·4 min read
MVP Payment Gateway Comparison
Choosing a payment provider is one of the few MVP decisions that is hard to change later. Choose wisely.
Payment Provider Comparison
| Provider | Fees | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 2.9% + 0.30 | Most MVPs, developer-friendly |
| Paddle | 5% + 0.50 | Handling taxes globally |
| LemonSqueezy | 5% + 0.50 | Digital products, simple setup |
| PayPal | 2.9% + 0.30 | Customer trust, some markets |
| Gumroad | 10% | Creators, simplest setup |
Stripe: The Default Choice
- •Best documentation and developer experience
- •Handles subscriptions, one-time, and usage-based
- •You handle tax compliance yourself
- •Payouts in 2-7 days depending on country
- •Integrates with everything
Merchant of Record (Paddle, LemonSqueezy)
- •They handle VAT, sales tax, and compliance
- •Higher fees but less headache
- •Great for selling globally
- •They are the seller of record, not you
- •Easier to start, harder to customize
Questions to Consider
- •Are you selling B2B or B2C?
- •Do you need to handle global taxes?
- •Subscriptions or one-time payments?
- •How important is payment page customization?
- •Do you need invoicing features?
MVP Recommendation
Start with Stripe unless you are selling digital products globally to consumers. In that case, LemonSqueezy saves you tax headaches.
The best payment provider is the one you can set up today. Do not let this decision delay your launch.