Lago vs Lemon Squeezy: Which is right for you? (1970)
TL;DR
- Choose Lago if keeping fees low matters most.
- Choose Lemon Squeezy if you want global taxes and compliance handled for you.
- Both work for: saas.
Lago
Self-hosted: free. Cloud: from $100/month
Open source Stripe Billing alternative with powerful metering and usage-based pricing. Self-hostable (free) or cloud. Built for AI apps and SaaS with complex pricing models.
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
Feature comparison
Best for
Lago is best for SaaS, AI products, Usage-based pricing, open source, developers, self hosted. Lemon Squeezy is best for SaaS, indie dev, Digital products, license keys, web, Creators.
FAQ
Is Lago better than Lemon Squeezy?
Neither is universally better. Lago is the right pick if keeping fees low matters most; Lemon Squeezy wins if you want global taxes and compliance handled for you.
Which is cheaper, Lago or Lemon Squeezy?
Lago ranks higher on fee competitiveness (5/5). Lago pricing: Self-hosted: free. Cloud: from $100/month. Lemon Squeezy pricing: 5% + $0.50 per transaction. Acquired by Stripe 2024..
Can I switch from Lago 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 Lago handle sales tax?
No. Lago does not handle tax registrations — you handle those yourself or via a separate tool.
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