Comparison · Updated October 3, 2026
WooPayments vs Stripe for WooCommerce stores
WooPayments (Automattic)
B
WooPayments is the official, Stripe-powered payment solution built exclusively for WooCommerce stores, offering no monthly fees and deep dashboard integration, but plagued by account suspension issues and inconsistent customer support that undermine trust for serious merchants.
Stripe
A
Stripe is a leading payment processor known for its developer-friendly API, transparent pricing, and comprehensive suite of payment solutions for businesses of all sizes.
VS
Overview
Both options run on Stripe, so the choice is less about who processes your cards than about how you connect to them. WooPayments is Woo's own payment plugin. When you sign up, it creates a Stripe Express account linked to your store, and you manage payments, refunds, disputes and payouts inside WordPress. You never get API keys or the full Stripe Dashboard, and you cannot connect an existing Stripe account. The alternative is the free Stripe for WooCommerce plugin connected to an ordinary Stripe account that you hold directly, with its own dashboard, API keys and 24x7 Stripe support. As of October 2026 the US online card price is the same either way: 2.9% + $0.30, plus 1.5% for cards issued abroad and 1% when currency is converted. Affirm, Afterpay and Klarna also cost the same on both. The differences are elsewhere. WooPayments refunds its $15 dispute fee when you win, while Stripe keeps its $15 dispute fee win or lose. A direct Stripe account offers ACH bank debits, and WooPayments has no US ACH option. Stripe's card-reader rate is 5 cents lower per sale with no monthly reader fee, but WooPayments is 5 cents cheaper on Tap to Pay. Both pay out US funds two business days after a sale once the first payout clears. Payment Review grades Stripe A and WooPayments B.
Key Takeaways
- ✓Both run on Stripe and charge the same US online card rate: 2.9% + $0.30, plus 1.5% for international cards and 1% for currency conversion. Affirm and Afterpay are 6% + $0.30 and Klarna 5.99% + $0.30 on both.
- ✓WooPayments is simpler to set up and run. It creates a Stripe Express account for you with no API keys to copy, and you handle payouts and disputes in WordPress. You cannot bring an existing Stripe account to it or open the full Stripe Dashboard.
- ✓Disputes cost less on WooPayments. Its $15 fee is refunded if you challenge and win. Stripe keeps its $15 dispute fee whatever happens and charges another $15 to respond manually, which it refunds only if you win.
- ✓A direct Stripe account adds ACH bank debits (0.8%, capped at $5), Cash App Pay and 24x7 phone, email and chat support. WooPayments support is by ticket and chat through WooCommerce.com, and Woo does not offer phone support.
- ✓Recurring billing costs the same to start on both, because both need the paid WooCommerce Subscriptions extension, listed at $279 a year.
WooPayments (Automattic)
WooPayments suits a US WooCommerce store that wants to start taking payments without handling API keys and to run payouts, disputes and refunds from the WordPress dashboard. It also suits stores that sell in person mainly through Tap to Pay on a phone. It costs nothing a month and has no contract.
Stripe
A direct Stripe account through the Stripe plugin suits stores that already have a Stripe account or that need the full Stripe Dashboard, API keys for accounting or other tools, ACH bank debits, or reporting across several websites in one place. It also suits stores that want 24x7 phone support from the processor or use a card reader at a counter.
The Verdict
It Depends on Your Needs
Why?
Both run on Stripe and charge the same 2.9% + $0.30 for US online cards, so price rarely decides it. WooPayments is the easier route for a new US store. It needs no API keys and keeps payouts and disputes inside WordPress. It refunds the $15 dispute fee when you win and costs less for Tap to Pay. A direct Stripe account through the Stripe plugin, from the more highly graded provider (Stripe A, WooPayments B), gives you the full Stripe Dashboard, API keys, ACH bank debits, a cheaper card-reader rate with no monthly reader fee, and 24x7 phone support. Choose WooPayments for simplicity. Choose Stripe if you already have a Stripe account or need any of those extras.
Feature by feature
Detailed Comparison
Filter Options
Online payment fees (US, as of October 2026)
| Feature | WooPayments (Automattic) | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic online cards and wallets | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Same rate. WooPayments charges the card rate for Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link by Stripe and WooPay; its Amazon Pay fee depends on how the shopper funds the payment. Stripe's rate covers cards and digital wallets. Stripe adds 0.5% for manually entered cards. WooPayments' fee schedule lists no separate keyed-card rate. WooPayments currently advertises 10% off processing fees for a new account's first three months, subject to eligibility terms. WooPayments says its transaction fees are not returned when you refund an order. | ||
| Cards issued outside the US | +1.5%, plus 1% if currency is converted | +1.5%, plus 1% if currency is converted |
| Same surcharges on both. WooPayments treats cards issued in Puerto Rico as international. Stripe also offers Adaptive Pricing, which shows prices in the shopper's currency and charges the shopper a conversion fee starting at 2%. | ||
| Buy now, pay later | Affirm and Afterpay 6% + $0.30; Klarna 5.99% + $0.30 | Affirm and Afterpay 6% + $0.30; Klarna 5.99% + $0.30 |
| Same standard rates. Stripe says some businesses may be offered Klarna and Affirm at 2.9% + 30¢ for at least a month before standard pricing applies. Stripe also lists an Enhanced Affirm tier at 7.99% + 30¢. Stripe lists a 1.5% international surcharge and a 1% conversion fee on Afterpay and Klarna, while WooPayments' US table shows no international or conversion surcharge on its BNPL methods. | ||
| ACH bank debits | Not offered in the US | 0.8%, capped at $5 Winner |
| WooPayments' US payment methods are cards, express wallets, Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna and a set of mainly European and Asian local methods, with no ACH. The Stripe plugin's documentation lists ACH and Cash App Pay among its methods. Stripe's 0.8% is for its standard settlement timing. Two-day settlement costs 1.2%, and Stripe charges $4 for a failed ACH payment and $15 for an ACH dispute. | ||
| Card dispute fee | $15; refunded if you challenge and win Winner | $15 received fee kept; +$15 to respond manually, refunded if you win |
| On WooPayments, a dispute you win costs nothing and one you lose costs $15. On a direct Stripe account a dispute you win still costs $15, and one you contest manually and lose costs $30. Stripe's Smart Disputes, which builds the evidence for you, takes 30% of the disputed amount on disputes you win. Through the Stripe plugin, disputes are handled in Stripe's dashboard, not in WordPress. | ||
| Volume or custom pricing | Not disclosed | Custom packages for large volume, including IC+ |
| Stripe's pricing page offers custom packages for businesses with large payment volume, including interchange-plus pricing, volume discounts and multi-product discounts, through its sales team. WooPayments' fee page publishes one rate schedule and says nothing about negotiated pricing. | ||
Domestic online cards and wallets
WooPayments (Automattic)
2.9% + $0.30
Stripe
2.9% + $0.30
Same rate. WooPayments charges the card rate for Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link by Stripe and WooPay; its Amazon Pay fee depends on how the shopper funds the payment. Stripe's rate covers cards and digital wallets. Stripe adds 0.5% for manually entered cards. WooPayments' fee schedule lists no separate keyed-card rate. WooPayments currently advertises 10% off processing fees for a new account's first three months, subject to eligibility terms. WooPayments says its transaction fees are not returned when you refund an order.
Cards issued outside the US
WooPayments (Automattic)
+1.5%, plus 1% if currency is converted
Stripe
+1.5%, plus 1% if currency is converted
Same surcharges on both. WooPayments treats cards issued in Puerto Rico as international. Stripe also offers Adaptive Pricing, which shows prices in the shopper's currency and charges the shopper a conversion fee starting at 2%.
Buy now, pay later
WooPayments (Automattic)
Affirm and Afterpay 6% + $0.30; Klarna 5.99% + $0.30
Stripe
Affirm and Afterpay 6% + $0.30; Klarna 5.99% + $0.30
Same standard rates. Stripe says some businesses may be offered Klarna and Affirm at 2.9% + 30¢ for at least a month before standard pricing applies. Stripe also lists an Enhanced Affirm tier at 7.99% + 30¢. Stripe lists a 1.5% international surcharge and a 1% conversion fee on Afterpay and Klarna, while WooPayments' US table shows no international or conversion surcharge on its BNPL methods.
ACH bank debits
WooPayments (Automattic)
Not offered in the US
Stripe
0.8%, capped at $5
Winner
WooPayments' US payment methods are cards, express wallets, Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna and a set of mainly European and Asian local methods, with no ACH. The Stripe plugin's documentation lists ACH and Cash App Pay among its methods. Stripe's 0.8% is for its standard settlement timing. Two-day settlement costs 1.2%, and Stripe charges $4 for a failed ACH payment and $15 for an ACH dispute.
Card dispute fee
WooPayments (Automattic)
$15; refunded if you challenge and win
Winner
Stripe
$15 received fee kept; +$15 to respond manually, refunded if you win
On WooPayments, a dispute you win costs nothing and one you lose costs $15. On a direct Stripe account a dispute you win still costs $15, and one you contest manually and lose costs $30. Stripe's Smart Disputes, which builds the evidence for you, takes 30% of the disputed amount on disputes you win. Through the Stripe plugin, disputes are handled in Stripe's dashboard, not in WordPress.
Volume or custom pricing
WooPayments (Automattic)
Not disclosed
Stripe
Custom packages for large volume, including IC+
Stripe's pricing page offers custom packages for businesses with large payment volume, including interchange-plus pricing, volume discounts and multi-product discounts, through its sales team. WooPayments' fee page publishes one rate schedule and says nothing about negotiated pricing.
Best For Your Business
Recommendations based on your business type
New US WooCommerce store selling mainly online
Recommended
WooPayments (Automattic)
WooPayments sets up a Stripe account for you from inside WooCommerce with no keys to copy. It charges the same 2.9% + $0.30 as Stripe, refunds the $15 dispute fee when you win, and keeps payouts and disputes in WordPress.
Store that already has a Stripe account or links Stripe to other software
Recommended
Stripe
An existing Stripe account cannot be connected to WooPayments, and WooPayments never exposes API keys. The Stripe plugin uses your own account and keys, so accounting and other tools that read from Stripe keep working.
Business running several WooCommerce sites
Recommended
Stripe
Woo's own comparison says the standalone Stripe plugin may be better when you take payments on several WooCommerce sites and want their reporting in one place. WooPayments links each Stripe Express account directly to one site and shows its data in that site's dashboard.
Store selling high-value orders to US customers who would pay by bank
Recommended
Stripe
A direct Stripe account accepts ACH bank debits at 0.8% capped at $5, against 2.9% + $0.30 on a card. WooPayments has no ACH option in the US.
Market or pop-up seller taking payments on a phone
Recommended
WooPayments (Automattic)
WooPayments charges 2.7% + $0.10 for Tap to Pay with no reader fee. Stripe's Tap to Pay works out to 2.7% + $0.15. A seller using a card reader at a counter all month pays less on Stripe: 2.7% + $0.05 with no $5 monthly reader fee.
Store selling subscriptions
Both need the WooCommerce Subscriptions extension ($279 a year) for recurring payments. If you choose WooPayments, its optional Stripe Billing renewal engine adds 1% to each order with a subscription payment.
WooPayments (Automattic): Best for 2 use cases
Stripe: Best for 3 use cases
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this comparison
It runs on Stripe, but it is a separate product. WooPayments is built by Woo in partnership with Stripe. Signing up verifies your business with Stripe and creates a Stripe Express account linked to your store. Woo provides the dashboard inside WordPress and handles first-line support. You do not get API keys or the full Stripe Dashboard, and you cannot connect a Stripe account you already have. For that, Woo points merchants to its free Stripe plugin.
For online card sales they cost the same. Both charge 2.9% + $0.30 for US cards, plus 1.5% for cards issued abroad and 1% for currency conversion, as of October 2026. BNPL rates are also identical. WooPayments costs less on disputes, because its $15 fee is refunded if you win, and on Tap to Pay (2.7% + $0.10 against 2.7% + $0.15). Stripe costs less for card-reader sales (2.7% + $0.05 with no $5 monthly reader fee) and offers ACH at 0.8% capped at $5.
No. Woo says an existing Stripe account cannot be connected to WooPayments, which always creates a new Express account. To keep your current Stripe account on a WooCommerce store, use the free Stripe for WooCommerce plugin. Woo says you can run both gateways at once, though doing so causes some issues it documents.
After the first payout, both pay US merchants two business days after a sale on a daily schedule. WooPayments holds a new account's first payout for 7 days from its first successful payment, then applies the two business days. Stripe says a first payout typically arrives within 7 to 14 days. Both offer Instant Payouts for 1.5% to eligible US accounts. WooPayments limits each one to between $50 and $1,000 and allows one every 24 hours.
Yes. WooPayments dropped its built-in subscriptions feature in version 10.2.0, and the Stripe plugin supports recurring payments through WooCommerce Subscriptions. The extension is listed at $279 a year.
With WooPayments, contact Woo first by ticket or chat through WooCommerce.com. Woo does not offer phone support and may refer you to Stripe. With the Stripe plugin, Woo helps with the plugin, while payouts, disputes and account verification go to Stripe, which offers 24x7 phone, email and chat to all customers.
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