Paddle
Shopify
| Feature | Paddle | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $5/mo | From $39/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | saas-companies, b2b-software, subscription-businesses, international-saas | ecommerce, dtc-brands, dropshippers, small-businesses |
| Founded | 2012 | 2006 |
| Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Subscriptions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax Compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Retain Churn Reduction | ✓ | ✗ |
| Profitwell Metrics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Checkout | ✓ | ✗ |
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Online Store | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shipping | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pos | ✗ | ✓ |
| Marketing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Shopify Pros
- Easy to set up
- Huge app store
- Great themes
- POS included
✗ Shopify Cons
- Transaction fees
- Limited without apps
- Theme customization limits
The Verdict
Paddle is built for saas companies and b2b software, with a focus on payments and subscriptions. Shopify targets ecommerce and dtc brands and leads with online-store and payments.
On pricing, Paddle is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5/mo compared to $39/mo for Shopify. That $34/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Neither tool offers a free plan, so factor the subscription cost into your decision from the start.
Feature-wise, Paddle offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Shopify takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
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.