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Payment processing fee calculator

Type an invoice amount and compare what each way of getting paid costs. Rates come from each provider's US pricing page, checked October 18, 2026.

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Your own rate

Your own rate

For a provider not listed, or a negotiated rate. Leave the percentage at 0 to skip it.

Leave empty if there's no cap.

Cheapest: Wise, ACH to your Wise USD details

$1,000.00

You receive
$1,000.00
Fee
$0.00
Effective rate
0.00%

Standard US rates for domestic payments, checked October 18, 2026 on each provider's pricing page. Estimate only; your account may have different pricing. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

All options, cheapest first

How the client paysPublished rateFeeYou receive
Wise, ACH to your Wise USD detailsFree to receive. The client's bank may charge them.$0.00$0.00$1,000.00
Stripe, ACH Direct DebitCapped at $5 per payment.0.8%, capped at $5.00$5.00$995.00
Wise, wire to your Wise USD detailsPer incoming wire. The client's bank usually charges them too.$6.11$6.11$993.89
PayPal, bank transfer on a PayPal invoiceCapped at $10 per payment.1%, capped at $10.00$10.00$990.00
Square, ACH on a Square invoiceSquare Free plan: $1 minimum, no cap.1%, $1.00 minimum$10.00$990.00
Stripe, cardDomestic card. Stripe Invoicing adds 0.4% per paid invoice.2.9% + $0.30$29.30$970.70
PayPal, card on a PayPal invoice2.99% + $0.49$30.39$969.61
Square, card on a Square invoiceSquare Free plan.3.3% + $0.30$33.30$966.70
PayPal, PayPal or Venmo on an invoice3.49% + $0.49$35.39$964.61

Sources: stripe.com/pricing, paypal.com/us/business/paypal-business-fees, squareup.com/help/us/en/article/5068-what-are-square-s-fees, squareup.com/help/us/en/article/8387-create-and-send-invoices, wise.com/us/pricing/business/receive.

Percentage, fixed fee and cap

Most providers charge a percentage of the payment plus a fixed amount per payment. Card fees stay proportional, so a bigger invoice pays a bigger fee. Bank payments (ACH) usually have a cap, which is why they win on large invoices: Stripe ACH Direct Debit stops at $5 and a bank transfer on a PayPal invoice stops at $10. Square's ACH on its Free plan has a $1 minimum and no cap, so it keeps growing with the amount.

Worked example: a $4,800 project

Bill a $4,800 website as a 50% deposit and a 50% balance. Paid by card through Stripe, each $2,400 invoice costs $69.90, or $139.80 for the project. Paid by Stripe ACH, each one costs $5.00, or $10.00 in total. To receive the full $2,400.00 on each card payment, the invoice would have to be $2,471.99.

Ways to pay less

  • Offer bank payment as the default on large invoices and keep card for clients who need it.
  • Price the fee into your rate instead of adding a line. The freelance rate calculator helps you set it.
  • Split big projects into milestones so a late or disputed payment doesn't hold the whole fee.
  • If you offer a discount for paying early, check that it's worth more than the fee with the early payment discount calculator.

In SoloWOS

Invoicing sends invoices your client pays by card through your own Stripe account. SoloWOS adds no fee, so you pay Stripe's rate and nothing else. Clients who prefer to pay another way see the bank details or the PayPal, Wise or Mercado Pago link you save in Settings > Client payments.

IN SHORT

On a $1,000 invoice, a card payment through Stripe (2.9% + 30¢) costs $29.30, a card on a PayPal invoice (2.99% + $0.49) $30.39 and a card on a Square invoice on the Free plan (3.3% + 30¢) $33.30. Bank payments cost less: Stripe ACH $5.00, PayPal bank transfer $10.00. To receive $1,000 after Stripe's card fee, charge $1,030.18.

Prices and limits as of .

Questions

Where do the rates come from?
From each provider's own US pricing or help page, checked on October 18, 2026, with the link under the table. They're standard rates for domestic payments in US dollars. Your account may have different pricing if you negotiated it, so type your real rate in "Your own rate" to compare it with the rest.
How do I work out what to charge to receive a set amount?
Add the fixed fee to the amount you want and divide by 1 minus the percentage. For Stripe cards: ($1,000 + $0.30) ÷ (1 − 0.029) = $1,030.18. Adding 2.9% to $1,000 isn't enough, because the fee is also charged on the extra amount. When a fee is capped, like Stripe ACH at $5, you add the cap instead.
Is ACH always cheaper than a card?
On most invoices, yes. Stripe ACH Direct Debit is 0.8% capped at $5 and PayPal's bank transfer on an invoice is 1% capped at $10, so a $5,000 invoice costs $5.00 or $10.00 instead of $145.30 by card through Stripe. Square's ACH on the Free plan has a $1 minimum and no cap. Bank payments take a few business days to arrive.
What about clients outside the US?
Stripe adds 1.5% for cards issued outside the US and 1% more when the payment needs currency conversion. PayPal also charges extra on international payments. The calculator shows domestic rates only, so add those percentages in "Your own rate" if most of your clients are abroad.
Can I pass the fee on to my client?
Raising your price to cover the fee is the simplest way, and the calculator tells you by how much. Adding a separate card surcharge line is different: card networks and some US states have rules for surcharges, so check them before you add one, and say it in your contract or proposal.
Does SoloWOS add a fee to invoice payments?
No. Clients pay SoloWOS invoices by card through your own Stripe account, so you pay Stripe's rate and SoloWOS adds nothing on top. You can also show bank details or a PayPal, Wise or Mercado Pago link on every invoice from Settings > Client payments. Solo includes 50 invoices a month.

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SoloWOS Invoicing sends invoices your client pays by card through your own Stripe account, with reminders before and after the due date. 14 days free, no card needed · Then Basic for $2/month.

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