Paddle is built for SaaS.
We are built for games and software.
Paddle and PayNow are both Merchants of Record, so whichever you pick, tax, fraud and disputes are the platform’s job rather than yours. Where we differ is the rate, the 50¢ Paddle adds to every order, and how many ways your buyers can pay.
The short version
Paddle and PayNow are both Merchants of Record, so tax, fraud and disputes are the platform’s job on either side.
The differences are commercial and practical. Paddle charges 5% plus 50¢ on every transaction, processing included; we charge 3.5% down to 2.5% by plan on what’s left after the gateway fee, with no fixed amount per order, which matters a lot on a $5 rank. And Paddle is built for SaaS: no in-game delivery, no Paysafecard, crypto or Rust skins, and a card-led set of methods where we have over 120. Ask them whether they’ll take a game-server store at all before you build on them.
Side by side
| Paddle | PayNow | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 5% + 50¢ per transaction, all-in | 2.5–3.5% by plan, plus the gateway fee |
| What the fee covers | Processing bundled into the rate | The gateway fee for the method used, with our fee applied after it |
| Small orders | The fixed 50¢ dominates: about 10% on a $5 sale, unless you negotiate | No fixed component, so a $5 rank is charged like a $50 one |
| Merchant of Record | Yes. Paddle is the seller. | Yes. PayNow is the seller. |
| Tax registration and filing | Registered, collected and remitted | Registered, collected and remitted |
| Disputes | Handled by Paddle | Handled by PayNow |
| Built for | SaaS, software and digital products | Games and software, on one account |
| In-game delivery | Not offered | Rust, Minecraft, GMod, FiveM, Hytale, 7DTD and more |
| Payment methods | Card-led, with wallets and some local methods | 120+ local methods, each one a toggle |
| Gaming methods | Not offered | Paysafecard, crypto and Rust skins |
| Storefront | Checkout and pricing pages | Hosted storefront, themed, on your domain |
| Upsells | Checkout-level | Three placements you choose, subscriptions included |
| Local entity routing | Multiple entities, so routing is handled | Multiple entities, EU payments routed through our EU entity |
| Admin on mobile | Web dashboard | Native iOS and Android app, payouts included |
Paddle figures as published on paddle.com, checked August 2026. Paddle lists custom pricing for products under $10, so your own rate on small orders may differ. Estimates depend on method mix, buyer region and plan. See every method and its gateway fee →
Where the 50¢ shows up
A fixed fee per transaction is barely noticeable on a $99 licence and painful on a $5 rank, and game stores sell a lot of $5 ranks.
| Order | Paddle | PayNow |
|---|---|---|
| $5 rank | 5% + 50¢ = 75¢, about 15% | 2.5% + gateway, no fixed platform fee |
| $19.99 bundle | 5% + 50¢ = $1.50, about 7.5% | 2.5% + gateway on what is left after it |
| $99 licence | 5% + 50¢ = $5.45, about 5.5% | 2.5% + gateway, the same shape at any size |
120+ ways to pay, not just cards
Each of these is a switch in the dashboard. There’s no separate contract or gateway application to add one.
Cards and wallets
Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link
Prepaid and cash
Paysafecard and other cash-based methods your younger buyers actually hold
Crypto
For the buyers who prefer it, settled to you like any other order
Rust skins
In-game items as payment, unique to gaming stores
Local bank methods
iDEAL, Bancontact, Blik, PIX, SEPA and the rest, by buyer region
Local entity routing
EU payments routed through our EU entity for higher approval rates
Optimised 3D Secure
Data-only flows, SCA exemptions and frictionless authentication where the issuer allows it, so fewer buyers are bounced to a challenge screen.
One toggle each
No new contracts or gateway applications to add a method
Where Paddle wins
If you sell pure SaaS through a sales team, Paddle is built for exactly that.
Deep SaaS billing. Seats, metering, invoicing and renewals for software companies, with years of billing edge cases handled.
Enterprise motion. Sales-assisted deals, quotes and procurement paperwork, if that is how you sell.
All-in simplicity. One rate with processing inside it. Fewer lines to reconcile, if you would rather not see the gateway cost.