Skip to content
mathbehind

Payment Processor Fee Comparison (Stripe, PayPal, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Gumroad)

Compare what Stripe, PayPal, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy and Gumroad would charge on your price and sales volume, including international buyers and tax handling.

Your numbers

Prices and fees in this tool are in US dollars.

$
%

International cards and accounts carry an extra fee with some providers.

Paddle and Lemon Squeezy are merchants of record and file tax for you; Stripe does not.

Lowest fees

Stripe

Its monthly fees

$452.00

Stripe
$452.00
PayPal Checkout
$498.82
Paddle (files tax for you)
$590.00
Lemon Squeezy (files tax for you)
$648.80
Gumroad
$1,424.20
Cheapest option that files tax for you
$590.00
The math behind it

  1. Stripe rate

    2.9% + 40% × 1.5% + 0.5% taxequals4%

  2. Stripe per month

    ($49.00 × 4% + $0.30) × 200equals$452.00

  3. Paddle per month

    ($49.00 × 5% + $0.50) × 200equals$590.00

  4. Lowest

    Stripeequals$452.00

Every payment provider advertises a headline rate, but what you pay depends on your price, where your buyers are, and who handles sales tax and VAT. A low rate that leaves you filing tax in dozens of countries can cost more in time than a higher all-in rate. This calculator compares the fees on your own numbers.

How it works

Each provider charges a percentage of the sale plus a fixed fee. The fixed fee matters most on cheap products: $0.50 is 5% of a $10 sale but 0.5% of a $100 sale.

International buyers can add a surcharge: 1.5% on Stripe, PayPal and Lemon Squeezy at their published US rates. The calculator applies it to the share of buyers outside the US.

Paddle and Lemon Squeezy are merchants of record: they are the legal seller, so they collect and file sales tax and VAT for you. With Stripe, Stripe Tax (0.5%) calculates tax, but you still register and file. Rates are standard published US prices, verified September 2026.

A worked example

Selling 200 copies of a $49 product a month, with 40% of buyers abroad: Stripe with Stripe Tax costs $452.00, PayPal $498.82, Paddle $590.00, Lemon Squeezy $648.80 and Gumroad $1,424.20. Stripe is cheapest, but Paddle, the cheapest merchant of record, costs $138 more a month in exchange for filing your tax.

Questions people ask

What is a merchant of record?

The company legally selling to your customer. A merchant of record such as Paddle or Lemon Squeezy charges the tax, files the returns and handles tax audits, and pays you what is left. With Stripe or PayPal, you are the seller and those duties are yours.

Are these rates right for my country?

They are standard published rates for a US-based seller charging in USD. Stripe's European rates, for example, are lower for European cards. Check each provider's pricing page for your country, and remember that currency conversion adds more.

Why is Gumroad so much more expensive here?

Gumroad charges a 10% + $0.50 platform fee plus card processing of 2.9% + $0.30. In return it offers a creator storefront and marketplace. Sales that come through its Discover marketplace cost 30%.

Guides

In the news