Stripe uses a usage-based model. Core card processing rates apply to all accounts; add-ons are priced separately.
| Fee Type | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard card processing | 2.9% + $0.30 | Per successful charge, US cards |
| International cards (US merchants) | +0.4% surcharge | Added Q1 2026. Previously included in base rate |
| Instant payouts | 1.75% | Min $0.50. Raised from 1.5% in Jan 2026 |
| ACH Direct Debit | 0.8% (max $5) | Unchanged |
| Stripe Radar (fraud) | $0.05/screened charge | Included free for standard accounts |
| Chargeback protection | 0.4% per transaction | Opt-in. Covers dispute costs |
| Stripe Tax | 0.5% of transactions | Where tax is calculated |
| Custom (high volume) | Negotiated | Available for $1M+/year volume |
Rates verified April 2026. Stripe adjusts fees for specific payment methods — get automatic alerts when their pricing page updates.
Stripe has historically kept its headline rate stable, but has consistently expanded the list of add-on fees. Here's every verified change in the past two years:
For a SaaS company processing $50,000/month with 30% international customers, the new international card surcharge adds approximately $600/month in fees — $7,200/year — with no corresponding product improvement.
The instant payout change particularly affects bootstrapped companies and marketplace operators who rely on fast cash access. The 0.25% increase may seem small, but at scale it compounds: a company doing $500K/month in instant payouts pays an extra $1,250/month.
If you sell a competing payment processor (Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Braintree, Adyen), these Stripe fee increases are an acquisition opportunity — but only if you know about them before your competitors run campaigns.
PricePulse monitors Stripe's pricing page every hour. When fees change, you get an email with the before/after diff — so you can react before your competitors do.
Set up Stripe alert — free See how it worksStripe's standard rate remains 2.9% + $0.30 per successful card charge for US merchants processing US-issued cards. International cards now carry an additional 0.4% surcharge as of January 2026, bringing the effective rate for international transactions to 3.3% + $0.30.
Stripe's core processing has no monthly fee — you only pay per transaction. However, add-on products like Stripe Radar For Fraud Teams ($0.05/screened charge), Stripe Tax (0.5%), and Stripe Sigma (custom analytics, $0.02/charge up to a cap) all carry additional costs that can add up for growing businesses.
Paddle acts as a Merchant of Record (handles VAT/sales tax compliance automatically) while Stripe requires you to configure Stripe Tax separately. Paddle's all-in rate is typically 5% + $0.50, which appears higher than Stripe's headline rate but includes tax compliance that would otherwise cost 0.5%+ via Stripe Tax. The right choice depends on your international revenue mix and how much you value compliance automation.
Yes, but typically only at $1M+ in annual processing volume. Custom rates usually reduce the percentage component (e.g., 2.5% instead of 2.9%) while keeping the flat fee. Contact Stripe's sales team — they have discretion on volume pricing.
Stripe doesn't send advance email notice for all fee changes — the January 2026 international card surcharge was only communicated via a pricing page update. The most reliable way is to set up an automated monitor that alerts you within hours of any change to Stripe's pricing page.
Stripe isn't the only platform raising fees. These tools also changed pricing in 2026: