If you're reading this, you probably already know: Stripe acquired LemonSqueezy in July 2024. What was once the go-to payment platform for indie hackers and small SaaS founders is now part of a $95B enterprise payments giant. And that changes everything.
Let's break down what LemonSqueezy is, why people are leaving, and which alternatives actually deserve your attention.
What is LemonSqueezy?
LemonSqueezy launched in 2021 as a Merchant of Record (MoR) platform designed for digital product creators and SaaS founders. It handled payments, global sales tax, subscriptions, and license key management, all in one clean interface. The appeal was simple: you didn't need to register for VAT in 30 countries or hire an accountant to sell your $29/month SaaS tool.
For indie hackers, it felt like magic. One dashboard, one integration, and LemonSqueezy took care of the rest.
Who is LemonSqueezy good for?
LemonSqueezy was built for solo founders, small SaaS teams, and digital product creators who wanted a Paddle-like experience without the enterprise overhead. If you sold software, courses, templates, or any digital good globally, LemonSqueezy handled the tax mess so you could focus on building.
It was especially popular among indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, and developers shipping side projects.
Is LemonSqueezy the best option?
The good
- True Merchant of Record. LemonSqueezy handled global sales tax, VAT, and GST on your behalf. You never had to think about compliance.
- Simple integration. Clean API, hosted checkout, and a developer-friendly experience.
- Subscription management. Built-in billing, dunning, and license key generation.
- Affordable entry point. The 5% + $0.50 per transaction pricing was competitive for small sellers.
The not so good
- Acquired by Stripe. This is the elephant in the room. Since the July 2024 acquisition, development has slowed, the roadmap is unclear, and many users worry about price hikes or the platform being absorbed into Stripe's ecosystem entirely.
- Uncertain future. Stripe's CEO mentioned plans to "scale merchant of record selling in a big way," but that could mean LemonSqueezy becomes an enterprise tool that no longer prioritizes small creators.
- Support quality declined. Multiple community reports of slower response times and less personal support post-acquisition.
- Limited customization. The checkout and billing portal offered fewer customization options compared to competitors.
- Payout delays. Some users reported longer payout cycles compared to alternatives.
LemonSqueezy alternatives at a glance
| Platform | Type | Sales tax handling | Key feature | Pricing | |----------|------|-------------------|-------------|---------| | CREEM | Merchant of Record | Fully handled | Built for indie hackers and AI builders | 0% up to €1K, then competitive % | | Paddle | Merchant of Record | Fully handled | Enterprise SaaS billing | 5% + $0.50 | | FastSpring | Merchant of Record | Fully handled | Digital goods and software | Custom pricing | | Gumroad | Payment platform | Handled since 2025 | Simple digital product sales | 10% flat | | Stripe | Payment processor | You handle it (or pay extra) | Maximum flexibility | 2.9% + $0.30 | | Sellfy | Ecommerce platform | Limited | Creator storefronts | From $19/mo | | Payhip | Payment platform | EU VAT handled | Digital downloads | Free plan + 5% fee |
Reasons to consider LemonSqueezy alternatives
The Stripe acquisition is the primary driver, but it's not the only reason.
1. The indie spirit is fading. LemonSqueezy was built by indie hackers, for indie hackers. Under Stripe's ownership, priorities shift toward enterprise clients and larger revenue accounts. The small creator selling a $19 template is no longer the core audience.
2. Price increases are likely. Stripe didn't acquire LemonSqueezy out of charity. As the platform integrates deeper into Stripe's ecosystem, expect pricing adjustments that favor Stripe's margins over your bottom line.
3. Platform risk is real. Building your revenue infrastructure on a platform mid-acquisition is risky. Features could be deprecated, APIs could change, or the product could be merged into Stripe Billing entirely.
4. Better options exist now. The MoR space has evolved significantly since LemonSqueezy launched. New platforms built specifically for today's SaaS and AI landscape offer better pricing, modern features, and genuine commitment to small teams.
Alternative approaches: MoR vs. Payment Processor
Before choosing, understand the two fundamental approaches:
Merchant of Record (MoR): The platform becomes the legal seller of your product. They handle all tax collection, remittance, compliance, and fraud liability. You receive payouts minus fees. Examples: CREEM, Paddle, FastSpring.
Payment Processor: You are the seller. The platform processes payments on your behalf, but you're responsible for tax compliance, VAT registration, and fraud. Examples: Stripe, PayPal.
For most software founders, especially those selling globally, a Merchant of Record removes enormous operational burden. If LemonSqueezy's MoR model worked for you, stick with the MoR approach.
The 7 best LemonSqueezy alternatives
1. CREEM
The spiritual successor to what LemonSqueezy was supposed to be.
CREEM is a Merchant of Record built specifically for indie hackers, SaaS founders, and AI builders. If you loved LemonSqueezy's simplicity but want a platform that's actually committed to staying indie-friendly, CREEM is the obvious migration path.
CREEM handles global tax compliance, subscription billing, automated payouts, and even offers built-in affiliate management and revenue splits. The pricing is the most competitive in the MoR space: 0% fees on your first €1,000 in revenue, with best-in-market rates after that.
What makes CREEM stand out is its focus. While Paddle chases enterprise contracts and LemonSqueezy gets absorbed into Stripe, CREEM is doubling down on the founders and builders who need a payment partner, not a corporate vendor.
Key features:
- Full Merchant of Record with global tax handling
- Subscription management and recurring billing
- Built-in affiliate system
- Revenue splits for partnerships and co-founders
- Developer-friendly API and quick integration
- 0% fees up to €1,000 in revenue
2. Paddle
Paddle is the most established Merchant of Record in the SaaS space. It handles payments, tax, subscriptions, and compliance globally. The platform is battle-tested and trusted by thousands of software companies.
The catch? Paddle has shifted firmly toward mid-market and enterprise SaaS. Pricing at 5% + $0.50 per transaction makes it expensive for smaller products. The onboarding process can be slow, and smaller accounts sometimes report feeling like an afterthought.
If you're doing $500K+ in annual revenue and want a proven MoR, Paddle is solid. For indie hackers and early-stage founders, it's overkill.
Key features:
- Full Merchant of Record
- Subscription billing and dunning
- Checkout overlay and inline checkout
- Revenue recovery tools
- 5% + $0.50 per transaction
3. FastSpring
FastSpring is a veteran MoR platform focused on digital goods, software, and SaaS. It's been around since 2005 and handles tax compliance across 200+ countries.
The platform works well for established software companies, but the interface feels dated compared to modern alternatives. Pricing is custom and typically requires a sales conversation, which signals an enterprise focus. Integration can be more complex than newer platforms.
Key features:
- Full Merchant of Record
- Global tax and compliance handling
- Subscription and license management
- Custom pricing (contact sales)
- Strong for desktop software and B2B
4. Gumroad
Gumroad is the simplest way to sell digital products online. If you're selling ebooks, templates, courses, or digital downloads, Gumroad gets you up and running in minutes.
The downsides are significant for SaaS founders. Gumroad charges a flat 10% fee (plus payment processing), which is the highest in this list. It lacks proper subscription management for SaaS, has no real API for custom integrations, and offers limited checkout customization. As of January 2025, Gumroad handles tax obligations, but its feature set remains focused on simple digital product sales.
Key features:
- Instant setup for digital product sales
- Built-in audience and discovery marketplace
- 10% flat fee + payment processing
- Basic membership/subscription support
- Tax handling (since January 2025)
5. Stripe
Here's the irony: Stripe, the company that acquired LemonSqueezy, is itself an alternative. But it's a fundamentally different product. Stripe is a payment processor, not a Merchant of Record. You get maximum flexibility and the lowest base transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30), but you're responsible for everything else.
That means registering for VAT in every country where you have customers, filing tax returns, handling compliance, and managing fraud liability. You can add Stripe Tax for an extra fee, but that only calculates and collects tax. You still need to remit it yourself.
For developers who want total control and are willing to handle compliance, Stripe is excellent. For everyone else, pairing Stripe with the tax burden defeats the purpose of why you chose LemonSqueezy in the first place.
Key features:
- Industry-leading payment processing
- Extensive API and developer tools
- Stripe Billing for subscriptions
- Stripe Tax (additional cost, calculation only)
- 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
6. Sellfy
Sellfy is an ecommerce platform designed for creators selling digital products, physical goods, and print-on-demand merchandise. It's a solid choice if you're a content creator with a diverse product catalog.
For SaaS founders, Sellfy falls short. It lacks proper subscription billing, has no MoR capabilities, and doesn't handle global tax compliance. Plans start at $19/month with no transaction fees on paid plans, which is appealing for high-volume digital product sellers.
Key features:
- Built-in storefront and product pages
- Digital downloads, subscriptions, and POD
- Email marketing tools
- Plans from $19/month (zero transaction fees on paid plans)
- Limited to ecommerce use cases
7. Payhip
Payhip is a straightforward platform for selling digital downloads, memberships, and online courses. It's popular among creators for its generous free plan (5% transaction fee) and simple setup.
Payhip handles EU VAT on digital products, which is helpful for European sellers. But it's not a full MoR, and global tax coverage is limited. For SaaS products or complex billing needs, Payhip is too basic.
Key features:
- Free plan with 5% transaction fee
- EU VAT handling included
- Digital downloads and memberships
- Simple checkout and storefront
- Plus plan at $29/month (2% fee) or Pro at $99/month (0% fee)
The bottom line
LemonSqueezy was great. The Stripe acquisition changed the equation. If you're looking for a true LemonSqueezy replacement that keeps the indie-friendly pricing, the MoR simplicity, and the founder-first mentality, CREEM is the closest thing to what LemonSqueezy was supposed to become.
For enterprise SaaS with bigger budgets, Paddle remains a safe choice. For simple digital product sales, Gumroad or Payhip work fine. And if you want full control and don't mind handling taxes yourself, Stripe is always there.
But if you want to stop worrying about global tax compliance, get fair pricing from day one, and work with a platform that actually cares about indie builders? Start with CREEM.
