Paddle vs RevenueCat
Paddle and RevenueCat both answer the same question: how do you take money? Long-established merchant of record for software companies, strongest once you have real revenue and tax exposure. A wrapper over App Store and Play Store in-app purchases that normalizes receipts, entitlements and subscription state. Paddle covers more of the ecosystem, so it survives a change of framework; RevenueCat is the better fit while you stay where it is strongest.
Verdict
Paddle covers more of the ecosystem, so it survives a change of framework; RevenueCat is the better fit while you stay where it is strongest.
Pick Paddle if
- ✓Handles global tax registration and remittance including tricky jurisdictions.
- ✓Recovery and retry tooling for failed subscription charges is mature.
- ✓Supports business-to-business invoicing and purchase orders that self-serve tools skip.
Pick RevenueCat if
- ✓Receipt validation and renewal edge cases across both app stores are handled for you.
- ✓Entitlements give one server-side answer to whether a user has access.
- ✓Cross-platform subscription state stays consistent between iOS, Android and web.
| Comparison | Paddle | RevenueCat |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing shape | Percentage of revenue that bundles processing, tax remittance and invoicing into one blended rate. | Free below a monthly tracked revenue threshold, then a percentage of the revenue it manages. |
| Frameworks | Next.js, SvelteKit, Nuxt, Laravel, Django | React Native, Expo, Flutter |
| In one line | Long-established merchant of record for software companies, strongest once you have real revenue and tax exposure. | A wrapper over App Store and Play Store in-app purchases that normalizes receipts, entitlements and subscription state. |
Pricing described qualitatively because published plans change often. Checked 2026-08-23. Confirm current terms on Paddle and RevenueCat.
Paddle
Strengths
- ✓Handles global tax registration and remittance including tricky jurisdictions.
- ✓Recovery and retry tooling for failed subscription charges is mature.
- ✓Supports business-to-business invoicing and purchase orders that self-serve tools skip.
- ✓Fraud and chargeback exposure sits with the reseller rather than you.
Tradeoffs
- ✗Onboarding involves an approval process, not just an instant signup.
- ✗Blended rate hides the split between processing and compliance costs.
- ✗Product catalogue is managed in their dashboard, which limits programmatic control.
- ✗Aimed at software sales, so unusual business models often get declined.
RevenueCat
Strengths
- ✓Receipt validation and renewal edge cases across both app stores are handled for you.
- ✓Entitlements give one server-side answer to whether a user has access.
- ✓Cross-platform subscription state stays consistent between iOS, Android and web.
- ✓Built-in subscription analytics and experiments cover a gap the stores leave open.
Tradeoffs
- ✗Only relevant if you sell through mobile app stores in the first place.
- ✗Adds a third party in the path between the store and your entitlement checks.
- ✗Store commission still applies underneath, so this is an added cost layer.
- ✗Deeply tied to store subscription concepts that do not map to web billing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paddle or RevenueCat better?
Neither is better in the abstract. Paddle covers more of the ecosystem, so it survives a change of framework; RevenueCat is the better fit while you stay where it is strongest. Decide on the tradeoff you can live with, then stop reading comparisons and ship.
What is the main drawback of Paddle?
Onboarding involves an approval process, not just an instant signup. Blended rate hides the split between processing and compliance costs.
What is the main drawback of RevenueCat?
Only relevant if you sell through mobile app stores in the first place. Adds a third party in the path between the store and your entitlement checks.
Can you switch from one to the other later?
Usually, at a cost that grows with how much of your product leans on the payments layer. The sooner you wrap it in your own interface, the cheaper the exit stays.