PayPal vs Chargebee

The OG of online payments: everyone uses it, but nobody loves the fees meets subscription billing that doesn't make you want to pull your hair out when you need to handle a prorated refund. Here's our take.

PayPal

Nice Pick

The OG of online payments: everyone uses it, but nobody loves the fees.

Pros

• Near-universal acceptance for online transactions
• Built-in fraud protection and buyer/seller safeguards
• Easy integration with most e-commerce platforms

Cons

• Transaction fees can eat into profits, especially for small businesses
• Account freezes and disputes can be a nightmare to resolve

Chargebee

Subscription billing that doesn't make you want to pull your hair out when you need to handle a prorated refund.

Pros

• Handles complex subscription logic like upgrades, downgrades, and prorations automatically
• Integrates with over 30 payment gateways and accounting tools out of the box
• Provides detailed revenue analytics and dunning management to reduce churn
• Supports global tax compliance (VAT, GST, etc.) without custom code

Cons

• Pricing tiers can get expensive as you scale, especially with add-ons
• Customization beyond their UI sometimes requires webhook hacking

The Verdict

Use PayPal if: You want near-universal acceptance for online transactions and can live with transaction fees can eat into profits, especially for small businesses.

Use Chargebee if: You prioritize handles complex subscription logic like upgrades, downgrades, and prorations automatically over what PayPal offers.

The Bottom Line

PayPal wins

The OG of online payments: everyone uses it, but nobody loves the fees.