Payhip vs Recurly
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
The verdict
Both Payhip and Recurly are credible ecommerce platforms tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Choose Payhip if you want a lower starting price (free – $19/mo), a free plan to start on and a higher overall rating (4.6/5). Sell digital products, courses, and memberships.
Recurly — Subscription management and recurring billing.
Payhip vs Recurly: side by side
| Dimension | Payhip | Recurly |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free – $19/moWinner | From $249/mo |
| Free plan | YesWinner | No |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Best for | Creators | Subscription Businesses |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Api |
| Rating | 4.6/5Winner | 4.3/5 |
Payhip key facts
- Vendor
- Payhip
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $19/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
- Best for
- Creators
- Editor rating
- 4.6 / 5
- Founded
- 2011
- Headquarters
- London, UK
Recurly key facts
- Vendor
- Recurly
- Pricing
- Subscription — From $249/mo
- Free tier
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Api
- Best for
- Subscription Businesses
- Editor rating
- 4.3 / 5
- Founded
- 2009
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, CA, USA
Frequently asked questions
Is Payhip better than Recurly?
Neither is universally better — Payhip edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Payhip or Recurly cheaper?
Payhip is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $19/mo. Payhip starts at free – $19/mo; Recurly starts at from $249/mo.
Can Payhip replace Recurly?
Yes for most teams — both are ecommerce platforms tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.