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FastSpring vs Lemon Squeezy: Which is right for you? (1970)

TL;DR

  • Choose FastSpring if you need advanced billing (usage, dunning, entitlements).
  • Choose Lemon Squeezy if keeping fees low matters most.
  • Both work for: saas, license_keys.

FastSpring

5.9% + $0.95 per transaction (or custom rate)

Established MoR for software and SaaS companies. Strong in desktop software, games, and B2B. Higher fees than Paddle but deep feature set.

Lemon Squeezy

5% + $0.50 per transaction. Acquired by Stripe 2024.

Default choice for indie SaaS founders. Tax compliance out of the box, license key management, excellent DX. Acquired by Stripe in 2024.

Pricing comparison

Pricing model
percentage
percentage
Detail
5.9% + $0.95 per transaction (or custom rate)
5% + $0.50 per transaction. Acquired by Stripe 2024.

Feature comparison

FastSpring
Lemon Squeezy
Merchant of record
Yes
Yes
Paywalls
No
No
A/B testing
No
No
Tax handled
Yes
Yes
No-code
No
Yes
Open source
No
No
Ease of setup
3/5
5/5
Fee competitiveness
2/5
4/5
Conversion tooling
2/5
2/5
Advanced billing
3/5
2/5

Best for

FastSpring is best for SaaS, software, global, B2B, license keys, web. Lemon Squeezy is best for SaaS, indie dev, Digital products, license keys, web, Creators.

FAQ

Is FastSpring better than Lemon Squeezy?

Neither is universally better. FastSpring is the right pick if you need advanced billing (usage, dunning, entitlements); Lemon Squeezy wins if keeping fees low matters most.

Which is cheaper, FastSpring or Lemon Squeezy?

Lemon Squeezy ranks higher on fee competitiveness (4/5). FastSpring pricing: 5.9% + $0.95 per transaction (or custom rate). Lemon Squeezy pricing: 5% + $0.50 per transaction. Acquired by Stripe 2024..

Can I switch from FastSpring to Lemon Squeezy?

Yes — most subscription and billing tools support migration via CSV import or API. Expect to reconfigure webhooks, paywalls, and entitlements. Check both vendors' migration docs before committing.

Does FastSpring handle sales tax?

Yes. FastSpring handles global sales tax and VAT for you.

All FastSpring alternatives →All Lemon Squeezy alternatives →

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