Paddle alternative for indie developers, scripts and digital goods
Paddle and Skalp both sell as merchant of record: the platform charges the buyer, deals with VAT, issues the invoice and handles chargebacks. Paddle describes itself as built for software companies, from B2B SaaS to consumer apps and games. Skalp covers software too, and it is also open to individual developers and creators who sell scripts, game assets, key pools and access to a community.
Where the two differ
- Who can sell. Paddle reviews each business and its website before it can sell. On Skalp an individual developer or creator opens a store and fills in a short seller file, which an admin reviews within 2 business days.
- What you can sell. Paddle's acceptable use policy excludes sales with no software or service behind them, and it names community access as one of them. On Skalp a product can come with a Discord role that the buyer gets when they pay.
- How buyers pay. Skalp takes crypto at checkout next to cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and local methods such as BLIK and Pix.
- How you get paid. Skalp pays out to a bank account in 40+ countries or to a USDT wallet.
- Game communities. Skalp can protect Lua scripts at upload and run a store for a game server that delivers purchases in game.
Paddle's policy changes from time to time, so read its current version before you decide.
When Paddle is the better fit
An established SaaS company that sells to other businesses, with sales-led deals and custom contracts, will get more out of Paddle's invoicing and B2B billing tools. Skalp is built for self-serve sales: a payment link, a store or an API call, and the order delivered without anyone stepping in.
The merchant of record basics on Skalp
You set a net price, and the buyer sees the VAT for their country added at checkout. A business in the EU can enter its VAT number and buy under the reverse charge. Skalp issues the invoice and its team handles refunds and chargebacks. Through the API you get subscriptions with trials of up to 14 days, coupons, usage charges, license keys and signed webhooks, with SDKs for Node and Go. How SaaS billing works on Skalp.
Fees
Opening a store is free. Skalp keeps 10% of each sale, or 7% once your sales over the last 30 days pass $20,000. Payment processing is included and there is no monthly fee.
Questions people ask
Can I sell access to a Discord server on Skalp?
Yes. Link a product to a Discord role, and the buyer gets the role when they pay. Sold as a subscription, the role stays while the plan is paid and goes when the plan ends. A refund or a chargeback takes it away.
Is Skalp only for games?
No. Skalp sells software, SaaS plans, license keys and other digital products. Game servers and scripts are one part of what it supports.
Can I keep my own checkout flow?
Yes. Your site or app calls the API to open a Skalp checkout and gets a signed webhook when the order is paid. The developer guide.