WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 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. WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. 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
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
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 2.8 from 577 reviews.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments has more reviews behind its score: 577 against 237.
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway was updated more recently, on August 31, 2026; WooCommerce PayPal Payments on August 4, 2026.
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 shipping releases most recently.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments
Pick WooCommerce PayPal Payments if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
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 | 2.8 |
| Reviews | 237 | 577 |
| Active installs | 700,000+ | 800,000+ |
| Total downloads | 49,622,794 | 27,310,228 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 31, 2026 | Aug 4, 2026 |
| First published | May 25, 2016 | Oct 15, 2020 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
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?
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. 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.
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Payment Gateway of PayPal for WooCommerce
7,000+ installs · 4.2 from 79 reviews
-
SumUp Payment Gateway For WooCommerce
10,000+ installs · 2.2 from 40 reviews
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Payment Gateway Based Fees and Discounts for WooCommerce
30,000+ installs · 4.7 from 58 reviews
-
Easy Digital Downloads
40,000+ installs · 4.7 from 590 reviews
-
SureCart
80,000+ installs · 4.8 from 282 reviews
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