PayPal Business vs Stripe: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of PayPal Business and Stripe. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Both PayPal Business and Stripe offer free plans. PayPal Business has 3 pricing tiers while Stripe has 9.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
PayPal Business vs Stripe: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | PayPal Business | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | $13/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 9 |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model | usage-based | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
PayPal Business and Stripe are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Payment & Billing tools. Together they offer 12 pricing plans with 41 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Payment & Billing needs.
| Pricing Plans | PayPal Business Try it free | Stripe Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free $0/monthCheapest Includes
| |
| Tier 2 | Business Custom pricing Includes
| Standard Pricing Custom pricing Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Enterprise Custom pricing Includes
| Managed Payments Custom pricing Includes
|
| Tier 4 | — | Billing $500/monthCheapest $42 / year Includes
|
| Tier 5 | — | Tax Complete $80/monthCheapest $7 / year Includes
|
| Tier 6 | — | Stripe Sigma $13/monthCheapest $1 / year Includes
|
| Tier 7 | — | Data Pipeline $57/monthCheapest $5 / year Includes
|
| Tier 8 | — | Revenue Recognition $20/monthCheapest $2 / year Includes
|
| Tier 9 | — | Custom Pricing Custom pricing Includes
|
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Stripe
Stripe offers a free plan, offers 9 tiers vs 3.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Stripe
Try Stripe freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose PayPal Business if:
- •You prefer PayPal Business's free tier features—Accept payments, Invoicing
- •You prioritize PayPal Business's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •PayPal Business's usage-based pricing lets you match exact team size without tier gaps
Choose Stripe if:
- •You prefer Stripe's free tier features—No installation fees, No monthly fees
- •You need 9 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •You want more features built-in—Stripe offers 11 additional features across its plans
Both PayPal Business and Stripe offer free plans [1], eliminating cost barriers for evaluation. This means you can test both tools thoroughly with your actual workflows before any financial commitment. The free tiers differ in scope: PayPal Business includes 5 features, while Stripe includes 3 features. Evaluate which free tier matches your evaluation needs before deciding to upgrade. Your best approach is to activate both free trials and evaluate which tool's workflow, integrations, and user experience align better with your team's needs before committing to paid plans.
Frequently Asked Questions: PayPal Business vs Stripe
How many pricing plans does PayPal Business have vs Stripe?
Does PayPal Business or Stripe offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for PayPal Business or Stripe?
Does PayPal Business or Stripe offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do PayPal Business and Stripe compare for Payment & Billing?
Sources
- PayPal Business Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Stripe Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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