Stripe's fee structure and what you pay per transaction

Stripe charges you a percentage of each transaction plus a fixed amount per successful payment. For most online businesses in the United States, that rate is 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction. If you process a $100 payment, Stripe takes $3.20 (the 2.9% of $100 plus the 30-cent flat fee). These fees come out of the money that lands in your account — you do not pay them separately.

The exact percentage and flat fee depend on what you are selling, where your customers are located, and which Stripe product you use. A nonprofit organization using Stripe for donations pays different rates than a software company processing subscription payments. International transactions cost more than domestic ones. Stripe publishes its rates publicly, but the variation means you should check which category your business falls into before you sign up.

Stripe does not charge monthly subscription fees, setup fees, or fees just for having an account. You only pay when money actually moves through their system. If you process nothing in a month, you owe nothing.

Key Takeaways

  • Standard online card payments cost 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction in the United States, deducted from the amount you receive.
  • Rates vary by business type, customer location, and payment method — nonprofits, international sales, and ACH transfers each have different pricing.
  • Stripe charges only when a transaction succeeds; there are no monthly fees, setup costs, or charges for inactive accounts.
  • Interchange fees (what banks charge) and assessment fees (what card networks charge) are included in Stripe's quoted rate, so you see one number instead of multiple hidden costs.

How Stripe's fees break down by payment method

Card payments — whether Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover — all cost 2.9% plus 30 cents in the standard U.S. rate. Amex historically cost more, but Stripe now charges the same rate for all four networks. This rate applies whether the customer enters their card manually, uses a saved card, or taps their phone.

ACH bank transfers (moving money directly from a customer's checking account) cost 0.8% with a $0.30 minimum and a $5 maximum per transaction. This is much cheaper than cards if your customers are willing to wait a few business days for the payment to clear. Stripe also offers ACH debit, which is when ready and costs 0.8% plus 25 cents.

International card payments cost 3.9% plus 30 cents. This higher rate reflects the extra work Stripe does to convert currency and handle cross-border regulations. If you sell to customers outside the U.S., you will pay this rate for their transactions.

Some payment methods — like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Klarna — route through card networks and cost the same as a regular card transaction. Others, like iDEAL (popular in Europe) or Alipay (popular in Asia), have their own rates that Stripe publishes in its pricing documentation.

Fees for different types of businesses

Nonprofits and charities pay 1.2% plus 30 cents per donation when they use Stripe's nonprofit pricing. You must register your organization as a 501(c)(3) with the IRS and verify that status with Stripe. This is the lowest rate Stripe offers and reflects the reduced margin on charitable giving.

Subscription and recurring billing uses the same per-transaction rate as one-time payments (2.9% plus 30 cents), but Stripe does not charge extra for storing your customer's card or automitting the billing. You pay only when the charge actually goes through.

In-person payments (using a Stripe card reader or terminal) cost 2.7% plus 5 cents per transaction — slightly cheaper than online because the card is physically present and fraud risk is lower. If you use a third-party point-of-sale system that integrates with Stripe, that system may add its own fees on top.

Invoices sent through Stripe cost the same as any other payment method when the customer pays the invoice. Stripe does not charge you to send the invoice itself, only when the payment arrives.

Hidden costs and what is included in Stripe's rate

Stripe's published rate includes both interchange fees (what your customer's bank charges) and assessment fees (what Visa, Mastercard, and other networks charge). You do not see these as separate line items. Stripe bundles them into one number so you know exactly what you will pay.

Stripe does charge for some services beyond the transaction fee. If you use Stripe Radar (fraud detection), you pay per API call after a free threshold. If you use Stripe Tax to calculate sales tax automatically, that costs a percentage of transactions that use it. If you process payouts to multiple bank accounts or need expedited payouts, those have separate fees. These are optional features — the basic payment processing has no hidden charges.

Chargebacks (when a customer disputes a charge and their bank reverses it) do not have a per-chargeback fee with Stripe, but you lose the transaction amount plus the original fee. Some payment processors charge an additional chargeback fee; Stripe does not. However, if your chargeback rate gets too high (typically above 1%), Stripe may suspend your account or require you to use additional fraud tools.

How to see exactly what you are paying

Stripe shows your fees in real time. When you log into your Stripe dashboard, the Payments section lists every transaction with the amount charged, the fee deducted, and the net amount you received. You can filter by date, payment method, or status. This transparency means you can see whether your actual fees match Stripe's published rates.

Your bank statement will show one lump deposit from Stripe (usually daily or weekly, depending on your payout schedule), not individual transactions. The Stripe dashboard is where you see the breakdown. If a transaction shows a different fee than you expected, the dashboard will tell you why — usually because it was an international payment, a different payment method, or a failed transaction that succeeded on retry.

Stripe also sends a monthly invoice if you have used any paid features like Radar or Tax. This invoice is separate from your transaction fees and appears in your Stripe dashboard under Billing.

Comparing Stripe to other payment processors

Square charges 2.9% plus 30 cents for online card payments, the same as Stripe. PayPal charges 2.99% plus 30 cents for standard payments, slightly higher. Authorize.net charges a monthly gateway fee ($25 to $99) plus per-transaction fees, which can be cheaper if you process high volume but costs more if you are just starting out.

The difference between processors usually comes down to features, not fees. Stripe is known for strong developer tools and international payment support. Square emphasizes in-person payments and point-of-sale integration. PayPal is the oldest and most recognizable. If your business needs are straightforward — just taking card payments online — the fee difference is small enough that other factors (ease of setup, customer support, integrations with your other tools) often matter more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pass Stripe's fees on to my customers?

Yes. You can add a surcharge or convenience fee to cover the cost of processing. Stripe allows this, though some states and card networks have restrictions on how much you can charge. You must disclose the fee before the customer completes the payment, not after. Many businesses build the fee into their prices instead of showing it separately.

What happens if a transaction fails?

Stripe does not charge you for failed transactions. If a card is declined or a payment times out, no fee applies. You only pay when the transaction succeeds and the money moves. Some failed transactions retry automatically depending on your settings, but each retry is a separate charge only if it succeeds.

Do I pay fees on refunds?

No. When you refund a customer, Stripe returns the entire fee you originally paid. If you charged $100 and paid $3.20 in fees, a full refund gives you back the $3.20. Partial refunds return a proportional amount of the fee.

Are there volume discounts if I process a lot of payments?

Stripe's standard rates do not change based on volume. However, Stripe offers custom pricing for very high-volume businesses (typically millions of dollars per month). You would need to contact Stripe's sales team directly to discuss this. Most small and medium businesses pay the published rates.

What is the difference between Stripe and Stripe Connect?

Stripe is for processing your own payments. Stripe Connect is for platforms that process payments on behalf of other sellers (like a marketplace). Connect has the same transaction fees but adds a platform fee that you set. If you are just selling your own products or services, you use regular Stripe, not Connect.