PayPal vs Stripe
Two global payment giants in a direct comparison
PayPal and Stripe are probably the most well-known payment providers worldwide. PayPal focuses on ease of use and global brand recognition, Stripe on developer-friendliness and API flexibility. Both are widely used in Switzerland – but for Swiss online shops, there are significant limitations with both providers. This comparison shows you the differences.
Total monthly costs of PayPal and Stripe given a turnover of CHF 20,000
Total monthly costs of PayPal and Stripe given a revenue of CHF 100,000
What are the advantages and disadvantages of PayPal and Stripe?
PayPal benefits from global recognition with over 400 million users, no fixed costs and easy setup. Disadvantages are the highest transaction fees of all compared providers, no TWINT, no PostFinance Pay, only email and chat support, and the lowest Google rating (1.6 stars).
Stripe points with high API flexibility, TWINT support, no fixed costs and extensive customization options. Disadvantages are the high transaction fees, no PostFinance Pay, no personal support and a complex setup for non-developers.
Comparison table pros and cons PayPal vs Stripe
PayPal
Advantages
monthly fixed costs
Free plugins
High awareness and acceptance
Ideal for international payments
Disadvantages
No support for TWINT and PostFinance Pay
No e-commerce tools
High transaction fees
Headquarters in the USA
Only email or chat support
Low Google rating
Stripe
Advantages
Numerous payment methods (including TWINT)
Free plugins
No monthly fixed costs
Ideal for international payments
Many customisation options
Support for omnichannel payments (POS)
Disadvantages
No support for
PostFinance PayComplex setup
No e-commerce tools
High transaction fees
Only email and chat support
Average Google rating
Which payment methods do PayPal and Stripe offer?
Stripe offers TWINT, PayPal does not – an important distinction for Swiss online shops. Both support credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Neither PayPal nor Stripe offer PostFinance Pay, WIR Pay, Reka, Centi or Pay by Bank. Both have 10 supported payment methods each. For Swiss merchants, Stripe offers a clear advantage over PayPal thanks to TWINT.
Comparison table payment methods PayPal vs Stripe
PayPal
Stripe
Mastercard
Yes
Yes
Visa
Yes
Yes
Postfinance Pay
No
No
Twint
No
Yes
American Express
Yes
Yes
Entdecken
Yes
Yes
PayPal
Yes
Yes
ApplePay
Yes
Yes
GooglePay
Yes
Yes
SamsungPay
Yes
No
WIRpay
No
No
REKA
No
No
CENTI
No
No
Crypto
Yes
Yes
Purchase on account
Yes
Yes
Bezahl mit Bank
No
No
How do the integrations of PayPal and Stripe differ?
Both providers offer free plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, and Shopware. Stripe additionally supports JTL, Ecwid, Drupal, Magento, and Prestashop as well as automation tools such as Make and Zapier. PayPal also offers Magento but has fewer shop system integrations. Neither offers integrated e-commerce tools. Stripe has a significantly broader range of features when it comes to integrations.
Comparison table plugins and integrations PayPal vs Stripe
PayPal
Stripe
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
How is the support at PayPal and Stripe?
Both providers do not offer personal support in Switzerland. PayPal and Stripe rely on email and chat support. Google reviews: Stripe 3.1 stars (8 reviews), PayPal 1.6 stars (56 reviews). Stripe has the significantly better rating, albeit on a very small database. For SMEs without an IT department, both providers lack a personal touch.
Who is PayPal suitable for and who is Stripe suitable for?
Stripe is the better choice for tech-savvy businesses that need TWINT, appreciate lower fees, and want custom API integrations. PayPal is suitable as an addition for online shops with a high proportion of international customers who want to offer PayPal as a familiar payment option. On their own, neither is ideal for Swiss online shops.
How easy is the setup with PayPal and Stripe?
PayPal offers the easiest setup of all compared providers: create a business account and get started immediately. Stripe requires developer knowledge and technical know-how for integration. For merchants without technical experience, PayPal is the faster start, whereas for developer teams Stripe offers more flexibility and control.
How much does PayPal cost compared to Stripe?
With a monthly turnover of 20,000 CHF, Stripe costs 640 CHF, PayPal 790 CHF. Stripe is therefore 150 CHF cheaper per month or 19% cheaper. With a turnover of 100,000 CHF, the difference grows: Stripe 3,200 CHF, PayPal 3,950 CHF – a difference of 750 CHF monthly. Both do not charge monthly fixed fees, with PayPal charging significantly higher transaction fees at 3.4% + 0.55 CHF than Stripe (2.9% + 0.30 CHF).
Comparison table costs PayPal vs Stripe
Provider
Subscription
Setup costs
Monthly costs
Transaction fees
PayPal
PayPal
CHF 0.00
CHF 0.00
3.40%
+
CHF 0.55
Stripe
Stripe
CHF 0.00
CHF 0.00
2.90%
+
CHF 0.30
Additional remarks
PayPal
With PayPal, no separate setup is required – a PayPal business account is sufficient. For verification, company information and a commercial register number are required. Please note that PayPal charges the highest transaction fees of all compared providers (3.4% + 0.55 CHF) and supports neither TWINT nor PostFinance Pay.
Stripe
To implement Stripe, you need developer knowledge. For verification, a valid photo ID and a company registration number are required. For large companies, Stripe offers special terms, which you can request from sales.
Conclusion: PayPal or Stripe – which global provider is better?
Both providers do not offer personal support in Switzerland. PayPal and Stripe rely on email and chat support. Google reviews: Stripe 3.1 stars (8 reviews), PayPal 1.6 stars (56 reviews). Stripe has the significantly better rating, albeit on a very small database. For SMEs without an IT department, both providers lack a personal touch.
