When you can negotiate
Once you cross ~$80k/month in card volume, Stripe, Square, and Adyen will all sign custom pricing. The ask: drop to interchange + 0.4–0.7% with a smaller per-tx fee. Bring 3 competing quotes — including one from a direct processor like Worldpay or TSYS — and ask for matched terms. Most SaaS founders leave 0.3–0.5% on the table because they never ask.
- • Stripe Custom Pricing kicks in around $80k–100k/mo.
- • Adyen will quote interchange++ down to ~$2M/yr in volume.
- • Adding 3DS / SCA properly cuts chargebacks ~60% — most processors discount your rate for it.
Pick the right processor by transaction profile
There is no universally cheapest processor — pricing depends on AOV, mix of card types, and geography. Square wins in-person under $40 AOV. Stripe wins online subscriptions. PayPal is the worst on percentage but unique in conversion lift (10–15% for new buyers who don't trust the merchant). Adyen wins international + high-volume.
Hidden fees most calculators ignore
Currency conversion (1–2% surcharge on top of percent fee), instant-payout fees (1–1.5%), monthly platform fees (Square has none, Shopify Payments are bundled, Stripe Billing adds 0.5% on recurring), and PCI compliance fees if you're not using a fully hosted form. Add up your last 90 days of statements and divide by gross — that's your real number.
FAQ
Does Stripe refund the percentage fee on refunds?
No — since September 2022, Stripe retains the percentage fee when you issue a refund. The fixed $0.30 is refunded. Most US processors followed suit.
What's a normal chargeback rate?
Under 0.5% is healthy. 1.0% triggers Visa/MC chargeback monitoring programs (with fines). Over 1.5% can get you dropped by your processor.
Why does PayPal cost so much more?
PayPal Standard is 3.49% + $0.49 because they price for risk + buyer-protection coverage. PayPal Commerce Platform (for businesses) is closer to 2.99% + $0.49 and matches Stripe's coverage.
Can I pass fees to customers?
In the US: surcharging is legal in 46 states (max 4%, must disclose). Cash discounts are legal everywhere. EU bans surcharging on consumer cards under PSD2.
Are interchange-plus rates always cheaper?
Above ~$50k/mo, yes — interchange-plus 0.4% beats flat 2.9% on most card mixes. Below that, the analytics + statement complexity rarely pay off.
What about ACH / bank transfers?
ACH is 0.8% capped at $5 on Stripe, $0.25 flat on Plaid+Modern Treasury. Use it for invoices over $500 — savings vs cards are massive.
How do international cards compare?
Stripe adds +1.5% for non-US cards, +1% for currency conversion. PayPal adds +1.5% international. Adyen prices interchange-passthrough per country, usually cheaper for cross-border.
Should I use a 'cheaper' alternative like Helcim or Stax?
Helcim (interchange + 0.3% + $0.08) and Stax ($99/mo flat + interchange) beat Stripe above $20k/mo for low-AOV businesses. Below that, Stripe's flat 2.9% wins on simplicity.
How this calculator is built
Independently maintained
Written by Sam Doshi and the RevenueLab editorial team. We don't sell the data feeds this tool is built on.
Sourced from primary data
Benchmarks come from public AdSense / Stripe / IRS disclosures and reader-submitted data — never third-party "$X per view" claims. Full methodology.
Last reviewed
June 2026. We re-check every figure on the platform on a rolling quarterly cycle.
Editorial standards
See our editorial policy and disclaimer. Results are estimates, not advice.