Paddle vs Lemon Squeezy
Lemon Squeezy edges it for most people (saas and software sellers wanting tax handled), but Paddle is the better pick if you're saas companies selling globally.
Paddle
All-in-one merchant of record for SaaS billing, tax and global payments.
Free
- Single bundled fee covers tax, fraud and processing
- Built for SaaS and subscription businesses
- Removes compliance and dunning overhead
- Currency conversion spread raises effective rate
- Geared to software, less so simple downloads
Lemon Squeezy
Merchant-of-record checkout that handles global tax and VAT for digital products.
Free
- No tax compliance headache; MoR covers it
- Zero monthly cost, pure pay-per-sale
- Great fit for SaaS and software licensing
- 5% + extras adds up at higher volume
- Surcharges for international and PayPal payments
Side by side
| Paddle | Lemon Squeezy | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | None | None |
| Transaction fees | 5% + 50¢ per sale (merchant of record) | 5% + 50¢ per sale (merchant of record) |
| User rating | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Founded | 2012 | 2020 |
Best for…
Choose Paddle if
- SaaS companies selling globally
- Subscription products needing tax compliance
Choose Lemon Squeezy if
- SaaS and software sellers wanting tax handled
- Creators who want zero fixed cost
What you'll pay
Paddle vs Lemon Squeezy: monthly cost
These plans are flat-rate, but sales fees aren't. Drag your monthly sales to see the real cost, cheapest first.
Related guides
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- Creator platform fees: how much they really take
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- Is SamCart worth it in 2026? The honest maths
SamCart costs $708/yr and takes 0% of sales. We work out the exact revenue where that beats Lemon Squeezy, Gumroad and ThriveCart, and where it doesn't.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paddle or Lemon Squeezy better?
Lemon Squeezy scores higher on our composite (4.2 vs 4.1), mainly on value and features. But Paddle wins for specific cases: saas companies selling globally and subscription products needing tax compliance. Neither is "best" universally; it depends on your situation.
Which is cheaper, Paddle or Lemon Squeezy?
Paddle has the lower entry price (free). Watch transaction fees too: both keep more of each sale. Use the calculator below for your real cost.
More: all checkout & carts · Paddle alternatives · Lemon Squeezy alternatives
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