See exactly how submission fees are split between Stripe, Applly, and your organization.
Understanding the Fee Breakdown
When you charge applicants a submission fee, three parties are involved: Stripe (the payment processor), Applly (the platform), and your organization (the fee recipient).
The Fee Structure
For every submission fee collected:
| Party | Amount |
|---|---|
| Stripe | 2.9% of the fee + $0.30 flat |
| Applly | 5% of the submission fee |
| Your organization | The remainder |
Worked Example: $25.00 Fee
Let's break down what happens with a $25.00 submission fee (2,500 cents):
- Stripe fee: $0.725 (2.9% of $25) + $0.30 = $1.03
- Applly fee: $1.25 (5% of $25) = $1.25
- Your organization receives: $25.00 - $1.03 - $1.25 = $22.72
Why Fees?
Stripe's processing fee is the standard rate for online card processing — it's the same fee charged to businesses everywhere. Applly's 5% platform fee helps sustain the service, fund ongoing development, and keep subscription prices low for organizations.
Seeing the Breakdown in Real Time
When you configure a submission fee in Applly's program settings, the fee configuration panel shows a live breakdown as you type the amount. You can see exactly what your organization will receive before enabling fees.
Comparing to Alternatives
For context, other platforms commonly used by arts organizations charge:
- Submittable: 5–9% platform fee + payment processing
- SurveyMonkey Apply: high annual licensing fees regardless of submissions
- Google Forms with payment add-ons: limited functionality, additional per-submission fees
Applly's transparent fee model is designed to leave as much money as possible with the organizations and the communities they serve.