FastSpring
Merchant of record for software, SaaS and digital goods that handles global checkout, subscriptions and sales tax.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web
Is FastSpring free?
No, it's a paid product
3 alternatives with a free optionSwitch from FastSpring to
All 5
PaddlePaid
Lemon SqueezyFree
GumroadFree
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About FastSpring
FastSpring is a merchant of record for companies selling software, SaaS, games, apps and other digital products. Instead of just processing payments, FastSpring becomes the legal seller: it runs a localised checkout, takes payment, manages subscriptions and then collects, files and remits VAT and sales tax around the world, so the developer doesn't need to register for tax in every country. It also handles fraud screening, B2B invoices and quotes, an affiliate network, and revenue reporting. FastSpring has been around since 2006, is based in Santa Barbara, and supports 35+ currencies and 21+ languages. Pricing is a percentage of revenue agreed on a custom quote, with lower rates available for ACH and wire payments. It suits indie developers and software companies that want to sell internationally without building tax and billing operations; the trade-off is a higher fee than a plain payment processor and less control over the checkout.
Best for: Software and SaaS sellers who want someone else to handle global sales tax and VAT.
Pros and cons
What works
- Collects and remits VAT and sales tax worldwide as merchant of record
- Subscriptions, B2B invoicing and quotes built in
- Localised checkout in 35+ currencies and 21+ languages
Why people leave
- Fees are higher than using a payment processor directly
- Pricing comes from a custom quote, not a public rate
- Less control over checkout design than a self-built Stripe flow
FastSpring vs Paddle, Lemon Squeezy and Gumroad
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | FastSpring | Paddle | Lemon Squeezy | Gumroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid | Free | Free |
| Verified price | — | — | — | — |
| Free plan | No | No | Free app | Free app |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web | Web | Web, iOS, Android |
Top FastSpring alternatives
See all 5- 1Paddle68.8
The best-known merchant-of-record rival, with published pricing and strong SaaS billing tools.
- 2Lemon Squeezy64.8
Merchant of record with a flat published fee, popular with indie developers.
- 3Gumroad61.8
Simple storefront for creators selling downloads, now acting as merchant of record for tax.
- 4
Chargebee51.2Subscription billing on top of your own gateway, for teams willing to handle tax themselves.
- 5
Stripe50.0Lower processing fees if you take on tax registration yourself or add Stripe Tax.
Why people left FastSpring
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from FastSpring, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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FastSpring: common questions
What is FastSpring?
FastSpring: Merchant of record for software, SaaS and digital goods that handles global checkout, subscriptions and sales tax. Best for software and SaaS sellers who want someone else to handle global sales tax and VAT. Available for Web.
Is FastSpring free?
No, FastSpring is a paid product.
Is FastSpring open source?
No, FastSpring is not open source.
What platforms does FastSpring run on?
FastSpring is available for Web.
What are the best alternatives to FastSpring?
The highest-ranked FastSpring alternatives right now are Paddle, Lemon Squeezy and Gumroad. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
FastSpring vs Paddle: what's the difference?
Both FastSpring and Paddle are paid products. Both run on Web.