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Paddle for AI companies

How Paddle lets AI companies sell as fast as they can build, with 200+ markets, 30+ currencies, and global merchant of record coverage.

AI summary

Paddle is a merchant of record for AI companies that supports flexible pricing models including subscriptions, credit packs, usage-based billing, and enterprise invoicing, with MCP servers for AI-native integration.

  • • Usage-based billing works by tracking metered usage externally (e.g. OpenMeter) then adding custom line items to the upcoming subscription transaction before the next renewal.
  • • Both MCP servers work together: the docs server explains how Paddle works; the Paddle server creates entities and takes actions in your account.
  • • Enterprise deals are supported with manual invoicing, custom pricing per customer, tax-exempt billing for VAT/GST numbers, wire transfer payments, and invoice payment links.

AI founders understand that AI has changed the way we build software. But while it's quicker than ever to launch an AI product, selling software across the globe with tax, fraud, and compliance is still a challenge.

Paddle lets you sell as fast as you can build. It's a merchant of record platform that helps you unlock new markets, grow your revenue, and scale your business.

Companies like n8n, Relay.app, Hesse.ai, PostNitro, and Kaleido.ai use Paddle to power their business.

Key features for AI companies

Flexible pricing catalog

Subscriptions, one-time charges, and custom items are all modeled as products and prices.

Instant access to 200+ markets

Automatically convert prices to local currencies, and set country-specific prices for key markets.

Merchant of record

Tax, fraud, and 200+ payment methods covered for you — useful when you're shipping fast and scaling up.

AI-native integration

Integrate quickly with the Paddle MCP server, docs MCP, agent skills, and starter kits.

Flexible pricing models

In Paddle, products and prices are flexible entities you compose into the structure you need. Products describe what you sell, and related prices describe how you sell a product.

This means you can build common AI pricing patterns:

  • Common SaaS pricing patterns, like good-better-best, per-seat, and add-on based pricing.
  • Subscription plans with included quota when you want to offer a base plan with a quota baked into your provisioning logic
  • Overages can be billed as one-time or non-catalog items on top of a subscription plan or zero-dollar subscription.
  • Pay-as-you-go when you sell credit packs as one-time products.
  • Custom enterprise deals, with manual invoicing for negotiated terms.

Paddle supports multi-product checkouts and subscriptions, so you can bundle multiple products together and bill for them together.

Metering and usage-based billing

If you bill for usage, you can track usage in your app using a metering library like OpenMeter, then bill for it in Paddle.

A typical workflow looks like this:

  1. Set up the base plan as a recurring price on whatever cycle you bill on.
  2. Track usage in your app. Use a metering library or track usage in your app.
  3. Add a custom line item to the upcoming transaction with the metered amount, unit price, and a description, or create an item for overage and bill for it.
  4. Paddle bills the customer at the next renewal, with the plan and the metered usage as separate line items. You can also bill for overage or usage right away, instead of waiting for the next renewal.

You can also bill purely usage-based (no base plan) by creating a zero-dollar subscription then adding items for usage each billing cycle, or sell prepaid credits as one-time products and track the balance in your application.

The pricing engine doesn't enforce a model, so you can compose what you need. For complex models, like tiered usage rates, free quotas, overage on top of included credits, you can combine the building blocks.

Build with AI

The Paddle MCP servers are the native integration point if you're building with AI tools or shipping AI features yourself.

Use both together. The docs MCP server tells the agent how Paddle works; the Paddle MCP server lets it take actions for you.

Built for global scale

AI products are born global from day one. As a merchant of record, Paddle handles the global complexity for you:

  • Tax compliance in 200+ countries without you registering for VAT, GST, or sales tax in each jurisdiction.
  • 30+ currencies with automatic currency conversion and FX handling.
  • Local payment methods like Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, iDEAL, UPI, Pix, and more.
  • Card processing routed to the best acquirer for each transaction to maximize approval rates.

Every market you'd otherwise have to register and build for is already covered, payment methods can be turned on in a couple of clicks, and you can bill in any currency you want.

Ready to scale

Paddle comes with hybrid billing support, so you can move from subscriptions to invoices in one-click or API call, with no data duplication.

If you're landing enterprise deals early, Paddle handles the manual side:

  • Automatic subscription invoicing with custom payment terms, purchase order numbers, and reconciliation handled by Paddle.
  • Custom pricing per customer, depending on the deal you've signed.
  • Tax-exempt billing for customers with valid VAT/GST registration numbers.
  • Wire transfer payment alongside the standard card and digital wallets.
  • Invoice payment links, so customers can pay directly by card or other payment method from the invoice.

You can use the Paddle MCP server to drive enterprise onboarding using natural language: paste your quote, ask the agent to set up the customer, and review the draft before the agent issues the first invoice.

Where to start

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