The verdict
For a small software team that sells globally and wants tax handled, I'd pick Paddle. It is aimed at SaaS and app companies, has a long list of billing tools and does not carry the open question about its future that Lemon Squeezy does.
If you sell licence keys, downloads or bundles as an indie developer or creator and want to start fast, Lemon Squeezy is a practical shortcut. Read the vendor's blog post on Stripe and its Managed Payments first, and ask support what changes for existing sellers. Both charge per sale with no monthly fee, so compare the total cost at your expected volume.
Side by side
| 8 points compared | ||
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| MCP server | Yes | |
| Dunning & churn recovery | Yes | Yes |
| Hosted self-serve checkout | Yes | Yes |
| Merchant of record | Yes | Yes |
| Usage-based metering | Yes | Yes |
| Links |
Plans and pricing
Lemon Squeezy
- Email MarketingFree
Paddle
- Pay-as-you-goFree
Who each is for
Choose Lemon Squeezy if…
Pick Lemon Squeezy if you are an indie developer, small SaaS team or digital creator and you want checkout, licence key management, digital downloads and discount codes in one place. The vendor says it supports more than 20 payment methods and customers in more than 135 countries.
It is a sensible way to start selling quickly. The catch is the roadmap. The vendor's blog lists Stripe acquiring it, so check what that means before you build billing on it. It is for digital products only, and the fee at high volume adds up.
Choose Paddle if…
Pick Paddle if you run a SaaS, app or digital product business that sells internationally and would rather not build tax and compliance in house. It runs a localised checkout, manages subscriptions and invoicing and protects against fraud and chargebacks.
Retain recovers failed payments, and ProfitWell Metrics gives subscription analytics. There is a sandbox, an OpenAPI spec and an official MCP server. Be aware that Paddle reviews your account before you start, customers see Paddle on their statements, and very low-priced products or invoicing-heavy businesses are sent to sales for a custom quote.
Other options worth a look
Bills digital products as merchant of record, handling subscriptions, usage metering, tax compliance and payouts.
Manages subscription billing, invoicing and revenue recognition for recurring businesses with your own payment gateways.
Send invoices, track expenses, reconcile banks and prepare VAT returns for Dutch small businesses.
Ties agency projects, time, budgets and profitability together in one place for managing client work.
