Stripe's headline US rate is 2.9% + $0.30 per successful card payment. Selling abroad adds two separate surcharges on top, and they apply independently.
The two surcharges
- International card: +1.5% when the customer's card was issued outside your Stripe account's country.
- Currency conversion: +1% when the payment currency differs from the currency you settle in.
A US seller charging a European card in euros pays 2.9% + 1.5% + 1% = 5.4% + $0.30.
What it does to a real business
Stripe rate
2.9% + 100% × 1.5%equals4.4%
Stripe per month
($49.00 × 4.4% + $0.30) × 200equals$491.20
Paddle per month
($49.00 × 5% + $0.50) × 200equals$590.00
Lowest
Stripeequals$491.20
The same volume with only US customers costs $344.20 a month on Stripe. International cards add $147 a month, and charging in the customer's currency would add another 1%.
Rates differ by country
Stripe's base rate depends on where your account is. Published domestic rates include 1.5% + £0.20 in the UK and 1.5% + €0.25 in the EU, for cards from the same region. A seller with many European customers can pay much less from a European account.
Tip: Charge in your settlement currency where customers accept it, to avoid the 1% conversion fee.