Fees: close, and it depends on gift size
Registered 501(c)(3)s can apply for nonprofit rates from both. Using published nonprofit pricing:
| Stripe (nonprofit) | PayPal (nonprofit) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | 2.2% + 30¢ | 1.99% + 49¢ |
| On a $15 gift | ~63¢ (4.2%) | ~79¢ (5.3%) |
| On a $50 gift | ~$1.40 (2.8%) | ~$1.49 (3.0%) |
| On a $250 gift | ~$5.80 (2.3%) | ~$5.47 (2.2%) |
Rates verified July 2026; confirm current nonprofit pricing with each processor. The pattern: PayPal's higher fixed fee (49¢) costs more on the small gifts most individuals make, and the two converge on larger gifts.
Donor trust
A meaningful share of donors - often older, and among your most generous - simply trust PayPal, and will abandon a card form they wouldn't abandon a PayPal button. You don't have to share the preference to respect it.
Checkout experience
Stripe collects the card in fields on your page, so the donor never leaves. PayPal redirects to PayPal and back. On-page checkout usually reduces drop-off, which for many nonprofits is worth more than the fractional fee difference.
Recurring donations
Both support recurring gifts. With Donor Merchant, monthly, quarterly, and yearly giving works on Stripe (subscriptions) and PayPal (subscriptions) alike - included free.
The answer: offer both, let the donor choose
Nothing says you must pick one. Donor Merchant shows Stripe and PayPal side by side on the same form, so each donor uses what they trust - and you capture gifts you'd otherwise lose. See how to connect both →