What this calculator does
Enter one amount and see what each common payment service would charge, lowest first. You can compare online payments, in-person payments, or the cost of moving a balance out instantly.
All rates are standard US rates checked on October 31, 2026. The lowest fee isn't always the best choice, so the table also tells you what each option needs from you or your customer.
Where it's used
Why this math matters outside the classroom:
- Starting a shop. A new seller enters a typical $40 sale and compares every option before signing up.
- Craft fairs. A vendor compares in-person rates on a $20 sale before buying a card reader.
- Switching services. A coach works out what a 28-cent saving per payment adds up to in a year.
- Getting paid fast. A freelancer compares instant transfer fees on a $500 balance.
How to use it
- Choose online payments, in-person payments or instant transfers.
- Enter the amount.
- Read the table from the lowest fee to the highest.
- Check the last column, since some options only work if your customer has that app.
What the inputs mean
- What are you comparing?
- Online and in-person rates differ, so compare the way you actually take payments. Instant transfers are the fee to move money you've already received.
Formula and method
fee = amount × rate + fixed fee you receive = amount − fee
Nearly every service charges a percentage plus a small flat amount. The percentage matters most on large payments, and the flat amount matters most on small ones. That's why the order in the table can change as the amount changes.
Instant transfers have a minimum and a maximum, so the fee is held between those two limits.
Worked example
You take a $100 card payment online with Stripe, at 2.9% plus $0.30, or PayPal's standard card rate, at 2.99% plus $0.49.
- Stripe: $100 × 2.9% + $0.30 = $3.20.
- PayPal: $100 × 2.99% + $0.49 = $3.48.
- The gap is $3.48 − $3.20 = $0.28.
Result: Stripe costs 28 cents less on this payment. Over 500 such payments a year, that's $140.
Understanding the result
Apple Pay and Google Pay aren't processors. They're ways for a customer to pay with a card already in their phone. Google says it adds no fees for merchants using its payment API, and that merchants keep paying their processor. The fee you pay comes from whichever service handles the payment, such as Stripe or Square.
Check who can actually pay you. Venmo and Cash App business rates look low, but they mostly apply to customers who have those apps. If your customer wants to use any credit card, compare only the options that accept one.
Look at your typical sale, not the headline rate. On a $5 sale, a flat fee of 30 cents matters more than the percentage. On a $5,000 sale, a tenth of a percent is $5.
Fees are only part of the cost. Hardware, monthly plans, payout speed, dispute fees and the tools you need can all change the answer.
Assumptions and limitations
- US dollar payments to US accounts, at standard published rates.
- Fees are rounded to the nearest cent. Each service's own rounding could differ by a cent.
- Venmo Tap to Pay uses the highest of the rates on Venmo's pages. Cash App's instant transfer uses an example rate of 1.75%, because the app sets yours within a range.
- Monthly plan prices, hardware and instant payout fees for business accounts aren't included.
- International cards, typed-in cards and invoices can cost more. Each service's own calculator covers those.
- PayPal's in-person rates aren't compared here. This is an estimate, not a quote, and negotiated rates may be lower.
Frequently asked questions
Does Apple Pay charge merchants a fee?
We didn't find an Apple page that lists a merchant fee, and Apple Pay payments run through your normal card processor. So the fee you'd see is your processor's. Apple Cash is different: an instant transfer costs 1.7%, from 25 cents up to $25.
Does Google Pay charge merchants a fee?
Google says it doesn't add fees for users, merchants or developers on its payment API, and that merchants keep paying their payment processor.
Which payment processor is cheapest?
It depends on the amount and how you take payment, which is why this table re-sorts for each amount. Enter your typical sale to see the order for you.
Can I add a fee to cover processing?
Sometimes. Card network rules and state laws set limits on surcharges, so check both first.
How current are these rates?
We read them from each company's own pages on October 31, 2026. They can change at any time, so check before you commit to a service.
Sources
- Stripe: Pricing and fees (checked 2026-10-31)
- Square: Understanding our fees (checked 2026-10-31)
- PayPal: Merchant fees (United States) (checked 2026-10-31)
- Venmo: About Venmo fees (checked 2026-10-31)
- Cash App: Terms of Service (checked 2026-10-31)
- Apple Support: Transfer money in Apple Cash (checked 2026-10-31)
- Google Pay API FAQ (checked 2026-10-31)
How this calculator is checked
Method: Company pricing pages read 2026-10-31. Rates are in src/lib/finance/payment-fees.ts. The calculation is covered by automated tests with known reference values and edge cases. Last updated 2026-10-31. Found a problem? Tell us.
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