Build vs Paddle
Merchant of record for SaaS — Should you build, vibe code, or buy?
Our Verdict
🛒 Buy
If tax compliance is your pain, Paddle handles it.
Pricing
$5-$5/% + 50¢
Founded
2012
HQ
London, UK
Vibe Time
N/A
What is Paddle?
Paddle is a merchant of record for saas. The company is $293m raised. With 300+ employees, Paddle serves teams looking for payments solutions.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Handles all tax
- True MoR
- No VAT headaches
- Subscription management
Weaknesses
- Higher fees
- Less control
- Limited methods
- Payout delays
Who Should Use Paddle?
Best For
- Saas
- Digital Products
- International
Not Ideal For
- Physical Goods
- Marketplaces
Why You Should NOT Build This
Paddle operates in a domain that typically requires:
- Regulatory compliance and certifications
- Infrastructure that takes years to build
- Partnerships not available to startups
- Scale and reliability guarantees
Instead: Build your business logic on top of Paddle. Focus engineering effort on what makes your product unique.
Alternatives to Paddle
Stripe
More control, handle tax yourself
LemonSqueezy
Similar, newer
FastSpring
Enterprise MoR
The Bottom Line
Paddle is the right choice for most teams. The engineering effort to build an alternative would cost more than years of subscription fees. Focus your development resources on what makes your product unique.
Calculate Your Build vs Buy Costs →