Paddle vs Tebex (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Paddle if

• Fits if you run a SaaS or software product and want tax and billing handled by someone else
• Works for companies selling subscriptions across borders

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you sell cheap items, as 5% + 50¢ bites and products under $10 are quoted custom
• Skip it if you sell courses or downloads as a creator, since it is aimed at software
• Watch out: buyers may see Paddle's name on their statements instead of yours
• Watch out: there is no storefront or page builder, so you build the checkout flow yourself

Pick Tebex if

• Fits if you run a game server and sell ranks or items
• Makes sense if you want someone else to handle sales tax

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you pay for Plus, because the 5% fee still applies on top of £12.49
• Tight if you want a custom domain, the HTML and CSS editor or abandoned basket recovery, all of which need Plus
• Watch out: prices on the server page are in pounds, and the studio offering has no published prices
• Skip it if you want an app, as there are no desktop or phone apps listed

Paddle

• The fee is 5% + 50¢ per transaction; products under $10 in value are quoted custom pricing on request.
• It is positioned for SaaS, apps and software, not as a storefront for creators.
• As merchant of record Paddle appears on buyers' statements, so buyers may see its name rather than yours.

Tebex

• Prices on the server page are in pounds sterling, and a 5% fee applies to every transaction on both plans.
• The server pricing page lists named games such as Minecraft, ARK, Rust and Garry's Mod; Tebex also has a separate studio offering with no published prices.
• A custom domain, HTML and CSS editor and abandoned basket recovery need the paid Plus plan.
• Runs in a browser and inside games through the in-game store; no desktop or mobile apps are listed.

Paddle

Merchant of record

Paddle collects the correct tax rate, tracks filing deadlines and submits sales tax and VAT returns on the seller's behalf.

Subscription billing

Handles recurring payments and subscription management for software and digital products.

Localized checkout

A checkout that adapts to the buyer's location, plus invoices that can be sent internationally without local tax handling by the seller.

Retain

Recovers failed payments and reduces cancellations by acting on subscriptions over their lifecycle.

ProfitWell Metrics

Real-time subscription analytics, described on the pricing page as free.

Developer sandbox

A billing sandbox and developer documentation are available for testing an integration before launch.

Tebex

In-game and web stores

Sells items, subscriptions, season passes and DLC through a themed webstore or an in-game store connected to the server.

Headless API

Lets a studio keep its own storefront while Tebex runs packages, subscriptions, coupons and creator codes in the background.

Merchant of record

Tebex says it takes responsibility for payments, taxes, compliance and disputes on every transaction.

Sales tax handling

Calculates, collects and remits local and global sales tax automatically, according to the vendor.

Payment methods and payouts

Lists 130+ payment methods, with payouts to a bank account or PayPal.

Subscriptions and recovery

Handles billing cycles, renewals and plan changes, with abandoned basket recovery and purchase follow-ups on the Plus plan.

Paddle

• Paddle Billing$0

  No monthly fee. Paddle keeps 5% + 50¢ of each transaction, covering payments, tax, subscriptions and payment-related buyer support.

Tebex

• Starter£0

  No monthly subscription and a flat 5% fee on all transactions. Unlimited packages, global payment processing, sales, coupons and gift cards, team accounts and statistics.

• Plus£12.49

  per month

  Starter plus a webstore HTML and CSS editor, abandoned basket recovery, purchase follow-ups, a custom domain and free SSL. The 5% fee still applies.