Summary: Lemon Squeezy’s advertised rate is 5% + $0.50, but international cards, subscriptions, and PayPal add surcharges that can push the real cost to 9-17%. Onboarding can take 1-4 weeks, and slow support response times are a recurring complaint on Reddit and Trustpilot. Vandly charges a flat 2% on top of Stripe, onboards the same day, and pays out within 4 business days.
Now’s the Best Time to Switch from Lemon Squeezy to Vandly
Lemon Squeezy was Stripe’s first real competitor in the Merchant of Record space, and for a while it was genuinely the easiest way to start selling digital products. That reputation is why so many creators still default to it.
But since the Stripe acquisition, the pattern has shifted. Onboarding that used to take days now regularly takes 1-4 weeks of identity verification. We’ve heard the same thing from sellers directly, and the complaints on Reddit and Trustpilot follow the same pattern: support tickets sitting unanswered for weeks, payout holds with no explanation. And the pricing that looks simple on the surface (5% + $0.50) stacks extra charges for international cards, subscriptions, PayPal, and affiliates until the real number is closer to 9-17%.
If you’ve hit any of that, here’s a direct comparison.
What Is Lemon Squeezy?
Lemon Squeezy is a Merchant of Record platform for selling digital products, software licenses, and subscriptions. It handles payment processing, global tax compliance, and fraud/chargeback liability on your behalf. Acquired by Stripe in 2024.
What Is Vandly?
Vandly is a Merchant of Record built on Stripe’s infrastructure, focused on getting builders — especially those in markets Stripe doesn’t reach directly — selling globally without a company, a foreign bank account, or weeks of onboarding. We handle payment processing, tax, invoicing, and chargeback liability, and pay out fast.
The Real Difference: Transparent Pricing
Lemon Squeezy’s headline rate is 5% + $0.50. But that’s rarely what you actually pay. International cards add 1.5%, subscriptions add 0.5%, PayPal adds 1.5%, and currency conversion or payout fees stack on top of that. For an international subscription sale, the effective rate regularly lands between 9% and 17%.
Example: a $100 subscription sale to an international customer
| Lemon Squeezy | Vandly | |
|---|---|---|
| Base fee | 5% + $0.50 | Stripe’s processing fee |
| International surcharge | +1.5% | — |
| Subscription surcharge | +0.5% | — |
| Platform fee | — | +2% |
| Effective rate | ~7-8.5% + $0.50 (more with PayPal, currency conversion, or affiliates) | Stripe’s rate + 2%, flat, no surcharges |
No stacking. No surprise line items for selling internationally, running a subscription, or using an affiliate program. What you see on the pricing page is what you pay. Full breakdown of the Stripe portion is on our pricing page.
Feature Comparison
| Lemon Squeezy | Vandly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | 5% + $0.50, plus surcharges for international, subscriptions, PayPal, affiliates | Stripe + flat 2%, no surcharges |
| Onboarding | 1-4 weeks verification, funds frozen during review | Same day |
| Support | Slow response times and unanswered tickets,a recurring theme in Reddit threads and Trustpilot reviews | Direct, founder-led support |
| Payout speed | Twice monthly, 13-day hold before funds are available | 4 business days |
| Countries | 200+ (bank wire and PayPal) | 200+ |
| VAT / sales tax | Handled as Merchant of Record | Handled as Merchant of Record |
| Invoicing | Included | Included |
| Chargeback handling | Handled as Merchant of Record | Handled as Merchant of Record |
| Fee transparency | Multiple stacked surcharges | Single flat fee, no hidden extras |
Why People Choose Vandly
You know what you’ll pay before you sell. One flat fee on top of Stripe, no stacking for international sales, subscriptions, or affiliates.
You’re not stuck waiting weeks to launch. Onboarding is built to get you selling the same day.
You can actually reach a person. Support isn’t a ticket queue with a multi-week backlog.
Your money doesn’t sit for two weeks. Payouts land in 4 business days, not on a fixed twice-monthly schedule with a 13-day hold.
What We Offer
Merchant of Record infrastructure built on Stripe
Flat 2% fee on top of Stripe’s processing cost, no hidden surcharges
Same-day onboarding, no company required
Global tax handling, invoicing, and chargeback/fraud liability managed for you
Payouts in 4 business days
Direct, founder-led support during beta
FAQ
How is Vandly’s pricing different from Lemon Squeezy’s?
Lemon Squeezy’s 5% + $0.50 headline rate gets extra surcharges for international cards (+1.5%), subscriptions (+0.5%), and PayPal (+1.5%), often pushing the effective rate to 9-17%. Vandly charges Stripe’s processing fee plus a flat 2%, with no additional surcharges.
How long does onboarding take with Vandly vs Lemon Squeezy?
Lemon Squeezy’s account verification typically takes 1-4 weeks, with funds frozen during review. Vandly onboarding is designed to get you selling the same day.
How fast are payouts?
Lemon Squeezy pays out twice monthly, holding funds for 13 days before they become available. Vandly pays out in 4 business days.
Does Vandly handle VAT and international tax compliance?
Yes. As a Merchant of Record, Vandly handles VAT and sales tax collection and remittance on your behalf, the same as Lemon Squeezy.
Can I sell subscriptions on Vandly?
Yes, without the additional subscription surcharge Lemon Squeezy applies.