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Bitstamp vs PayPal

Bitstamp logo

Bitstamp

Software

The original crypto exchange since 2011

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PayPal logo

PayPal

Software

The simpler, safer way to pay and get paid

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bitstamp has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bitstamp trading fees are higher than some competitors; PayPal currency conversion on international purchases and sends carries a 4.00 percent fee, and 3.00 percent in other conversion scenarios
  • They diverge on capability: Bitstamp covers Spot Trading, PayPal covers Payment processing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bitstamp and PayPal actually diverge.

Attributes where Bitstamp and PayPal differ
AttributeBitstampPayPal
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile iOS, Mobile AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20111998

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bitstamp

  • Spot Trading
  • Staking
  • Instant Orders
  • API Trading
  • SEPA
  • SWIFT
  • Credit Card

Only in PayPal

  • Payment processing
  • PayPal Checkout
  • Invoicing
  • Business debit card
  • Working capital loans
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • BigCommerce

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bitstamp

  • Exchangesnot PayPal
  • Tradingnot PayPal
  • Compliancenot PayPal

PayPal

  • Paying online merchants without sharing card detailsnot Bitstamp
  • Sending money to friends and family domestically and internationallynot Bitstamp
  • Holding balances in multiple currencies for cross border purchasesnot Bitstamp

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bitstamp

  • Trading fees are higher than some competitors
  • Limited selection of newer or smaller altcoins compared to larger exchanges
  • Customer service response times can be slow during high-volume periods

PayPal

  • Currency conversion on international purchases and sends carries a 4.00 percent fee, and 3.00 percent in other conversion scenarios
  • Instant transfer to a bank or debit card costs 1.75 percent of the amount, with a minimum of 0.25 USD and a maximum of 25.00 USD
  • International personal transactions carry a 5.00 percent fee regardless of payment method, with a minimum of 0.99 USD and a maximum of 4.99 USD
  • Sending domestic personal payments funded by a credit card costs 2.90 percent plus a fixed fee of 0.49 USD
  • Instant transfers are capped at 25,000.00 USD per transaction

Pricing, plan by plan

Bitstamp

Free
  • StandardFree
    • Spot trading
    • Staking
    • Instant orders

PayPal

$29/month
  • Standard$2.99/transaction
    • Card payments
    • PayPal checkout
    • Invoice payments

Which should you pick?

Choose Bitstamp if

  • You need spot trading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile iOS, Mobile Android.
  • You also want staking.
Bitstamp review

Choose PayPal if

  • You need payment processing.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want paypal checkout.
PayPal review

Questions people ask

Is Bitstamp or PayPal better?
Neither clearly leads. Bitstamp starts at Free and PayPal at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bitstamp or PayPal?
Bitstamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bitstamp and $29/month for PayPal.
Does Bitstamp or PayPal run on more platforms?
Bitstamp runs on Web, Mobile iOS, Mobile Android. PayPal runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use Bitstamp for free?
Yes. Bitstamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PayPal starts at $29/month.
What is Bitstamp best used for?
Bitstamp is most often used for exchanges, trading, compliance. Of those, exchanges and trading are not what PayPal is typically brought in for.
What can Bitstamp do that PayPal cannot?
Bitstamp covers Spot Trading, Staking, Instant Orders, API Trading. PayPal covers Payment processing, PayPal Checkout, Invoicing, Business debit card. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bitstamp: When was Bitstamp founded?

Bitstamp was founded in August 2011 in Slovenia by Nejc Kodrič and Damjan Merlak.

Source
Bitstamp: Where is Bitstamp registered?

Bitstamp is registered in Luxembourg and was recognized by Luxembourg as a virtual currency exchange in 2016.

Source
Bitstamp: How many cryptocurrencies does Bitstamp list?

Bitstamp lists approximately 107 cryptocurrencies with close to 230 spot trading pairs including USD, EUR, GBP, and stablecoin base currencies.

Source
Bitstamp: Who owns Bitstamp?

Bitstamp is owned by Robinhood, which acquired the exchange to expand its cryptocurrency trading capabilities.

Source
Bitstamp: How many customers does Bitstamp have?

Bitstamp is trusted by more than 5 million customers worldwide.

Source
Bitstamp: How does Bitstamp store customer cryptocurrencies?

Bitstamp keeps most client crypto in cold storage for security and offers additional security features including 2FA and withdrawal-address whitelisting.

Source
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Related pages

More on Bitstamp

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