Stripe is the most widely used payment gateway for WooCommerce stores. It accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and a growing range of local payment methods. The free WooCommerce Stripe plugin handles the integration, and setup takes about 20 minutes. Here is everything you need to know: how to connect Stripe, what fees you will pay, and the configuration choices that affect conversion and reliability.
Stripe Fees for WooCommerce
| Transaction type | Standard fee (US) |
| Domestic card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| European card (EU stores) | 1.5% + €0.25 |
| International card surcharge | +1.5% |
| Currency conversion | +1% |
| Dispute/chargeback fee | $15 per dispute |
Stripe charges no monthly fee, no setup fee, and no minimum volume requirement. WooCommerce does not add its own transaction fee on top of Stripe’s charges. What you pay Stripe is what you pay.
How to Connect Stripe to WooCommerce
Step 1: Create a Stripe account at stripe.com if you do not have one. Complete business verification to enable live payments.
Step 2: In WordPress admin, go to Plugins, Add New, and search for WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway. Install and activate the official plugin by WooCommerce.
Step 3: Go to WooCommerce, Settings, Payments. You will see Stripe listed. Click Set Up or Manage.
Step 4: The setup wizard prompts you to connect your Stripe account. Click Connect with Stripe, sign in to your Stripe account, and authorise the connection. This automatically retrieves your live and test API keys.
Step 5: Enable Test Mode initially. Place test orders using Stripe’s test card numbers (4242 4242 4242 4242 for a successful card) to confirm the integration works end-to-end before going live.
Step 6: Disable Test Mode to switch to live payments. Your store now processes real transactions through Stripe.
Stripe Payment Request Buttons: Apple Pay and Google Pay
The WooCommerce Stripe plugin includes a Payment Request Button that shows Apple Pay and Google Pay options to customers who have those methods available. For mobile shoppers with Apple Pay enabled, this can increase conversion significantly: tapping Apple Pay at checkout is faster than entering card details manually.
Enable Payment Request Buttons in the Stripe plugin settings under Payment Request Buttons. The button appears on product pages, the cart, and checkout for eligible customers. HTTPS is required for Apple Pay and Google Pay to display — WP Engine includes free SSL on all plans, so this is not an additional step on WP Engine.
Stripe vs WooPayments
WooPayments is WooCommerce’s own payment plugin, built on Stripe’s infrastructure. Functionally it is very similar to the Stripe plugin: same payment processing, same fee structure (with an additional WooPayments service fee on top of Stripe’s base rate on some plans), and integrated directly in the WooCommerce dashboard.
The Stripe plugin connects directly to your own Stripe account, giving you the full Stripe dashboard with detailed transaction reporting, dispute management, and payouts. WooPayments consolidates payment management inside WooCommerce admin, which is simpler but less powerful for stores that want the full Stripe analytics and dispute tooling.
For most stores, the direct Stripe plugin is the better choice. WooPayments suits stores that want the simplest possible setup and do not need advanced Stripe features. For a full payment setup context, see WooCommerce Checkout Optimization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a WooCommerce Stripe plugin free?
Yes. The official WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway plugin is free from the WordPress plugin repository. There is no premium version required to process payments. Stripe’s own transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30 in the US) apply to every transaction, but the plugin itself has no cost.
Does WooCommerce take a cut of Stripe payments?
No. WooCommerce does not add transaction fees to payments processed through Stripe. The only fees are Stripe’s own standard processing rates. This is one of WooCommerce’s advantages over Shopify, which charges its own transaction fee when you use a third-party payment gateway rather than Shopify Payments.
Do I need SSL to use Stripe with WooCommerce?
Yes. Stripe requires HTTPS for its Payment Element and payment fields. HTTPS is also required for Apple Pay and Google Pay to display. WP Engine includes free SSL with automatic renewal on all plans, so this is not an additional step on WP Engine-hosted stores.
How long does Stripe take to pay out to my bank?
Stripe’s standard payout schedule is two business days after a transaction is processed (for US accounts). This can be configured to daily, weekly, or monthly payouts in your Stripe dashboard settings. Instant payouts to an eligible debit card are available for an additional 1% fee.
