Lemon Squeezy became Stripe. Now what?
Lemon Squeezy was the indie favorite for selling digital products with taxes handled. Stripe acquired it in July 2024, and by February 2026 its merchant-of-record engine re-emerged as Stripe Managed Payments. If you sold there, or were about to, here is the honest state of things.
Last checked July 2026. Every number links to its source.
The short version
- July 2024: Stripe acquires Lemon Squeezy, the 13-person team behind the indie world's favorite merchant of record.
- February 2026: Stripe Managed Payments enters public preview: the same merchant-of-record model, inside Stripe, at the same 5% + $0.50 rate, supporting merchants in 35+ countries and expanding.
- Lemon Squeezy itself kept operating through the transition, but the momentum, the roadmap, and the new signups point at Stripe Managed Payments.
What to check before you follow the migration
Country coverage. 35+ merchant countries is solid but not universal; Dodo Payments covers 220+ if you sell from elsewhere.
The rate. 5% + $0.50 with taxes genuinely handled is fair, but it is no longer the only game: Creem lists 3.9% + $0.40 and Dodo 4% + $0.40, both as merchants of record, each with their own fine print. The full field is in our alternatives table.
What you are actually buying. Every one of these platforms, Stripe included, is payments plumbing. The storefront, the pricing, the recovery emails, and the weekly "is this working?" question remain yours. If that is the part you wanted off your plate, plumbing upgrades will not deliver it.
Fee comparison for a $49 product
| Platform | Platform fees | Taxes handled? |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe Managed Payments | $2.95 (5% + $0.50) | Yes |
| Creem | $2.31 (3.9% + $0.40) | Yes |
| Dodo Payments | $2.36 (4% + $0.40) | Yes |
| Gumroad | $4.90 (10%) | Yes |
| Shopkeeper (waitlist) | $0.98 (2%) on your own Stripe | Not at launch; MoR mode planned |
Card processing applies on top for every row, so it cancels out of the comparison. Rates are each platform's published pricing, July 2026.