Freemius
freemius.com
What it is
Freemius is a merchant-of-record platform that handles software payments, subscriptions, taxes, licensing, fraud, and disputes. Its hosted or embedded checkout supports subscriptions, trials, licensing, cart recovery, and multiple currencies. Sellers can set trials of 7, 14, or 30 days, choose what features remain after expiry, and apply licensing rules that enable or disable features according to a customer’s plan. Customers can use a self-service portal to manage subscriptions, billing details, downloads, invoices, and licenses. Supported products include SaaS, desktop apps, Chrome extensions, Electron apps, and WordPress products. Named integrations include Zapier, Segment, Customer.io, HubSpot, and Mailchimp. Freemius says it calculates, collects, reports, and remits sales tax and VAT, and follows PCI DSS 4.0; it also says card details do not reach or remain on its servers. The company traces the platform to a micro-SaaS launched by its founder in 2010. Transaction pricing is 3.8% + 50¢ per transaction plus gateway fees; no setup or monthly fees are listed.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Freemius is a merchant-of-record platform that handles software payments, subscriptions, taxes, licensing, fraud, and disputes.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
- Audience
- Freemius describes its platform as serving software makers including solopreneurs, early-stage SaaS teams, and app developers.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
- Integrations
- The pricing page names Zapier, Segment, Customer.io, HubSpot, and Mailchimp integrations.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
- Security
- Freemius says credit card information does not reach or get stored on its servers and that it follows PCI DSS 4.0.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
- Support
- Freemius offers hands-on human support for technical, product, and business questions, plus migration assistance.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
- Headquarters
- Wilmington, Delaware, United StatesRead 28 Sep 2026 · freemius.com
- Founded
- 2010Read 28 Sep 2026 · freemius.com
- AI integrations
- Its documentation provides skills and instructions for AI coding agents and no-code platforms to integrate Freemius and monetize products.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
- Checkout
- Its hosted or embedded checkout supports subscriptions, trials, licensing, cart recovery, and multiple currencies.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
- Company history
- Freemius says its founder launched a micro-SaaS in 2010, which led to building the platform.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
- Customer portal
- Customers can use a self-service portal to manage subscriptions, billing details, downloads, invoices, and licenses.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
- Licensing
- The licensing engine lets sellers enable or disable features based on a customer’s plan.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
- Supported products
- Freemius lists SaaS, desktop apps, Chrome extensions, Electron apps, and WordPress products among its supported software types.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
- Tax and compliance
- Freemius says it calculates, collects, reports, and remits sales tax and VAT, and includes PCI DSS 4.0 compliance.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
- Trial configuration
- Sellers can set up 7-, 14-, or 30-day free trials and customize which features remain available after expiry.Read 7 Oct 2026 · freemius.com
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Hosted and embedded checkout options
- Trial lengths of 7, 14, or 30 days
- Customer self-service portal
- Human support and migration assistance
Limits
- Transaction pricing adds gateway fees
- No setup or monthly fee does not mean no transaction fees
Who it suits
Freemius is aimed at software makers, including solopreneurs, early-stage SaaS teams, and app developers. It is suited to sellers who need payment, subscription, licensing, tax, and customer-portal functions.
Verdict
Freemius covers a broad set of software commerce tasks, from checkout and licensing to tax handling and customer account management. Its listed transaction charge is 3.8% + 50¢ per transaction, plus gateway fees.
Where Specifiction places it
- Merchant of Record Software#13 of 327.6