Stripe vs PayPal
Verdict
Stripe wins for developers, SaaS, and custom checkouts with lower fees and superior APIs; PayPal wins on buyer trust and instant brand recognition at checkout. Use Stripe as your processor and add PayPal as a button to capture both.
Feature & pricing comparison
| Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.3 |
| Starting price | Custom | Custom |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| API available | ||
| Best for | Developers, SaaS & online stores | Stores wanting buyer trust |
| Card & wallet payments | ||
| Subscriptions & billing | ||
| Global methods | ||
| Connect (marketplaces) | ||
| Excellent API & docs | ||
| PayPal & Venmo checkout | ||
| Pay Later (BNPL) | ||
| Buyer & seller protection | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Global currencies | ||
| Visit | Visit |
Which should you choose?
Pick Stripe for developer control, SaaS billing, and lower fees
Pick PayPal to add trusted one-click checkout for shoppers
Stripe
Pros
- Best-in-class developer experience
- Huge feature set
- Global reach
Cons
- Support is mostly self-serve
- Can hold funds for risk review
PayPal
Pros
- Massive brand trust
- Boosts conversion
- Easy setup
Cons
- Higher fees
- Account holds can be frustrating
Frequently asked questions
Is Stripe better than PayPal?+
Stripe wins for developers, SaaS, and custom checkouts with lower fees and superior APIs; PayPal wins on buyer trust and instant brand recognition at checkout. Use Stripe as your processor and add PayPal as a button to capture both.
Which is cheaper, Stripe or PayPal?+
Stripe starts at Custom, while PayPal starts at Custom.