Polar

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

Payments / Billing · Freemium · 10.4k

Reviewed 2026-09-03 · last push 2026-10-21 · repo checked 2026-10-21

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.

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