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Polar vs Lemon Squeezy: free tier and first paid price (checked 2026-10-19)
Both have a free plan that stays free. Polar Pro: $20/month; Lemon Squeezy Pay per sale: 5% + $0.50. These first paid prices are not directly comparable from the list prices alone. Only Lemon Squeezy says no card is needed.
| Fact | Polar | Lemon Squeezy |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Stays free | Stays free |
| Card for the free plan | Unknown | Not required |
| EU region | Yes | Yes |
| First paid plan | Pro | Pay per sale |
| First paid price | $20/month | 5% + $0.50 |
| Free plan includes | Starter: monthly fee Free, 5% + 50¢ per transaction, standard support. Organizations created on or after May 27, 2026 start on Starter. | 'It's free to start — no trial, no contract, no risk.' FAQ: no credit card to sign up. Rate: 5% + 50¢. 'There is no monthly fee to use Lemon Squeezy for payment processing.' Email marketing is free up to 500 subscribers. |
| Free limits |
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| Paid plan note | Pro: 3.8% + 40¢. An older 'Early Member' row is also shown (4% + 40¢ plus 0.5% on subscriptions) but new orgs do not start there. | International, subscription, and tax-filing add-ons can stack (page shows ranges like +0.5% to 1%). As merchant of record they file sales tax and EU VAT. |
| EU / data region note | Payout fee line: '0.25% (EU) - 1% in other countries', plus $0.25 per payout. International cards add 1.5%. | Page says they take on EU VAT filing as merchant of record. That is tax coverage, not a statement that your app is hosted in the EU. |
| Last checked | ||
| Pricing page | polar.sh/resources/pricing | www.lemonsqueezy.com/pricing |
Questions
Does Polar or Lemon Squeezy have a free plan?
Polar has a free plan that stays free; Lemon Squeezy has a free plan that stays free. Checked 2026-10-19: Polar pricing, Lemon Squeezy pricing.
Which is cheaper to start paying for, Polar or Lemon Squeezy?
Polar Pro: $20/month; Lemon Squeezy Pay per sale: 5% + $0.50. These first paid prices are not directly comparable from the list prices alone. Checked 2026-10-19: Polar pricing, Lemon Squeezy pricing.
Do Polar and Lemon Squeezy need a credit card for the free plan?
Polar does not say whether a card is needed; Lemon Squeezy says no credit card is needed for the free plan. Checked 2026-10-19: Polar pricing, Lemon Squeezy pricing.
Do Polar and Lemon Squeezy offer an EU region?
Both say they offer an EU region. Checked 2026-10-19: Polar pricing, Lemon Squeezy pricing.
Sources
- Polar pricing page (checked 2026-10-19)
- Lemon Squeezy pricing page (checked 2026-10-19)
Every cell is copied from the official pricing pages. The verdict is generated from those fields and makes no other claims. "Unknown" means the page did not say. Prices change: check the vendor page before you buy.
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