Payment Gateway Fee Comparison Calculator
Compare credit card processing fees side-by-side across Stripe, PayPal, Square, Authorize.Net, and interchange-plus merchant accounts.
Saves up to $10,294/year compared to higher-fee options.
Store Processing Metrics
Optimizing Merchant Processing Fees Across Global Payment Gateways
For high-volume e-commerce stores, SaaS companies, and digital marketplaces, payment processing fees represent a massive operational expense, typically consuming 2.9% + 30¢ of every single checkout. At $100,000 in monthly sales volume, subtle fee differences between flat-rate processors (Stripe/PayPal) and Interchange-Plus wholesale merchant accounts amount to thousands of dollars in pure margin savings every month.
Strategic Business Features
Multi-Gateway Side-by-Side Comparison
Compares effective rates and total monthly processing fees across Stripe, PayPal, Square, Shopify Payments, and Interchange-Plus.
Average Order Value (AOV) Impact
Demonstrates how fixed per-transaction fees (e.g. 30¢ vs. 15¢) disproportionately affect micropayments and lower AOV checkouts.
Domestic vs. International Surcharges
Models 1% to 1.5% international card fees and currency conversion spreads.
Chargeback & Monthly Gateway Fees
Includes monthly statement fees, gateway access fees, and potential chargeback fee reserves.
Interchange-Plus Tier Savings
Calculates the exact transaction volume where switching to custom interchange-plus merchant accounts becomes profitable.
Annual Margin Savings Summary
Calculates cumulative 12-month net revenue recovered by choosing the optimal merchant processor.
Executive Use Cases
- ✓Shopify & WooCommerce Merchants
Compare native Shopify Payments against external payment gateways to avoid third-party transaction penalty fees.
- ✓SaaS Subscription Platforms
Optimize recurring credit card billings and compare automated clearing house (ACH) bank transfer rates.
- ✓High-Volume Marketplaces ($1M+ ARR)
Arm founders with data to negotiate custom enterprise volume discounts with Stripe or Adyen.
- ✓International E-Commerce Stores
Expose hidden foreign exchange conversion marks and cross-border interchange markups.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard processing fee for Stripe and PayPal?
The standard domestic online processing rate for both Stripe and PayPal in the United States is 2.9% + $0.30 per successful card transaction. International cards incur an additional 1.5% cross-border fee.
What is Interchange-Plus pricing?
Interchange-Plus is the wholesale pricing model used by traditional merchant acquirers. You pay the exact interchange rate set directly by Visa, Mastercard, or Discover (typically 1.4% to 1.8% for debit and consumer credit cards) plus a small processor markup (e.g. 0.20% + $0.10). For businesses processing over $30,000/month, interchange-plus is almost always significantly cheaper than flat-rate pricing.
How do micropayments affect processing costs?
On a $5 purchase, a 30-cent fixed fee alone accounts for 6% of the transaction before the percentage fee is even added. For businesses selling digital items under $10, seeking micropayment rates (such as PayPal's 4.99% + $0.09) can preserve margins.
Are ACH bank transfers cheaper than credit cards?
Yes. ACH bank debits on Stripe cost only 0.8% with a $5.00 cap, making ACH orders exponentially cheaper than credit cards for B2B transactions or invoices exceeding $500.
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