Last updated: July 21, 2026 · Reading time: ~16 minutes
Quick verdict: Stripe wins for control, developer APIs, and US-heavy sales when you can own tax compliance — headline ~2.9% + $0.30 (plus Billing/Tax add-ons). Lemon Squeezy and Paddle win as Merchants of Record (MoR) at 5% + $0.50 — they collect/remit VAT and sales tax so solo founders can sell globally without becoming a tax ops team. Pick Lemon Squeezy for indie/digital-product speed; Paddle for SaaS billing maturity and enterprise-shaped support. The decision is MoR convenience vs Stripe control — not “who has the lowest sticker %.”
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