PayPal combines a widely recognized wallet with card processing, checkout, invoicing, and enterprise payment products.
Macropay focuses on the back office behind software revenue: merchant-of-record coverage, usage metering, subscriptions, tax, and global payouts.
| Area | Macropay | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | 4.5% + 50¢ per transaction, all-in | 3.49% + 49¢ for PayPal Checkout in the US |
| Product category | AI-first Merchant of Record | Checkout, wallet, and payment processing |
| Operating model | Merchant of Record by default | Branded checkout and processing across wallets, cards, and local methods |
| Merchant of record | Macropay for covered transactions | Your business generally remains the merchant |
| Tax calculation & collection | Included for covered transactions | PayPal can present tax amounts supplied by your checkout or commerce system, but it does not generally become the merchant for your sale. |
| Tax filing & remittance | Included for covered transactions | Your business remains responsible for indirect-tax registrations, filing, and remittance. |
| International & FX | Included in the published transaction price | International-transaction and currency-conversion fees |
| Billing focus | AI, agents, SaaS, and usage-based products | Consumer-recognized checkout and broad payment acceptance |
Product scope and eligibility can vary by country and contract. Review PayPal's official product information.
A true comparison includes payment fees, tax liability, filing, international sales, billing software, and the people operating the stack.
Per transaction, with the core global revenue workflow included.
Standard US card payments are listed separately, while international commercial transactions add 1.50%. Optional protection, recurring, and FX services can add cost.
A processor may accept a tax amount at checkout—or connect to a tax calculator—without becoming the legal seller that registers, files, remits, and answers an audit.
PayPal: PayPal can present tax amounts supplied by your checkout or commerce system, but it does not generally become the merchant for your sale.
Macropay: Included for covered transactions.
PayPal: Your business remains responsible for indirect-tax registrations, filing, and remittance.
Macropay: Macropay files and remits for covered transactions.
PayPal: Your team remains responsible for its tax obligations
Macropay: The MoR is the legal seller for covered transactions.
Preserve PayPal as a customer payment method if it matters for conversion, while comparing who owns the underlying subscription, tax, and support workflow.
PayPal can be the stronger fit when its existing ecosystem, operating model, or payment footprint is central to your roadmap.
Your business generally remains the merchant
PayPal can present tax amounts supplied by your checkout or commerce system, but it does not generally become the merchant for your sale. Your business remains responsible for indirect-tax registrations, filing, and remittance.
PayPal: 3.49% + 49¢ for PayPal Checkout in the US. Macropay publishes 4.5% + 50¢ per transaction, including its Merchant of Record, tax, fraud, dispute, and payout operating layer. Eligibility and contracted terms can vary.
Rates shown are published US or global list prices where available. Region, risk, volume, payment method, product eligibility, and contract can change actual pricing and tax scope. This comparison is not tax advice.
Start with Macropay, or bring an existing catalog and subscriptions with you.
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