Paddle vs Polar: Which is right for you? (1970)
TL;DR
- Choose Paddle if you need advanced billing (usage, dunning, entitlements).
- Choose Polar if keeping fees low matters most.
- Both work for: teams in their respective categories.
Paddle
5% + $0.50 per transaction
Merchant of Record for SaaS. Handles global VAT and tax remittance across 190+ countries.
Polar
4% + $0.40 per transaction (lowest MoR fees on the market)
Lowest MoR fees on the market (4% + $0.40). Open source, built for developers and OSS projects.
Pricing comparison
Feature comparison
Best for
Paddle is best for SaaS, B2B, global, Teams scaling up, web, Usage-based billing. Polar is best for indie dev, open source, developers, Digital products, SaaS, web.
FAQ
Is Paddle better than Polar?
Neither is universally better. Paddle is the right pick if you need advanced billing (usage, dunning, entitlements); Polar wins if keeping fees low matters most.
Which is cheaper, Paddle or Polar?
Polar ranks higher on fee competitiveness (5/5). Paddle pricing: 5% + $0.50 per transaction. Polar pricing: 4% + $0.40 per transaction (lowest MoR fees on the market).
Can I switch from Paddle to Polar?
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 Paddle handle sales tax?
Yes. Paddle handles global sales tax and VAT for you.
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