Stripe Pricing: Complete Guide on Fee Breakdown
Stripe charges 4.3% on every transaction plus a 2% currency conversion fee on top. For Indian exporters receiving international payments, the all-in cost adds up to ~6% per invoice. Here's the full breakdown with a real example and a comparison against Skydo, so you know exactly what you're paying for.
vs SkydoEnter your invoice amount to see the difference
— you receive₹3,91,147Stripe Pricing Overview
Stripe earns purely on transaction volume with no monthly subscriptions. But for Indian exporters receiving international payments, the fees stack quickly.
Every international card transaction costs 4.3% in processing fees plus a 2% currency conversion fee when settling to INR. And card is the only option, there is no ACH, bank transfer, or wire payment method available for Indian Stripe users. If your client prefers to pay via bank transfer, Stripe simply cannot accommodate that.
On top of this, if a client disputes a payment and you lose, Stripe charges an additional ₹1,000 as a chargeback fee.
Stripe Fees Explained
International card payments are the only way to receive money on Stripe in India, and the fees stack up. Here's exactly what you're paying.
Approximate cost by transaction type:
Subscription billing fees
Stripe Billing adds 0.7% on recurring invoices. For SaaS subscriptions this stacks on top of the card fee.
Settlement timeline
International cards take 2-5 days to settle to your Indian bank. Skydo wires settle in 24-48 hours.
Stripe FX and Currency Conversion
Every time Stripe converts your foreign currency to INR, it applies a 2% markup above the mid-market rate. At a rate of roughly ₹85 to a dollar, that 2% on a $5,000 payment quietly costs you around ₹8,500 before you even account for the processing fee.
Skydo converts at the live mid-market rate with zero markup. On the same $5,000, you pay a flat $29 and keep the rest. That's the ₹8,500 FX margin saved.
Stripe is excellent if your business runs card-based checkouts for international consumers. But if your clients are businesses paying via wire transfer, the FX cost alone is often the biggest reason Indian exporters make the switch.
Stripe Charges to Watch For
Beyond the card fee and FX, several Stripe charges add up:
Disputes and chargebacks
₹1,000 per dispute received. If you win the dispute the fee is returned. If you lose it is not.
Stripe Billing add-on
0.7% on top of card fee for recurring invoices.
Stripe Tax
Tax-calculation add-on bills monthly per active location.
International card surcharge
~1% extra on top of base card fee for non-domestic cards.
Refund fees
Original processing fee is not refunded on refunded transactions.
Settlement holds
High-risk merchants may have rolling reserves on settlements.
How Much Does Stripe Actually Cost? (Real Example)
You've just delivered for a US client and invoiced $5,000. Here's what actually lands in your account depending on how you receive it. Mid-market rate: ₹85 to a dollar.
On 12 monthly $5K invoices, that's ₹2.97 lakh saved per year by moving wire-paying clients off Stripe to Skydo.
Keep Stripe for card-paying clients. Move wire-paying clients to Skydo for the savings.
Stripe Pricing vs Skydo Pricing
Every fee, side by side. International card payments on Stripe against wire transfers on Skydo.
| Fee component | stripe | |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction fee structure | 4.3% (international) | Flat $19 / $29 / 0.3% |
| Fee on $1,000 | $44 | $19 |
| Fee on $5,000 | $220 | $29 |
| Fee on $10,000 | $440 | $29 |
| Currency conversion | +2% | Zero. Live mid-market. |
| Settlement (international cards) | 2-5 days | 24-48 hours |
| Subscription billing add-on | +0.7% | Included |
| Setup fee | Free | Free |
| FIRA | Not direct; partner-bank | Free, instant, per payment |
Is Stripe Worth the Cost for Indian Exporters?
Stripe is excellent for some use cases. For others, the fees make it one of the more expensive options available to Indian exporters.
Stripe is worth it when. You sell SaaS or online goods with card checkout. You need a top-tier developer platform with deep APIs. You build marketplaces with split payments. Recurring billing and dunning matter.
Stripe stops being worth it when. Your B2B clients pay via wire transfer. You receive $5K+ invoices regularly. You need FIRA, eBRC, GST invoicing. You want flat-fee predictability. This is where Skydo wins on cost and India compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stripe Pricing
How much does Stripe charge in India for international cards?+
Why is Stripe so expensive for B2B receivables?+
Should I replace Stripe with Skydo?+
Are there volume discounts on Stripe?+
What is the FX cost on Stripe?+
Should I use Stripe or Skydo for SaaS billing?+
Stop Losing 6%+ on Every Stripe International Card Payment
- Save as much as ₹10 lakh annually with Zero FX Margin
- Get international bank accounts in 5 mins across US, UK, EU and more
- Real time payment tracking and instant FIRA