Stripe vs. PayPal: Which is the best choice for businesses in Hong Kong?
The Airwallex Editorial Team
As the cross-border eCommerce industry continues to boom, more than 60% of local businesses are already selling internationally online, according to a 2025 survey by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Stripe and PayPal stand out as two of the world’s leading payment platforms for eCommerce.
In this article, we will compare Stripe and PayPal, breaking down their features, fees, pros and cons, and which type of business they are suitable for. We’ll also introduce the comprehensive, all-in-one financial platform – Airwallex – explaining how it can help companies save time and cost on international payments and build a trusting relationship with their global customers and suppliers.
Streamline your payment processing with a full-service financial solutions provider
Stripe vs. PayPal: service overview
What is Stripe?
Stripe is a global leader in payment services. It was founded in 2010 and widely trusted by eCommerce businesses, subscription services, and online platforms worldwide. The company operates across over 195 countries and supports 135 currencies, featuring a low entry barrier as there are no monthly or hidden fees. Businesses in Hong Kong can start accepting payment and enjoy a comprehensive set of functionalities without hefty upfront costs, paying only per-transaction charges.
Hong Kong businesses can easily register for a Stripe business account online by submitting company documents. Once approved, businesses can accept payments through various methods, including credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more. The platform's flexible Application Programming Interface (API) empowers companies to customise their checkout processes and integrate with a wide range of online systems, accommodating diverse business needs.
What is PayPal?
Established in 1998, PayPal is one of the world’s most recognised third-party online payment platforms, with over 400 million active users globally. Its service spans more than 200 countries and supports over 120 currencies. The platform is known for its comprehensive and user-friendly business account features. Users without a technical background can easily access the payment functions, making it especially popular among small businesses and freelancers.
PayPal’s other payment solutions include payment collection, online checkout, payment links, and digital invoicing. Its flexibility in payment collection helps startups to expand new sales channels with ease.
Stripe vs PayPal: Business Accounts comparison
| Stripe Business Account | PayPal Business Account |
|---|---|---|
Key features | Payment collection, customisable API, automated reconciliation, subscriptions and invoicing | Payment collection, payment links, online invoicing, and fund transfers |
Supported payment methods | Credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other international payment options | Credit cards, debit cards, PayPal digital wallet, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more |
Supported currencies/ regions | 135+ currencies, 195+ countries | 120+ currencies, 200+ countries |
Local transaction fee | 3.4% + HK$2 per transaction | 3.9% + HK$2.35 per transaction* |
*For international transactions, PayPal charges an additional cross-border fee – usually 0.5% of other fees, including standard transaction fees and any currency conversion fees.
Overall, Stripe is a strong choice for businesses looking for highly customisable payment processes and seamless integration across multiple platforms. PayPal, on the other hand, stands out as an easy-to-use platform, catering to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Yet, it is important to note that the platform charges a range of service fees.
Features and fees comparison
Key features: Both Stripe and PayPal offer subscription payment features, but Stripe stands out with its flexible API integration and advanced subscription management, making it suitable for businesses requiring custom checkout processes and management of recurring payments. PayPal, meanwhile, prioritises user experience, enabling users with no technical background to get started quickly. It also offers comprehensive solutions for refunds and dispute resolution.
Customer support: Stripe primarily provides customer service online, with answers to frequently asked questions available on a dedicated support page. In contrast, PayPal offers a more comprehensive support experience, providing customer service through phone hotlines as well as online assistance.
Fees: Stripe offers both the Standard and the Custom pricing plans. The Standard plan is ideal for businesses with lower transaction volumes, as there’s no monthly fee – users only have to pay 3.4% plus HK$2 per local transaction. In comparison, PayPal’s fee for local transactions is higher at 3.9% plus HK$2.35 per transaction.
Which platform is suitable for your business?
PayPal is a great option for SMEs, as well as freelancers who look for fast onboarding and global coverage of payment options. It’s particularly ideal for those in eCommerce and cross-border retail. Businesses seeking fast setup and ease of use can consider PayPal as a secure and convenient choice.
Stripe, meanwhile, is more suited for eCommerce platforms, SaaS companies, and cross-border businesses with sufficient technical capability that require customisable payment processes and API integration. The platform offers diverse payment options and subscription management tools that can help companies automate payment collections and deliver a seamless payment experience for their customers.
Go global, faster with Airwallex
Compared to Stripe and PayPal, Airwallex delivers an all-in-one platform – including Global Accounts, currency exchange, cross-border transfers, expense management, flexible APIs, and corporate cards.
Full suite of cross-border and multi-currency capabilities
Airwallex supports cross-border payment collections in more than 130 currencies in over 180 countries. Apart from major credit and debit cards, online stores can provide 160+ local payment options like AliPay, WeChat Pay, and FPS, significantly boosting conversion rates. Businesses can leverage like-for-like settlement in 14+ currencies and dramatically cut foreign exchange costs.
With local payment rails in 120 countries, 95% of transfers via Airwallex are completed within hours or the same day, and 68% of payments even arrive instantly. Foreign exchange fees are as low as 0.2% on top of the interbank rates, helping businesses save up to 80% on FX costs. This functionality makes Airwallex a great fit for companies handling frequent and high-value transactions across borders.
Cost-effective enterprise-level features
Airwallex offers a wide range of enterprise-level features, including corporate cards, API integrations, one-click payment, payment gateways, and automated reconciliation. Airwallex offers:
Corporate cards: Issue multi-currency virtual corporate cards for free and enjoy $0 international transaction fees.
API integrations: Flexible APIs facilitate seamless connections with leading eCommerce platforms
Payment links: Quickly generate payment links and share them with clients to speed up transactions.
Businesses in Hong Kong can apply online for an Airwallex Business Account free of charge, with no monthly or hidden fees. Approval can be granted as fast as within 48 hours. The account does not implement minimum balance or transaction amount requirements, making it suitable for all businesses.
Streamline your payment processing with a full-service financial solutions provider
Frequently asked questions
Airwallex, Stripe, and PayPal: Which has a better pricing structure?
Airwallex offers flexible and competitive pricing at 3.3% + HK$2.35 for Checkout, making it suitable for businesses that frequently make high-value cross-border transactions. Airwallex also has lower FX rates and transaction costs, leading to an overall lower costs compared to Stripe and PayPal.
What currency accounts does Airwallex support?
Airwallex’s Global Accounts support more than 20 currencies, including USD, HKD, CNY, EUR, and GBP. The diverse range of currencies fulfils the international needs of cross-border businesses. For online Checkout, Airwallex supports 130+ currencies.
Is Airwallex suitable for small businesses?
Yes, Airwallex is suitable for small businesses. Airwallex does not charge monthly fees or implement minimum balance requirements. Its easy-to-use interface makes it ideal for SMEs and startups looking to speed up their international expansion.
Sources:
Information on Stripe and PayPal was retrieved as of September 2025, from below sources. Information provided is for reference only. Please refer to the official websites for the most up-to-date details
https://stripe.com/zh-hk/pricing
https://about.pypl.com/who-we-are/history-and-facts/default.aspx
Disclaimer: The information was based on our own online research and we were not able to manually test each tool or provider. The information is provided for educational purposes only and a reader should consider the specific requirements of their business when evaluating providers. This research is reviewed every 6 months. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [email protected].
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The Airwallex Editorial Team
Airwallex’s Editorial Team is a global collective of business finance and fintech writers based in Australia, Asia, North America, and Europe. With deep expertise spanning finance, technology, payments, startups, and SMEs, the team collaborates closely with experts, including the Airwallex Product team and industry leaders to produce this content.
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