How payment processors charge
- A percentage of each payment plus a fixed fee per transaction. The fixed part makes small payments relatively expensive.
- An extra percentage when the buyer is in another country.
- A currency conversion spread built into the exchange rate when money changes currency.
- Separate fees for chargebacks, disputes and instant withdrawals, which apply only when those events happen.
Stripe at a glance
Stripe’s standard US pricing is 2.9% + 30¢ per successful card payment, so $100.00 leaves $96.80. International cards add 1.5% and currency conversion another 1%. ACH Direct Debit costs 0.8% with a 5 USD cap.
PayPal at a glance
A US business account pays 3.49% + 0.49 USD on a standard PayPal Checkout payment, so $100.00 leaves $96.02. International payments add 1.5%. A Ukrainian account receiving $100.00 from abroad keeps $95.30 at 4.4% + 0.30 USD.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the fee on small payments so high?
Because of the fixed fee. A 0.49 USD fixed fee is under 1% of a 100 USD payment but almost 10% of a 5 USD one. For mostly small sales, look at micropayments pricing or bundle items into larger orders.
Where do the rates come from?
From the payment processors’ own merchant fee pages, linked on each calculator with the date they were last checked.
Do the calculators include withdrawal fees?
No. They show what reaches your processor balance. Withdrawal fees depend on the method and the country and are listed on each calculator page.
