Stripe fees vs
interchange-plus
Stripe's flat rate is the default for online businesses — and for good reason. But once you scale, a transparent interchange-plus deal usually costs less. Here is the math.
Quick answer
Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ online and 2.7% + 5¢ in person (as published at stripe.com/pricing, rates as of 2026) — one flat blended number. Interchange-plus passes network costs through at cost and adds a small stated markup. For low volume, Stripe's simplicity wins; once you scale, the transparent markup usually costs less because you stop overpaying on cheap cards.
Stripe is a superb product. Its documentation, developer tools, and speed of setup are why it became the reflex choice for internet businesses. None of what follows disputes that. The question is narrower and purely financial: at your volume, does Stripe's flat rate cost you more than a transparent interchange-plus deal would? Often, the answer is yes — and the reason is structural.
What Stripe charges in 2026
Stripe publishes its pricing openly. As listed at stripe.com/pricing (rates as of 2026), the standard rates are:
- Online cards: 2.9% + 30¢ per successful charge.
- In person (Stripe Terminal): 2.7% + 5¢ per transaction.
- Additional fees apply for internationally issued cards, currency conversion, and disputes.
Like any flat rate, that one number bundles the three real cost layers — interchange, assessments, and processor markup — into a single figure set high enough to remain profitable across every card type. You never see the split, so you can never tell how much is true network cost and how much is margin.
What interchange-plus looks like instead
An interchange-plus quote reads like "interchange + assessments + 0.25% + 8¢." The first two pieces are passed through at the exact published network rate; the only thing added is a fixed, disclosed markup that is the same on a cheap debit card and an expensive rewards card. The margin is named out loud — which is the entire point, because a number you can see is a number you can negotiate.
The math on $75,000/month online
Consider a growing e-commerce business running $75,000/month across roughly 1,500 orders (a $50 average order). Here is a defensible model.
| Line | Stripe flat rate | Interchange-plus (illustrative) |
|---|---|---|
| Headline structure | 2.9% + 30¢ online | Interchange + assessments + 0.25% + 8¢ |
| Percentage on $75,000 | ~$2,175 | Network cost passed through (~2.0%–2.1% typical online mix) |
| Per-transaction (1,500) | ~$450 (30¢) | ~$120 (8¢) |
| Estimated monthly total | ~$2,625 | ~$1,900–$2,050 |
| Effective rate | ~3.5% | ~2.5%–2.7% |
| Estimated annual difference | Roughly $6,900–$8,700 in favor of interchange-plus | |
Illustrative model using Stripe's published online rate (2.9% + 30¢, rates as of 2026) and a typical online interchange band. Card-not-present interchange runs higher than in-person, so your real gap depends on card mix and average order value. Confirm with your own statement.
The flat rate you never have to think about is the flat rate you never get to negotiate.
When Stripe's flat rate is the right choice
Flat rate earns its keep in real situations:
- Early-stage or low volume. Under a few thousand dollars a month, the dollar gap is small and setup speed matters more.
- Deep product dependence. If your business is built tightly on Stripe's APIs, billing, and tooling, the switching cost can outweigh the savings.
- You value zero statement math. Some founders will always prefer one predictable number over reconciling interchange lines.
The crossover arrives with scale. As monthly volume climbs into five figures, the invisible markup inside the flat rate usually outgrows the small explicit markup on an interchange-plus deal — and the difference compounds every month.
How to compare the two honestly
Do not compare headline rates. Compare effective rate — total fees divided by total card volume. Pull a recent Stripe statement, total every fee including international and dispute charges, and divide by your card sales. Then ask any interchange-plus provider for its markup only and model it against your real card mix. Watch for padding inside the "pass-through" line, and treat any refusal to break out the markup as its own answer.
Frequently asked questions
What are Stripe's processing fees?
As published at stripe.com/pricing (rates as of 2026): 2.9% + 30¢ per successful online charge, with extra fees for international or currency-converted cards, and 2.7% + 5¢ in person via Stripe Terminal. These are flat rates bundling interchange, assessments, and Stripe's markup.
Is interchange-plus cheaper than Stripe's flat rate?
Often, once you process meaningful volume. Interchange-plus passes network cost through and adds a small stated markup, while the flat rate covers every card type with one number. On steady volume the transparent markup usually undercuts the blend — though very small merchants may prefer Stripe's simplicity.
What is interchange-plus pricing?
It charges published interchange and assessments at cost plus a fixed, disclosed markup — for example interchange + 0.25% + 8¢. Because the markup is stated and identical across card types, it is the easiest model to audit and negotiate.
Does Stripe charge extra fees beyond the headline rate?
Yes — Stripe publishes additional fees for international cards, currency conversion, disputes, and certain features. Always confirm the full schedule at stripe.com/pricing and calculate your effective rate from a real statement, not the headline number.
Key takeaways
- Stripe's published rates are 2.9% + 30¢ online and 2.7% + 5¢ in person (rates as of 2026) — simple, but a blended number that hides the markup.
- Interchange-plus passes network cost through at cost and adds a small, stated markup you can audit and negotiate.
- On $75,000/month online, a transparent deal can save roughly $6,900–$8,700 a year versus the flat rate, depending on card mix.
- Compare on effective rate from a real statement, and factor in switching cost if your stack is built on Stripe.
Sources & how to verify
Stripe processing rates: Stripe published pricing at stripe.com/pricing (rates as of 2026). Cost layers referenced from the Visa USA Interchange Reimbursement Fee schedules and Mastercard U.S. Interchange Rate program tables; card-not-present interchange runs higher than card-present. All dollar figures above are illustrative models — verify against your own Stripe statement and a written interchange-plus quote modeled on your card mix.
See your real number vs Stripe
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