Creem vs Paddle
side by side.
How Creem and Paddle compare on model, pricing, tax coverage and who each one is really for.
Creem is the low-fee indie option; Paddle is the established B2B standard. Both are Merchants of Record for software, and both refuse coaching and consulting.
Pick Creem if
- ✓You're an indie SaaS or AI founder and 3.9% + 40¢ beats paying 5% + 50¢
- ✓You want a lean checkout without enterprise overhead
- ✓Your volume is small-to-mid and every point of fee counts
Pick Paddle if
- ✓You sell B2B and need mature invoicing and VAT ID handling
- ✓You expect to grow into larger subscription volumes
- ✓You want a MoR with a long operating history behind it
How they actually differ
Grounded in each provider's documented model, pricing and tax coverage. Verify the details for your exact offer before signing.
It comes down to fee versus track record
Creem and Paddle both become the legal seller and handle global tax the same way in principle. The visible difference is price: Creem lists 3.9% plus 40¢, Paddle 5% plus 50¢. On a bootstrapped product that spread adds up.
What you give up going with the cheaper, newer option is history. Paddle has handled B2B billing at scale for years; Creem is younger. For a first product or a side project, Creem's pricing is hard to argue with. For a company selling into enterprises that scrutinize their vendors, Paddle's maturity is worth the extra point.
Creem
Merchant of Record / contractual reseller for indie SaaS, software, AI tools and digital products.
- Best for
- Indie SaaS, Software, AI tools, Courses, Digital goods
- Avoid if
- Marketplaces, Physical goods, Adult/NSFW, Deepfake or face-swap tools
- Pricing
- 3.9% + $0.40 per successful transaction
Paddle
Merchant of Record built for software, SaaS, and AI tools. Handles global tax, billing and chargebacks under Paddle's name.
- Best for
- SaaS, Downloadable software, AI tools, B2B subscriptions
- Avoid if
- 1:1 coaching, Consulting, Services with human delivery
- Pricing
- 5% + 50¢ on most transactions
Product eligibility
| Product | Creem | Paddle |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS | Accepted | Accepted |
| Downloadable software | Accepted | Accepted |
| Online courses | Accepted | Unclear |
| 1:1 coaching | Unclear | Likely refused |
| Consulting | Unclear | Refused |
| Communities | Unclear | Unclear |
| Digital downloads | Accepted | Likely accepted |
| Templates | Accepted | Likely accepted |
| AI tools | Accepted | Accepted |
Tax coverage
Creem
- EU VAT
- Yes
- UK VAT
- Yes
- US sales tax
- Yes
- Canada GST/HST
- Verify
- Australia GST
- Verify
Paddle
- EU VAT
- Yes
- UK VAT
- Yes
- US sales tax
- Yes
- Canada GST/HST
- Yes
- Australia GST
- Yes