Lago vs Recharge: Which is right for you? (1970)
TL;DR
- Choose Lago if keeping fees low matters most.
- Choose Recharge if paywall conversion optimization is the priority.
- Both work for: teams in their respective categories.
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.
Recharge
Standard: free + 1.25% + $0.19/transaction. Pro: $499/mo + 0% transaction.
Leading subscription management platform for Shopify and ecommerce. Handles recurring orders for physical products, boxes, and D2C brands. Not for SaaS or digital products.
Pricing comparison
Feature comparison
Best for
Lago is best for SaaS, AI products, Usage-based pricing, open source, developers, self hosted. Recharge is best for ecommerce, shopify, physical products, subscriptions, d2c, SaaS.
FAQ
Is Lago better than Recharge?
Neither is universally better. Lago is the right pick if keeping fees low matters most; Recharge wins if paywall conversion optimization is the priority.
Which is cheaper, Lago or Recharge?
Lago ranks higher on fee competitiveness (5/5). Lago pricing: Self-hosted: free. Cloud: from $100/month. Recharge pricing: Standard: free + 1.25% + $0.19/transaction. Pro: $499/mo + 0% transaction..
Can I switch from Lago to Recharge?
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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