What is this?
Polar is a billing platform for AI software: it turns usage — tokens, agent runs, GPU seconds — into revenue, so AI startups can charge for their products without building billing from scratch.
Polar is a billing platform for AI software: it turns usage — tokens, agent runs, GPU seconds — into revenue, so AI startups can charge for their products without building billing from scratch.Is Polar a hosted service, or do I run it myself?It's a hosted platform — you get a dashboard, hosted checkouts, and a public API. This repo is the platform's source code; DEVELOPMENT.md explains how to configure a local development environment.
It's a hosted platform — you get a dashboard, hosted checkouts, and a public API. This repo is the platform's source code; DEVELOPMENT.md explains how to configure a local development environment.How do I hook it into my product?Via the Public API and Webhook API, with official SDKs for JavaScript (Node.js and browsers) and Python: polarsource/polar-js and polarsource/polar-python.
Via the Public API and Webhook API, with official SDKs for JavaScript (Node.js and browsers) and Python: polarsource/polar-js and polarsource/polar-python.Any catches on the pricing?The listed rates aren't the whole story — the README notes that additional fees may apply on top of the per-transaction pricing.
The listed rates aren't the whole story — the README notes that additional fees may apply on top of the per-transaction pricing.Is the code open source?Yes — the whole platform is developed in the open under the Apache License 2.0.
Yes — the whole platform is developed in the open under the Apache License 2.0.What does being the merchant of record actually take off my plate?Polar acts as the seller of record: it handles receipts, customer accounts, and dunning, plus worldwide sales tax and VAT, so the billing boilerplate never lands in your codebase.
Polar acts as the seller of record: it handles receipts, customer accounts, and dunning, plus worldwide sales tax and VAT, so the billing boilerplate never lands in your codebase.What pricing models can I charge my users with?Usage billing, subscriptions, seats, credits, trials, and discounts, composable per product — and metering is precise down to the event, whether you bill tokens, API calls, agent runs, GPU seconds, or storage.
Usage billing, subscriptions, seats, credits, trials, and discounts, composable per product — and metering is precise down to the event, whether you bill tokens, API calls, agent runs, GPU seconds, or storage.What does Polar cost?Per-transaction fees: 5% + 50¢ on the free Starter plan, 3.80% + 40¢ on Pro, 3.60% + 35¢ on Growth, and 3.40% + 30¢ on Scale. Eligible startups can apply to the Startup Program for a year on the most generous plan.
Per-transaction fees: 5% + 50¢ on the free Starter plan, 3.80% + 40¢ on Pro, 3.60% + 35¢ on Growth, and 3.40% + 30¢ on Scale. Eligible startups can apply to the Startup Program for a year on the most generous plan.What comes with it besides the billing engine?Hosted checkouts built to convert, realtime metrics, and customer geolocation at checkout — Polar uses IPinfo data to locate customers during payment.
Hosted checkouts built to convert, realtime metrics, and customer geolocation at checkout — Polar uses IPinfo data to locate customers during payment.What are similar projects?lago, hyperswitch, jingyun-dsh, UCashier-USDT-Payment, QuantDinger, artcraft-services, novu, invoiceninja
lago, hyperswitch, jingyun-dsh, UCashier-USDT-Payment, QuantDinger, artcraft-services, novu, invoiceninja