Polar vs Lemon Squeezy
side by side.
How Polar and Lemon Squeezy compare on model, pricing, tax coverage and who each one is really for.
Polar and Lemon Squeezy are both indie-software MoRs that optimize for different things. Polar is cheaper and developer-first; Lemon Squeezy is the more finished all-in-one, with an affiliate system. Neither accepts human services.
Pick Polar if
- ✓You're a developer or open-source maintainer who wants a clean, low-fee API
- ✓4% + 40¢ matters to you versus 5% + 50¢
- ✓You want something built around code, not marketing
Pick Lemon Squeezy if
- ✓You want an all-in-one checkout with affiliates and email built in
- ✓You sell a mix of software, downloads and courses
- ✓You value a more finished, less DIY product
How they actually differ
Grounded in each provider's documented model, pricing and tax coverage. Verify the details for your exact offer before signing.
Developer tool versus all-in-one
Polar and Lemon Squeezy both become the legal seller and take VAT and sales tax off your plate. Polar is cheaper, at 4% plus 40¢, and built for developers and open-source projects. Lemon Squeezy costs 5% plus 50¢ but bundles more around the checkout, including an affiliate system Polar doesn't have.
If you live in a terminal and want the leanest possible MoR, Polar fits. If you want the storefront, affiliates and email tooling handled for you, Lemon Squeezy earns its extra point. Both refuse coaching and consulting, so neither is an option for human-delivered work.
Polar
Developer-first MoR supporting open-source maintainers, SaaS, AI tools and digital products.
- Best for
- Open-source maintainers, Indie SaaS, AI tools, Developer products
- Avoid if
- Coaching, Consulting
- Pricing
- 4% + 40¢ per transaction
Lemon Squeezy
Merchant of Record for indie SaaS, digital downloads and software. Notably refuses services and human-delivered offers.
- Best for
- Indie SaaS, Digital downloads, Templates, Ebooks
- Avoid if
- Any human-delivered service, Coaching, Consulting
- Pricing
- 5% + 50¢ per transaction
Product eligibility
| Product | Polar | Lemon Squeezy |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS | Accepted | Accepted |
| Downloadable software | Accepted | Accepted |
| Online courses | Accepted | Likely accepted |
| 1:1 coaching | Refused | Refused |
| Consulting | Refused | Refused |
| Communities | Likely accepted | Unclear |
| Digital downloads | Likely accepted | Accepted |
| Templates | Likely accepted | Accepted |
| AI tools | Unclear | Accepted |
Tax coverage
Polar
- EU VAT
- Yes
- UK VAT
- Yes
- US sales tax
- Yes
- Canada GST/HST
- Verify
- Australia GST
- Verify
Lemon Squeezy
- EU VAT
- Yes
- UK VAT
- Yes
- US sales tax
- Yes
- Canada GST/HST
- Yes
- Australia GST
- Yes