Stripe vs Lemon Squeezy (2026): Best Payment Gateway for SaaS?

Creating a modern tech stack requires choosing the right tools. In this guide, we compare Stripe and Lemon Squeezy to help you decide.

Quick Verdict

If you want Best-in-class developer experience and API documentation, go with Stripe. If you need Handles global sales tax automatically (huge for solo devs), choose Lemon Squeezy.

At a Glance

| Feature | Stripe | Lemon Squeezy | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | | Pricing | Free Tier | Free Tier | | Best For | Best-in-class developer experience and API documentation | Handles global sales tax automatically (huge for solo devs) | | Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.5/5 |

Stripe vs Lemon Squeezy: Deep Dive

Stripe

Stripe remains the developer’s payment platform. The API documentation is legendary, and Stripe Checkout can have you accepting payments in under an hour. For indie devs, the 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction is standard but adds up — consider Lemon Squeezy or Paddle if you want to avoid sales tax complexity.

Pros:

• Best-in-class developer experience and API documentation
• No monthly fee — only pay when you get paid
• Built-in subscription billing (Stripe Billing)
• Stripe Checkout for hosted payment pages (no frontend needed)
• Supports 135+ currencies and global payment methods

Cons:

• 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction adds up at volume
• Account holds/freezes can happen without warning
• Complex pricing for advanced features (Connect, billing metering)
• No phone support on standard plan
• Chargebacks cost $15 each regardless of outcome

Lemon Squeezy

All-in-one platform for selling digital products, SaaS subscriptions, and managing taxes globally.

Pros:

• Handles global sales tax automatically (huge for solo devs)
• Merchant of Record — they handle tax compliance, not you
• Built-in license key management for desktop/mobile apps
• No monthly fee — only pay per transaction
• Affiliate program management included

Cons:

• Higher per-transaction fee (5% + 50¢) vs Stripe (2.9% + 30¢)
• Fewer payment methods than Stripe
• Dashboard and DX not as polished as Stripe
• Limited customization for checkout flow
• Newer platform — smaller community and fewer integrations

Pricing Comparison

Stripe: No monthly fee. Pay per transaction: 2.9% + 30¢ per card charge. No setup fees.. Lemon Squeezy: No monthly fee. 5% + 50¢ per transaction. Tax collection and remittance included..

Conclusion

Choose Stripe if:

• You need Best-in-class developer experience and API documentation
• You prefer modern tools

Choose Lemon Squeezy if:

• You need Handles global sales tax automatically (huge for solo devs)
• You prefer reliability