10 Best Startup Marketplaces to Buy or Sell a SaaS (2026)

SaaS M&A hit a record 2,698 transactions in 2025 — a 28% jump from 2,107 the year before (Software Equity Group, 2026). Private equity firms drove 58% of those deals, and 72% of targets referenced AI somewhere in their positioning. The market isn't just growing — it's reshaping who buys, what they pay, and where they look.

But here's the part most founders miss: where you list your SaaS matters as much as what you're selling. Commission fees range from 0% to 15%. Vetting processes vary from "anyone can list" to "we reject 80% of applications." Time to close can be 60 days or 9 months depending on the platform and deal size. Picking the wrong marketplace means leaving money on the table — or worse, spending months with zero serious offers.

This guide compares 8 marketplaces by what actually drives outcomes: fee structure, deal size range, buyer quality, vetting process, and average time to close.

TL;DR: Start with StartuPage (free, verified MRR via 5 payment processors) and TrustMRR (embeddable revenue badges) to prove your numbers before listing. Acquire.com leads for curated SaaS deals ($500M+ total volume, 2,000+ startups sold). Flippa is broadest with 400K+ weekly buyers. Empire Flippers vets hardest — 88% of list price achieved. Median SaaS M&A revenue multiple is 4.1x (SEG, 2025).

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SaaS M&A Market in 2026: What's Changed?

Q3 2025 alone set a record with 746 SaaS transactions in a single quarter — more than entire years from a decade ago (Software Equity Group, 2025). SaaS now accounts for roughly 58% of all software M&A activity, up from under 40% five years ago. The market has fundamentally shifted from occasional opportunistic exits to a structured, liquid asset class.

Three trends are driving this. First, private equity has become the dominant buyer — 58% of SaaS deals in 2025 involved PE acquirers looking for stable, recurring revenue to roll up (Software Equity Group, 2026). Second, cross-border deals accelerated — 85% of Flippa transactions are now international, up from 65% previously (Flippa, 2026). Third, repeat buyers are growing: 37% of 2025 buyers on Flippa were portfolio acquirers making multiple purchases.

What does this mean for sellers? More buyers competing for good businesses means higher multiples — if you list on the right platform with verified metrics.

For context on what your SaaS might be worth before listing, see our guide on startup valuation by funding round with data from pre-seed to Series C.

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The 10 Best Marketplaces to Buy or Sell a SaaS

Each platform serves a different segment of the market. A $20K side project and a $5M SaaS business need completely different marketplaces. Here's where each one excels — and where it doesn't.

1. StartuPage

StartuPage is the only platform where your revenue data is verified through direct payment processor integration. Connect Stripe, Polar, LemonSqueezy, RevenueCat, or Dodo Payments — and your MRR is confirmed automatically. For founders considering an exit, this verification layer solves the biggest problem in SaaS M&A: trust. Buyers don't need to ask for screenshots or bank statements. They see real, live revenue data.

The platform is free, includes investor matching, a startup leaderboard ranked by verified traction, and a dofollow backlink. When you combine StartuPage's verified metrics with a listing on a traditional marketplace like Acquire.com or Flippa, you've got both credibility and discoverability covered. Acquirers can evaluate your business before making first contact — skipping weeks of "prove your numbers" back-and-forth.

Best for: Founders who want verified traction visible to investors and acquirers before listing anywhere else Fees: Free Vetting: Payment processor-verified MRR (Stripe, Polar, LemonSqueezy, RevenueCat, Dodo Payments) — the numbers are real or they're not on the platform Average close time: N/A — serves as a verification and discovery layer, not a transaction platform Standout: Only platform where revenue data is verified through payment processor integration. Use it alongside any marketplace. Limitation: Not a dedicated acquisition marketplace — no escrow or transaction facilitation

From building StartuPage: The most common frustration I hear from buyers is "I can't trust the numbers." Every marketplace deals with inflated or manipulated metrics. When your revenue is verified on StartuPage, that conversation disappears. Buyers see real MRR, real churn, real growth — and that speeds up everything from initial interest to due diligence.

If you're preparing for an exit, our guide on how to sell your startup or SaaS covers the full process from valuation to closing.

2. Acquire.com

Acquire.com (formerly MicroAcquire) is the largest curated SaaS marketplace. It has facilitated $500M+ in total deal volume across 2,000+ completed acquisitions, with 500K+ registered buyers holding $2B+ in verified funds (Acquire.com, 2026). The platform focuses on tech startups — SaaS, apps, Shopify stores, and digital businesses.

Sellers pay a listing fee ($25-$100/month depending on plan) plus a 6-8% closing fee tiered by deal size. The median SaaS profit multiple on the platform sits at 3.9x for 2024-2025, with average profit margins of 71% across listed businesses (Acquire.com, 2026).

The platform's strength is buyer quality. The verified funds requirement means you're not wasting time with tire-kickers. The weakness? Listing fees add up if your business takes months to sell — and many do.

Best for: SaaS and tech startup exits from $50K to $10M+ Fees: $25-$100/mo listing + 6-8% closing fee Vetting: Moderate — financial verification required, but most listings are accepted Average close time: 60-120 days for well-priced listings Standout: Largest verified buyer pool ($2B+ in funds) Limitation: Monthly listing fees eat into margins on slower sales

3. Flippa

Flippa is the broadest online business marketplace. It handles everything from $500 domain sales to multi-million dollar SaaS acquisitions. SaaS transactions surged 73.5% in 2025, and the platform now serves 400K+ weekly active buyers (Flippa, 2026).

What makes Flippa unique is its cross-border reach — 85% of deals are international. The auction model drives competitive bidding on well-positioned listings. Fees start at $29 for basic listings, scaling to $699 for premium placement, plus a 3-10% success fee depending on deal size.

The tradeoff? The open listing model means more noise. Buyers range from sophisticated PE firms to first-time purchasers. You'll need to filter through more inquiries — but the sheer volume means your listing gets more eyes.

Best for: All digital businesses — SaaS, e-commerce, content sites, apps Fees: $29-$699 listing + 3-10% success fee Vetting: Light — open marketplace, buyer-beware model Average close time: 28 days median to find buyer (for $1M+ businesses), 60-90 days to close Standout: Broadest buyer reach with 400K+ weekly active buyers, 85% cross-border Limitation: Lower-end listings attract lower-quality buyers. Noise-to-signal ratio is high.

4. Empire Flippers

Empire Flippers is the most selective marketplace on this list. They reject a significant percentage of applications and only list businesses that pass their financial vetting process. The result? $583.3M in cumulative sales, 2,607 businesses sold, and sellers achieving 88% of their asking price on average (Empire Flippers, 2026).

The average sale takes 108 days from listing to close. Listing valuation multiples range from 26.8x to 29.6x monthly profit — higher than most platforms because of the vetting premium. Commission fees are tiered: 15% for deals under $700K, 8% for $700K-$5M, and 2.5% above $5M.

Empire Flippers is where you go when your business is solid and you want maximum price. If your financials are messy or your business is pre-revenue, don't bother applying.

Best for: Established online businesses doing $5K+/mo in net profit Fees: 15% (under $700K), 8% ($700K-$5M), 2.5% ($5M+) Vetting: Strict — financial audit, traffic verification, seller interviews Average close time: 108 days Standout: Highest achieved-to-list price ratio (88%), strict vetting builds buyer trust Limitation: Slow. 108 days is a long time. Rejection rate is high for businesses with inconsistent revenue.

5. FE International

FE International operates as a full-service brokerage rather than a self-serve marketplace. They've completed 1,500+ acquisitions with a 94.1% success rate — the highest close rate in the industry (FE International, 2025). That success rate isn't luck; it's selectivity. They only take on businesses they're confident they can sell.

Seller commission runs 10-15% with no upfront fees. Buyers pay a modest 2.5% fee capped at $1,000. The sweet spot is mid-market SaaS — typically $500K to $20M+ in valuation. Below $500K, the brokerage model doesn't make economic sense for either party.

What you're paying for is white-glove service: dedicated advisors, buyer matching, deal structuring, and negotiation support. For a complex exit with earnouts, seller financing, or multiple stakeholders — that's worth the premium.

Best for: Mid-market SaaS exits ($500K-$20M+) Fees: 10-15% seller commission, no upfront fees; 2.5% buyer fee (max $1K) Vetting: Very strict — selective about which businesses to represent Average close time: 3-6 months Standout: 94.1% success rate and full-service brokerage support Limitation: Not for small deals. Minimum practical threshold around $500K.

6. TrustMRR

TrustMRR focuses on one thing: embeddable revenue verification badges. Connect your Stripe, LemonSqueezy, or Polar account, and TrustMRR generates a badge showing verified MRR that updates hourly. It's designed to embed directly on your listing page, pitch deck, or marketplace profile — giving buyers instant confidence in your numbers.

For sellers, the value is simple: a TrustMRR badge on your Acquire.com or Flippa listing immediately differentiates you from the 90% of sellers who can't prove their revenue. It's lightweight, single-purpose, and free to start.

Best for: Sellers who want a quick, embeddable revenue proof for their marketplace listing or pitch deck Fees: Free tier available Vetting: Hourly-updated verified MRR via payment processor API Average close time: N/A — verification tool, not a marketplace Standout: Embeddable badges that work anywhere — marketplace listings, landing pages, investor decks Limitation: Not a marketplace. No buyer discovery, no transaction support.

7. Microns.io

Microns.io focuses on the micro-SaaS segment — small, profitable SaaS products typically in the $200-$500K range. Commission runs 6-10% tiered by deal size, with no listing fees. Buyers pay a subscription ($49-$199/month) to access deal flow.

The platform is newer and smaller than Acquire.com or Flippa, but it's carved out a niche for bootstrapped micro-SaaS products that are too small for brokers but too valuable for classifieds. If you've built a profitable little tool doing $2-5K MRR, Microns.io is purpose-built for that exit.

Best for: Micro-SaaS products in the $200-$500K range Fees: 6-10% seller commission, no listing fee; $49-$199/mo buyer subscription Vetting: Moderate — financial verification required Average close time: 30-90 days Standout: Niche focus on micro-SaaS means buyers understand the asset class Limitation: Smaller buyer pool than Acquire.com or Flippa. Not suited for larger exits.

8. SideProjectors

SideProjectors is the craigslist of the startup marketplace world — and that's not an insult. It's free to list, charges 0% commission, and operates as a community-driven classifieds board for side projects, MVPs, and early-stage products.

There's no vetting process, no financial verification, and no structured deal flow. You post a listing, interested buyers reach out, and you handle negotiations directly. It's the right place for projects valued under $50K where the overhead of a formal marketplace doesn't make sense.

Best for: Side projects, MVPs, and pre-revenue products under $50K Fees: $0 listing, 0% commission Vetting: None — open marketplace Average close time: Varies widely Standout: Zero fees. Completely free for both buyers and sellers. Limitation: No buyer verification, no escrow, no support. You're on your own.

9. IndieMaker

IndieMaker is a community-first marketplace for bootstrapped products, side projects, and small SaaS businesses. It appeals to indie hackers and solo builders who want to sell a project quickly without the overhead of formal marketplaces. Listings are simple, pricing is transparent, and the community aspect means buyers often understand what they're purchasing.

It's smaller than the other platforms on this list, but for the indie hacker audience, it's a natural fit. If your project was born from a weekend hack or grew organically through an Indie Hackers post, the buyers here speak your language.

Best for: Indie hacker projects, small SaaS, and bootstrapped products Fees: Low — varies by listing type Vetting: Light Average close time: 30-60 days for small deals Standout: Community of builders who understand product-market fit at small scale Limitation: Very small buyer pool. Not suitable for anything above $100K.

10. Quiet Light

Quiet Light is a brokerage that specializes in online businesses — SaaS, content sites, e-commerce, and Amazon FBA. Their advisors are all former entrepreneurs who've built and sold their own businesses, which gives them a practical edge in valuation and deal structuring.

The brokerage handles everything from valuation to close, with commission typically around 10-15%. They focus on deals in the $250K-$30M range and pride themselves on transparent communication throughout the process. If you want a broker who's been in your shoes, Quiet Light is worth considering.

Best for: Online businesses from $250K to $30M — SaaS, e-commerce, content sites Fees: ~10-15% commission, no upfront fees Vetting: Strict — financial audit and business review before listing Average close time: 3-6 months Standout: Advisors are former entrepreneurs who've sold their own businesses Limitation: Not suited for micro-SaaS under $250K. Brokerage model means less seller control.

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Marketplace Comparison Table

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Buyer vs Seller: Which Marketplace Fits You?

The right marketplace depends on which side of the table you're on. Sellers want the highest multiples and fastest close. Buyers want the deepest deal flow and lowest fees. No single platform optimizes for both.

If you're selling a micro-SaaS under $100K: Start with StartuPage to verify your MRR, add a TrustMRR badge to your listing, then post on SideProjectors (free) and Microns.io. The overhead of Acquire.com's monthly fees or Empire Flippers' vetting process isn't justified at this scale.

If you're selling a SaaS doing $5K-$50K MRR: Acquire.com is your primary marketplace. The buyer pool is large, the process is structured, and the 6-8% fee is reasonable for the deal facilitation you get. Consider Empire Flippers if you can wait for a premium price and pass their vetting.

If you're selling a SaaS worth $1M+: FE International's full brokerage model makes sense here. A 94.1% success rate and dedicated advisor is worth the 10-15% commission on complex, high-value exits. Empire Flippers is a strong alternative if you prefer a marketplace model over brokerage.

If you're buying: Flippa gives you the widest funnel with 400K+ weekly buyers browsing actively. Acquire.com is better if you want curated SaaS specifically. For verified revenue before making an offer, check the business's StartuPage profile or ask the seller to create one — it takes two minutes and eliminates the biggest due diligence question.

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How to Maximize Your SaaS Valuation Before Listing

Median SaaS M&A revenue multiples sit at 4.1x, with averages reaching 5.4x for stronger businesses (Software Equity Group, 2025). The difference between a 3x and a 6x multiple on a $100K ARR business is $300K in your pocket. Here's what moves the needle.

Reduce churn first. Net revenue retention is the single strongest predictor of valuation multiples. Buyers pay premiums for sticky products. A SaaS with 95% annual retention is worth significantly more than one at 80% — even if they have the same ARR.

Clean your financials. Separate personal expenses from business expenses. Have at least 12 months of clear P&L data. Businesses with messy books sell at a discount — buyers price in uncertainty. Using accounting software like Xero or QuickBooks makes due diligence smoother.

Reduce owner dependency. If the business can't run for 30 days without you, that's a problem. Document your processes, automate what you can, and ideally hire or contract out critical functions. Buyers want an asset, not a job.

Verify your revenue publicly. Connect your payment processor (Stripe, Polar, LemonSqueezy, RevenueCat, or Dodo Payments) to StartuPage or use TrustMRR badges. Verified revenue data eliminates the most common objection and speeds up the entire deal process. Buyers trust API-verified numbers over screenshots.

Time your listing. List during an uptrend. Show 3-6 months of consistent growth before going to market. A business that's growing 10% MoM gets dramatically more buyer interest than one that's flat — even at the same current revenue.

Our take: The biggest valuation lever that founders consistently ignore is documentation. Not code docs — business docs. A 5-page "how to run this business" document that covers daily operations, vendor relationships, customer acquisition channels, and key metrics can add 0.5-1x to your multiple. Buyers are buying confidence in continuity, and documentation is the cheapest way to provide it.

For a deeper dive into the exit process, see our guides on how to sell your startup or SaaS and how to sell a micro-SaaS specifically. And if you're wondering what your business is actually worth, start with our startup valuation guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best marketplace for selling a micro-SaaS under $100K?

SideProjectors is free with zero commission — hard to beat for sub-$50K projects. For the $50K-$100K range, Microns.io is purpose-built for micro-SaaS with a focused buyer pool. Avoid Empire Flippers and FE International at this price point — their fee structures and vetting processes are designed for larger deals. List your verified metrics on StartuPage alongside any marketplace listing for added credibility.

How much does it cost to list on Acquire.com?

Acquire.com charges a monthly listing fee ($25-$100 depending on your plan) plus a 6-8% closing fee when the deal completes. On a $500K deal, total seller costs would be roughly $31K-$41K including a few months of listing fees plus the success fee. There are no upfront success fees — you only pay the percentage when you actually close.

What SaaS valuation multiple should I expect?

The median SaaS M&A multiple in 2025 was 4.1x revenue, with averages around 5.4x (Software Equity Group, 2025). Private SaaS companies typically see 4.8x (bootstrapped) to 5.3x (equity-backed) (First Page Sage, 2025). Multiples vary significantly based on growth rate, retention, and profitability. Use our startup valuation guide for benchmarks specific to your stage.

How long does it take to sell a SaaS business?

It depends on deal size and platform. Sub-$500K deals typically close in 60-90 days. Empire Flippers averages 108 days across all sizes. FE International's mid-market deals take 3-6 months. Seven-figure SaaS exits routinely take 6-9 months from first listing to closed wire transfer. The best way to shorten the timeline: have clean financials, verified revenue, and realistic pricing from day one.

Is it better to use a broker or a self-serve marketplace?

For deals under $500K, self-serve marketplaces (Acquire.com, Flippa) are almost always more efficient. You save on the 10-15% broker fee and maintain direct control. Above $500K, the math shifts — FE International's 94.1% success rate means you're more likely to close, and their deal structuring expertise often recovers more than their fee. The hybrid approach works well too: list on a marketplace while engaging a broker for targeted outreach.

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What's Next

Ready to explore your exit or acquisition options? Here's where to start:

• Verify your metrics first: Create a free StartuPage profile and connect your payment processor (Stripe, Polar, LemonSqueezy, RevenueCat, or Dodo Payments) to show verified MRR
• Add a revenue badge: Grab a TrustMRR badge to embed on your marketplace listing or pitch deck
• Know your numbers: Use our startup valuation calculator to estimate your business's worth
• Pick the right platform: Match your deal size to the right marketplace from the comparison table above
• Prepare for due diligence: Read our full guide on selling your SaaS for a step-by-step process
• For micro-SaaS exits: Our dedicated micro-SaaS exit guide covers valuation, marketplaces, and the selling process
• Start listing: SideProjectors (free, any size) or Acquire.com ($25/mo, best buyer pool) — there's no cost to test the waters

The SaaS M&A market is at record volumes. If you've built something valuable, the buyer pool has never been deeper.