Lago vs Orb: Which is right for you? (1970)
TL;DR
- Choose Lago if keeping fees low matters most.
- Choose Orb if your stack already leans in that direction.
- Both work for: saas, ai_apps, usage_based.
Lago
Self-hosted: free. Cloud: from $100/month
Open source Stripe Billing alternative with powerful metering and usage-based pricing. Self-hostable (free) or cloud. Built for AI apps and SaaS with complex pricing models.
Orb
Custom pricing (contact sales)
Purpose-built for usage-based billing. Handles credits, seats, metered usage, and hybrid pricing. Designed specifically for AI products and modern SaaS.
Pricing comparison
Feature comparison
Best for
Lago is best for SaaS, AI products, Usage-based pricing, open source, developers, self hosted. Orb is best for AI products, Usage-based pricing, SaaS, credits, metered, web.
FAQ
Is Lago better than Orb?
Neither is universally better. Lago is the right pick if keeping fees low matters most; Orb wins if your stack already leans in that direction.
Which is cheaper, Lago or Orb?
Lago ranks higher on fee competitiveness (5/5). Lago pricing: Self-hosted: free. Cloud: from $100/month. Orb pricing: Custom pricing (contact sales).
Can I switch from Lago to Orb?
Yes — most subscription and billing tools support migration via CSV import or API. Expect to reconfigure webhooks, paywalls, and entitlements. Check both vendors' migration docs before committing.
Does Lago handle sales tax?
No. Lago does not handle tax registrations — you handle those yourself or via a separate tool.
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