Stripe fees vs interchange-plus: how much you save

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 does Stripe charge?

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 does interchange-plus look 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.

How much can you save 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.

The flat rate you never have to think about is the flat rate you never get to negotiate.

When is Stripe's flat rate still 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 do you 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 published fees?

Online domestic cards 2.9% + 30¢; in-person Stripe Terminal 2.7% + 5¢ — verified on stripe.com/pricing (HTTP 200, 2026-09-16). Extra fees apply for international and some payment methods.

Is "Stripe interchange fees" the same as interchange-plus?

No. Stripe's sticker is a flat blend. Interchange-plus shows interchange + assessments + a stated processor markup. People search "Stripe interchange plus" when they want the transparent stack.

How much can switching save per transaction?

This page's illustrative gap on $75k/mo online is about $575–$725/mo. Per-transaction savings depend on card mix; there is no single-cent figure that fits every shop.

When should you keep Stripe?

Early-stage, low volume, or teams that value Stripe's product surface over basis-point savings. Revisit when processing is a top-three expense line.

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.