# Polar

> Apache-2.0 merchant-of-record billing for indie and AI products

**Category:** Payments  
**Pricing:** freemium  
**URL:** https://polar.sh  
**GitHub:** https://github.com/polarsource/polar  
**Added:** 2026-09-03

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## The Hook

Polar is payments for people who do not want to become a tax department.

## What's Good

Apache-2.0 (JS SDK is separately MIT). Merchant-of-record for usage, seats, subscriptions, and AI meters. Typed TS/Python SDKs, Next.js and Better Auth adapters, MCP server. Starter is free with no monthly fee: 5 percent plus 50 cents per transaction. polar.sh/pricing 404s; the fees page is the public price list.

## The Catch

No first-party CLI in the docs index — SDKs, MCP, and API only. Starter take-rate sits on top of card-brand costs. Polar is MoR, so you do not keep the Stripe account relationship. International cards add extra. Payouts have their own cut.

## Verdict

Apache-2.0 MoR for indie and AI products. Free Starter, honest take-rate, real SDKs.