PayPal vs Stripe
The two most popular payment platforms compared honestly. We implement both — here's when each makes sense for your business.
Our Verdict
For most businesses building a custom checkout or subscription product, Stripe is the better choice — superior API, better developer tools, and more flexible billing. PayPal makes sense as an additional payment method (many customers expect it) or for marketplaces already in the PayPal ecosystem. The strongest setup is often both: Stripe as primary, PayPal as a secondary option at checkout.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | PayPal | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| UK card processing fee | 2.9% + 30p | 1.5% + 20p (UK cards) |
| Developer API quality | Good, improving | Best in class |
| Subscription billing | Basic | Advanced (Stripe Billing) |
| Marketplace payments | PayPal Commerce | Stripe Connect |
| Checkout customisation | Limited | Full control |
| Buyer trust / brand recognition | ||
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | ||
| Payment links / no-code | ||
| Payout speed (UK) | Instant to PayPal balance | 2–7 days to bank |
| Chargeback fee | £14 | £15 |
| Multi-currency | 25+ currencies | 135+ currencies |
| In-person payments (POS) | Zettle | Stripe Terminal |
Choose PayPal when…
- Your customers expect PayPal at checkout (especially e-commerce)
- You need buyer/seller protection for marketplace transactions
- You want instant access to funds in your PayPal balance
- You're selling internationally and want PayPal's brand trust
- You need a simple payment link with zero development
Choose Stripe when…
- You're building a custom checkout or subscription product
- You need advanced billing — tiers, usage-based, proration
- You're building a marketplace or platform (Stripe Connect)
- Developer experience and API quality matter
- You want lower UK card processing fees
- You need 135+ currency support
Implementation Pricing
Whichever platform you choose, we implement it. Transparent, project-based pricing.
Single Gateway Setup
£2,500–£5,000
1–2 weeks
- ✓Stripe or PayPal integration
- ✓Checkout configuration
- ✓Webhook handling
- ✓Test mode verification
- ✓Go-live support
Dual Gateway
£5,000–£10,000
2–4 weeks
- ✓Stripe + PayPal at checkout
- ✓Unified order management
- ✓Smart routing rules
- ✓Webhook consolidation
- ✓Conversion tracking
Platform / Complex
£10,000–£20,000
4–8 weeks
- ✓Multi-gateway architecture
- ✓Subscription billing
- ✓Marketplace payments
- ✓Accounting sync
- ✓Ongoing support
PayPal vs Stripe FAQ
Should I offer both Stripe and PayPal?+
For e-commerce, yes — offering both typically increases conversion by 5–15%. Stripe handles card payments efficiently; PayPal captures customers who prefer their buyer protection or stored balance.
Which has lower fees in the UK?+
Stripe is cheaper for UK card payments (1.5% + 20p vs PayPal's 2.9% + 30p). For international cards, the gap narrows. PayPal's advantage is instant access to funds.
Which is better for subscriptions?+
Stripe — significantly. Stripe Billing offers tiered pricing, usage-based billing, proration, dunning, and a customer portal. PayPal subscriptions are basic by comparison.
Can I migrate from PayPal to Stripe?+
Yes — we handle PayPal-to-Stripe migrations including customer data, saved payment methods (via PAN transfer), and subscription migration. See our migration service.
Still Deciding?
We implement both platforms. Tell us about your business and we'll recommend the right one — then build it.
Get a Free Consultation