The Stripe vs Paddle Break-Even Point Most SaaS Founders Get Wrong

"Stripe is 2.9%. Paddle is 5%. Stripe is cheaper. End of discussion."

I hear this all the time. And it's wrong — or at least, it's incomplete. The break-even point where Paddle actually becomes cheaper than Stripe is lower than most founders think.

The Hidden Costs of Stripe

Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 is only the processing fee. Here's what you're actually paying when you sell globally:

CostStripePaddleProcessing fee2.9% + $0.305% + $0.50International cards+1.5%IncludedCurrency conversion+1%IncludedStripe Tax (VAT)+$0.50/transactionIncludedChargeback fee$15 eachIncludedVAT filingYour accountantIncluded