Merchant of record, SaaS billing
Score: 8.7/10Paddle vs Recharge 2026: Which Is Better?
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Quick answer (June 2026): Compared in June 2026: pick Paddle if you prioritise depth and integrations; pick the alternative if you prioritise speed and lower seat cost. Full side-by-side breakdown — pricing, features, real-world fit — is below.
TL;DR Quick Answer
Paddle wins overall — scoring 8.7/10 in our editorial scoring. Choose Paddle for Merchant of record. Choose Recharge for Shopify subscription management. Both offer risk-free trials.
Shopify subscription management
Score: 8.4/10Best overall in this category
→ Read our reasoningMerchant of record, SaaS billing. Best suited for teams that need merchant of record, saas billing.
Shopify subscription management. Best suited for teams that need shopify subscription management.
Verdict at a Glance
Both tools solve real problems in the eCommerce category. Paddle (Custom) is designed for Merchant of record. Recharge ($99/mo) is built for Shopify subscription management.
For most teams, Paddle is the better starting point — both offer risk-free trials so you can verify this yourself before committing.