Paddle API
Payment Gateways & Processors · E-commerce
Merchant of Record (MoR) billing & subscription API managing global VAT, taxes & SaaS checkouts
Paddle API Highlights
Paddle API is best for SaaS founders, indie hackers, and digital creators wanting hassle-free global software sales without tax compliance headaches
Bearer Token (API Secret Key)
High-throughput cloud limits with webhook idempotency
Nigeria
Ghana
KenyaPaddle is the complete Merchant of Record (MoR) billing and payment platform built specifically for software, digital product, and SaaS companies. Unlike traditional payment gateways where businesses must personally register for local sales taxes and file global VAT across dozens of jurisdictions, Paddle acts as the legal reseller, assuming full liability for global tax calculation, collection, and remittance.
For Nigerian and African software founders selling B2B software, developer tools, or digital products to customers in the US, Europe, and Asia, Paddle is a lifesaver. The Paddle Billing API provides programmatic control over customer subscriptions, price localization across 30+ currencies, automated dunning, customer portal sessions, and instant checkout overlays.
Paddle API Core Features & Capabilities
| Feature | Status | Description & Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Card Payments (Visa / Mastercard / Verve) | ✓ Supported | Accept payments from local and international debit and credit cards with instant authorization. |
| Bank Transfer / Pay by Transfer | ✓ Supported | Accept direct bank transfers with automated payment matching and instant account reconciliation. |
| International / Multi-Currency Payments | ✓ Supported | Accept payments and hold balances across multiple global currencies including USD, GBP, and EUR. |
| Recurring / Subscription Billing | ✓ Supported | Automate repeated scheduled charges, subscription billing cycles, and saved card tokenization. |
| Payment Links & Invoicing | ✓ Supported | Create no-code shareable checkout links and electronic invoices sent directly to customers. |
| Webhooks & Real-time Notifications | ✓ Supported | Receive immediate server callbacks on transaction completions, chargebacks, and system events. |
| USSD Payments | ✗ Not Supported | Enable customers to complete transactions using telecom and bank USSD shortcodes without internet access. (Not supported by Paddle API). |
| Virtual Account Numbers | ✗ Not Supported | Generate dynamic or dedicated NUBAN virtual bank accounts to receive automated collections. (Not supported by Paddle API). |
- Merchant of Record (MoR) model:5% + $0.50 per successful transaction
- Zero monthly platform fees
- Includes global sales tax, VAT calculation, remittance, and compliance liability
Paddle API Supported Webhook Events
| Event Name | Trigger & Description |
|---|---|
payment.successful | Payment charge or invoice was processed and captured successfully. |
payment.failed | Payment collection attempt failed on card, transfer, or POS terminal. |
payout.successful | Outbound disbursement to bank account or mobile wallet was delivered. |
refund.processed | Refund was successfully settled back to customer payment method. |
dispute.created | Customer or bank logged a chargeback dispute against a transaction. |
Required Access Documents for Paddle API
- Paddle Seller AccountRequiredRegister at vendors.paddle.com or paddle.com to obtain sandbox and production API keys
Different Paddle API use cases
- Global SaaS Subscription Billing:Sell B2B software subscriptions internationally without registering for US sales tax or European VAT.
- Digital Product & Course Checkouts:Embed localized checkout overlays that automatically accept international credit cards and Apple Pay.
- Automated Dunning & Churn Prevention:Trigger automated email retries when customer credit cards expire or fail renewals.