PayoutMapMerchant of record — Creem, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar
They sell on your behalf, handle global sales tax and pay you out. Higher fee, far less paperwork. Listed from lowest list fee.
Getting paid online from Costa Rica
Stripe does not onboard businesses based in Costa Rica. Of the 7 providers we verify automatically, 6 accept sellers there — below is what works, what it costs and where each answer comes from.
Availability for sellers in Costa Rica
| Provider | Type | Sellers in Costa Rica | List fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Payment gateway | Not supported | 2.9% + $0.30 per sale +1.5% international cards | official page checked November 15, 2026 auto-verified |
| PayPal | Receiving account | SupportedListed by PayPal; whether an account can receive and withdraw money varies by country. | 3.49% + $0.49 per sale +1.5% international cards | official page checked November 15, 2026 auto-verified |
| Paddle | Merchant of record | Supported | 5% + $0.50 per sale | official page checked November 15, 2026 auto-verified |
| Lemon Squeezy | Merchant of record | SupportedLemon Squeezy is moving to Stripe Managed Payments; confirm that new stores are accepted. | 5% + $0.50 per sale | official page checked November 15, 2026 auto-verified |
| Polar | Merchant of record | SupportedPayouts run through Stripe Connect Express. | 5% + $0.50 per sale +1.5% international cards | official page checked November 15, 2026 auto-verified |
| Creem | Merchant of record | Supported | 3.9% + $0.40 per sale | official page checked November 15, 2026 auto-verified |
| Gumroad | Merchant of record | Supported | 10% + $0.50 per sale | official page checked November 15, 2026 auto-verified |
| Dodo Payments | Merchant of record | Check official page | 4% + $0.40 per sale | official page |
| Payoneer | Receiving account | Check official page | varies — see pricing | official page |
| Wise | Receiving account | Check official page | varies — see pricing | official page |
List prices for a standard card payment; your rate may differ.
Routes that work from Costa Rica
Receiving account — Payoneer, Wise
Several merchants of record can pay into a Payoneer or Wise account instead of a local bank. Availability for Costa Rica is not auto-verified here: check the official page.
A company in a Stripe-supported country
Founders in countries Stripe does not serve sometimes incorporate elsewhere (commonly a US LLC) to open a Stripe account. That creates real legal and tax obligations in both countries — get professional advice first. This is information, not advice.
Fee calculator
| Provider | You keep / month | Fees | Effective rate |
|---|
Estimate from public list prices. Excludes currency conversion, payout fees, refunds, chargebacks and taxes. Merchants of record include sales-tax handling in their fee; gateways do not.
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Questions
Is Stripe available in Costa Rica?
No. Costa Rica is not on Stripe’s list of countries where businesses can open an account (source checked November 15, 2026). Sellers there usually use a merchant of record such as Creem, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar.
Can I receive payments with PayPal in Costa Rica?
PayPal lists Costa Rica as a supported country. Whether you can receive commercial payments and withdraw to a local bank depends on the account type and local rules, so confirm on PayPal’s own site.
What is a merchant of record?
A merchant of record is the company that legally sells your product to the customer. It charges the card, collects and remits VAT or sales tax worldwide, handles refunds and chargebacks, and pays you the rest. Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar, Creem, Dodo Payments and Gumroad work this way.
How current is this page?
Availability is re-read from each provider’s official page on a schedule. The newest check on this page is November 15, 2026. Providers can change policy at any time, so use the source links before you decide.