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

TL;DR

  • Choose FastSpring if your stack already leans in that direction.
  • Choose Paddle if keeping fees low matters most.
  • Both work for: saas, global, b2b.

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.

Paddle

5% + $0.50 per transaction

Merchant of Record for SaaS. Handles global VAT and tax remittance across 190+ countries.

Pricing comparison

Pricing model
percentage
percentage
Detail
5.9% + $0.95 per transaction (or custom rate)
5% + $0.50 per transaction

Feature comparison

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

Best for

FastSpring is best for SaaS, software, global, B2B, license keys, web. Paddle is best for SaaS, B2B, global, Teams scaling up, web, Usage-based billing.

FAQ

Is FastSpring better than Paddle?

Neither is universally better. FastSpring is the right pick if your stack already leans in that direction; Paddle wins if keeping fees low matters most.

Which is cheaper, FastSpring or Paddle?

Paddle ranks higher on fee competitiveness (3/5). FastSpring pricing: 5.9% + $0.95 per transaction (or custom rate). Paddle pricing: 5% + $0.50 per transaction.

Can I switch from FastSpring to Paddle?

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 Paddle alternatives →

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