Key takeaways
- Domestic cards: 2.9% + C$0.30.
- International cards: +0.8%.
- Currency conversion: +2%.
- Holding and paying out USD can avoid the conversion fee.
What Stripe charges in Canada
| Fee | Rate |
|---|---|
| Domestic cards | 2.9% + C$0.30 |
| International cards | +0.8% |
| Currency conversion | +2% |
A worked example
A SaaS company sells a C$100 subscription.
| Customer | Stripe fee |
|---|---|
| Canadian card | C$3.20 |
| US card, converted to CAD | About C$6.00 (2.9% + 0.8% + 2% + 30¢) |
If a third of its revenue comes from US customers and is converted, its blended rate rises well above 2.9%.
How to pay less
- Price in USD and keep USD: settling USD sales to a USD bank account can avoid the 2% conversion fee.
- Ask about custom pricing once your volume grows.
- Use bank debits for large recurring invoices where customers agree.
- Compare interchange-plus providers such as Helcim if most of your sales are domestic.
Who Stripe suits
Stripe is strong for online and SaaS businesses that need subscriptions, invoicing and developer tools. Businesses with mainly domestic, in-person sales may pay less elsewhere.
Providers that can help
Strong online, subscription and developer tools
Interchange-plus for mostly domestic sales
Merchant of record that handles global sales tax
FAQs
How much does Stripe charge in Canada?
2.9% + C$0.30 per successful domestic card payment, plus 0.8% for international cards and 2% if currency conversion is required.
Why are my Stripe fees higher than 2.9%?
International cards and currency conversion add fees, so sales to foreign customers cost more than domestic sales.
Can I avoid Stripe’s conversion fee?
If you charge in USD and pay out to a USD bank account, you can avoid converting, and so avoid the conversion fee.
Does Stripe offer discounts?
Larger businesses can ask Stripe about custom pricing.
Does Stripe charge a monthly fee?
Standard pricing has no monthly fee; you pay per transaction, with extra fees for some products.
Sources: Stripe published Canadian pricing.