Side by side
BillaBear vs Lago
Both stand on dunning management software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb
BillaBear covers subscription operations, billing models, tax management, and integrations in a system with REST API access. Organizations should account for its self-hosting deployment and Fair Core License terms.
Visit BillaBear
Free plan Open source APISelf-hostedWeb
Lago covers multiple billing models and gives developers several connection options, including separate metering for AI token categories. The free plan is self-hosted; Premium pricing and some feature limits require closer review.
Visit LagoThe facts
| BillaBear | Lago | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | API, Self-hosted, Web | API, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Starter: $1 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | billabear.com | getlago.com |
| On dunning management software | #7 of 46 | #3 of 46 |
BillaBear: what it does well
- Supports usage-based, tiered, and per-seat pricing.
- Includes tax management and multiple currency support.
- REST API and SDKs for six languages.
- Workflows can retry failed tasks.
- Free plan and free trial options are listed.
What to know first
- Managed cloud hosting is currently unavailable.
- Fair Core License restricts competing for two years.
- Starter is listed at $1 a month.
Lago: what it does well
- Supports usage, subscription, prepaid, and hybrid billing
- Meters AI input, output, and cached tokens separately
- Offers REST API, SDKs, and signed webhooks
- Open-source self-hosted plan is free
- Cloud or self-hosted Premium deployment
What to know first
- Premium pricing is provided after contacting Lago
- Some features are add-ons or subject to caps
- 24x7 incident management is an on-demand add-on
Alternatives to BillaBear Alternatives to Lago The whole list