Quick Answer
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Paddle pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $8K per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: No free tier available
  • Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
  • Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training

Paddle offers 2 pricing tiers: Pay-As-You-Go, Enterprise. The Enterprise plan is high-volume businesses, those selling lower-priced products, or needing invoicing and migration support.

Compared to other subscription billing software, Paddle is positioned at the premium price point.

Last verified: January 2026 | Sources: 4 pricing pages and reviews

Paddle is a complete payment and billing solution that operates as a Merchant of Record, offering an all-inclusive pricing model of 5% + $0.50 per transaction. Unlike traditional billing platforms that charge separate fees for payment processing, tax compliance, and fraud protection, Paddle bundles everything into a single fee. This makes Paddle particularly attractive for SaaS businesses selling internationally, as it eliminates the complexity of managing global tax compliance, handling chargebacks, and coordinating multiple service providers.

All Paddle Plans & Pricing

Plan Monthly Annual Best For
Pay-As-You-Go Contact Contact SaaS and digital product businesses selling items priced at $10 or more
Enterprise Contact Contact High-volume businesses, those selling lower-priced products, or needing invoicing and migration support
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Pay-As-You-Go

  • High-performing branded checkout
  • Subscription management
  • Recurring billing
  • Multiple currencies and payment methods
  • Global tax compliance (sales tax and VAT)
  • Fraud prevention
  • Chargeback protection
  • Customer billing support
  • Standard reporting and analytics

Enterprise

  • Everything in Pay-As-You-Go
  • Custom pricing tailored to volume
  • Invoicing capabilities
  • Migration support
  • Success management
  • Bespoke implementation
  • Advisory support
  • Premium integrations
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Hidden Costs to Budget For

Watch for 6 hidden costs
  • All payment processing included: Paddle's 5% + $0.50 covers payment processing, tax compliance, fraud protection, and chargeback coverage
  • No separate gateway fees: Unlike competitors, you don't pay additional 2.9% + $0.30 to a payment processor
  • Currency conversion: Included in the 5% fee (competitors charge 1% extra)
  • Tax compliance: Included in fee (Stripe Tax charges separate 0.5%)
  • Chargeback protection: Included (most competitors charge per chargeback)
  • Lower-priced products: May incur higher effective rate due to $0.50 fixed fee per transaction
Tip

Ask your Paddle sales rep about these costs upfront. Getting them in writing before signing can save you from surprise charges later.

Full hidden costs breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

01 How much does Paddle cost?

Paddle's standard pricing is 5% + $0.50 per checkout transaction, which includes payment processing, global tax compliance, fraud protection, chargeback coverage, and customer support. This all-inclusive model means you don't pay separate payment processing fees (2.9% + $0.30) like with Stripe or Chargebee. For high-volume businesses or those selling lower-priced products, custom Enterprise pricing is available.

02 What are Paddle's transaction fees?

Paddle charges 5% + $0.50 per transaction as an all-inclusive fee covering payment processing, tax compliance, fraud protection, and chargebacks. This differs from competitors where you typically pay 2.9% + $0.30 for payment processing PLUS additional fees for billing software (0.5-0.8% for Stripe Billing or $249-599/month for Chargebee).

03 Is Paddle more expensive than Stripe?

It depends on your average transaction value. For a $100 subscription, Stripe costs $3.20 total (2.9% + $0.30 processing + 0.5% billing = 3.7%), while Paddle costs $5.50 (5% + $0.50 = 5.5%). However, Paddle includes tax compliance, chargeback protection, and customer support that cost extra with Stripe. For businesses selling internationally or concerned about tax compliance, Paddle's all-inclusive model can be simpler despite the higher percentage.

04 Does Paddle handle sales tax and VAT?

Yes, Paddle acts as a Merchant of Record and handles all global tax compliance including sales tax, VAT, and GST. They calculate, collect, and remit taxes in all jurisdictions, eliminating the need for separate tax compliance software. This is included in the 5% + $0.50 fee, whereas with Stripe you'd need to pay extra for Stripe Tax (0.5% per transaction) and potentially tax filing services.

05 What is Paddle's Merchant of Record model?

As a Merchant of Record, Paddle becomes the seller of record for your transactions, handling all payment processing, tax compliance, fraud prevention, and chargebacks. This simplifies operations but means customers technically purchase from Paddle (on your behalf) rather than directly from you. The tradeoff is less direct control over the payment experience in exchange for comprehensive risk and compliance management.

06 Can I negotiate Paddle's 5% fee?

Yes, Paddle offers custom Enterprise pricing for businesses with high processing volume, those selling lower-priced products (where the $0.50 fixed fee becomes significant), or companies needing invoicing and migration support. Contact their sales team to discuss volume-based discounts or custom terms based on your business model.