PayPal vs Wise — which takes less?
| PayPal | Wise | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.49% + $0.49 per Goods & Services transaction | From 0.33% + small fixed fee at the mid-market rate |
| $100 → fees | $3.98 | $0.93 |
| $100 → net | $96.02 | $99.07 |
Side-by-side quick reference
| Amount | PayPal fees | PayPal net | Wise fees | Wise net | Difference | PayPal charge→net | Wise charge→net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.84 | $9.16 | $0.54 | $9.46 | wise +$0.30 | $10.87 | $10.55 |
| $25.00 | $1.36 | $23.64 | $0.61 | $24.39 | wise +$0.75 | $26.42 | $25.62 |
| $50.00 | $2.24 | $47.76 | $0.72 | $49.28 | wise +$1.52 | $52.32 | $50.72 |
| $100.00 | $3.98 | $96.02 | $0.93 | $99.07 | wise +$3.05 | $104.13 | $100.94 |
| $250.00 | $9.22 | $240.78 | $1.58 | $248.42 | wise +$7.64 | $259.55 | $251.59 |
| $500.00 | $17.94 | $482.06 | $2.65 | $497.35 | wise +$15.29 | $518.59 | $502.67 |
| $1,000.00 | $35.39 | $964.61 | $4.80 | $995.20 | wise +$30.59 | $1,036.67 | $1,004.83 |
PayPal formula
payment processing 3.49% + $0.49
3.49% + $0.49 per Goods & Services transaction — verified 2026-11-10
Wise formula
payment processing 0.43% + $0.50
From 0.33% + small fixed fee at the mid-market rate — verified 2026-11-10
PayPal fee formula & hidden costs
payment processing 3.49% + $0.49
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $3.98 fees → $96.02 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $104.13.
Hidden fees to watch
- Cross-border commercial payments add +1.5% on top of the domestic rate.
- PayPal currency conversion applies a 3-4% markup over the wholesale exchange rate.
- On refunds PayPal returns the percentage portion but keeps the $0.49 fixed fee.
- Chargeback fees run $8-$20 per dispute on top of losing the sale.
- Instant transfers to a bank or card cost 1.75% (min $0.25, max $25).
Wise fee formula & hidden costs
payment processing 0.43% + $0.50
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $0.93 fees → $99.07 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $100.94.
Hidden fees to watch
- Receiving domestic USD wires costs a flat $4.14; ACH receipts are free.
- Fees are volume-tiered — very large monthly volumes unlock lower corridor rates.
- Card funding a transfer costs extra on top of the conversion fee.
- Some exotic corridors and weekend conversions carry small surcharges.
Frequently asked questions
Which takes less on a $100 sale: PayPal or Wise?
PayPal takes $3.98 (net $96.02); Wise takes $0.93 (net $99.07). Wise wins by $3.05 at $100.
Which is better for international sellers, PayPal or Wise?
PayPal: 3.49% + $0.49 per Goods & Services transaction. Wise: From 0.33% + small fixed fee at the mid-market rate. Check the regional variants above — rates change materially by country.
What is the effective take rate difference between PayPal and Wise?
At $100, PayPal takes 4.0% vs Wise at 0.9% — a 3.1 point gap before modifiers.