Fee comparison · France · 2026

PayPal vs Stripe in France: fees on $10,000, side by side

The cheapest way in the world to get paid internationally.

On a $10,000 card payment from a client in the United States to a business in France, PayPal takes $774.62 in fees. Stripe takes $515.28. Playto takes $250.30 and adds zero markup, so you keep $9,749.70. Cards cost 2.5% + $0.30. Bank transfers are never more than $5.

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Fees on $10,000 by card

  • PayPalYou receive $9,225.38$774.62
  • StripeYou receive $9,484.72$515.28
  • PlaytoYou receive $9,749.70$250.30

The numbers

What lands in your bank

Example payments from a client in the United States to a business in France. All fees included. Taxes not included.

Difference on $10,000
$524.32
By card, what reaches you with Playto compared with PayPal.
PayPal all in
7.7%
Of a $10,000 card payment.
Stripe all in
5.2%
Of a $10,000 card payment.
Playto all in
2.5%
Of a $10,000 card payment.
Client pays by card: what you receive
Provider$1,000$5,000$10,000
Playto$974.70$4,874.70$9,749.70
PayPal1$922.28$4,612.54$9,225.38
Stripe2$948.22$4,742.22$9,484.72

Client pays by bank transfer

PayPal and Stripe list no bank transfer option for this case.1,2 With Playto, bank transfers are never more than $5.

  1. 1.PayPal: Payment fee (PayPal standard rate); PayPal: Extra fee for a client outside the EEA; PayPal: Conversion to EUR above PayPal's base rate. www.paypal.com/fr/business/paypal-business-fees?locale.x=en_FR, checked 17 Oct 2026.
  2. 2.Stripe: International card fee (3.15%); Stripe: Fixed fee (EUR 0.25, converted at the ECB rate of 16 Oct 2026); Stripe: Currency conversion surcharge (USD to EUR). stripe.com/en-fr/pricing, checked 17 Oct 2026.

Where the money goes

$10,000 by card, line by line

PayPal

  • Payment fee (PayPal standard rate)1$290.30
  • Extra fee for a client outside the EEA1$199.00
  • Conversion to EUR above PayPal's base rate1$285.32
  • Total$774.62
  • You receive$9,225.38

Stripe

  • International card fee (3.15%)2$315.00
  • Fixed fee (EUR 0.25, converted at the ECB rate of 16 Oct 2026)2$0.28
  • Currency conversion surcharge (USD to EUR)2$200.00
  • Total$515.28
  • You receive$9,484.72

Playto

  • Card fee$250.30
  • Total$250.30
  • You receive$9,749.70

Prices from playto.so/pricing. Playto adds zero markup.

Getting paid in France

The basics, with sources

Public facts from official sources, each with its date. Not advice: check with your bank.

Currency

Euro (EUR).

Source: www.six-group.com, checked 17 Oct 2026.

Local bank payments

In France, everyday SEPA bank transfers and direct debits go through CORE(FR), a system run by the company STET and watched over by the Banque de France. Instant transfers (SEPA Instant) go through STET's SEPA(EU) system.

Source: www.banque-france.fr, checked 17 Oct 2026.

Money rules

EU law bans limits on payments between EU countries, and between EU countries and the rest of the world.

Source: eur-lex.europa.eu, checked 17 Oct 2026.

Everyday payments

In 2024, cards were used for 48% of purchases in shops in France and cash for 43%. It was the first year cards were used more often than cash in shops there.

Source: www.insee.fr, checked 22 Oct 2026.

Payment apps and cards

Most payment cards in France carry two brands: the French card scheme CB and either Visa or Mastercard. CB is estimated to have carried about 70% of the money paid by card in France in 2023.

Source: www.insee.fr, checked 22 Oct 2026.

Exchange rate, for scale

1 USD = 0.881 EUR (US Treasury reference rate, 30 Sept 2026). The rate on the day of a payment will differ.

Source: fiscaldata.treasury.gov.

Calculator

Try your own amount

From $1,000 to $50,000, by card or bank transfer, for a client in the United States paying a business in France.

$10,000
$1,000$50,000

Fees charged

  • PayPalYou receive $9,225.38$774.62
  • StripeYou receive $9,484.72$515.28
  • PlaytoYou receive $9,749.70$250.30

Side by side

PayPal, Stripe and Playto, in plain numbers

What adds to the cost with PayPal and Stripe

  • PayPal lists no bank transfer option for a client in the United States paying a business in France.
  • By card, PayPal adds 3% of what is left after earlier fees when it changes the money to EUR: $285.32 on $10,000.
  • All in, PayPal takes $774.62 (7.7%) of a $10,000 card payment. Playto takes $250.30.
  • Stripe lists no bank transfer option for a client in the United States paying a business in France.
  • By card, Stripe adds 2% when it changes the money to EUR: $200.00 on $10,000.
  • All in, Stripe takes $515.28 (5.2%) of a $10,000 card payment.

When PayPal or Stripe is still the right choice

  • Your clients pay you inside your own country. A local payment method can cost less there. Playto is built for clients abroad.

Switching

Move from PayPal or Stripe in three steps

  1. 1

    Request an invite

    Tell us about your business. Playto checks every business before it gets in.

  2. 2

    Send a payment link

    Share a link or an invoice. Your client can pay 30+ ways, from 170+ countries.

  3. 3

    Get paid

    Cards cost 2.5% + $0.30. Bank transfers are never more than $5. Playto adds zero markup.

FAQ

PayPal vs Stripe in France: questions

Is Playto cheaper than PayPal and Stripe in France?
Yes, at every amount from $1,000 to $50,000 we checked, by card, for a client in the United States paying a business in France. On $10,000 by card, PayPal takes $774.62, Stripe takes $515.28 and Playto takes $250.30. Taxes are not included.
Which costs less, PayPal or Stripe in France?
By card, Stripe costs you less than PayPal at every amount we checked, from $1,000 to $50,000. On a $10,000 card payment from a client in the United States to a business in France, PayPal takes $774.62 and Stripe takes $515.28. Playto takes $250.30. Each number comes from the provider's own pricing page.
How does a business in France get paid from abroad?
Send your client a payment link or an invoice. Your client can pay 30+ ways, from 170+ countries. They pick a card, a wallet or a bank transfer (ACH, SEPA, UK and wires).
Does Stripe work in France?
Stripe's own country list includes France (stripe.com, checked 22 Oct 2026).
How much does PayPal charge on a $10,000 payment from the United States?
By card, PayPal takes $774.62 on $10,000, so $9,225.38 reaches a business in France. The biggest fees are the $290.30 payment fee and the $285.32 conversion to EUR above PayPal's base rate. Every fee is listed on this page, with its source. These numbers come from PayPal's own pricing pages, checked 17 Oct 2026.
How much does Stripe charge on a $10,000 payment from the United States?
By card, Stripe takes $515.28 on $10,000, so $9,484.72 reaches a business in France. The biggest fees are the $315.00 international card fee (3.15%) and the $200.00 currency conversion surcharge. Every fee is listed on this page, with its source. These numbers come from Stripe's own pricing pages, checked 17 Oct 2026.
How much does Playto cost?
Cards and wallets cost 2.5% + $0.30, the same for every card. Bank transfers are never more than $5. Playto adds zero markup. There are no monthly fees and no setup fees. Payments between Playto users are free.
How does Playto make money?
Playto makes no profit on payment processing. 2.5% + $0.30 is what the card networks and banks charge us. Playto adds no markup. We earn from optional extra services you can choose. We keep lowering prices as we grow and get better costs.
How do I move from PayPal or Stripe to Playto?
Request an invite and tell us about your business. Playto checks every business before it gets in. Then send your client a payment link or an invoice.

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