Stripe vs Square vs PayPal vs Venmo fees

Which is cheapest for a small business: Stripe, Square, PayPal or Venmo?

On a $100 card payment, the published US rates range from $2.00 (Venmo business profile, 1.9% + $0.10) to $3.98 (PayPal Checkout, 3.49% + $0.49). For online card payments, Stripe (2.9% + 30¢) costs $3.20 and Square Free (3.3% + 30¢) $3.60. In person, Square Free (2.6% + 15¢) is $2.75 and Stripe Terminal (2.7% + 5¢) $2.75. For large invoices, a bank (ACH) payment is usually far cheaper than a card: on $2,000, Stripe ACH is $5.00 and a PayPal invoice paid by bank $10.00. The cheapest choice depends on how your customers pay, so compare at your own typical payment.

Formula: fee = payment × percentage + fixed fee; you receive payment − fee.

Worked example: $100 through PayPal Checkout (3.49% + $0.49): $100 × 3.49% + $0.49 = $3.98, you receive $96.02. The same $100 on Square Free in person: $100 × 2.6% + $0.15 = $2.75.

Last verified November 3, 2026 against Stripe: Pricing & fees (United States), Square pricing: plans and processing fees (US), PayPal Merchant Fees (US), Venmo: Our fees. Fee change tracker · How we verify

Card and wallet fees side by side (US, domestic)

Option	Rate	Fee on $20	Fee on $100	Fee on $500	Typical use
Stripe, online card	2.9% + 30¢	$0.88	$3.20	$14.80	Website checkout, payment links, invoices paid by card
Stripe Terminal, in person	2.7% + 5¢	$0.59	$2.75	$13.55	Card reader (Tap to Pay on a phone adds a per-authorization fee)
Square Free, in person	2.6% + 15¢	$0.67	$2.75	$13.15	Tap, dip or swipe on a Square reader
Square Free, online or invoice	3.3% + 30¢	$0.96	$3.60	$16.80	Square Online checkout or invoice paid by card
PayPal Checkout	3.49% + $0.49	$1.19	$3.98	$17.94	Buyer pays with PayPal, Venmo or guest checkout
PayPal, card payment	2.99% + $0.49	$1.09	$3.48	$15.44	Standard credit and debit card payments through PayPal
PayPal Point of Sale	2.29% + $0.09	$0.55	$2.38	$11.54	Card present with PayPal's POS
Venmo business profile	1.9% + $0.10	$0.48	$2.00	$9.60	Customer pays your Venmo business profile (not Tap to Pay)

Published standard US rates for domestic payments, no discounts or custom pricing. Square's Plus ($49/mo) and Premium ($149/mo) plans lower the in-person rate to 2.5% + 15¢ and 2.4% + 15¢; see the Square calculator for the plan break-even. Venmo's rate is for a business profile; a personal account receiving a goods-and-services payment pays 2.99%.

Surcharges that change the answer

International cards: Stripe adds +1.5%, Square +1.5%, PayPal +1.50% on international commercial transactions. Work out an exact international or ACH Stripe fee with the Stripe fee calculator.
Typing in a card number: Stripe adds +0.5% for manually entered cards; Square charges 3.5% + 15¢ for manual entry or card on file.
Buy now, pay later: Stripe Klarna 5.99% + 30¢, Square Afterpay 6% + 30¢, PayPal Pay Later 4.99% + $0.49.
Getting the money fast: Stripe Instant Payouts 1.5% (50¢ minimum); Venmo Instant Transfer 1.75% (min $0.25, max $25) (standard transfer is free).
Disputes: Stripe charges $15.00 per dispute; PayPal $15.00 standard ($20.00 for a card chargeback).

Bank (ACH) payments for bigger invoices

Option	Published fee	On $500	On $2,000
Stripe ACH Direct Debit	0.8%, $5.00 cap	$4.00	$5.00
Square ACH via invoice (Free plan)	1%, $1 min, no cap listed on Free ($10 fee cap on Plus and Premium)	$5.00	$20.00
PayPal invoice paid by bank	1% (capped at $10.00)	$5.00	$10.00

Compare that with a $2,000 card payment: $58.30 on Stripe online or $66.30 on a Square Free invoice paid by card. For a contractor or lawn care business billing large jobs, offering bank payment on invoices is often the single biggest fee saving.

How to pick

Mostly in person (cleaning, lawn care, trades on site): compare Square's in-person rate, Stripe Terminal and PayPal POS at your average ticket.
Mostly online or invoices: compare Stripe online with Square online/invoices; PayPal Checkout costs more per payment but some buyers prefer it.
Large jobs: push ACH on invoices.
Count every month: a few cents per payment adds up. At 200 payments of $100 a month, the gap between Venmo business profile and PayPal Checkout is $396.00 a month.
Book fees as an expense so your profit is real; the processor's 1099-K shows gross, not net (see what to do with a 1099-K).

Questions

Is Stripe or Square cheaper?

For online card payments, Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢ ($3.20 on $100) is less than Square Free's 3.3% + 30¢ ($3.60). In person, Square Free's 2.6% + 15¢ is $2.75 on $100 and Stripe Terminal's 2.7% + 5¢ is $2.75; Stripe Terminal has the higher percentage but the lower fixed fee, so at these rates it is cheaper below $100 and Square Free is cheaper above $100 (they are equal at exactly $100).

How much does PayPal take from $100?

$3.98 for a PayPal Checkout payment (3.49% + $0.49), so you receive $96.02. A standard card payment through PayPal (2.99% + $0.49) is $3.48.

Is Venmo cheaper than PayPal for business?

On a $100 payment, a Venmo business profile charges $2.00 (1.9% + $0.10) versus $3.98 for PayPal Checkout. Venmo Instant Transfer to your bank costs extra (1.75% (min $0.25, max $25)).

What is the cheapest way to take a large payment?

A bank (ACH) payment. On $2,000, Stripe ACH Direct Debit is $5.00 (0.8%, $5.00 cap) and a PayPal invoice paid by bank $10.00 (1% (capped at $10.00)), versus $58.30 by card on Stripe.

What is the formula for payment processing fees?

Fee = payment × percentage + fixed fee. Add any surcharges (international card, manual entry) and divide any monthly plan fee across your payments.

Do these fees change?

Yes. We re-check every rate against the official pricing page on a schedule and log changes in our fee change tracker. Check the linked source before relying on a number.

General information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Rates change: check the linked official source before you rely on a number. Not yet reviewed by a CPA or EA.