Quick Overview
- 1#1: Orb - Purpose-built platform for metering, billing, and revenue recognition on usage-based pricing models.
- 2#2: Metronome - Universal billing infrastructure designed for flexible usage-based metering and pricing at scale.
- 3#3: M3ter - High-performance metering and usage-based billing engine for complex pricing strategies.
- 4#4: Stripe Billing - Seamless metered billing integration for tracking and charging based on customer usage.
- 5#5: Chargebee - Subscription management platform with robust support for usage-based and hybrid billing.
- 6#6: Zuora - Enterprise monetization suite handling subscriptions, usage, and consumption billing globally.
- 7#7: Lago - Open-source metering and billing system optimized for usage-based models with self-hosting.
- 8#8: BillingPlatform - Configurable enterprise billing solution supporting complex usage-based and product catalog billing.
- 9#9: Recurly - Subscription billing platform with add-on usage tracking and dunning management.
- 10#10: Kill Bill - Open-source billing and payment platform with plugins for usage-based metering.
We ranked these tools by evaluating functionality, reliability, ease of integration, and value, ensuring they excel in diverse scenarios including high-volume metering, enterprise complexity, and open-source flexibility.
Comparison Table
Explore the landscape of usage-based billing software with this comparison table, featuring tools like Orb, Metronome, M3ter, Stripe Billing, Chargebee, and more. Uncover key features, pricing models, and strengths to find the right fit for varying business needs, from scalability to integration flexibility.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orb Purpose-built platform for metering, billing, and revenue recognition on usage-based pricing models. | specialized | 9.7/10 | 9.9/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 2 | Metronome Universal billing infrastructure designed for flexible usage-based metering and pricing at scale. | specialized | 9.3/10 | 9.7/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 3 | M3ter High-performance metering and usage-based billing engine for complex pricing strategies. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 4 | Stripe Billing Seamless metered billing integration for tracking and charging based on customer usage. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.4/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.9/10 |
| 5 | Chargebee Subscription management platform with robust support for usage-based and hybrid billing. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 6 | Zuora Enterprise monetization suite handling subscriptions, usage, and consumption billing globally. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.1/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | Lago Open-source metering and billing system optimized for usage-based models with self-hosting. | other | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.2/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 8 | BillingPlatform Configurable enterprise billing solution supporting complex usage-based and product catalog billing. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 9 | Recurly Subscription billing platform with add-on usage tracking and dunning management. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 10 | Kill Bill Open-source billing and payment platform with plugins for usage-based metering. | other | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 6.8/10 | 9.1/10 |
Purpose-built platform for metering, billing, and revenue recognition on usage-based pricing models.
Universal billing infrastructure designed for flexible usage-based metering and pricing at scale.
High-performance metering and usage-based billing engine for complex pricing strategies.
Seamless metered billing integration for tracking and charging based on customer usage.
Subscription management platform with robust support for usage-based and hybrid billing.
Enterprise monetization suite handling subscriptions, usage, and consumption billing globally.
Open-source metering and billing system optimized for usage-based models with self-hosting.
Configurable enterprise billing solution supporting complex usage-based and product catalog billing.
Subscription billing platform with add-on usage tracking and dunning management.
Open-source billing and payment platform with plugins for usage-based metering.
Orb
specializedPurpose-built platform for metering, billing, and revenue recognition on usage-based pricing models.
Advanced pricing engine with support for arbitrary mathematical expressions and gradient pricing for hyper-accurate, real-time consumption billing.
Orb (orb.io) is a leading usage-based billing platform designed for SaaS companies to implement precise metering, complex pricing models, and automated invoicing based on actual customer consumption. It excels in handling high-volume event ingestion, real-time usage calculations with support for tiers, gradients, and custom formulas, and seamless integrations with Stripe, Salesforce, and data warehouses. Orb also provides customizable customer portals for self-serve usage tracking and payments, ensuring scalability for growing businesses.
Pros
- Exceptional accuracy in metering with 100% event processing and no sampling
- Highly flexible pricing engine supporting complex models like gradients and blended rates
- Robust integrations and APIs for easy incorporation into existing tech stacks
Cons
- Steeper learning curve for non-technical users due to developer-focused setup
- Pricing scales with usage volume, which can become costly at enterprise scale
- Limited out-of-box reporting customization compared to some legacy billing tools
Best For
Scaling SaaS companies with complex, high-volume usage-based pricing needs requiring precision and automation.
Pricing
Free development plan; production pricing is usage-based starting at ~$0.0005 per metered event, $20/month per customer, with minimums around $500/month for growth plans and custom enterprise options.
Metronome
specializedUniversal billing infrastructure designed for flexible usage-based metering and pricing at scale.
Universal metering API that ingests and bills any usage event type instantly, without schema changes or engineering toil
Metronome is a robust, API-first billing platform tailored for usage-based billing, allowing SaaS companies to meter customer usage in real-time, apply complex pricing models, and automate invoicing and revenue recognition. It supports hybrid billing strategies, including tiered, volume, and blended pricing, with seamless integrations into data pipelines and CRMs. Designed for scalability, it handles high-volume metering without performance degradation, making it ideal for fast-growing tech companies.
Pros
- Extremely flexible metering engine supports any usage metric or pricing model without code changes
- Real-time usage streaming and revenue recognition for accurate financials
- Scalable architecture handles millions of events per second with 99.99% uptime
Cons
- API-heavy interface requires developer resources for setup
- Pricing is custom and opaque, better suited for enterprises than startups
- Limited no-code tools compared to more UI-focused competitors
Best For
Scaling SaaS and B2B companies needing enterprise-grade, customizable usage-based billing infrastructure.
Pricing
Custom usage-based pricing upon request, typically starting at $5,000+/month based on customer volume and metering needs.
M3ter
specializedHigh-performance metering and usage-based billing engine for complex pricing strategies.
Real-time, event-driven metering engine that processes millions of events per second with sub-second latency
M3ter is a specialized usage-based billing platform designed for SaaS and API companies, enabling real-time metering of customer usage data from various sources. It supports complex pricing models like tiered, volume, and blended pricing, while automating billing, invoicing, and revenue recognition compliant with IFRS 15 and ASC 606. The platform scales effortlessly for high-volume environments and integrates natively with tools like Stripe, AWS Marketplace, and Snowflake.
Pros
- Exceptional flexibility in metering and pricing models for complex usage scenarios
- Seamless integrations with data warehouses, payment processors, and cloud marketplaces
- Built-in revenue recognition automation with audit-ready reporting
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced configurations and custom pricing
- Pricing model ties costs directly to your revenue, which can feel unpredictable for startups
- Limited out-of-the-box templates compared to more general billing platforms
Best For
Scaling SaaS companies with high-volume, multi-dimensional usage data needing robust, real-time metering without building custom infrastructure.
Pricing
Usage-based: Free up to $10k monthly metered revenue; then 0.75% of metered revenue for Growth tier, down to 0.3% for Enterprise volumes over $5M.
Stripe Billing
specializedSeamless metered billing integration for tracking and charging based on customer usage.
Advanced usage metering with gradient pricing, tiers, and packages for precise consumption-based billing
Stripe Billing is a robust platform from Stripe that specializes in subscription management, invoicing, and advanced usage-based billing for SaaS and digital services. It enables precise tracking of customer consumption via customizable meters, supporting complex models like tiers, packages, thresholds, and blended pricing. Seamlessly integrated with Stripe Payments, it automates billing cycles, handles proration, and scales globally with built-in compliance features.
Pros
- Highly flexible usage metering with support for tiers, packages, and real-time adjustments
- Seamless integration with Stripe Payments for instant revenue recognition
- Scalable for high-volume usage with excellent API and webhooks documentation
Cons
- Requires developer expertise for setup and custom usage tracking
- Additional fees on top of payment processing can accumulate at scale
- Dashboard and configuration can feel complex for non-technical users
Best For
SaaS companies with engineering teams needing sophisticated, scalable usage-based billing tied to payments.
Pricing
0.5% of monthly recurring revenue (including usage-based billing), plus standard Stripe payment processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge).
Chargebee
enterpriseSubscription management platform with robust support for usage-based and hybrid billing.
Flexible metered billing engine supporting real-time usage tracking, overages, and hybrid models in a single platform
Chargebee is a comprehensive revenue management platform that excels in handling subscription billing alongside usage-based models for SaaS and digital services. It allows businesses to track usage metrics via APIs, webhooks, and integrations, automatically calculating and invoicing based on consumption like API calls, data usage, or seats. With support for tiered, graduated, and hybrid pricing, it streamlines complex billing scenarios while ensuring accurate revenue recognition.
Pros
- Robust usage metering with support for multi-dimensional tracking and complex tiers
- Seamless integrations with Stripe, AWS, and analytics tools for real-time data syncing
- Automated invoicing, dunning, and revenue recognition tailored for usage models
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced configurations and custom usage setups
- Pricing can become expensive for high-volume or small-scale usage billing
- Reporting dashboards lack depth for granular usage analytics without custom exports
Best For
Growing SaaS companies with hybrid subscription and usage-based pricing needs that require scalable automation.
Pricing
Starts at $249/month (Launch plan) billed annually, $599/month (Scale), with Enterprise custom pricing based on revenue volume and features.
Zuora
enterpriseEnterprise monetization suite handling subscriptions, usage, and consumption billing globally.
Advanced Usage API and rating engine for dynamic, real-time consumption billing across hybrid models
Zuora is a leading enterprise-grade monetization platform that excels in subscription management and usage-based billing, allowing businesses to track, rate, and invoice based on actual consumption metrics. It supports complex pricing models like tiered, overage, and block-based usage, integrated seamlessly with CRM and ERP systems. Designed for scalability, Zuora automates billing workflows, revenue recognition, and global compliance, making it suitable for high-volume SaaS and service providers transitioning to consumption-based models.
Pros
- Powerful usage metering and rating engine for real-time, granular billing
- Seamless handling of hybrid subscription + usage models with automated invoicing
- Strong integrations, scalability, and compliance features for global enterprises
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex initial setup requiring expertise
- High enterprise pricing not ideal for SMBs or startups
- Limited out-of-the-box customization without professional services
Best For
Large enterprises and scaling SaaS companies needing robust, high-volume usage-based billing with complex pricing.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically starting at $25,000+ annually based on volume, features, and usage tiers.
Lago
otherOpen-source metering and billing system optimized for usage-based models with self-hosting.
100% open-source metering engine allowing full code transparency and customization for any usage-based model
Lago is an open-source metering and usage-based billing platform designed for SaaS companies to charge customers based on actual resource consumption, such as API calls, storage, or compute usage. It offers flexible pricing models like graduated tiers, volume discounts, and packages, with real-time usage tracking and automated invoicing. The self-hosted nature provides full data ownership and customization, complemented by integrations with Stripe, AWS, and customer portals.
Pros
- Fully open-source with no vendor lock-in and auditable metering
- Highly flexible billing models supporting complex usage scenarios
- Scalable for high-volume usage with strong API and integration support
Cons
- Self-hosting requires DevOps expertise and infrastructure management
- Steeper learning curve for non-technical users
- Community-driven support may lack enterprise-level SLAs
Best For
Developer-centric teams at startups and mid-sized SaaS companies seeking customizable, cost-effective usage billing without proprietary dependencies.
Pricing
Open-source self-hosted version is free; Lago Cloud offers a free Developer plan up to $10K MRR, Pro at $0.20 per $1 billed (min. $250/mo), and Enterprise custom.
BillingPlatform
enterpriseConfigurable enterprise billing solution supporting complex usage-based and product catalog billing.
Universal rating engine that dynamically handles any usage-based pricing model without code changes
BillingPlatform is a enterprise-grade revenue management platform that specializes in usage-based billing, enabling precise metering, rating, and invoicing based on consumption data from sources like IoT, cloud, or APIs. It supports complex pricing models including tiers, thresholds, overages, and hybrids with subscriptions, while handling high-volume transactions scalably. The platform offers robust integrations, revenue recognition, and compliance features for global operations.
Pros
- Highly flexible rating engine for complex usage scenarios and custom pricing
- Enterprise scalability with proven handling of millions of transactions
- Seamless integrations with CRM, ERP, and data pipelines
Cons
- Steep learning curve and lengthy implementation requiring experts
- Premium enterprise pricing inaccessible for SMBs
- Overly complex for simple usage-based needs
Best For
Large enterprises with high-volume, intricate usage-based billing across global operations.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing upon request; typically starts at $50,000+ annually based on volume and features.
Recurly
enterpriseSubscription billing platform with add-on usage tracking and dunning management.
Usage Billing Pipelines for customizable data processing, tiering, and rollover logic
Recurly is a subscription management and billing platform designed for recurring revenue businesses, with robust support for usage-based billing through its Usage Billing feature. It enables companies to track, aggregate, and bill customers based on metered usage data submitted via API, supporting complex pricing models like tiers, thresholds, and overages. The platform integrates with major payment gateways and offers tools for revenue recognition, churn management, and analytics to optimize billing operations.
Pros
- Flexible usage billing pipelines for custom aggregation and tiered pricing
- Comprehensive revenue analytics and dunning management
- Seamless integrations with 50+ payment gateways and tools
Cons
- Higher pricing suitable mainly for mid-to-enterprise scale
- Requires developer expertise for advanced UBB setups
- Less intuitive for pure usage-based models compared to UBB specialists
Best For
Mid-market SaaS companies needing scalable subscription billing with integrated usage-based metering.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically starts at $199/month platform fee plus 0.8-1.2% + $0.10 per transaction, with add-ons for advanced UBB.
Kill Bill
otherOpen-source billing and payment platform with plugins for usage-based metering.
Advanced usage metering engine with support for time-based, volume-based, and multi-tenant usage calculations
Kill Bill is an open-source billing and payments platform designed for complex monetization models, including robust support for usage-based billing through metering and usage record APIs. It enables real-time tracking of consumption metrics, automated invoicing based on usage tiers, and integration with external systems for accurate billing. Ideal for developers building scalable SaaS billing, it offers flexibility via its plugin architecture but requires technical setup.
Pros
- Highly customizable for complex usage metering and multi-dimensional pricing
- Open-source with no licensing costs and strong community support
- Excellent scalability for high-volume usage tracking and integrations
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring DevOps and development expertise
- Self-hosted setup demands infrastructure management
- Documentation can be dense for non-technical users
Best For
Engineering-led SaaS teams needing deeply customizable, self-hosted usage-based billing without vendor lock-in.
Pricing
Core platform is free and open-source (Apache 2.0); paid enterprise support and hosting options available starting at custom pricing.
Conclusion
Orb tops the list as the leading choice, designed specifically for metering, billing, and revenue recognition in usage-based models. Metronome and M3ter follow closely, with Metronome offering flexible scaling and M3ter handling complex pricing strategies, while the remaining tools provide strong alternatives for diverse needs.
Ready to optimize your usage-based billing? Start with Orb to unlock seamless management, then explore Metronome or M3ter if scaling or complexity is your key priority.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
