Payment Gateway Fee Calculator 2025

Compare LemonSqueezy, Gumroad, Payhip, Paddle, Polar, Creem, Stripe, Shopify Payments, Square, and Ko‑fi fees. Calculate exactly how much fees eat into your earnings.

by @jiteshghanchi

Fee Calculator

Enter your product details to see a detailed comparison of payment gateway fees

Calculating fees across all platforms...

Fee Comparison Results

Platform Information & Features

Lemon Squeezy

Base Fee: 5% + $0.50 per transaction

International Fee: +1.5% for non-US transactions

Subscription Fee: +0.5% for recurring payments

Features: MoR (handles global taxes/VAT), subscriptions, license keys, digital delivery, analytics

Official Pricing: lemonsqueezy.com/pricing

Gumroad

Base Fee: 10% + $0.50 per transaction

Processing Fee: +2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe/PayPal)

International Fee: No additional fees

Features: No monthly fees, social media integration, multiple product types, customer management, mobile app, community features

Official Pricing: gumroad.com/help/fees

Payhip

Free Plan: 5% + processing fees

Plus ($29/mo): 2% + processing fees

Pro ($99/mo): 0% + processing fees

Features: Storefronts, courses, memberships, VAT handling, marketing tools

Official Pricing: help.payhip.com/billing

Stripe

Base Fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

International Fee: +1% for non-US transactions

Features: Industry standard fees, extensive API, multiple payment methods, advanced fraud protection, real-time analytics, developer-friendly

Official Pricing: docs.stripe.com

Shopify Payments

Basic: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

Shopify: 2.6% + $0.30 per transaction

Advanced: 2.4% + $0.30 per transaction

Features: Integrated with Shopify, multiple payment methods, built-in fraud protection, analytics dashboard

Official Pricing: shopify.com/payments

Square

Online: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

In-Person: 2.6% + $0.15 per transaction

International Fee: +1% for non-US transactions

Features: Point-of-sale integration, mobile payments, business tools, inventory management, customer management

Official Pricing: squareup.com/payments/our-fees

DodoPayments

Base Fee: 4% + $0.40 per transaction

International Fee: +1.5% for non-US transactions

Subscription Fee: +0.5% for recurring payments

Features: Creator-focused checkout, digital delivery, global payments, subscriptions, modern UI

Official Pricing: dodopayments.com/pricing

Paddle

Base Fee: 5% + $0.50 per transaction

International Fee: Included (MoR)

Features: MoR, subscriptions, global taxes, localized checkout, all-inclusive pricing

Official Pricing: paddle.com/pricing

Polar

Base Fee: 4% + $0.40 per transaction

International Fee: +1.5% for non-US transactions

Subscription Fee: +0.5% for recurring payments

Features: MoR, developer-focused API, subscriptions, webhooks

Official Pricing: polar.sh/pricing

Creem

Base Fee: 3.9% + $0.40 per transaction

International Fee: Included (MoR)

Features: MoR, modern UX, subscriptions, wallets, strong design, all-inclusive pricing

Official Pricing: creem.io/pricing

Ko‑fi

Free Plan: 0% on donations, 5% on shop + processing

Gold ($6/mo): 0% platform fees + processing

Features: Tips, shop, memberships, simple setup

Official Pricing: ko-fi.com help

Frequently Asked Questions

Which payment gateway has the lowest fees?
Stripe, Shopify Payments, and Square have the lowest base fees at 2.9% + $0.30. Creem offers 3.9% + $0.40 with all-inclusive MoR pricing. DodoPayments and Polar charge 4% + $0.40, while LemonSqueezy and Paddle charge 5% + $0.50. Gumroad has a flat 10% + $0.50 fee plus processing costs. The total cost depends on your specific use case, volume, international transactions, and whether you need additional features.
Do these platforms charge monthly fees?
No, all four platforms operate on a pay-per-transaction model with no monthly subscription fees. You only pay when you make a sale.
How do international fees work?
International fees vary by platform. Stripe, Shopify Payments, and Square add 1% for international transactions. LemonSqueezy, DodoPayments, and Polar add 1.5% for international transactions. MoR platforms like Paddle and Creem include international fees in their base pricing. Always check the specific platform's international fee structure before making a decision.
Which platform is best for digital products?
LemonSqueezy and Gumroad are specifically designed for digital products and creators, offering features like digital delivery, email marketing, and affiliate programs. Payhip also excels with custom storefronts and SEO optimization.
How do PayPal fees affect the total cost?
When customers pay via PayPal, you may incur additional PayPal fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30 for US transactions). Some platforms pass these fees through to you, while others absorb them. Always check the fine print for PayPal-specific terms.
Can I use multiple payment gateways?
Yes, many businesses use multiple payment gateways to optimize for different customer preferences and reduce dependency on a single provider. However, this requires additional setup and management overhead.
Why did Gumroad change their pricing to 10%?
Gumroad updated their pricing to a flat 10% fee to simplify their pricing structure and make it more transparent. While this is higher than their previous 3.5% + $0.30 model, it eliminates hidden fees and provides a predictable cost structure for creators.

More Alternatives Used by Creators

Also consider

  • FastSpring – MoR for software/SaaS (fees vary, e.g., 8.9% or 5.9% + $0.95)
  • Buy Me a Coffee – Tips, memberships, simple shop
  • Patreon – Memberships/subscriptions (platform take ~10%)
  • Sellfy – Fixed monthly plans, no platform fee
  • Podia – Courses, community, memberships; no platform fee on paid plans
  • SendOwl – Digital delivery, subscriptions, Shopify integration
  • Etsy – Marketplace for digital goods (listing + transaction + processing fees)
  • Creative Market – Design asset marketplace (revenue share)
  • Easy Digital Downloads (WordPress) – Self-hosted, processor fees apply
  • WooCommerce + Payments – Self-hosted, processor fees apply

Tip: MoR platforms (Lemon Squeezy, DodoPayments, Paddle, Polar, Creem, FastSpring) handle global taxes for you. Processor gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Square) require you to manage taxes/compliance.