Stripe's standard credit card processing rate is 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction for online payments, and 2.7% plus 5 cents for in-person card-present transactions
These rates explore to most businesses using Stripe's core payment processing service. The percentage is calculated on the transaction amount after any refunds or disputes. The flat fee is charged once per transaction, regardless of the card type or whether the cardholder is domestic or international.
Stripe does not charge monthly subscription fees for basic payment processing. You pay only when a transaction completes successfully. If a transaction fails or is declined, you are not charged the processing fee, though you may still see a temporary authorization on your account.
Different card types — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover — all fall under these same rates at Stripe. The company does not break out separate pricing by card brand the way some processors do.
Key Takeaways
- Online card payments cost 2.9% plus 30 cents; in-person payments cost 2.7% plus 5 cents, with no monthly fee.
- International cards and domestic cards are charged at the same rate, so cross-border sales do not trigger higher fees.
- Stripe charges only on successful transactions, not on declined or failed attempts.
- ACH bank transfers through Stripe cost 0.8% with a $5 maximum, making them cheaper than cards for large payments.
- Stripe's pricing is fixed and does not change based on your monthly volume or business size.
When Stripe charges fees beyond the base rate
Certain transactions or features trigger additional costs beyond the standard percentage and per-transaction fee. Chargebacks — when a customer disputes a charge with their bank — cost $15 per chargeback. This fee is separate from any refund you issue.
If you use Stripe Radar for fraud detection, the advanced tier costs $99 per month. The basic version is included at no extra cost. Radar reviews transactions for fraud risk and can block or flag suspicious activity automatically.
Stripe Connect, which lets you split payments between multiple accounts (common for marketplaces or platforms), uses the same base rates but adds complexity to how fees are calculated and distributed. The platform fee itself is set by you, not Stripe.
Refunds are processed at no additional fee, but the original processing fee is not returned to you. If a customer pays $100 and you refund $100, you keep the $2.90 plus 30 cents you paid to process the original charge.
How Stripe's rates compare to other processors
Square charges 2.6% plus 10 cents for online payments and 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person payments — slightly lower than Stripe's online rate but higher for card-present transactions. PayPal's standard rate is 2.2% plus 30 cents for most transactions, though PayPal's rates vary more by transaction type.
Authorize.net charges a monthly gateway fee ($25) plus per-transaction fees that vary by card type, typically ranging from 2.29% to 3.48% plus 30 cents. This means Authorize.net can be cheaper for high-volume businesses but more expensive for low-volume ones because of the monthly cost.
Stripe's advantage is simplicity: one rate for nearly all card transactions, no monthly fee, and no tiered pricing based on volume. The trade-off is that Stripe does not offer the lowest possible rate for very high-volume merchants, who might negotiate custom pricing with larger processors.
For ACH transfers, Stripe's 0.8% with a $5 cap is competitive. Most processors charge between 0.8% and 1% for bank transfers, though some charge a flat fee instead of a percentage.
Fees for different payment methods through Stripe
| Payment Method | Stripe's Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online credit or debit card | 2.9% + $0.30 | Includes Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover |
| In-person card (card reader) | 2.7% + $0.05 | Requires Stripe Reader or compatible hardware |
| ACH bank transfer | 0.8%, max $5 | Slower settlement, lower cost |
| International card | 2.9% + $0.30 | Same as domestic; no currency conversion fee from Stripe |
| Chargeback | $15 flat | Charged when customer disputes with bank |
Stripe does not charge separate fees for different card brands, so a Visa transaction costs the same as an American Express transaction. Some processors charge more for Amex or premium cards; Stripe does not.
If you accept payments in multiple currencies, Stripe converts at its own rate and does not add a separate currency conversion fee on top of the processing percentage. However, the conversion rate itself may be slightly higher than the mid-market rate.
How to reduce what you pay Stripe
The most direct way to lower fees is to encourage customers to pay by ACH bank transfer instead of card. At 0.8% with a $5 maximum, a $1,000 transfer costs $5 instead of $29.30. However, ACH transfers take three to five business days to settle, while card payments settle within one to two days.
Reducing chargebacks lowers your total cost. Each chargeback costs $15, and repeated chargebacks can trigger account review or suspension. Clear product descriptions, transparent billing practices, and prompt customer service reduce disputes. Stripe Radar can also flag high-risk transactions before they become chargebacks.
If you process very high volume — typically $50,000 or more per month — you may be able to contact Stripe sales to negotiate custom rates. Stripe's published rates are fixed for most businesses, but enterprise customers sometimes receive discounts.
Using Stripe's native features rather than third-party add-ons can also save money. For example, Stripe's built-in invoicing is free, while some third-party invoice tools charge monthly fees on top of Stripe's processing fees.
What happens to fees if a transaction is disputed or refunded
If you refund a customer, the original processing fee is not refunded. You keep the 2.9% plus 30 cents (or 2.7% plus 5 cents for in-person) even though you returned the customer's money. This is standard across payment processors.
If a customer initiates a chargeback through their bank rather than asking you for a refund, you pay the $15 chargeback fee in addition to losing the sale amount. You also lose the original processing fee. So a $100 chargeback costs you $100 in lost revenue plus $15 in chargeback fees, for a total impact of $115.
Stripe holds disputed transactions in a pending state while the chargeback is investigated. If you lose the dispute, the transaction amount is deducted from your Stripe balance. If you win, the funds are released back to you, but the $15 chargeback fee is not refunded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stripe charge a monthly fee?
No. Stripe charges only per transaction — 2.9% plus 30 cents for online cards, 2.7% plus 5 cents for in-person cards. There is no monthly subscription, account fee, or minimum processing volume. You pay nothing in months when you process no transactions.
Why is my Stripe fee different from what I expected?
The most common reason is that you processed an in-person transaction (2.7% + 5 cents) instead of an online one (2.9% + 30 cents), or you were charged a $15 chargeback fee. Refunds do not return the original processing fee. Check your transaction history in your Stripe dashboard to see the fee breakdown for each charge.
Do international customers pay higher fees?
No. Stripe charges the same 2.9% plus 30 cents for cards issued outside the United States. Stripe does not add a separate international or currency conversion fee, though the exchange rate used may differ slightly from the mid-market rate.
Can I negotiate Stripe's rates down?
Stripe's published rates are fixed for most businesses. Very high-volume merchants (typically $50,000+ per month) may contact Stripe sales to discuss custom pricing, but this is not may provide. For most small and mid-sized businesses, the rates are non-negotiable.
What's the cheapest way to receive money through Stripe?
ACH bank transfers cost 0.8% with a $5 maximum, making them the cheapest option. A $1,000 transfer costs $5 instead of $29.30 via card. The trade-off is that ACH transfers take three to five business days to settle, while card payments settle in one to two days.