Number X vs FastSpring

FastSpring has been one of the best-known Merchant of Record providers for more than two decades. Long before Merchant of Record became a widely discussed business model, FastSpring was helping software companies sell globally without worrying about VAT, payment processing or international tax compliance.

Today, however, digital commerce looks very different than it did ten or fifteen years ago.

Software subscriptions are no longer the only business model. Many companies combine recurring billing with AI usage credits, one-time purchases, virtual goods, in-app purchases and digital content. Businesses expand globally much earlier in their lifecycle, customers expect local payment methods and payment infrastructure has become a competitive advantage rather than simply an operational necessity.

Both FastSpring and Number X operate as Merchants of Record, but they were built with different generations of digital businesses in mind.

What both platforms have in common

Unlike comparisons between a Merchant of Record and a payment processor, FastSpring and Number X share the same underlying model.

Both platforms become the legal seller for customer transactions, process payments on behalf of merchants and handle many of the operational responsibilities that would otherwise remain with the business. Instead of asking companies to register for VAT around the world or integrate separate tax software, both providers simplify international selling by combining payments and tax compliance within a single service.

For businesses selling digital products globally, that immediately removes a significant amount of operational work.

Feature comparison

FastSpring has deep roots in software

FastSpring built its reputation serving software companies.

Its platform is particularly well suited to businesses selling desktop software, SaaS subscriptions, developer tools and other traditional digital products. Over the years, it has developed strong capabilities around subscription billing, global tax compliance and international payment acceptance, making it a trusted Merchant of Record for thousands of software vendors.

For businesses whose commercial model remains centred on software subscriptions, FastSpring continues to be a reliable option.

The digital economy, however, has expanded considerably beyond traditional software licensing.

Today's companies often generate revenue through multiple models simultaneously. A SaaS platform may introduce AI credits, premium digital content, marketplace transactions or usage-based billing within a relatively short period of time. Mobile applications, creator platforms and online games combine subscriptions with virtual currencies, digital assets and one-time purchases that don't always fit neatly into a conventional software commerce model.

Number X is built for the next generation of digital commerce

Number X was designed to support that broader ecosystem.

Instead of focusing primarily on software companies, the platform supports SaaS businesses alongside AI products, mobile applications, online games, virtual goods, creator platforms and other forms of digital commerce.

That flexibility allows merchants to evolve their business model without changing their underlying commerce infrastructure.

A company might begin with recurring subscriptions before introducing usage-based pricing, digital assets or in-app purchases. Rather than migrating to another Merchant of Record as new revenue streams appear, businesses can continue operating on the same platform while expanding into new product categories.

For growing companies, that creates significantly more flexibility over the long term.

Modern commerce requires more than payment acceptance

Selling globally has become considerably more complex than simply accepting card payments.

Customers expect local payment methods, frictionless checkout experiences and recurring payments that continue working when cards expire or are replaced. Businesses need reliable tax compliance across dozens of jurisdictions while simultaneously supporting new pricing models that didn't exist a decade ago.

A Merchant of Record must therefore do far more than process payments.

It must provide infrastructure capable of adapting alongside the merchant as products, markets and customer expectations evolve.

That is increasingly becoming the deciding factor when businesses evaluate Merchant of Record providers.

Pricing and simplicity

Number X offers a transparent pricing model of 5% plus $0.50 per successful transaction, covering far more than payment acceptance alone.

Because the Merchant of Record assumes responsibility for payment processing, tax compliance, indirect-tax remittance and many operational responsibilities associated with international digital commerce, businesses avoid stitching together multiple vendors to achieve the same outcome.

Instead of managing separate providers for payments, tax software and compliance, merchants work with a single platform responsible for the complete transaction lifecycle.

Which businesses should choose FastSpring?

FastSpring remains an excellent choice for businesses that:

• Primarily sell software or SaaS subscriptions.
• Want a long-established Merchant of Record provider.
• Need mature subscription billing capabilities.
• Prefer a platform with extensive experience serving software companies.

Its history and experience make it one of the most recognised names in the Merchant of Record industry.

Which businesses should choose Number X?

Number X is often the stronger choice for companies that:

• Sell multiple types of digital products.
• Combine subscriptions with one-time purchases.
• Operate AI platforms.
• Build mobile applications.
• Sell virtual goods or digital currencies.
• Run online games or creator platforms.
• Want a Merchant of Record that can support evolving business models without requiring new infrastructure as the company grows.

Rather than optimising around one segment of digital commerce, Number X is designed for the broader digital economy.

The right Merchant of Record should grow with your business

FastSpring and Number X solve the same fundamental problem: enabling businesses to sell digital products globally without managing payments, tax compliance and international commerce entirely on their own.

The difference lies in the businesses they are designed to support.

FastSpring remains one of the most established Merchant of Record providers for software companies, with decades of experience helping SaaS businesses expand internationally.

Number X builds on the same Merchant of Record foundation while supporting a wider range of digital business models, including AI products, mobile applications, games, virtual goods and other forms of digital commerce. For businesses expecting their products and pricing models to evolve over time, that broader focus provides the flexibility to scale internationally without rebuilding the underlying commerce infrastructure along the way.