Stripe Billing vs Paddle

The billing API that actually makes you want to charge customers, not dread it meets enterprise mor. Here's our take.

Stripe Billing

The billing API that actually makes you want to charge customers, not dread it.

Pros

• Handles complex subscription logic (metered billing, trials, prorations) with minimal code
• Seamless integration with Stripe Payments and other Stripe products
• Built-in invoicing, dunning management, and revenue recognition automation
• Developer-friendly API with clear documentation and predictable webhooks

Cons

• Pricing adds up quickly with transaction fees on top of Stripe Payments fees
• Lock-in effect: migrating away is painful once you're deep in Stripe's ecosystem

Paddle

Nice Pick

Enterprise MoR. Good for SaaS, complex for small projects.

Pros

• Handles everything
• Enterprise-ready
• B2B features

Cons

• High minimums
• Complex
• Less DX focus

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Stripe Billing is a hosting & deployment while Paddle is a payments. We picked Paddle based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Paddle wins

Based on overall popularity. Paddle is more widely used, but Stripe Billing excels in its own space.