Earnside vs PayPal
Earnside vs PayPal: Reduce your effective rate below 3%
PayPal charges 3.49% + 49¢ for standard checkout transactions — among the highest rates in the industry. Earnside analyzes your full payment stack and negotiates with your processors to drive your blended rate well below 3%, saving thousands annually.
Earnside pricing model
Performance-based optimization across your full processor stack
PayPal pricing model
Flat-rate per transaction (plus numerous add-on fees)
Earnside typical rate
Negotiated rate — typically 1.8–2.4% blended for card-present
PayPal typical rate
3.49% + $0.49 standard · 2.99% + $0.49 with Venmo · Higher for international
Earnside monthly fee
$0 upfront
PayPal monthly fee
No monthly fee, but high per-transaction rates
Earnside contract
Month-to-month
PayPal contract
No contract, but reserves and holds are common
Feature comparison
| Feature | Earnside | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Blended rate below 2.5% | Achievable for most clients | Rarely possible |
| Transparent fee structure | Itemized every statement | Complex layered fees |
| No sudden account holds | Via established processors | Known for holds & reserves |
| Consumer brand recognition | N/A | 400M+ active users |
| Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) | Via your processor options | Pay Later available |
| International payments | Via your processor | 200+ markets |
| Fee audit & savings guarantee | Full audit + performance pricing | Not offered |
| Dedicated savings expert | Yes | No |
About PayPal
PayPal is one of the most recognized payment brands globally, with 400M+ consumers. Merchants accept PayPal for conversion — buyers trust it. But PayPal's merchant fees are among the highest in the industry, and the company has a well-documented history of complex, layered fees.
Our take
PayPal is a consumer checkout option you may want to keep for conversion. But for your core payment volume, Earnside helps you route transactions through lower-cost processors and negotiates rates that make PayPal's fees look excessive by comparison.
See how much you could save
Upload your last statement and we'll show you where PayPal or your current processor is overcharging you — at no cost.