PS: I analysed over a year’s worth of reddit posts to figure out what’s working for founders as far as online payment gateways are concerned. You can check the full thing out here. However, here’s a summary of what other founders on Reddit recommend if your SaaS is still in its early stages. here Online payment gateway

Key features



Chargebee

Free plan up to $100k ARR



BillaBear

Free self-hosted option



Lemon Squeezy

Simple setup despite some extra fees



Stripe

Easy to get started but watch for fees as you scale



Mollie

Easy setup and good documentation Online payment gateway

Key features



Chargebee

Free plan up to $100k ARR



BillaBear

Free self-hosted option



Lemon Squeezy

Simple setup despite some extra fees



Stripe

Easy to get started but watch for fees as you scale



Mollie

Easy setup and good documentation Online payment gateway

Key features Online payment gateway Online payment gateway Key features Key features Chargebee

Free plan up to $100k ARR Chargebee Chargebee Free plan up to $100k ARR Free plan up to $100k ARR BillaBear

Free self-hosted option BillaBear BillaBear Free self-hosted option Free self-hosted option Lemon Squeezy

Simple setup despite some extra fees Lemon Squeezy Lemon Squeezy Simple setup despite some extra fees Simple setup despite some extra fees Stripe

Easy to get started but watch for fees as you scale Stripe Stripe Easy to get started but watch for fees as you scale Easy to get started but watch for fees as you scale Mollie

Easy setup and good documentation Mollie Mollie Easy setup and good documentation Easy setup and good documentation Based on my extensive research across Reddit discussions, I've compiled the top recommendations for payment gateways that prioritize affordability and simplicity without sacrificing essential functionality. As a founder of an early-stage SaaS startup, you're juggling a million priorities with limited resources. Your payment gateway shouldn't be yet another complex system draining your time and money. So… without further ado, here are: The Top 5 Payment Gateways for Early-Stage SaaS Startups Chargebee: The Startup-Friendly Subscription Manager Chargebee: It’s great because: It’s great because: Free plan available until you reach $100,000 in Annual Recurring Revenue
Handles complex billing logic out of the box so you don't need to build it yourself
User-friendly interface that non-technical team members can manage Free plan available until you reach $100,000 in Annual Recurring Revenue Handles complex billing logic out of the box so you don't need to build it yourself User-friendly interface that non-technical team members can manage But watch out for: But watch out for: The free plan has limitations on reporting capabilities
You'll need to upgrade to access more advanced features like taxation
Limited control over the checkout experience The free plan has limitations on reporting capabilities You'll need to upgrade to access more advanced features like taxation Limited control over the checkout experience Best for: SaaS startups with subscription models who want to avoid building billing logic from scratch and can live with some feature limitations in exchange for zero cost. Best for: BillaBear: The Self-Hosted Budget Option BillaBear: It’s great because: It’s great because: Available completely free if you self-host
Supports more complex billing scenarios like usage-based and seat-based pricing
Can migrate from Stripe Billing if you're looking to reduce costs Available completely free if you self-host Supports more complex billing scenarios like usage-based and seat-based pricing Can migrate from Stripe Billing if you're looking to reduce costs But watch out for: But watch out for: The cloud-hosted version is surprisingly expensive
Tax management is a separate and costly product
The UI isn't as polished as competitors
Requires more technical know-how to set up self-hosting The cloud-hosted version is surprisingly expensive Tax management is a separate and costly product The UI isn't as polished as competitors Requires more technical know-how to set up self-hosting Best for: More technical founding teams who are comfortable self-hosting and want maximum control while minimizing costs. Best for: Lemon Squeezy: The Simple All-in-One Lemon Squeezy: It’s great because: It’s great because: Very user-friendly interface with minimal learning curve
Good documentation that doesn't require a developer to understand
Built-in affiliate program at no extra cost
Still supports software licenses (unlike some competitors) Very user-friendly interface with minimal learning curve Good documentation that doesn't require a developer to understand Built-in affiliate program at no extra cost Still supports software licenses (unlike some competitors) But watch out for: But watch out for: More expensive than some alternatives with extra fees for international transactions
Primarily focused on USD transactions, which can be limiting
Some users report occasional bugs and slow customer service
Subscription immediately expires upon cancellation (no remaining period) More expensive than some alternatives with extra fees for international transactions Primarily focused on USD transactions, which can be limiting Some users report occasional bugs and slow customer service Subscription immediately expires upon cancellation (no remaining period) Best for: Non-technical founders who value simplicity and speed of setup over having the absolute lowest transaction costs. Best for: Stripe: The Industry Standard Starter Stripe: It’s great because: Widely recognized and trusted in the industry Comprehensive documentation and extensive integration options Can start using it without having a registered company Reasonable starter fees before you scale It’s great because: But watch out for: Recent price increases affecting profitability as you grow Doesn't handle tax remittance (just calculates it) Potential for account reviews and payment holds Becomes more expensive as you scale But watch out for: Best for: Startups who anticipate complex integration needs or want the safety of using the industry standard solution. Best for: Mollie: The European Simplicity Champion Mollie: It’s great because: It’s great because: Widely recognized and trusted in the industry
Comprehensive documentation and extensive integration options
Can start using it without having a registered company
Reasonable starter fees before you scale Widely recognized and trusted in the industry Comprehensive documentation and extensive integration options Can start using it without having a registered company Reasonable starter fees before you scale But watch out for: But watch out for: Recent price increases affecting profitability as you grow
Doesn't handle tax remittance (just calculates it)
Potential for account reviews and payment holds
Becomes more expensive as you scale Recent price increases affecting profitability as you grow Doesn't handle tax remittance (just calculates it) Potential for account reviews and payment holds Becomes more expensive as you scale Best for: Startups who anticipate complex integration needs or want the safety of using the industry standard solution. Best for: Startups who anticipate complex integration needs or want the safety of using the industry standard solution. Making the Smart Choice for Your Early-Stage Startup When evaluating these payment gateways, consider these key factors that redditors repeatedly emphasize: True Cost Calculation True Cost Calculation Don't just look at the advertised transaction fees. Other Founders on reddit recommend calculating the true cost, including: Monthly minimum fees Setup costs
Extra charges for specific payment methods
Currency conversion fees
Chargeback fees
Add-on costs for features you'll need Monthly minimum fees Setup costs Extra charges for specific payment methods Currency conversion fees Chargeback fees Add-on costs for features you'll need Growth Flexibility Growth Flexibility Several founders shared cautionary tales about choosing platforms that were cheap at first but became prohibitively expensive or limiting as they grew. Consider: How pricing scales with your success
Export capabilities if you need to switch later
Ability to add features as you mature How pricing scales with your success Export capabilities if you need to switch later Ability to add features as you mature Customer Experience Impact Customer Experience Impact Multiple Reddit posts emphasized that saving a percentage point on transaction fees isn't worth it if: The checkout experience is confusing
Payment failures are more common
Your target customers don't trust the processor The checkout experience is confusing Payment failures are more common Your target customers don't trust the processor Developer Resources Required Developer Resources Required Be honest about your technical resources. Other Founders on reddit consistently warned: Some "simple" platforms require significant customization
Documentation quality varies dramatically
Support responsiveness becomes crucial when you're stuck Some "simple" platforms require significant customization Documentation quality varies dramatically Support responsiveness becomes crucial when you're stuck Most importantly, Always Have Plan B Most importantly, Always Have Plan B One recurring theme across discussions between founders on reddit  was the importance of having a backup payment method. As one experienced founder put it: "We had all our payments running through a single gateway until they suddenly froze our account during a surge of new customers they deemed 'suspicious.' We lost nearly a week of revenue before getting it resolved. Now we always offer at least two payment methods." Surprisingly (at least for me), the analysis shows that adding PayPal as a secondary option despite its higher fees and issues can save you in an emergency. Many end-users still prefer it, and having it as a backup isn’t a bad idea. Key Takeaways for Early-Stage SaaS Founders Start with a free or low-cost option that meets your basic needs rather than paying for features you might use "someday". Start with a free or low-cost option Prioritize simplicity and good documentation over having every possible feature. Prioritize simplicity and good documentation Consider tax handling requirements early, especially if you plan to sell internationally. Consider tax handling requirements early Factor in the hidden costs of development time and customer support burden. Factor in the hidden costs Always have a backup payment method. Always have a backup payment method. Sources Stripe Stripe What payment providers do you use? Stripe?
Exploring Payment Providers: Is Stripe the Best Choice for a SaaS?
SAAS Owners don't use Stripe
Stripe for SaaS (clients)?
Switching from Paddle to Stripe
Recurly vs Paddle vs Stripe
PayPal or Stripe for small business? What payment providers do you use? Stripe? What payment providers do you use? Stripe? What payment providers do you use? Stripe? Exploring Payment Providers: Is Stripe the Best Choice for a SaaS? Exploring Payment Providers: Is Stripe the Best Choice for a SaaS? Exploring Payment Providers: Is Stripe the Best Choice for a SaaS? SAAS Owners don't use Stripe SAAS Owners don't use Stripe SAAS Owners don't use Stripe Stripe for SaaS (clients)? Stripe for SaaS (clients)? Stripe for SaaS (clients)? Switching from Paddle to Stripe Switching from Paddle to Stripe Switching from Paddle to Stripe Recurly vs Paddle vs Stripe Recurly vs Paddle vs Stripe Recurly vs Paddle vs Stripe PayPal or Stripe for small business? PayPal or Stripe for small business? PayPal or Stripe for small business? Lemon Squeezy Lemon Squeezy Is Lemon Squeezy a bad choice for EU users, as I have read?
Don't trust Lemonsqueezy with your business
Paddle vs. Lemon Squeezy - Experiences? Is Lemon Squeezy a bad choice for EU users, as I have read? Is Lemon Squeezy a bad choice for EU users, as I have read? Is Lemon Squeezy a bad choice for EU users, as I have read? Don't trust Lemonsqueezy with your business Don't trust Lemonsqueezy with your business Don't trust Lemonsqueezy with your business Paddle vs. Lemon Squeezy - Experiences? Paddle vs. Lemon Squeezy - Experiences? Paddle vs. Lemon Squeezy - Experiences? BillaBear BillaBear BillaBear: A Symfony powered Subscription Management and Billing System
I'm offering 5 free spots for my billing service BillaBear: A Symfony powered Subscription Management and Billing System BillaBear: A Symfony powered Subscription Management and Billing System BillaBear: A Symfony powered Subscription Management and Billing System I'm offering 5 free spots for my billing service I'm offering 5 free spots for my billing service I'm offering 5 free spots for my billing service Chargebee Chargebee Thoughts on Chargebee
What's the benefit of using a program like chargebee?
Chargebee for Startup Recurring SaaS Payment
SAAS subscription management software options? Thoughts on Chargebee Thoughts on Chargebee Thoughts on Chargebee What's the benefit of using a program like chargebee? What's the benefit of using a program like chargebee? What's the benefit of using a program like chargebee? Chargebee for Startup Recurring SaaS Payment Chargebee for Startup Recurring SaaS Payment Chargebee for Startup Recurring SaaS Payment SAAS subscription management software options? SAAS subscription management software options? SAAS subscription management software options? General Payment Gateway Comparisons General Payment Gateway Comparisons What is the best payment platform today to collect subscription fees for a SAAS Business?
What payment system do you use for your SaaS?
What payment processor do you use? Looking for as many replies as possible!
Looking for services for billing + member portal What is the best payment platform today to collect subscription fees for a SAAS Business? What is the best payment platform today to collect subscription fees for a SAAS Business? What is the best payment platform today to collect subscription fees for a SAAS Business? What payment system do you use for your SaaS? What payment system do you use for your SaaS? What payment system do you use for your SaaS? What payment processor do you use? Looking for as many replies as possible! What payment processor do you use? Looking for as many replies as possible! What payment processor do you use? Looking for as many replies as possible! Looking for services for billing + member portal Looking for services for billing + member portal Looking for services for billing + member portal

The writer is smart, but don't just like, take their word for it. #DoYourOwnResearch before making any investment decisions or decisions regarding your health or security. (Do not regard any of this content as professional investment advice, or health advice)

This story contains AI-generated text. The author has used AI either for research, to generate outlines, or write the text itself. 

Reddit-Backed Picks: Best Payment Gateways for Early-Stage Startups in 2025

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