Paddle vs Recurly: Pricing Comparison (2026)
Paddle starts at Free. Recurly starts at $249/mo. Paddle is $249/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Recurly.
Merchant of Record (MoR) billing platform for SaaS, valued $1.4B private. Positioned as the alternative to Stripe for SaaS companies that don't want to handle global sales tax/VAT compliance themselves. Distinctive: Paddle becomes the seller of record, absorbing tax complexity. Priced 5% + 50¢ per transaction (higher than Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢), but includes tax handling and dunning. Popular with indie SaaS and European SaaS selling globally.
Subscription billing platform positioned as the alternative to Chargebee for teams that want dunning + retention analytics as the core value prop, not just billing infrastructure. Distinctive for its focus on reducing involuntary churn (failed payment recovery) which historically claims 3-8% of MRR. Core $249/mo + Professional $1K+/mo + Elite custom. Popular with subscription businesses where churn recovery ROI is measurable and material.
All plans compared
| # | Plan | Paddle monthly | Paddle annual | Recurly monthly | Recurly annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard / Core | 5% + 50¢ per transaction | — | 249 | 249 |
| 2 | Enterprise / Professional | custom | — | 1000 | 1000 |
| 3 | Elite | — | — | custom | custom |
What each is best for
Merchant of Record (MoR) billing platform for SaaS, valued $1.4B private. Positioned as the alternative to Stripe for SaaS companies that don't want to handle global sales tax/VAT compliance themselves. Distinctive: Paddle becomes the seller of record, absorbing tax complexity. Priced 5% + 50¢ per transaction (higher than Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢), but includes tax handling and dunning. Popular with indie SaaS and European SaaS selling globally.
Subscription billing platform positioned as the alternative to Chargebee for teams that want dunning + retention analytics as the core value prop, not just billing infrastructure. Distinctive for its focus on reducing involuntary churn (failed payment recovery) which historically claims 3-8% of MRR. Core $249/mo + Professional $1K+/mo + Elite custom. Popular with subscription businesses where churn recovery ROI is measurable and material.
At a glance
| Paddle | Recurly | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Entry price | Free | $249/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Usage | — |
| Last verified | July 25, 2026 | July 25, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified July 25, 2026. Tracked daily.