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Stripe vs PayPal

Developer-first vs consumer-first payment processor.

Stripe is built for developers with rich APIs. PayPal is familiar to consumers and often preferred for trust.

At a glance

StripePayPal
Developer APIBest in classSolid
Consumer trustStrongVery strong
Fees2.9% + $0.30Similar

When to pick Stripe

Building custom checkout, developer-first, subscription business.

When to pick PayPal

Consumer trust matters, marketplace where buyers prefer PayPal.

My verdict

Stripe for most SaaS/modern DTC. Offer PayPal as a secondary option if your audience expects it.

Further reading