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Stripe vs Polar: free tier and first paid price (checked 2026-10-19)
Both have a free plan that stays free. Stripe Standard card pricing: 1.4% + €0.10 (EEA cards); Polar Pro: $20/month. These first paid prices are not directly comparable from the list prices alone.
| Fact | Stripe | Polar |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Stays free | Stays free |
| Card for the free plan | Unknown | Unknown |
| EU region | Yes | Yes |
| First paid plan | Standard card pricing | Pro |
| First paid price | 1.4% + €0.10 (EEA cards) | $20/month |
| Free plan includes | The pricing page (rendered in German) does not show a monthly platform fee for standard card payments. Standard online cards: 1.4% + €0.10 for EEA cards, 2.9% + €0.10 for non-EEA cards. | Starter: monthly fee Free, 5% + 50¢ per transaction, standard support. Organizations created on or after May 27, 2026 start on Starter. |
| Free limits |
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| Paid plan note | Non-EEA cards: 2.9% + €0.10. Managed Payments is an extra 3.5% on top of payment fees. A $10/month line appears but is not labeled in the captured text, so it is not treated as the first plan. | Pro: 3.8% + 40¢. An older 'Early Member' row is also shown (4% + 40¢ plus 0.5% on subscriptions) but new orgs do not start there. |
| EU / data region note | Page shows EEA vs non-EEA card rates and payouts 'in selected regions'. This is a payments region, not app hosting. | Payout fee line: '0.25% (EU) - 1% in other countries', plus $0.25 per payout. International cards add 1.5%. |
| Last checked | ||
| Pricing page | stripe.com/pricing | polar.sh/resources/pricing |
Questions
Does Stripe or Polar have a free plan?
Stripe has a free plan that stays free; Polar has a free plan that stays free. Checked 2026-10-19: Stripe pricing, Polar pricing.
Which is cheaper to start paying for, Stripe or Polar?
Stripe Standard card pricing: 1.4% + €0.10 (EEA cards); Polar Pro: $20/month. These first paid prices are not directly comparable from the list prices alone. Checked 2026-10-19: Stripe pricing, Polar pricing.
Do Stripe and Polar need a credit card for the free plan?
Stripe does not say whether a card is needed; Polar does not say whether a card is needed. Checked 2026-10-19: Stripe pricing, Polar pricing.
Do Stripe and Polar offer an EU region?
Both say they offer an EU region. Checked 2026-10-19: Stripe pricing, Polar pricing.
Sources
- Stripe pricing page (checked 2026-10-19)
- Polar pricing page (checked 2026-10-19)
Every cell is copied from the official pricing pages. The verdict is generated from those fields and makes no other claims. "Unknown" means the page did not say. Prices change: check the vendor page before you buy.
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