Pick Paddle if
saaS teams who will start on pay-as-you-go at 5% + 50¢ per Checkout while they send a first invoice, then Custom when volume or sub-$10 SKUs need a negotiated rate.
Read the Paddle pagePaddle vs Stripe
Our take
Pick Paddle if saaS teams who will start on pay-as-you-go at 5% + 50¢ per Checkout while they send a first invoice, then Custom when volume or sub-$10 SKUs need a negotiated rate. Pick Stripe if product teams who will stay on no monthly platform fee (2.9% + 30¢ per successful US card) while they open a first Payments analytics chart, instead of a $25–$99 billing seat.
Best for
Paddle An invoice you start at a public $
Stripe Success rate you chart at a public $
Free plan
Paddle No free plan
Stripe No free plan
Lowest paid
Paddle Custom $10
Stripe Not published by the vendor
Next step up
Paddle Payouts $15
Stripe
Runs where
Paddle Hosted
Stripe Hosted
Watch out
Paddle There is no $0 forever platform seat
Stripe 2.9% + 30¢ is per successful card, not a seat
Last checked
Paddle 2026-10-23 · paddle.com/pricing
Stripe 2026-10-23 · stripe.com/pricing
Which one, then?
Pick Stripe if
product teams who will stay on no monthly platform fee (2.9% + 30¢ per successful US card) while they open a first Payments analytics chart, instead of a $25–$99 billing seat.
Read the Stripe page