PayPal
PayPal's cheapest published rate is 2.89% + 29c (Advanced Checkout). Pricing model: flat-rate. Monthly fee: $0. Dispute fee: $20 chargeback fee on card transactions not processed through PayPal Checkout. Cross-border: +1.5% on international transactions. FX: Up to 4% on currency conversion (3% for some goods/services).
Tier table (vendor-published)
| Tier | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Checkout | 3.49% + 49c | - |
| Advanced Checkout | 2.89% + 29c | - |
| Payments Pro | 2.89% + 49c | - |
| Cross-border surcharge | +1.5% | - |
Source: https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/merchant-fees (verified 2026-06-19).
What PayPal is best for
- Merchants who want PayPal-branded checkout as a wallet rail alongside cards.
- Cross-border consumer ecommerce where PayPal's buyer trust drives conversion lift.
- Use cases where Standard Checkout's 3.49% + 49c is offset by skipped card-data handling.
Hidden costs and gotchas
Six product lines with overlapping fee schedules. Standard Checkout 3.49% + 49c is the headline; Advanced and Pro at 2.89% + 29-49c.
- Standard Checkout is 3.49% + 49c; you need Advanced or Payments Pro to drop to 2.89% + 49c.
- $20 chargeback fee on disputes that route around PayPal Checkout.
- FX margin up to 4% on currency conversion; 3% for some goods/services.
- Cross-border surcharge of +1.5%.
When this vendor wins, when it loses
FAQ
Which PayPal product is cheapest?
Advanced Checkout at 2.89% + 49c. Standard is the headline 3.49% + 49c.
How does PayPal's chargeback fee compare?
$20 per chargeback on card-not-routed-through-PayPal-Checkout transactions. Higher than Stripe's $15 receipt, but no Stripe-style two-tier model.
Does PayPal own Braintree?
Yes. Braintree is PayPal's API-first acquirer with the same standard 2.89% + 29c plus volume-based custom rates.
See the full vendor index, run the cross-vendor cost calculator, or read how we verify every rate.