Stripe vs PayPal
Stripe rates 4.6/5 and starts at Custom. PayPal rates 4.3/5 and starts at Custom. Stripe is the higher rated.
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.
Stripe vs PayPal at a glance
| Measure | Stripe | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Reviews | 14,800 | 21,200 |
| Starting price | Custom | Custom |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations listed here | 5 | 5 |
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 |
Pricing side by side
Stripe
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Custom | — |
| Custom | Custom | — |
PayPal
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Custom | — |
| Advanced | Custom | — |
Which should you choose?
Choose Stripe if…
- Best-in-class developer experience matters to you.
- Huge feature set matters to you.
- Global reach matters to you.
- Higher fees would be a problem.
Choose PayPal if…
- Massive brand trust matters to you.
- Boosts conversion matters to you.
- Easy setup matters to you.
- Support is mostly self-serve would be a problem.
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 and PayPal starts at Custom.
Do Stripe or PayPal have a free plan?+
Neither offers a permanently free plan, but free trials are often available.
Which is better rated, Stripe or PayPal?+
Stripe, at 4.6/5 across 14,800 reviews, versus 4.3/5 for PayPal.
What is Stripe best for, and what is PayPal best for?+
Stripe is aimed at Developers, SaaS & online stores (saas billing, online stores). PayPal is aimed at Stores wanting buyer trust (boosting checkout trust, small stores).