Both are free to set up and both charge per transaction. But the right choice depends on your clients — here's exactly which earns you more per invoice.
| Payment Method | Stripe | PayPal | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| US card payment ($1,000) | $29.30 | $35.39 | ✓ Stripe saves $6.09 |
| US bank transfer (ACH) | $5.00 (capped) | $10.00 (capped) | ✓ Stripe saves $5.00 |
| UK client (£1,000) | £15.20 | £12.30 | ✓ PayPal saves £2.90 |
| Refund fee | £0 | Keeps $0.49 | ✓ Stripe |
| International recognition | Growing | ✅ Established | ✓ PayPal |
Use Stripe for US clients — it's cheaper and ACH bank transfer saves significant money on large invoices. Use PayPal or Wise for international clients — PayPal is more trusted globally, and Wise is cheapest for receiving large international bank transfers.