Stripe and PayPal look similar on paper. They aren't.
Headline fees
- **PayPal**: 4.4% + $0.30 cross-border, ~2.5% FX markup.
- **Stripe International**: 4.3% + $0.30, ~2.0% FX markup.
On a $1,000 USD→INR invoice
- PayPal nets you ≈ ₹77,806.
- Stripe nets you ≈ ₹78,237.
- Stripe saves ~₹430 per $1,000 — modest, but real.
Where Stripe pulls ahead
- **Stripe Atlas / Connect**: receive in USD, hold in USD, convert on your terms.
- **Custom invoicing UI**: branded checkouts, no PayPal landing page.
- **Subscription support**: SaaS-style recurring billing is far easier.
Where PayPal still wins
- Client trust — many SMB clients refuse to enter card details on a custom checkout.
- Buyer/seller dispute protection on consumer transactions.
The real answer
Neither beats **Wise** for pure cost on a one-off invoice. Use Stripe/PayPal for client-facing checkout polish; use Wise for direct B2B invoices. The [calculator](/) shows the rupee delta for your actual amount.
