Collect entry fees and application fees with Stripe
Take fees inside your application form and get paid straight into your own Stripe account. Connecting Stripe takes a few minutes, and there's one simple fee per payment.
How do you collect entry fees online?
The simplest way is to take the fee inside the application form itself, so applicants pay as they submit. Dapple does this with Stripe Connect: you connect your Stripe account once, add a fee to any form, and every entry fee, application fee or submission fee goes straight into your own account.
Set up payments in three steps
- 1
Connect Stripe
Link your existing Stripe account in a few clicks, or create one as you go.
- 2
Add a fee to your form
Set a single, multiple or conditional fee on any application or entry form.
- 3
Get paid
Applicants pay as they submit, and the money goes straight into your Stripe account.
Paid straight to you
Entry fees paid straight into your Stripe account
Dapple uses Stripe Connect, so every entry fee or application fee goes directly into your own Stripe account. We never hold your money, and you never wait for a platform to release it.
- Instant: Funds appear in your connected Stripe account as soon as an applicant pays.
- Your payout schedule: Money reaches your bank on the payout schedule you already have in Stripe.
- Every major card: Applicants pay by card in a secure Stripe checkout inside your form.
- Secure: Card details are handled by Stripe, which is PCI DSS Level 1 certified, and never touch Dapple.
Flexible fees
Application fees that fit your programme
Charge one flat fee, or build a fee structure that matches how your award, open call or competition actually works.
- Single fees: One price per entry or application.
- Multiple fees: Offer bundles and price points, such as $25 for one entry or $60 for three.
- Conditional fees: Charge different amounts based on an applicant's answers, such as category or career stage.
- Discounts and fee waivers: Use private forms to offer reduced or free entry to students, early-career applicants or invited entrants.
- Free applications: Leave fees off entirely and pay no transaction fees at all.
Simple, transparent costs
No hidden costs on your entry fees
Dapple charges one small fee per paid transaction, with no activation fees, no minimums and no per-submission charges on top of your plan.
- One clear fee: 2% + £0.20, 2% + $0.25 or 2% + €0.20 per paid transaction.
- Stripe's own fees: Stripe's standard processing fees are charged separately by Stripe.
- No surprises: No activation fees, no minimum thresholds and no per-file surcharges.
- Free means free: Applications without a fee carry no transaction fees.
Reports, invoices and tax
Payment reports, invoices and tax, handled
Every payment is recorded, so finance teams can see exactly what came in and applicants get the paperwork they need.
- Payment reports: See every payment across your programmes in one report, and export it for your finance team.
- Every payment logged: Each payment is recorded, so you always know who has paid, what and when.
- Applicant invoices: Turn on invoicing and applicants automatically receive an invoice for their payment.
- Stripe Tax: Handle VAT with Stripe Tax, including reverse-charge VAT for businesses and collecting tax ID numbers.
What does Dapple charge on entry fees?
One small fee per paid transaction. Stripe's standard processing fees are charged separately by Stripe.
| Currency | Dapple fee | Example | Dapple fee on it |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP | 2% + £0.20 | £25 entry fee | £0.70 |
| USD | 2% + $0.25 | $25 entry fee | $0.75 |
| EUR | 2% + €0.20 | €25 entry fee | €0.70 |
Want to see your take-home? Try the pricing calculator or read our guide on how to set entry fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Connect your Stripe account to Dapple, add a fee to your application or entry form, and publish it. Applicants pay by card as they submit, and the payment goes straight into your own Stripe account through Stripe Connect.
A few minutes. Connect your existing Stripe account in a few clicks, or create one as part of the set-up, then add a fee to any form. There's no activation fee and nothing to install.
Dapple charges 2% + £0.20 (GBP), 2% + $0.25 (USD) or 2% + €0.20 (EUR) per paid transaction. For a £25 entry fee, that's £0.70. Stripe's standard processing fees are charged separately by Stripe. There are no activation fees, minimums or per-submission charges, and free applications carry no transaction fees.
Straight away. Payments go directly into your connected Stripe account as soon as an applicant pays, and Stripe pays them out to your bank on your usual payout schedule. Dapple never holds your funds.
Yes. Because entry fees are paid into your own Stripe account, you can issue full or partial refunds from your Stripe dashboard whenever you need to. Many organisations also set out their refund policy in the form's terms, which applicants agree to before they pay.
Yes. Use conditional fees to charge different amounts based on an applicant's answers, offer bundles for multiple entries, or create a private form with a reduced or free fee for students, early-career applicants or invited entrants.
The organisation running the programme pays Dapple's fee, not the applicant. If you'd like to cover it, simply build it into the entry fee you set, for example by setting a $25.75 fee instead of $25.
Yes. Every payment is logged, and payment reports show what has been paid across your programmes, so you can check who has paid and export the details for your finance team.
Yes. Turn on invoicing and applicants automatically receive an invoice for their payment, which is useful when entry fees are paid by an employer, institution or business.
Dapple works with Stripe Tax, so you can handle VAT on entry fees, including reverse-charge VAT for business applicants and collecting their VAT or tax ID numbers at checkout.
Yes. Payments are processed by Stripe, which is PCI DSS Level 1 certified, and card details never touch Dapple. Dapple itself is Cyber Essentials certified and compliant with UK and EU GDPR.
Last updated October 2026.