Lemon Squeezy vs. Paddle / Stripe
Lemon Squeezy vs Paddle vs Stripe for indie SaaS · 2026
Three billing paths for an indie SaaS. MoR simplicity vs full control.
option ALemon Squeezyoption BPaddle / StripeserviceWebsites, web apps & online shops
→ Verdict
Lemon Squeezy for solo founders wanting zero tax / VAT complexity. Paddle for indie SaaS scaling past $50k MRR needing enterprise features. Stripe for anyone who wants full control and has accounting infra.
Pick a topic
When to pick which
A · Pick this when…
Lemon Squeezy
- 01Solo founder / small team
- 02Global tax simplicity > margin
- 03One subscription product
B · Pick that when…
Paddle / Stripe
- 01Paddle: > $50k MRR indie scaling
- 02Paddle: enterprise features (SAML invoicing)
- 03Stripe: full control, own accounting
- 04Stripe: marketplace / Connect use case
Factors to weigh
Factor-by-factor
| Factors to weigh | Lemon Squeezy | Paddle / Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Fee (blended indie) | 5% + $0.50 | Paddle 5% + $0.50, Stripe 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Global tax handling | MoR · absorbed | Paddle MoR · absorbed, Stripe DIY |
| Subscription flexibility | Medium | Paddle medium, Stripe max |
| Dispute absorption | Yes (MoR) | Paddle yes (MoR), Stripe no |
| Payout schedule | Weekly / bi-weekly | Paddle bi-weekly, Stripe instant-weekly |
| Accounting integration | Basic | Paddle basic, Stripe full |
| We recommend | Solo / small indie | Paddle mid-scale indie, Stripe scale + control |
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