Tip4Serv is store software.
PayNow is the merchant.
Tip4Serv gives you the store, but the payments run through a processor account you open yourself, usually Stripe. They take 5% of everything that lands in it, Stripe’s fees come on top, and their docs are clear that tax isn’t remitted for you.
The short version
Tip4Serv is store software. The money runs through a processor account you open yourself, usually Stripe; they take 5% of what lands in it, or 3.8% on PRO, and Stripe’s fees come on top. Because the account is yours, so is the tax, every dispute at $15 plus $15 to respond, and the risk of the processor closing the account with your balance held.
With PayNow there’s no processor account at all. We’re the Merchant of Record on every order, and our fee, 3.5% down to 2.5% by plan, is worked out on what’s left after the gateway fee. Stores that make the move also tend to see more checkouts go through, with acquirer routing, local payment methods and 3D Secure that stays frictionless where the issuer allows it.
Side by side
| Tip4Serv | PayNow | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 5%, or 3.8% on the paid PRO plan | 2.5–3.5% by plan |
| Processing fees | Your processor’s fees, on top and not included | Our published gateway fee for the method, nothing on top |
| Fee charged on | Every payment into your own processor account | What is left after the gateway cost |
| Merchant of Record | You are the seller | PayNow is the seller on every order |
| Tax registration and filing | Not remitted on your behalf | Registered, collected and remitted by us |
| Disputes | Filed against your own account. On Stripe that’s $15 each, plus $15 to respond, refunded only if you win. They auto-submit evidence. | Ours to fight, no per-dispute fee |
| Dispute ratio | Sits on your own merchant account | Sits with us |
| If the account is closed | Your balance, held by your processor | Our account, not yours to lose |
| Fraud screening | Your processor’s tools, tuned and owned by you | Included |
| Payment methods | Whatever your own processor account supports | 120+ local methods, one toggle each |
| Local entity routing | Not offered | EU payments routed through our EU entity |
| Rust skin payments | Not offered | Yes |
| Getting started | Open and verify a processor account first | Sign up and start selling |
| What you actually pay | 5% plus your own processor fees, plus the work | 2.5% + gateway fee |
Tip4Serv figures as published on tip4serv.com and docs.tip4serv.com, checked August 2026. See every method and its gateway fee →
In their words
Quoted from Tip4Serv’s own pricing page and documentation.
“Tip4Serv takes 5% (or 3.8% for the PRO plan) on every payment you receive on your Stripe account”
Tip4Serv, on the fee
“Tip4Serv fees do not include Stripe fees”
Tip4Serv, on processing
“does not remit taxes on your behalf”
Tip4Serv, on tax
Included with PayNow. Yours on Tip4Serv.
Tip4Serv handles the store side. The payments account, and everything that comes attached to it, stays in your name.
The processor account
You apply, get approved and stay approved. Digital goods sold to a young global audience is a risk category.
When the processor changes its mind
Most mainstream processors aren’t keen on digital goods for game servers. Accounts in this category get looked at more closely, and it’s not unusual for one to be closed at short notice with the balance held for months to cover possible chargebacks. When the account is in your name, that’s yours to deal with.
Tax registration and filing
EU OSS, UK VAT and US state nexus registrations, returns and deadlines are all yours.
Disputes and the ratio
On Stripe, $15 for every dispute plus $15 to contest it, and a ratio that can end your own account. They automate the evidence, but the liability stays with you.
Fraud tuning
Rules, thresholds and the losses when they are set too loose or too tight.
Method coverage
You get whatever your own processor supports, and local coverage is your integration work.
Buyer support
Receipts, refunds and payment questions come to you, because you are the seller.