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Stripe Fee Calculator

Calculate Stripe fees (2.9% + 30¢, +1.5% international, +1% conversion, +0.7% Billing), what to charge to receive an exact amount, and the same payment on Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar and Gumroad.

+0.7% for Stripe Billing subscriptions; you handle sales tax yourself (Stripe Tax is extra).

You receive
$47.28
Stripe fee: $1.72 (2.9% + $0.30) · effective 3.51%
Customer pays
$49.00
Fee
−$1.72
You receive
$47.28
Fees on 100 payments / month
$172.10
Fees per year
$2,065
Same $49.00 payment on every provider
ProviderFeeYou receiveHandles sales tax?
Stripe$1.72$47.28No
Paddle$2.95$46.05Yes (merchant of record)
Lemon Squeezy$2.95$46.05Yes (merchant of record)
Polar (Starter)$2.95$46.05Yes (merchant of record)
Gumroad$7.12$41.88Yes (merchant of record)

Stripe fees explained

Stripe's standard US price for an online card payment is 2.9% + 30¢. Cards issued outside the US add 1.5%, a charge that needs currency conversion adds 1%, and recurring payments through Stripe Billing (pay-as-you-go) add 0.7%. A $49 subscription from a European customer paying in euros can therefore cost 6.1% + 30¢, about $3.29, before sales tax.

Stripe is a payment processor, not a merchant of record: you are the seller, so registering for and remitting VAT and US sales tax is your job. Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar and Gumroad charge more per sale because they are the merchant of record and handle that tax compliance for you. For a solo maker selling worldwide, the extra 2–3% is often cheaper than doing tax filings in dozens of countries; once revenue is large enough, many switch to Stripe to keep the difference.

To receive an exact amount, divide it plus the fixed fee by one minus the percentage fee: to net $100 on a US card, charge ($100 + $0.30) ÷ (1 − 0.029) ≈ $103.30. The "I want to receive" switch above does this for you.

Makers who use StripeMakers who use Lemon SqueezyMakers who use PolarMakers who use Gumroad

Frequently asked questions

What are Stripe's fees in 2026?

In the US, 2.9% + 30¢ per successful online card payment, plus 1.5% for international cards, 1% for currency conversion and 0.7% for Stripe Billing subscriptions. Rates differ by country; check stripe.com/pricing for yours.

How much does Stripe take from $100?

$3.20 for a US card (2.9% + 30¢), so you receive $96.80. With an international card it is $4.70, and with currency conversion as well $5.70.

Is Stripe cheaper than Lemon Squeezy or Paddle?

Per transaction, yes: 2.9% + 30¢ versus 5% + 50¢. But Paddle, Lemon Squeezy and Polar are merchants of record that handle global sales tax and VAT for you, which Stripe does not.

How do I calculate what to charge to cover Stripe fees?

Charge (amount you want + $0.30) ÷ 0.971 for a US card. For $100 that is about $103.30.

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