Pick a scale or set your usage. Each tool shows its cheapest plan for it, cheapest first, with the arithmetic and the vendor's pricing page. Price is one input — which one fits your situation matters as much.
StripeStandard$410/mo$10k × 2.9% + 400 payments × $0.3 per paymentUS standard rate for domestic cards. Add 1.5% for international cards, 1% if currency conversion is needed, and 0.5% for manually entered cards. Stripe Billing (subscriptions) is 0.7% of billing volume on top. Rates differ by country (the page is geo-redirected). No monthly fee; volume discounts on custom pricing.
PayPalStandard card payments$495/mo$10k × 2.99% + 400 payments × $0.49 per paymentUS rate for standard credit and debit card payments. Payments made with the PayPal wallet (PayPal Checkout, Venmo, guest checkout) are 3.49% + $0.49; Pay Later is 4.99% + $0.49. Add 1.5% for international transactions, and a 3–4% spread when currency conversion applies. Fee page last updated October 1, 2026.
CreemPay as you go$550/mo$10k × 3.9% + 400 payments × $0.4 per paymentMerchant of record; 3.9% + $0.40 per successful transaction, including tax handling, with no monthly or setup fee. Custom pricing on the Partner plan for higher volume.
Dodo PaymentsStandard$560/mo$10k × 4% + 400 payments × $0.4 per paymentMerchant of record; 4% + 40¢ for US cards and wallets. Add 1.5% for cards and payment methods outside the US, 3% for PayPal, and 3% for Klarna/Afterpay. ACH and SEPA direct debit are 1.5% capped at $15/€15 instead of the card rate. Indian INR payments are 4% + 15¢.
PolarPro$560/mo$20 plan + $10k × 3.8% + 400 payments × $0.4 per paymentMerchant of record — fees include sales tax/VAT handling and are charged on the total transaction value including tax. Add 1.5% for non-US cards. Payouts go through Stripe ($2/month while active plus 0.25% + $0.25 per payout; 0.25–1% cross-border conversion). Organizations created before May 27, 2026 may keep the Early Member rate (4% + 40¢, +0.5% on subscriptions).
Lemon SqueezyStandard$700/mo$10k × 5% + 400 payments × $0.5 per paymentMerchant of record; the fee is charged on the total order value including tax. Add 1.5% for transactions outside the US, 1.5% for PayPal, and 0.5% for subscription payments (docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/getting-started/fees). Payouts are free to US bank accounts, 1% elsewhere. Lemon Squeezy is moving to Stripe Managed Payments.
PaddlePay-as-you-go$700/mo$10k × 5% + 400 payments × $0.5 per paymentMerchant of record — 5% + 50¢ per checkout transaction covers payments, sales tax/VAT compliance, fraud and chargeback handling. No monthly fee. Custom pricing for large businesses.
Read from each vendor's pricing page (oldest check 2026-10-03). The model is plan fee + usage beyond what's included × the vendor's rate; volume discounts, annual billing, taxes and regional prices are left out — see each tool's notes. Always confirm on the vendor's page before you commit.
Each tool's cheapest usable plan as the product grows.
| Tool | Side projectrevenue $1k, payments 50 payments | Growingrevenue $10k, payments 400 payments | Scalingrevenue $100k, payments 5k payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | $44Standard | $410Standard | $4,400Standard |
| PayPal | $54Standard card payments | $495Standard card payments | $5,440Standard card payments |
| Creem | $59Pay as you go | $550Pay as you go | $5,900Pay as you go |
| Dodo Payments | $60Standard | $560Standard | $6,000Standard |
| Polar | $75Starter | $560Pro | $5,300Scale |
| Lemon Squeezy | $75Standard | $700Standard | $7,500Standard |
| Paddle | $75Pay-as-you-go | $700Pay-as-you-go | $7,500Pay-as-you-go |
What each payments plan costs, includes and caps, as modelled here.
StripePay per successful charge with no monthly fee: 2.9% + 30¢ for domestic US cards, plus surcharges for international cards and currency conversion.| Plan | Monthly fee | Revenue per month | Payments per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | None | 2.9% | $0.3 per payment |
US standard rate for domestic cards. Add 1.5% for international cards, 1% if currency conversion is needed, and 0.5% for manually entered cards. Stripe Billing (subscriptions) is 0.7% of billing volume on top. Rates differ by country (the page is geo-redirected). No monthly fee; volume discounts on custom pricing.
Checked 2026-10-03 · pricing page ↗ · Stripe pricing in full →PayPalPer-transaction fees with no monthly fee: 2.99% + $0.49 for standard card payments and 3.49% + $0.49 for PayPal wallet checkout in the US.| Plan | Monthly fee | Revenue per month | Payments per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard card payments | None | 2.99% | $0.49 per payment |
US rate for standard credit and debit card payments. Payments made with the PayPal wallet (PayPal Checkout, Venmo, guest checkout) are 3.49% + $0.49; Pay Later is 4.99% + $0.49. Add 1.5% for international transactions, and a 3–4% spread when currency conversion applies. Fee page last updated October 1, 2026.
Checked 2026-10-03 · pricing page ↗ · PayPal pricing in full →Creem3.9% + $0.40 per successful transaction as merchant of record, with no monthly or setup fee.| Plan | Monthly fee | Revenue per month | Payments per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay as you go | None | 3.9% | $0.4 per payment |
Merchant of record; 3.9% + $0.40 per successful transaction, including tax handling, with no monthly or setup fee. Custom pricing on the Partner plan for higher volume.
Checked 2026-10-03 · pricing page ↗ · Creem pricing in full →Dodo Payments4% + 40¢ per transaction for US cards as merchant of record, with surcharges for international cards, PayPal, BNPL and subscriptions, and no fixed fee.| Plan | Monthly fee | Revenue per month | Payments per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | None | 4% | $0.4 per payment |
Merchant of record; 4% + 40¢ for US cards and wallets. Add 1.5% for cards and payment methods outside the US, 3% for PayPal, and 3% for Klarna/Afterpay. ACH and SEPA direct debit are 1.5% capped at $15/€15 instead of the card rate. Indian INR payments are 4% + 15¢.
Checked 2026-10-03 · pricing page ↗ · Dodo Payments pricing in full →PolarFree Starter plan at 5% + 50¢ per transaction, or a monthly fee ($20–$400) for lower rates down to 3.4% + 30¢, as merchant of record.| Plan | Monthly fee | Revenue per month | Payments per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | None | 5% | $0.5 per payment |
| Pro | $20/mo | 3.8% | $0.4 per payment |
| Growth | $100/mo | 3.6% | $0.35 per payment |
| Scale | $400/mo | 3.4% | $0.3 per payment |
Merchant of record — fees include sales tax/VAT handling and are charged on the total transaction value including tax. Add 1.5% for non-US cards. Payouts go through Stripe ($2/month while active plus 0.25% + $0.25 per payout; 0.25–1% cross-border conversion). Organizations created before May 27, 2026 may keep the Early Member rate (4% + 40¢, +0.5% on subscriptions).
Checked 2026-10-03 · pricing page ↗ · Polar pricing in full →Lemon Squeezy5% + 50¢ per transaction as merchant of record, with no monthly fee.| Plan | Monthly fee | Revenue per month | Payments per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | None | 5% | $0.5 per payment |
Merchant of record; the fee is charged on the total order value including tax. Add 1.5% for transactions outside the US, 1.5% for PayPal, and 0.5% for subscription payments (docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/getting-started/fees). Payouts are free to US bank accounts, 1% elsewhere. Lemon Squeezy is moving to Stripe Managed Payments.
Checked 2026-10-03 · pricing page ↗ · Lemon Squeezy pricing in full →Paddle5% + 50¢ per checkout transaction as merchant of record, covering payments, tax and chargeback handling, with no monthly fee.| Plan | Monthly fee | Revenue per month | Payments per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay-as-you-go | None | 5% | $0.5 per payment |
Merchant of record — 5% + 50¢ per checkout transaction covers payments, sales tax/VAT compliance, fraud and chargeback handling. No monthly fee. Custom pricing for large businesses.
Checked 2026-10-03 · pricing page ↗ · Paddle pricing in full →