Paddle Review 2026: Deep Dive for Solo Devs & Small Teams
Free tier limits, real costs per team size, and honest "not for" warnings. Everything you need to decide if Paddle fits your stack.
Quick Summary
💰 Monthly Cost by Team Size
🚫 Not Recommended For
- Marketplace platforms needing split payments
- Physical product sellers
Paddle Pricing (2026)
| Plan | Price | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $0/mo | 5% + $0.50 per transaction |
| Custom | Custom | volume-based |
Pros & Cons
✅ What We Like
- Merchant of Record — handles all global tax/VAT compliance
- Built-in subscription management, dunning, and invoicing
- 150+ countries and currencies supported
- No need for separate tax tools like Avalara
❌ What Could Be Better
- 5% + $0.50 fee is higher than Stripe's 2.9%
- Less customizable checkout vs Stripe
- Slower payout cycle (1-2 weeks)
Feature Breakdown
🏆 Our Verdict
Paddle scores 4.3/5 in our evaluation. Solo Dev Score: 7/10. It's best suited for SaaS businesses selling globally, Devs who hate tax paperwork. It's a solid option worth considering, especially for its core use cases.
See how it compares: Stripe, Lemon Squeezy, Gumroad
Try Paddle Free →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paddle worth the price in 2026?
Paddle starts at $0/mo. Based on our evaluation, it scores 4.3/5 overall. Whether it's worth it depends on your team size and feature requirements — read our detailed breakdown above.
What are the main alternatives to Paddle?
Several tools compete with Paddle in its category. Check our comparison section above for head-to-head matchups with the top alternatives.
Does Paddle offer a free plan?
Check our pricing section above for the most up-to-date information on Paddle's free tier and paid plans.
Is Paddle good for small businesses?
Paddle can work for small businesses depending on your budget and requirements. Review our "Best For" section to see if it matches your use case.
📖 Read Next
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Stripe
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Lemon Squeezy
All-in-one platform for selling digital products, SaaS subscriptions, and managing taxes globally.
Gumroad
Sell digital products, memberships, and courses directly to your audience with a simple storefront.