Stripe vs Paddle
On a typical month ($29 product, 100 sales, half from abroad, subscriptions), Stripe costs about $39 less in fees than Paddle. Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30, +1.5% international, +0.7% for Stripe Billing; not a merchant of record. Paddle: 5% + $0.50. Stripe is not a merchant of record, so sales tax and VAT filing stay with you. Change the numbers below to see your own case.
What lands in your bank, Stripe vs Paddle
Estimate from published rates. "Foreign cards" means outside each provider’s home market (the US for most, the EEA for AgentaOS). Payout fees use one payout a month. AgentaOS fixed fees are in euros; amounts are shown in one currency for comparison. Card fees inside Gumroad and Payhip use a typical 2.9% + $0.30.
Fees, payouts and tax, side by side
| Stripe | Paddle | AgentaOS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee per sale | 2.9% + $0.30, +1.5% international, +0.7% for Stripe Billing; not a merchant of record | 5% + $0.50 | 4.5% + €0.50, +1.5% international |
| Payout | Free to your bank | Free by SEPA or ACH, $15 by SWIFT | 1% (min €1) plus bank cost |
| Merchant of record (files sales tax and VAT) | No, you file | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | full control, if you file sales tax and VAT yourself | B2B and international SaaS | AI agents running billing, and payouts where Stripe does not reach |
Published prices: Stripe checked 6 Oct, Paddle 6 Oct, AgentaOS 15 Oct 2026. AgentaOS is one of the providers compared.
Straight answers
Is Stripe cheaper than Paddle?
In our default example ($29 product, 100 sales a month, half of buyers abroad, subscriptions) Stripe costs about $39 less a month. The answer changes with your price and how many buyers pay with foreign cards, so use the calculator.
What does Stripe charge in 2026?
2.9% + $0.30, +1.5% international, +0.7% for Stripe Billing; not a merchant of record. Payouts: Free to your bank. Checked 6 Oct 2026 on Stripe’s pricing page.
What does Paddle charge in 2026?
5% + $0.50. Payouts: Free by SEPA or ACH, $15 by SWIFT. Checked 6 Oct 2026 on Paddle’s pricing page.
Which is better, Stripe or Paddle?
Stripe suits full control, if you file sales tax and VAT yourself. Paddle suits B2B and international SaaS. Stripe is not a merchant of record, so sales tax and VAT filing stay with you.
Is there another option?
AgentaOS is a merchant of record at 4.5% + €0.50 (4% + €0.40 on Pro), the one your AI agent can run over MCP, and it pays out in many countries Stripe does not reach. Creem (3.9% + $0.40) and Dodo (4% + $0.40) have lower headline rates. AgentaOS wrote this page.
Can you sell from your country?
Pick your country. See how you get paid, what it costs and which platforms work there.
86 countries, checked 6 October 2026No company needed