paywalltools.com

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

TL;DR

  • Choose FastSpring if you want global taxes and compliance handled for you.
  • Choose Orb if keeping fees low matters most.
  • Both work for: saas.

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.

Orb

Custom pricing (contact sales)

Purpose-built for usage-based billing. Handles credits, seats, metered usage, and hybrid pricing. Designed specifically for AI products and modern SaaS.

Pricing comparison

Pricing model
percentage
custom
Detail
5.9% + $0.95 per transaction (or custom rate)
Custom pricing (contact sales)

Feature comparison

FastSpring
Orb
Merchant of record
Yes
No
Paywalls
No
No
A/B testing
No
No
Tax handled
Yes
No
No-code
No
No
Open source
No
No
Ease of setup
3/5
2/5
Fee competitiveness
2/5
3/5
Conversion tooling
2/5
1/5
Advanced billing
3/5
5/5

Best for

FastSpring is best for SaaS, software, global, B2B, license keys, web. Orb is best for AI products, Usage-based pricing, SaaS, credits, metered, web.

FAQ

Is FastSpring better than Orb?

Neither is universally better. FastSpring is the right pick if you want global taxes and compliance handled for you; Orb wins if keeping fees low matters most.

Which is cheaper, FastSpring or Orb?

Orb ranks higher on fee competitiveness (3/5). FastSpring pricing: 5.9% + $0.95 per transaction (or custom rate). Orb pricing: Custom pricing (contact sales).

Can I switch from FastSpring to Orb?

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 Orb alternatives →

Not sure which tool fits your project?

Answer 3 questions and get a personalized monetization stack recommendation.

Start the wizard