WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments (October 2026)
Updated October 23, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Payment Gateway Plugins top 10: WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway at #1 and WooCommerce PayPal Payments at #2. They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
Accept debit and credit cards in 135+ currencies, many local methods like Alipay, ACH, and SEPA, and express checkout with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments
PayPal's latest payment processing solution. Accept PayPal, Pay Later, credit/debit cards, alternative digital wallets and bank accounts.
Who leads on what
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Payment Gateway Plugins.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments has more users: 800,000+ active installs against 700,000+.
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway is rated higher: 3.1 out of 5 from 237 reviews, against 2.9 from 582 reviews.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments has more reviews behind its score: 582 against 237.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments was updated more recently, on October 21, 2026; WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway on October 16, 2026.
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 830,743 times against 408,157.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
Pick WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you or you want the one being installed faster right now.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments
Pick WooCommerce PayPal Payments if you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments side by side
| WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway | WooCommerce PayPal Payments | |
|---|---|---|
| Payment Gateway Plugins ranking | #1 | #2 |
| Rating | 3.1 | 2.9 |
| Reviews | 237 | 582 |
| Active installs | 700,000+ | 800,000+ |
| Total downloads | 50,821,785 | 28,145,025 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 830,743 | 408,157 |
| Last updated | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 |
| First published | May 25, 2016 | Oct 15, 2020 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 49 days
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway ratings
WooCommerce PayPal Payments ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway nor WooCommerce PayPal Payments can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Payment Gateway Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments: common questions
Is WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway better than WooCommerce PayPal Payments?
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Payment Gateway Plugins.
Which has more users, WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway or WooCommerce PayPal Payments?
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Payment Gateway Plugins.
Which is rated higher, WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway or WooCommerce PayPal Payments?
WooCommerce PayPal Payments has more users: 800,000+ active installs against 700,000+.
Are WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway and WooCommerce PayPal Payments free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WooCommerce PayPal Payments may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway and WooCommerce PayPal Payments
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Payment Gateway of PayPal for WooCommerce
7,000+ installs · 4.2 from 79 reviews
-
Easy Digital Downloads
40,000+ installs · 4.7 from 591 reviews
-
Payment Gateway Based Fees and Discounts for WooCommerce
30,000+ installs · 4.7 from 58 reviews
-
WooCommerce
7 million+ installs · 4.5 from 4,826 reviews
-
Mercado Pago payments for WooCommerce
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 693 reviews
More Payment Gateway Plugins comparisons
- Payment Gateway Based Fees and Discounts for WooCommerce vs WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
- Payment Gateway Based Fees and Discounts for WooCommerce vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments
- Custom Payment Gateways for WooCommerce vs WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
- Custom Payment Gateways for WooCommerce vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments
- Payment Gateway of PayPal for WooCommerce vs WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
- Payment Gateway of PayPal for WooCommerce vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments
- Mollie Payments for WooCommerce vs WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
- Mollie Payments for WooCommerce vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments
- SumUp Payment Gateway For WooCommerce vs WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
- SumUp Payment Gateway For WooCommerce vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments
- Paystack WooCommerce Payment Gateway vs WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
- Paystack WooCommerce Payment Gateway vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments
Weekly · free
What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.