Lemon Squeezy vs PayKickstart
Lemon Squeezy
lemonsqueezy.com
PayKickstart
paykickstart.comSide by side
| Figure | Lemon Squeezy | PayKickstart |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 4 |
| Spec score · Subscription Ecommerce Software | 8.9 (#3) | 8.3 (#11) |
| Spec score · Dunning Management Software | 8.8 (#6) | 8.1 (#22) |
| Spec score · Hosted Checkout Software | 8.8 (#6) | 8.1 (#14) |
| Checkout | Merchants can use hosted checkout pages, checkout overlays, embeddable forms or custom API-built checkout flows. | Checkout features include customizable templates, embedded widgets, pop-up modals, custom API flows, and checkout and email translation in 25 languages. |
| Founded | 2019 | 2016 |
| Fraud controls | Its pricing page describes AI-based payment-risk assessment intended to reduce fraud and chargebacks. | Listed fraud tools include machine-learning signals, human review of abnormal activity, blacklists, country blocking, and third-party fraud and 3DS support. |
| Integrations | Official integrations listed are ConvertKit, Mailchimp and Zapier; external tutorials cover Framer and ParityDeals. | The integrations page lists over 60 native apps and connections through Zapier and Integrately to over 3,000 business applications. |
| Payments | The homepage says its no-code and API solutions support 20+ payment methods and global bank payouts. | The platform says it accepts payments in 135+ currencies and supports online and offline payment methods. |
| Product | Lemon Squeezy is an all-in-one platform for SaaS businesses selling digital downloads, subscriptions, and software licenses. | PayKickstart provides subscription billing, checkout, and affiliate management for businesses selling digital and physical products. |
| Security | Terms state that Lemon Squeezy uses encryption, incident-management and backup processes and is responsible for cardholder-data security under PCI-DSS. | PayKickstart states it is PCI DSS Level 3, EU-GDPR, and SCA compliant and that sensitive billing information is not stored on its servers. |
| Subscriptions | Sellers can offer weekly, monthly or yearly recurring billing, including upgrades, downgrades, cancellations and free trials. | Subscription tools include pricing models, trial management, billing adjustments, a self-service customer billing portal, and lifecycle automation. |
Plans
Lemon Squeezy
- EcommerceFree
- Email marketingFree
- ecommerce$550, paid once
- Ecommerce$550, paid once
- email marketingPrice not published
- Email marketingPrice not published
PayKickstart
- PayKickstartPriced on request
- Starter$99 a month
- Growth$199 a month
- Scale$299 a month
In their own words
Lemon Squeezy
Lemon Squeezy is an all-in-one platform for SaaS businesses selling digital downloads, subscriptions, and software licenses. It says it acts as merchant of record for digital sales taxes and compliance. Merchants can embed no-code checkout forms on an existing site or share checkout links; its no-code and API solutions support 20+ payment methods and global bank payouts. Subscription billing can run weekly, monthly, or yearly, with management for upgrades, downgrades, cancellations, and free trials. The platform can issue software license keys and provides signed, throttled download links. Lemon Squeezy says its fraud protections use machine learning and real-time analytics to identify suspicious transactions. Its REST API documentation states a limit of 300 calls per minute, and documented integrations include ConvertKit, Mailchimp, and Zapier. Ecommerce has no monthly charge and costs 5% + $0.50 per transaction when sales are generated, with sales tax collection and remittance included. Email marketing is free for up to 500 subscribers. Lemon Squeezy was founded in 2019.
PayKickstart
PayKickstart combines checkout, subscription billing and affiliate management for businesses selling digital or physical products. Checkout can use customizable templates, embedded widgets, pop-up modals or custom API flows, with checkout and email translation in 25 languages. The platform says it accepts payments in 135+ currencies through online and offline methods. Subscription tools cover pricing models, trial management, billing adjustments, a self-service billing portal and lifecycle automation; revenue recovery features include dunning, reminders and cancellation-retention flows. Affiliate tools track sales and leads, including first- and second-tier referrals, and support commission payouts, promotional materials and W9/W8 collection. The integrations page lists over 60 native apps, plus Zapier and Integrately connections to over 3,000 business applications. PayKickstart lists web, API, iOS and Android access; its mobile app supports payment acceptance, transaction and subscription management, campaign metrics and affiliate management. Starter is $99 a month, Growth is $199 a month and Scale is $299 a month. A 14-day trial is offered; there is no free plan.