Estimate Stripe-style card processing fees for subscriptions, annual plans, and software sales, then compare the result with merchant-of-record providers.
Stripe often looks strongest when you want direct checkout control, already have a tax workflow, and sell mostly to domestic card customers. It can be especially efficient for higher average order values where fixed per-payment fees are less visible.
The calculator compares payment processing fees, fixed order fees, refunds, chargebacks, and international card assumptions. It does not price every optional Stripe product or every custom contract.
Start with monthly revenue and monthly orders. Those two numbers define average order value, which is the biggest reason a low-ticket SaaS product and a higher-ticket annual SaaS product can have very different effective fee rates.
Stripe is usually evaluated as payment infrastructure, not a full merchant-of-record bundle. Compare the card fees, but also account for tax, invoicing, fraud reviews, disputes, accounting, and support work that your business may still need to own.
The main calculator compares Stripe against Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, and Polar from one set of assumptions.
Open the calculatorNo. Stripe can have lower direct processing costs, while Paddle includes merchant-of-record services. The cheaper business choice depends on customer mix, taxes, support, and operations.
Fixed per-payment fees become more expensive as a percentage of revenue when order values are low. A $9 monthly subscription and a $199 annual plan should be modeled separately.
Yes. Refunds reduce net revenue and can change the apparent winner, especially for early SaaS products still tuning onboarding and buyer fit.