Use Stripe if
Teams that value speed and simplicity
Best default for most teams adding payments to a web application.
Payment Processors
Stripe vs Paddle
Stripe is the stronger default. Paddle is the sharper specialist choice.
Use Paddle if
Teams with more specialized requirements
SaaS teams that want automatic global tax compliance and merchant of record without building tax infrastructure.
Head to head
| Tool | Tax Handling | Global Coverage | Transaction Fees | Merchant Of Record | Payout Flexibility | Checkout Experience | Developer Experience | Subscription Billing | Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Basic | High | Medium | High | High | High | Pick | ||
| Paddle | Full | High | High | Medium | High | Medium |
Cost at scale
The pricing picture after the free tier
| Tool | Starter | Growth | Enterprise-ish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | $0 | $3,200 | $6,400 |
| Paddle | $0 | $5,250 | $10,500 |
Stripe
Stripe is the stronger default. Paddle is the sharper specialist choice.
Paddle is still credible when its constraints matter more than the default path.