Payments for Vibe Coded Apps
Charge for your product on day one
Quick answer
Vibe coded apps typically add payments via Stripe, Lemon Squeezy, or Paddle. Stripe is the most powerful but requires backend webhook handling. Lemon Squeezy is the fastest option for indie founders — it acts as merchant of record, handling VAT and taxes automatically. Lovable has native Stripe integration that generates the checkout flow from a single prompt. For Cursor-built apps, use Stripe with a webhook handler on Railway or Cloudflare Workers.
Q: How do I add payments to a vibe coded app?
A: Use Lemon Squeezy for the fastest setup or Stripe for full control. Lovable can generate a complete checkout flow in one prompt.
What's in This Guide
Stripe vs Lemon Squeezy
Full control vs merchant of record — which to choose
One-time Payments
Simple checkout for digital products and services
Subscription Billing
Monthly/annual plans with trials and upgrades
Webhook Handlers
React to payment events in your backend
Testing Payments
Use test cards and Stripe CLI locally
Going Live Checklist
Switch from test to live mode safely
Common Issues & Fixes
Integration Guides
How-To Guides
Recommended Tools
Services we recommend for this stack
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Frequently Asked Questions
Stripe for maximum control and customization. Lemon Squeezy if you want it handled for you — it manages VAT, tax compliance, and acts as merchant of record.
Yes. Stripe Checkout and Lemon Squeezy both handle the payment UI. You only need backend code for webhook handling to update your database after payments.
Both Stripe and Lemon Squeezy have test modes with test card numbers. Stripe's test card: 4242 4242 4242 4242. No real charges are made.
A webhook is a URL that Stripe calls when payment events happen (success, failure, cancellation). You need one to update your database — without it, your app won't know who paid.