For my ecommerce, Which is better: Stripe or PayPal?

The choice between Stripe and PayPal for your online store can directly affect your sales, operational costs, and customer experience. Both payment gateways dominate the market, together controlling more than 63% of online payment processing, but they have significant differences that you should consider.

Comparison of key features

Fees and costs

• Stripe: Simple structure of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, no monthly fees.
• PayPal: Between 2.59% and 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction, depending on the payment type.

Checkout experience

• Stripe: Customers complete payment without leaving your website, reducing abandonment.
• PayPal: Redirects customers to PayPal (unless you use PayPal Commerce), but many trust this platform.

Ease of implementation

• Stripe: Requires technical knowledge for optimal integration.
• PayPal: Simpler configuration, ideal for businesses without technical staff.

WordPress/WooCommerce compatibility

• Stripe: Native integration with WooCommerce through official plugin.
• PayPal: Also has native integration and is compatible with virtually all platforms. If you’re looking for alternatives, you can check our complete guide to WordPress payment gateways.

Payment methods

• Stripe: Credit/debit cards, ACH transfers, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and local methods.
• PayPal: In addition to cards, offers payment with PayPal balance, Venmo, PayPal Credit, and “Buy Now, Pay Later” options.

Subscription Payments

• Stripe: Excels in subscription management with more customization options.
• PayPal: Offers basic subscription functionality, but less flexible.

Which to choose for your ecommerce?

Choose Stripe if:

• You have high sales volume (better rates)
• You sell internationally (compatible with 135+ currencies)
• You offer complex subscription models
• You have technical capacity to customize the experience
• You want to keep customers on your site throughout the process

Choose PayPal if:

• You’re looking for quick and easy implementation
• Your audience values PayPal’s familiarity and trust
• Your customers prefer to pay without using a credit card
• You sell to occasional or one-time purchase customers
• Your business is just starting and you prioritize ease over customization

The best current strategy

The most effective trend for modern ecommerce is to implement both solutions:

• Stripe as the main gateway: Integrated into your site for a seamless experience
• PayPal as an alternative: For customers who prefer this option for security or convenience

This combination maximizes conversion by offering flexibility to your customers according to their payment preferences. To further increase your conversions, we recommend reviewing our guide on how to improve your website speed and performance, as a fast checkout is essential for reducing cart abandonment.

Final considerations

Before deciding, evaluate:

• Your customers’ profile and payment preferences
• Your sales volume (to compare actual commissions)
• Your technical resources for implementation
• If you need specialized functions (subscriptions, payments in multiple currencies)

Remember that you can start with the simplest option (generally PayPal) and incorporate Stripe when your business grows and requires more customization and lower commissions.