The Freemius Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Freemius in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Freemius
The Insider’s Guide
Merchant of record, licensing and payments for software sellers
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among tools for selling digital products, read from Freemius’s own pages.
Made by Freemius · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Freemius’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Freemius’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 9 of the 28 other tools for selling digital products we grade
Freemius is a selling platform for software makers: SaaS, desktop apps, Chrome extensions and WordPress plugins and themes. As merchant of record it handles payments, global tax, fraud and disputes, and it adds software licensing, a customer portal, an affiliate platform and cart recovery.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Freemius, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Licensing means integrating its SDK into your product, so a developer has to do the work.
- 1
Best for selling plugins, themes and software with licensing built in
Freemius is a merchant-of-record and licensing service for software sellers, with no monthly fee and 3.8% + 50¢ a transaction.
- 2
There is a free plan
No setup or monthly fees: 3.8% + 50¢ per transaction plus gateway fees, with a further 2.3% for WordPress and templates.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Merchant of record
Freemius becomes the seller on record and manages sales tax and VAT, fraud protection, chargebacks and disputes.
- 5
Software licensing
Controls access by plan, feature and activation, with multi-site licenses and automatic updates.
- 6
Subscriptions and recovery
Recurring billing with renewal reminders, trials and failed-renewal recovery, plus cart abandonment emails at no extra fee.
- 7
A 2.4 GPA, above 9 of 28
That is against the other tools for selling digital products we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace Freemius you would be making selling as the merchant of record, so sales tax and VAT are handled everywhere. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Freemius at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Freemius
- Category
- Selling Digital Products
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for selling plugins, themes and software with licensing built in
Freemius is a merchant-of-record and licensing service for software sellers, with no monthly fee and 3.8% + 50¢ a transaction. The catch is what sits on top: gateway fees, a further 2.3% on WordPress products and templates, and growth pricing for big sellers kept off the page.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | 3.8% + 50¢ a transaction plus gateway fees, and another 2.3% for WordPress and templates. That is not below the 2.9% + $1 Digistore24 lists, so it lands in the middle. |
| Free plan and trial | B | No setup or monthly fee, and you can set up products and licensing without paying until you make a sale. No trial is listed, because the fee only applies to sales. |
| Features | B | Merchant of record, software licensing by plan and activation, subscriptions with recovery, a customer portal, affiliates and payouts by wire and other routes. The core job is covered. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. Licensing means integrating its SDK into your product, so a developer has to do the work. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only. Payment and payout routes run through Stripe, PayPal, Wise and Payoneer, and nothing else is listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Freemius is for
- Fits if you sell a WordPress plugin or other software and want licensing and tax handled
- Works for solo developers who prefer paying only when something sells
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you sell WordPress products, as 2.3% is added to 3.8% + 50¢ and gateway fees come on top
- Watch out: wire payouts may carry intermediate bank fees
- Skip it if you sell high volumes, as those sellers are sent to separate growth pricing not shown
- Not for you if you sell physical goods or run a general store, as it is built for software
Good to know
Good for
- WordPress plugin and theme sellers
- SaaS, desktop app and Chrome extension makers
- Sellers who want licensing and payments in one platform
Worth knowing
- Gateway fees are charged on top of the 3.8% + 50¢ rate.
- WordPress and templates carry an additional 2.3%.
- Wire payouts may incur intermediate bank fees, and high-volume sellers are directed to separate growth pricing.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
1
plan
Freemius has a free plan.
No setup or monthly fee, and you can set up products and licensing without paying until you make a sale.
Per transaction
$0
No setup or monthly fee. Pay 3.8% + 50¢ per transaction plus gateway fees; WordPress and templates add 2.3%. Wire payouts are free.
The free plan
No setup or monthly fees: 3.8% + 50¢ per transaction plus gateway fees, with a further 2.3% for WordPress and templates.
Read from freemius.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Merchant of record, licensing and payments for software sellers. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, affiliate tracking, online store, digital downloads, merchant of record.
Payment and payout routes run through Stripe, PayPal, Wise and Payoneer, and nothing else is listed.
- Merchant of record
- Freemius becomes the seller on record and manages sales tax and VAT, fraud protection, chargebacks and disputes.
- Software licensing
- Controls access by plan, feature and activation, with multi-site licenses and automatic updates.
- Subscriptions and recovery
- Recurring billing with renewal reminders, trials and failed-renewal recovery, plus cart abandonment emails at no extra fee.
- Customer portal and affiliates
- A self-serve portal for plan changes and payment updates, and an affiliate platform that lets customers earn by promoting your product.
- Payout options
- Earnings can be paid through wire, Wise, Payoneer or PayPal.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Stripe
- PayPal
- Wise
- Payoneer
Freemius is made by Freemius.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
9/28
Other tools for selling digital products it is graded above
Freemius's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 9 of the 28 other tools for selling digital products we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on features (B, above 15 of 28) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 29 tools for selling digital products we grade, cut by the letter each got. Freemius’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 3 of 28
- BFree plan and trialAbove 12 of 28
- BFeaturesAbove 15 of 28
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 28
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 28
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Freemius you would be making selling as the merchant of record, so sales tax and VAT are handled everywhere. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 11 of the 28 other tools for selling digital products grade higher.
What you could make
- Digital downloads: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Selling as the merchant of record, so sales tax and VAT are handled everywhere.
- Checkout, card payments and sales tax handled for you.
- Every click and sale traced back to the right partner.
- It plugs into other products, Stripe, PayPal and Wise among them, and has an API.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Freemius’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, FastSpring, Easy Digital Downloads and Polar
The 5 tools Freemius is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Paddle
Free plan
Merchant of record billing for SaaS and software.
- Freemius also covers affiliate tracking and digital downloads.
- Paddle also covers invoicing and reports.
- 2.8GPA
Lemon Squeezy
Free plan · from $10/mo
Merchant of record checkout for software, subscriptions and downloads.
- Lemon Squeezy also covers email campaigns.
- 2.0GPA
FastSpring
Paid
Merchant of record checkout and billing for software and digital goods.
- Freemius has a free plan. FastSpring does not.
- FastSpring also covers invoicing.
- 2.2GPA
Easy Digital Downloads
Free plan · from $199/yr
WordPress plugin for selling digital downloads from your own site.
- Freemius also covers affiliate tracking and merchant of record.
- 2.6GPA
Polar
Free plan · from $20/mo
Open-source billing and merchant of record for software sellers.
- Polar is open source, according to its own site.
- Freemius also covers affiliate tracking and online store.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Freemius free?
Freemius has a free plan. No setup or monthly fees: 3.8% + 50¢ per transaction plus gateway fees, with a further 2.3% for WordPress and templates.
How much does Freemius cost?
Freemius lists one plan. Per transaction: $0.
What platforms does Freemius work on?
Freemius is available on Web.
Does Freemius have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Freemius is listed for Web.
Does Freemius have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Freemius is listed for Web.
Is Freemius open source?
Freemius is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Does Freemius have an API?
Yes. Freemius offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Freemius integrate with?
Freemius's listing names Stripe, PayPal, Wise and Payoneer. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Freemius?
Freemius is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Freemius?
The closest alternatives to Freemius in our directory are Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, FastSpring, Easy Digital Downloads and Polar.
How does Freemius compare with other tools for selling digital products?
Freemius's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 9 of the 28 other tools for selling digital products we grade, and level with 8.
Could I make my own version of Freemius?
To replace Freemius you would be making selling as the merchant of record, so sales tax and VAT are handled everywhere.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Freemius’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Freemius's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Freemius. Prices change, so check freemius.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Freemius, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/freemius
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Freemius: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/freemius
Know someone choosing between tools for selling digital products?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/freemius/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded tools for selling digital products after Freemius, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Selling Digital Products Insider's GuideEvery one of the 29 tools for selling digital products we grade, compared
- Whop Insider's GuideStorefront, checkout and payouts for paid communities and products3.4 GPA
- itch.io Insider's GuideOpen marketplace for indie games, assets and tools, pay what you want3.2 GPA
- Patreon Insider's GuidePaid memberships, a shop and community for creators and their fans3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Freemius’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Freemius is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Freemius. Prices and plans change: check freemius.com before you buy.