Paddle vs Lemon Squeezy
Side-by-side comparison across 15 dimensions. Data is approximate and for informational purposes only.
| Dimension | Paddle | Lemon Squeezy |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Merchant of Record | Merchant of Record |
| Domestic Card Fee (US) | 5% + $0.50 | 5% + $0.50 |
| International Card Fee | Included | Included (+1.5% for PayPal) |
| Currency Conversion | Included | Included |
| Chargeback Fee | Paddle absorbs | Lemon Squeezy absorbs |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sales Tax / VAT | Included (200+ territories) | Included (full MoR) |
| Tax Filing & Remittance | Yes (Paddle files as MoR) | Yes (files as MoR) |
| Subscription Billing | Included | Included |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly (NET 15–30) | Bi-weekly or monthly |
| Payout Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP | USD, EUR, GBP |
| US Bank Required | No | No |
| Charge in Local Currencies | 30+ currencies | 30+ currencies |
| Account Freeze Risk | Low–moderate | Low |
| Platform Type | Merchant of Record | Merchant of Record |
Key Notes
Paddle
Higher base rate but includes everything: tax calculation, filing, chargebacks, international fees. You never register for VAT/GST. Trade-off: Paddle owns the customer relationship and monthly payouts.
Lemon Squeezy
Stripe-acquired MoR for digital products. Same 5% + $0.50 as Paddle, slightly faster payouts. Less mature than Paddle, growing feature set. Good for indie developers and small SaaS.
Frequently Asked Questions
How We Compared
We compared transaction fees (domestic + international), tax handling, MoR status, payout terms, and platform features from each provider's published pricing pages.
Disclaimer: All data on this page is approximate and for informational purposes only. Pricing, features, and availability change frequently. This is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify all figures directly with each provider before making decisions. Data reflects conditions as of early 2026.
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