How much does Stripe charge per transaction?
Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ for a US card, checked Oct 1, 2026. Non-US cards add 1.5%, and Stripe Billing adds 0.7% if you run subscriptions through it.
daykeeperHow much of your MRR does Stripe keep?
On $5,000 MRR in $20 subscriptions, Stripe plus Billing takes about $255 a month, or 5.1%. Paddle and Lemon Squeezy take $375 to $400, because they also file your sales tax and VAT for you.
Your typical subscription or order size.
Adds Stripe Billing (0.7%) on plain Stripe.
Adds 0.5% on plain Stripe.
Cheapest for you
Stripe, $255/mo
Cheapest that files your sales tax and VAT: Paddle, $375/mo.
| Provider | Per month | Effective | Files tax for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | $255 | 5.1% | No |
| Stripe Managed Payments | $395 | 7.9% | Yes |
| Paddle | $375 | 7.5% | Yes |
| Lemon Squeezy | $400 | 8% | Yes |
| Polar | $375 | 7.5% | Yes |
Over a year, that's $3,060 to $4,800. Prices checked Oct 1, 2026.
The $5,000 MRR example
$5,000 a month, $20 per payment, so 250 payments. US cards, subscriptions on.
- Stripe: $255 a month (5.1%), $3,060 a year
- Stripe Managed Payments: $395 a month (7.9%), $4,740 a year
- Paddle: $375 a month (7.5%), $4,500 a year
- Lemon Squeezy: $400 a month (8%), $4,800 a year
- Polar: $375 a month (7.5%), $4,500 a year
How we work it out
- Payments per month = your monthly revenue ÷ your average payment.
- Fees = revenue × the provider's percent + payments × its fixed fee.
- Non-US card and subscription extras are added only where the provider charges them.
- Currency conversion, payout fees, disputes and refunds aren't included.
Sources, checked Oct 1, 2026
Questions founders ask
Is Paddle cheaper than Stripe?
No. Paddle charges 5% + 50¢ against Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢. The gap pays for Paddle being your merchant of record, so it collects and files sales tax and VAT for you.
What's a merchant of record?
It's the company that legally sells your product to the customer. Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar and Stripe Managed Payments do this, so they handle sales tax and VAT. With plain Stripe, you're the seller and the filing is yours.
Why do fees eat so much of a $5 plan?
The fixed 30¢ is 6% of a $5 payment before the 2.9% even starts. Annual plans or a higher price cut your fee share fast.
Does Stripe charge for disputes?
Yes. Stripe charges $15 when a dispute comes in, and another $15 if you fight it. You get the second $15 back if you win.
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