 million |
- The number of people using PayPal worldwide is predicted to reach 236.7 million by the end of 2024 and will grow to 249.9 million by 2025.
Stripe Regional Statistics
(Reference: electroiq.com)
- Stripe holds approximately 15.8% of the European market, its third-largest region.
- In the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, Stripe holds a 7.9% market share and is performing well in countries such as Australia, Japan, and Singapore.
- Stripe’s presence in other parts of the world is less clear. In Africa, it has only a 0.8% market share, likely because fewer people use Stripe there for various reasons.
- Latin America has not grown significantly, with Stripe holding just 1.5% of the market share, and it is facing competition from newer companies.
- Other smaller regions comprise around 3.8% of Stripe’s market but don’t fall into the main regional categories.
(Reference: electroiq.com)
Country | Number of Stripe Websites |
United States |
715,735 |
United Kingdom |
82,464 |
France |
53,044 |
Germany |
40,116 |
Australia |
37,869 |
Canada |
26,388 |
Italy |
22,779 |
Spain |
19,060 |
India |
15,376 |
Mexico |
12,993 |
- Technology advice highlighted in its report, using “PayPal vs Stripe Statistics – What is better?” figures, that more than 4.5 million websites globally use Stripe, and around 1.5 million of those websites actively process payments through it.
- The majority of Stripe customers are based in the U.S., where approximately 715,735 websites utilise Stripe out of the total 4.58 million sites worldwide.
- The UK and Northern Ireland also have a strong user base, with about 82,464 websites relying on Stripe.
- Stripe is less common in smaller countries, such as Wallis, San Marino, the British Virgin Islands, and Cuba, where only about five e-commerce sites in each country use Stripe.
Pros & Cons
#1. Stripe Pros & Cons
#1. Stripe Pros
- Stripe has an advanced reporting tool like Stripe Sigma.
- Almost 24/7 customer service through chat, email and phone.
- Stripe has comprehensive fraud detection from Stripe Radar
- Stipe is a developer-friendly platform with a robust API for extensive customization
- Stripe supports almost 135 currencies and various payment methods.
- Stripe has extensive integration options.
- Stripe has a transparent flat-rate costing model that makes it easy for businesses to see costs.
#2. Stripe Cons
- Starting with Stripe can be hard for beginners, especially if you don’t have any coding experience.
- When a customer gets their money back, Stripe doesn’t return the transaction fee you paid.
- Stripe doesn’t have its own POS (point-of-sale) app, so you’ll need to build or connect something extra to accept payments in person.
- Each time a chargeback happens, Stripe charges USD15, which can become expensive if you get multiple disputes.
- Stripe’s flat-rate fees aren’t ideal for very small payments because they can take up a large portion of the total amount.
#2. PayPal Pros & Cons
#1. PayPal Pros
- It’s beginner-friendly and simple to set up, even if you’re unfamiliar with tech.
- It includes buyer protection, which can help you get your money back if an order doesn’t arrive or turns out wrong.
- It offers flexible payment choices, such as PayPal Credit, Buy Now, Pay Later, which allow customers to pay over time.
- Currency conversion is done automatically when payments are made from other countries.
- Businesses don’t need a separate merchant account to start accepting payments.
- You can quickly send or receive money between PayPal accounts using just an email address or phone number.
#2. PayPal Cons
- International or cross-border payments may include higher charges.
- PayPal might freeze or limit your account if there’s a dispute or suspicious activity.
- The platform has different fees depending on the type of transaction, which can be confusing.
- Transferring money to your bank can take a few days unless you pay an extra fee for instant withdrawal.
Conclusion
In summary, both PayPal and Stripe are excellent online payment options, but the one that fits your business needs depends on your business needs. If you want a trusted name, quick setup, and access to many users, PayPal is a good pick. On the flip side, Stripe is better for businesses that want more control, tech tools and easy ways to customize their payment system.
Recent data shows Stripe is growing fast with new features, while PayPal still has a larger customer base globally. If you care more about trust and simplicity, go with PayPal. But if you want advanced tools and flexibility. Through this article, we have shed enough light on “PayPal vs Stripe Statistics- which is better?”.