Stripe vs Polar
On a typical month ($29 product, 100 sales, half from abroad, subscriptions), Stripe costs about $61 less in fees than Polar. Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30, +1.5% international, +0.7% for Stripe Billing; not a merchant of record. Polar: 5% + $0.50, +1.5% international. 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 Polar
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 | Polar | AgentaOS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee per sale | 2.9% + $0.30, +1.5% international, +0.7% for Stripe Billing; not a merchant of record | 5% + $0.50, +1.5% international | 4.5% + €0.50, +1.5% international |
| Payout | Free to your bank | Stripe payout fees pass through | 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 | developer tools and open source | AI agents running billing, and payouts where Stripe does not reach |
Published prices: Stripe checked 6 Oct, Polar 14 Oct, AgentaOS 15 Oct 2026. AgentaOS is one of the providers compared.
Straight answers
Is Stripe cheaper than Polar?
In our default example ($29 product, 100 sales a month, half of buyers abroad, subscriptions) Stripe costs about $61 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 Polar charge in 2026?
5% + $0.50, +1.5% international. Payouts: Stripe payout fees pass through. Checked 14 Oct 2026 on Polar’s pricing page.
Which is better, Stripe or Polar?
Stripe suits full control, if you file sales tax and VAT yourself. Polar suits developer tools and open source. 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.
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