RevenueCat vs Paddle: which should your app use?
September 7, 2026 · 5 min read · by devAge
People pit these two against each other, but they're not really competitors — they solve different problems. Picking wrong means either fighting Apple's rules or paying for tax infrastructure you don't need.
RevenueCat — for mobile in-app subscriptions
If your app charges through the App Store or Google Play, you're bound by their in-app purchase systems. RevenueCat sits on top and manages entitlements, receipts and analytics across both stores.
- Free under $2,500/mo of tracked revenue, then 1%.
- That 1% is on gross revenue and stacks on top of Apple/Google's 15–30% cut — don't forget it in your margins.
- Works fine from countries where Stripe doesn't onboard.
Paddle — for web SaaS billing
Paddle is a Merchant of Record: it becomes the seller, handles global card processing and — the real value — worldwide VAT/tax compliance. No monthly fee; it takes a revenue share per sale.
- Best when you sell a web product/subscription to customers globally.
- Handles tax so you never register in dozens of jurisdictions.
- Onboards businesses in regions Stripe won't, e.g. Pakistan.
The one-line answer
Mobile app with subscriptions → RevenueCat. Web app/SaaS → Paddle (or Lemon Squeezy). Both → you'll likely use each for its own surface.
Not sure which surface you're even on yet? Describe the app and let the finder sort the platform and payment logic out for you.