Paddle Fee Calculator (2026 Updated Rates)
Paddle is the enterprise-grade merchant of record for SaaS: one flat 5% + $0.50 per transaction covers payment processing, PayPal, subscriptions, and all global tax compliance — no surprise surcharges like Lemon Squeezy's intl/PayPal add-ons.
Fee breakdown
| Platform | Total fees | Net | vs here | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddle (this page) | $2.95 | $46.05 | baseline | |
| Wise | $0.71 | $48.29 | +$2.24 More 🟢 | PK → |
| Stripe | $1.72 | $47.28 | +$1.23 More 🟢 | PK → |
| Square | $1.72 | $47.28 | +$1.23 More 🟢 | PK → |
| PayPal | $2.20 | $46.80 | +$0.75 More 🟢 | PK → |
| Lemon Squeezy | $2.95 | $46.05 | +$0.00 More 🟢 | PK → |
| Gumroad | $7.12 | $41.88 | −$4.17 Less 🔻 | PK → |
SaaS billing vs Merchant-of-Record break-even
| Provider | Monthly | Annual | Eff. rate | vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe (+ Billing & Tax)CHEAPEST | $515.00 | $6,180.00 | 5.15% | — |
| Polar.sh | $575.00 | $6,900.00 | 5.75% | +$60.00/mo |
| Paddle | $600.00 | $7,200.00 | 6.00% | +$85.00/mo |
| Lemon Squeezy | $710.00 | $8,520.00 | 7.10% | +$195.00/mo |
| Gumroad | $1,450.00 | $17,400.00 | 14.50% | +$935.00/mo |
Paddle fee quick reference (2026)
| Amount | Total fees | You keep | Take rate | Charge to net it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $1.00 | $9.00 | 10.0% | $11.06 |
| $25.00 | $1.75 | $23.25 | 7.0% | $26.85 |
| $50.00 | $3.00 | $47.00 | 6.0% | $53.16 |
| $100.00 | $5.50 | $94.50 | 5.5% | $105.79 |
| $250.00 | $13.00 | $237.00 | 5.2% | $263.69 |
| $500.00 | $25.50 | $474.50 | 5.1% | $526.85 |
| $1,000.00 | $50.50 | $949.50 | 5.1% | $1,053.16 |
Paddle 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
- The 5% is all-inclusive — no intl, PayPal or subscription surcharges — but volume discounts require negotiating.
- Chargebacks and refunds still cost you the lost revenue.
- Payout schedules and holding periods can pinch cash flow early on.
How to pay less in Paddle fees
- Use the reverse calculator to pass fees to the client explicitly instead of eating them.
- Batch small orders — fixed per-order fees dominate sub-$10 transactions.
- Avoid currency conversion inside the platform; settle in your own currency via a multi-currency account.
- Compare Polar — Developer-first merchant of record billing.
Frequently asked questions
What does Paddle charge on a $49 subscription payment?
5% + $0.50 = $2.95, netting $46.05 — and unlike Lemon Squeezy there are no intl/PayPal/subscription surcharges on top.
Paddle vs Lemon Squeezy — which is cheaper?
Identical base rates (5% + $0.50), but Lemon Squeezy adds +1.5% intl, +1.5% PayPal and +0.5% subscription surcharges — on international subscription volume Paddle is up to 3.5 points cheaper.
How much should I charge to net $100 on Paddle?
($100 + $0.50) / (1 - 0.05) = $105.80 — the same for any customer anywhere, since Paddle has no regional surcharges.
Does Paddle handle EU VAT and US sales tax?
Yes — as merchant of record, Paddle is the seller of record and remits all indirect taxes. That is the core value of the 5%.
Can I negotiate Paddle fees?
Yes — sellers above roughly $60k/month can negotiate custom rates. Move the custom-rate slider to your quote to compare.