> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.request.network/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Request Network vs Stripe, PayPal & crypto payment tools

> How Request Network compares to Stripe, PayPal, and other crypto payment tools on fees, settlement time, custody, chargebacks, and stablecoin support.

Businesses accepting stablecoin or crypto payments often start by asking how Request Network compares to the processors they already know. This page lays out the differences in fees, fund custody, dispute handling, and currency support.

## How do the fees compare?

Request Network charges a small, flat protocol fee — a fraction of what traditional card processors like Stripe and PayPal charge, which is typically a percentage of every transaction plus a fixed per-transaction fee. For the current Request Network rate, [contact the team](https://request.network/discord).

|           | Request Network          | Stripe / PayPal                                            |
| --------- | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| Fee model | Small, flat protocol fee | Percentage of each transaction + fixed per-transaction fee |

## What does non-custodial mean for me?

With Request Network, funds move **directly from payer to recipient** on-chain. There is no intermediary holding period.

Traditional processors hold funds for **2-7 days** before releasing them to the merchant. That hold introduces:

* Counterparty risk — the processor could freeze the account or go bankrupt while holding your funds
* Delayed access to money you've already been paid
* Exposure to fund freezing or seizure

Because Request Network never takes custody of funds, none of these risks apply. The recipient has full control and immediate access as soon as the transaction settles on-chain.

## What about chargebacks?

Crypto payments made through Request Network are **final by default** — there are no chargebacks.

This means:

* No reversals appearing 60-90 days after a payment was made
* No per-dispute chargeback fees like those card processors charge
* Fewer losses from chargeback fraud, which is a common problem for international card payments and digital goods

Card processors carry chargeback risk on every transaction: a merchant can lose the product *and* the payment, then pay a dispute fee on top.

For businesses that still want buyer protection, Request Network supports **escrow-based flows**. Funds are held in a smart contract until agreed conditions are met, which enables refunds when needed without reintroducing custodial risk.

## Which is better for crypto-native businesses?

Request Network is built for crypto from the ground up, rather than adding crypto support to a fiat-first system.

* **553+ currencies** supported across EVM chains (Ethereum, Polygon, BSC, and others) plus Tron
* **No forced fiat conversion** — funds can stay in crypto end-to-end
* **Native wallet integration** — connects directly with MetaMask, WalletConnect, and other Web3 wallets
* **Crosschain payments** — a payer can pay in one token on one chain and the recipient receives a different token on a different chain

Traditional processors typically support a handful of assets (often just BTC, ETH, and USDC), require crypto-to-fiat conversion with variable fees, and treat crypto as an add-on to a fiat-first architecture.

## How does reconciliation compare?

Both Request Network and traditional processors offer reconciliation, but the underlying guarantees differ.

|                  | Request Network                                       | Stripe / PayPal                                |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Record integrity | Cryptographically guaranteed, on-chain                | Stored in a company database                   |
| Retention        | No retention limit — records are permanent            | Typically limited (for example, 7 years)       |
| Status updates   | Real-time via webhooks                                | Real-time via webhooks                         |
| Durability       | Independent of any single company staying in business | Depends on the processor remaining operational |

Because Request Network payment records live on-chain, they can't be altered or deleted, and they don't depend on a vendor's continued existence to remain accessible.

## Full comparison at a glance

|                           | Request Network                                       | Stripe / PayPal                                            |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| Fee model                 | Small, flat protocol fee                              | Percentage of each transaction + fixed per-transaction fee |
| Settlement                | Direct payer → recipient, on-chain                    | 2-7 day hold before payout                                 |
| Custody                   | Non-custodial                                         | Processor holds funds during settlement                    |
| Chargebacks               | None by default; optional escrow for buyer protection | Standard; per-dispute fees apply                           |
| Crypto/stablecoin support | 553+ currencies, native                               | Limited (typically BTC, ETH, USDC)                         |
| Chains                    | EVM chains + Tron                                     | N/A (fiat-first, crypto bolted on)                         |
| Crosschain payments       | Pay in one token, receive in another                  | Not supported                                              |