Stripe fees in 2026 – what you need to know

Stripe has been available to businesses across the EU and beyond for several years, and in 2026 it remains one of the most popular payment solutions for e-commerce. The operator has maintained its transparent pricing policy – it does not charge a setup fee or a monthly subscription fee, only a commission on each successful transaction. Below you will find a summary of current rates for the most commonly used payment methods.

Current Stripe Rates for 2026

Stripe settles transactions on a "pay-as-you-go" model. This means the commission consists of a small percentage of the payment value plus a fixed per-transaction fee. The table below summarizes the key rates in effect in 2026 for businesses selling online:

Payment Type	Fee
EEA Cards (Visa, Mastercard)	1.5% + €0.25
Premium EEA Cards	1.9% + €0.25
UK Cards	2.5% + €0.25
International Cards (outside EEA)	3.25% + €0.25 + 2% for currency conversion
SEPA Direct Debit	0.8% (capped per transaction)
Wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link)	same as the underlying card

Note: For currency payments, Stripe adds a 2% conversion fee. The fees listed apply to online sales and do not include any individually negotiated discounts for high sales volumes. Exact amounts and fixed fees vary by country and settlement currency.

Additional Fees

- Instant payouts: around 1% of the payout amount, with a small minimum. Standard payouts within the Stripe schedule are free.
- Dispute (chargeback) fee: a fixed fee per filed claim (refunded if the merchant wins the dispute). An additional fee may be charged for manual documentation preparation. Under the Smart Disputes program, a percentage of the dispute amount is charged, but only if the merchant wins – in case of a loss, the fee does not apply.
- Stripe Terminal (in-person payments): 1.4% for a successful EEA card transaction, 2.9% + a small fixed fee for a non-EEA card, plus an optional fee for point-to-point encryption. Physical terminals are charged separately.

What Changed in 2026?

At the beginning of 2026, Stripe did not introduce significant changes to the commission-based billing model. Rates for EEA cards and common local methods remained at 2025 levels, and fees for international cards still stand at 3.25% plus the fixed per-transaction fee. However, it is worth noting that

- since August 2025, Stripe has been gradually moving some services, such as Revenue Recognition, to a subscription model; users must choose a plan before August 2026 to retain access,
- in mid-2025, new rules for dispute fees were introduced – each claim costs a fixed fee, but it is refunded if the merchant wins.

Summary

Stripe in 2026 continues to offer one of the most transparent and competitive pricing structures on the payment gateway market. Fees for EEA cards (1.5% + a small fixed fee), SEPA Direct Debit, and popular local payment methods are attractive, especially compared to many local operators. The absence of setup and maintenance fees makes Stripe a favorable choice for small and medium online stores, and thanks to integrations with invoicing systems (e.g., striptu and InvoiceOcean), invoicing can be further automated.

With the growing popularity of mobile payments and cross-border purchases, it is worth paying attention to currency conversion fees and disputes, as these can realistically impact business profitability. Regularly monitoring the pricing and adapting the platform to customer needs will help you fully leverage the opportunities that Stripe offers in 2026. Rates and rules vary by country, so check the pricing for your market and consult an accountant where needed.