| Feature | Wise Business | Stripe | Lemon Squeezy | Polar | PingPong | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform Fee | 0.4%-2% | 2.9%+$0.30 | 5%+$0.50 | 0% | 1% cap | |
| FX Markup | None (mid-market) | 1% conversion fee | Set by processor | Set by processor | ~1% | |
| Payout Speed | 1-2 business days | T+2 | Monthly or threshold | Instant | 1-3 business days | |
| Offshore Entity Required | No | Some countries | No | No | No | |
| VAT/GST Handling | Self-managed | Stripe Tax auto-calc | Full MoR handling | Self-managed | N/A | |
| Best For | Bank transfers | SaaS online payments | Digital product sales | Open-source / indie | China-based devs | |
| Supported Currencies | 50+ | 135+ | Customer local currency | Major currencies | USD/EUR/JPY etc. |
List your primary revenue scenarios: SaaS subscriptions, one-time purchases, service fees, affiliate income. Identify main receiving currencies and monthly volume.
Select platforms based on your needs. Stripe for SaaS; Lemon Squeezy or Polar for digital products; Wise for bank transfers.
Complete KYC verification. Prepare passport, proof of address, and company registration docs (if applicable). Stripe takes 2-7 days, Wise 1-3 days, Lemon Squeezy usually same day.
Use platform APIs or embed components. Stripe has Checkout Sessions, Lemon Squeezy has JS embeds, Polar and Wise offer payment links.
Configure automatic settlement to your bank account. Note each platform's payout schedule and minimum amounts.
Fill out W-8BEN forms (if applicable), set up VAT handling. MoR platforms handle this for you. Consult a tax advisor for reporting requirements.
PayPal's total cross-border cost (transaction fee + FX markup) can reach 5-8%. Many indie developers use PayPal for years before discovering they're overpaying by thousands annually. Strongly recommend comparing with Wise's actual costs before committing.
Chinese residents face a $50,000 annual personal foreign currency conversion limit. If annual income exceeds this, you'll need a business account or other compliant channels. Developers expecting >$30,000/year should plan their receiving structure in advance.
Stripe account verification for non-US/EU developers may take 2-7 days. Certain industries (like SaaS) may require additional documentation. Register and verify your Stripe account well before your product launch.
