Paddle
Saleor
| Feature | Paddle | Saleor |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $5/mo | Free / from $300/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | saas-companies, b2b-software, subscription-businesses, international-saas | developer-teams, enterprise-ecommerce, multi-channel-retailers, graphql-enthusiasts |
| Founded | 2012 | 2018 |
| Payments | ✓ | ✗ |
| Subscriptions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax Compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Retain Churn Reduction | ✓ | ✗ |
| Profitwell Metrics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Checkout | ✓ | ✗ |
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Graphql Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi Channel | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dashboard | ✗ | ✓ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✓ |
| Apps System | ✗ | ✓ |
| Warehouse Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Promotions Engine | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Paddle Pros
- Merchant of record handles all tax compliance globally
- ProfitWell Metrics included for free
- Retain reduces involuntary churn
- Supports complex B2B SaaS pricing models
✗ Paddle Cons
- 5% + 50c per transaction is expensive
- Approval process can be slow
- Less control than direct Stripe integration
✓ Saleor Pros
- GraphQL API-first architecture for modern frontends
- Enterprise features in free open-source edition
- Strong multi-channel commerce capabilities
- Built-in dashboard with excellent UX
✗ Saleor Cons
- Cloud hosting is expensive for startups
- Smaller community than Shopify/WooCommerce
- Self-hosting requires Python/Django expertise
The Verdict
Paddle is built for saas companies and b2b software, with a focus on payments and subscriptions. Saleor targets developer teams and enterprise ecommerce and leads with graphql-api and multi-channel.
On pricing, Paddle is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5/mo compared to $300/mo for Saleor. That $295/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Saleor has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Paddle requires a paid subscription from day one.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.