Lago vs Stripe Billing(2026)
Lago is better for teams that need open source (self-host free). Stripe Billing is the stronger choice if seamless with stripe payments. Lago is open-source (from $500/month (Lago Cloud)) and Stripe Billing is paid (from 0.7% of billing volume).
Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.
By Bikram Nath
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Lago
Lago is an open source billing API for usage-based and metered billing, allowing you to self-host your billing infrastructure.
Starting at $500/month (Lago Cloud)
Visit LagoStripe Billing
Stripe Billing is Stripe's native subscription and invoicing product for SaaS companies already using Stripe Payments.
Starting at 0.7% of billing volume
Visit Stripe BillingHow Do Lago and Stripe Billing Compare on Features?
| Feature | Lago | Stripe Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | paid |
| Starting price | $500/month (Lago Cloud) | 0.7% of billing volume |
| Metered billing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Usage-based pricing | ✓ | — |
| Subscription management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invoice generation | ✓ | — |
| Tax handling | ✓ | — |
| Open source | ✓ | — |
| Trials | — | ✓ |
| Smart dunning | — | ✓ |
| Customer portal | — | ✓ |
| Invoicing | — | ✓ |
Lago Pros and Cons vs Stripe Billing
Lago
Stripe Billing
Should You Use Lago or Stripe Billing?
For most teams, Lago is the better default: it offers open source (self-host free) and is open-source (from $500/month (Lago Cloud)). Choose Stripe Billing instead if seamless with stripe payments matters more than newer product. There is no universal winner — the right pick depends on your budget, team size, and whether you value open source (self-host free) or seamless with stripe payments more.
Choose Lago if…
- •Open source (self-host free)
- •Best for usage-based pricing
- •Full ownership of billing data
Choose Stripe Billing if…
- •Seamless with Stripe Payments
- •No separate integration needed
- •Smart dunning