Wise vs Lemon Squeezy — which takes less?
| Wise | Lemon Squeezy | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | From 0.33% + small fixed fee at the mid-market rate | 5% + $0.50 per transaction (merchant of record) |
| $100 → fees | $0.93 | $5.50 |
| $100 → net | $99.07 | $94.50 |
Side-by-side quick reference
| Amount | Wise fees | Wise net | Lemon Squeezy fees | Lemon Squeezy net | Difference | Wise charge→net | Lemon Squeezy charge→net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.54 | $9.46 | $1.00 | $9.00 | wise +$0.46 | $10.55 | $11.06 |
| $25.00 | $0.61 | $24.39 | $1.75 | $23.25 | wise +$1.14 | $25.62 | $26.85 |
| $50.00 | $0.72 | $49.28 | $3.00 | $47.00 | wise +$2.28 | $50.72 | $53.16 |
| $100.00 | $0.93 | $99.07 | $5.50 | $94.50 | wise +$4.57 | $100.94 | $105.79 |
| $250.00 | $1.58 | $248.42 | $13.00 | $237.00 | wise +$11.42 | $251.59 | $263.69 |
| $500.00 | $2.65 | $497.35 | $25.50 | $474.50 | wise +$22.85 | $502.67 | $526.85 |
| $1,000.00 | $4.80 | $995.20 | $50.50 | $949.50 | wise +$45.70 | $1,004.83 | $1,053.16 |
Wise formula
payment processing 0.43% + $0.50
From 0.33% + small fixed fee at the mid-market rate — verified 2026-11-10
Lemon Squeezy formula
payment processing 5.00% + $0.50
5% + $0.50 per transaction (merchant of record) — verified 2026-11-10
Wise fee formula & hidden costs
payment processing 0.43% + $0.50
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $0.93 fees → $99.07 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $100.94.
Hidden fees to watch
- Receiving domestic USD wires costs a flat $4.14; ACH receipts are free.
- Fees are volume-tiered — very large monthly volumes unlock lower corridor rates.
- Card funding a transfer costs extra on top of the conversion fee.
- Some exotic corridors and weekend conversions carry small surcharges.
Lemon Squeezy fee formula & hidden costs
payment processing 5.00% + $0.50
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $5.50 fees → $94.50 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $105.79.
Hidden fees to watch
- International cards add +1.5% and PayPal checkouts add another +1.5%.
- Subscription renewals cost +0.5% per recurring charge.
- PayPal payouts carry an extra 1.5% payout surcharge.
- Chargebacks cost ~$15 each plus the lost sale.
Frequently asked questions
Which takes less on a $100 sale: Wise or Lemon Squeezy?
Wise takes $0.93 (net $99.07); Lemon Squeezy takes $5.50 (net $94.50). Wise wins by $4.57 at $100.
Which is better for international sellers, Wise or Lemon Squeezy?
Wise: From 0.33% + small fixed fee at the mid-market rate. Lemon Squeezy: 5% + $0.50 per transaction (merchant of record). Check the regional variants above — rates change materially by country.
What is the effective take rate difference between Wise and Lemon Squeezy?
At $100, Wise takes 0.9% vs Lemon Squeezy at 5.5% — a 4.6 point gap before modifiers.