13 best recurring billing software for SaaS companies in 2025

After extensive testing and analysis, we've found the top recurring billing software platforms that offer features like usage-based billing, subscription management, and invoicing. Our guide provides an in-depth look at each solution, helping you make an educated decision.

13 best recurring billing software at a glance

What is recurring billing software?

Recurring billing software automates the process of sending invoices and collecting payments on a recurring schedule. For SaaS companies, a recurring billing platform simplifies subscription management and recurring revenue reporting.

The best recurring billing solutions also support SaaS subscription billing, usage tracking, dunning management, and customer self-service. These tools make recurring revenue management software operations for growing SaaS businesses much easier.

1. Orb: Best recurring billing software overall

Orb provides real-time usage-based billing, tracking consumption at the event level, and automating accurate invoicing.

Who is it for?

SaaS companies with complex usage-based pricing models or hybrid subscriptions. Testing showed that Orb is the only recurring billing platform purpose-built for usage billing at scale.

Unlike subscription-focused competitors like Chargebee and Recurly, Orb is architected for real-time metering, dynamic pricing, and high-volume event processing. Competitors support basic usage add-ons but lack true usage-based billing and revenue modeling.

Key features

• Real-time usage metering: Processes millions of events per second, enabling accurate, scalable SaaS billing software.
  
  Example: A video API platform billing customers by streamed minutes.
• Complex pricing models: Supports hybrid plans combining flat-rate, tiered usage, and minimum commitments.
  
  Example: A cloud SaaS tool charging $99/month + API calls at $0.001/request.
• Automated invoicing: Invoices update as usage occurs, reducing billing delays.
  
  Example: A developer platform that lets customers see a preview of their upcoming invoice.

Pros

• Handles billions of usage events with no performance degradation.
• Transparent invoices reduce billing disputes with detailed line items.
• Integrates easily with Stripe, QuickBooks, and your data pipeline.
  
  

Cons

• Requires a bit of engineering effort for initial setup.
• Custom pricing may be a barrier for early-stage startups.

Pricing

Orb’s pricing is custom, depending on capabilities needed. Tailored plans ensure flexibility for SaaS companies of all sizes.

Bottom line

If your SaaS product is usage-based, Orb is the best recurring billing software available today. Its real-time billing capabilities and usage-focused features outperform competitors built for flat-rate plans.

2. Chargebee: Best for SaaS subscription management

Chargebee automates SaaS subscription billing, managing plans, renewals, and recurring invoicing.

Who is it for?

SaaS companies with flat-rate or tiered plans that need a plug-and-play recurring billing platform. In our testing, Chargebee stood out for ease of use and strong integrations. Chargebee supports only basic usage tracking and lacks true metering capabilities.

Key features

• Plan and subscription automation: Automates trials, upgrades, downgrades, and renewals.
  
  Example: A SaaS CRM adjusting billing when a user upgrades from Starter to Pro.
• Dunning and retention workflows: Smart retries and notifications for failed payments.
  
  Example: A B2B SaaS recovering payments after an expired credit card.
• Multi-gateway payments: Built-in support for Stripe, PayPal, Adyen, and more.

Pros

• Fast to implement for growing SaaS teams.
  
  
• Scales well for international subscription management.
  
  
• Strong reporting on MRR, churn, and plan performance.

Cons

• Usage billing feels bolted on, not built for true event metering like Orb.
  
  
• Steep overage fees as recurring revenue scales.

Pricing

Chargebee offers a free plan for startups billing under $250K annually.

Bottom line

Chargebee is a top recurring revenue software choice for flat-rate SaaS subscription billing, but SaaS teams needing advanced usage billing should look to Orb.

3. Recurly: Best for churn management

Recurly automates subscription billing while focusing on customer retention and dunning optimization.

Who is it for?

It’s best for SaaS businesses that prioritize reducing churn over complex billing customization. Recurly delivers solid dunning tools and analytics. Recurly lacks native support for complex, real-time usage billing and requires external usage calculation.

Key features

• Dunning optimization: Automatic retries and smart notifications.
  
  Example: A productivity SaaS reactivating lapsed subscriptions.
• Subscription analytics: Detailed dashboards for churn, upgrades, and renewals.
  
  Example: A SaaS company tracking user retention by cohort.
• Multiple billing models: Supports flat-rate, seat-based, and basic usage pricing.

Pros

• Simplified recurring billing solutions for small SaaS teams.
  
  
• Easier, effective UI for billing automation.
  
  
• Flexible integrations with CRM and payment gateways.

Cons

• No real-time usage metering; only basic usage quantity tracking.
  
  
• Higher starting cost than some SaaS billing tools.

Pricing

Starts at $249/month for the Core plan.

Bottom line

Recurly is a great recurring billing platform for SaaS companies focused on retention, but lacks the usage billing depth of Orb.

4. Zoho Billing: Best for SaaS startups on a budget

Zoho Billing automates recurring invoices, payments, and subscription plans, built to integrate with the Zoho ecosystem.

Who is it for?

Startups and SMB SaaS businesses already using Zoho CRM, Books, or Analytics. Zoho Billing is a cost-effective subscription billing platform for small teams, but it doesn’t offer native usage tracking, limiting flexibility.

Key features

• Zoho-native billing: Full integration with Zoho CRM, Books, and other Zoho apps.
  
  Example: A SaaS startup syncing billing and accounting in one place.
• Recurring invoicing & payments: Simple plan setup and auto-renewal handling.
  
  Example: A SaaS team charging $49/month for its app subscriptions.
• Multiple billing cycles: Monthly, annual, and custom billing frequencies.

Pros

• Budget-friendly starting price.
  
  
• Smooth integrations if you’re on Zoho’s platform.
  
  
• Simpler recurring payment software setup.

Cons

• No native usage-based pricing support.
  
  
• Basic reporting compared to top recurring revenue management software.

Pricing

Starts at $25/month for the Basic plan. Standard and Premium plans increase limits on invoices and payment gateways.

Bottom line

Zoho Billing is ideal for small SaaS businesses using Zoho tools, but SaaS teams needing advanced recurring revenue management software should look at Orb.

5. Square Subscriptions: Best for retail and hybrid SaaS billing

Square Subscriptions manages recurring payments for SaaS companies that also sell in-person or through Square’s point-of-sale (POS) system.

Who is it for?

This one suits small businesses or hybrid SaaS companies combining physical sales with subscriptions. In testing, Square Subscriptions worked well for simple recurring billing needs.

Square Subscriptions lacks the advanced usage-based billing features that define the best recurring billing software for SaaS companies we’ve mentioned before.

Key features

• POS + subscription billing: Manages recurring charges through Square’s retail and online sales channels.
  
  Example: A SaaS platform that sells both online memberships and in-store products.
• Self-service management: Customers can update billing details and pause subscriptions.
  
  Example: A fitness studio SaaS letting members manage their accounts online.
• Automated recurring invoices: Simple flat-rate billing automation.

Pros

• Free to start, with no subscription fee.
  
  
• Directly integrates with Square’s payments ecosystem.
  
  
• Perfect for hybrid retail + SaaS companies.

Cons

• Lacks support for metered or usage-based billing.
  
  
• Reporting features are basic compared to the best subscription billing software.

Pricing

Starts at $0/month. Square charges only payment processing fees:

• In-person: 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction.
• Online: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction.

Bottom line

Square Subscriptions is ideal for SMBs combining retail and SaaS billing. But for SaaS-only businesses needing usage billing, Orb remains the best recurring billing software.

6. BillingPlatform: Best for enterprise SaaS billing challenges

BillingPlatform handles advanced recurring billing and revenue management for enterprise SaaS businesses with highly customized pricing models.

Who is it for?

It’s ideal for enterprises managing intricate billing rules, integrations, and reporting across global operations. BillingPlatform is one of the best SaaS billing software options for enterprises needing extreme flexibility, but it lacks Orb’s real-time usage tracking built for SaaS product teams.

Key features

• Highly configurable billing rules: Build your own usage rating, tax logic, and plan structures.
  
  Example: A global SaaS platform billing across 20+ tax jurisdictions.
• Revenue recognition: Handles ASC 606-compliant revenue recognition.
  
  Example: A B2B SaaS company tracking deferred revenue and revenue schedules.
• Custom workflows: Automate contract management and billing approvals.

Pros

• Deep configurability for enterprise needs.
  
  
• Strong recurring revenue operations tools.
  
  
• Supports SaaS billing system integrations at scale.
  
  

Cons

• Overkill for small SaaS teams.
  
  
• Complex implementation and customization compared to Orb’s fast setup.

Pricing

BillingPlatform pricing is custom, based on business size and configuration complexity.

Bottom line

BillingPlatform is a top contender for complex enterprise billing, but lacks the SaaS focus of platforms like Orb.

7. Service Provider Pro: Best for agencies and service-based SaaS companies

Service Provider Pro simplifies recurring billing, client management, and white-labeled portals for agencies and service providers.

Who is it best for?

SaaS-enabled service businesses and agencies offering monthly plans. Agencies offering SaaS subscriptions can use Service Provider Pro but will need external tools for usage metering and real-time billing.

Key features

• White-label client portals: Let clients view invoices, manage services, and submit support requests.
  
  Example: A content agency running on a SaaS platform providing automated billing and delivery.
• Task automation: Automatically triggers project workflows based on billing cycles.
  
  Example: A marketing SaaS tool that kicks off campaigns after invoice payment.
• Flexible subscription plans: Bill clients for flat-rate or package-based services.

Pros

• Excellent for agencies bundling SaaS billing and service delivery.
  
  
• Quick to set up and launch.
  
  
• White-label branding.

Cons

• Not built for SaaS usage-based billing models.
  
  
• Reporting and analytics are basic compared to the best recurring billing software.

Pricing

Starts at $99/month for the Basic plan. Premium plans unlock white-label branding and API access.

Bottom line

Service Provider Pro is the best subscription billing software for agencies bundling SaaS products with services. For SaaS teams focused on product usage billing, Orb is still the best recurring billing software.

8. ChargeOver: Best for API-driven SaaS billing automation

ChargeOver automates recurring invoicing and payment collections, offering flexible APIs for SaaS billing automation.

Who is it best for?

SaaS companies wanting to embed billing workflows into their product without building from scratch. In testing, ChargeOver offered great API depth but lacked advanced real-time usage metering. SaaS teams use it for flat-rate or simple tiered billing.

Key features

• Extensive API support: Automate plan changes, invoice creation, and customer management.
  
  Example: A SaaS platform updating subscriptions from within its own dashboard.
• Automated collections: Payment retries, dunning emails, and card updates.
  
  Example: A workflow SaaS recovering missed payments without manual effort.
• Multiple payment gateways: Supports Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, and more.

Pros

• Developer-friendly for SaaS teams wanting API-first billing automation.
  
  
• Quick deployment for flat-rate or per-seat SaaS billing.
  
  
• Customizable invoices and communications.

Cons

• Usage tracking must be done externally, unlike Orb’s built-in metering.
  
  
• UI feels dated compared to the best SaaS billing software options.
  
  

Pricing

Starts at $229/month, scaling with invoice volume and feature usage.

Bottom line

ChargeOver is a strong fit for SaaS teams building custom billing flows, but SaaS products needing usage-based pricing should choose Orb.

9. Maxio: Best for SaaS revenue management and compliance

Maxio automates recurring billing, revenue recognition, and compliance reporting for SaaS finance teams.

Who is it best for?

It’s great for SaaS companies needing detailed revenue management alongside billing. Maxio has evolved into a revenue operations platform. However, Maxio doesn’t offer a real-time usage-based billing engine; it supports basic usage metrics but lacks event-level billing.

Key features

• GAAP-compliant revenue recognition: Automate ASC 606 revenue rules.
  
  Example: A B2B SaaS platform tracking deferred revenue by customer.
• Subscription billing engine: Manages recurring invoicing and plan changes.
  
  Example: A vertical SaaS billing customers monthly for access.
• Advanced SaaS financial reporting: Forecast MRR, churn, and revenue schedules.

Pros

• Combines billing with financial reporting.
  
  
• Ideal for SaaS finance teams needing compliance automation.
  
  
• Strong support for B2B SaaS billing use cases.

Cons

• Revenue ops focus makes it heavier than pure SaaS billing tools.
  
  
• Not built for product teams needing dynamic usage billing.

Pricing

Maxio offers custom pricing based on billing volume and revenue management needs.

Bottom line

Maxio is the best billing system for SaaS finance teams needing revenue recognition, but SaaS product teams needing usage-based billing should use Orb.

10. Billsby: Best for fast SaaS billing setup

Billsby simplifies recurring billing and subscription management for SaaS startups and small teams.

Who is it best for?

It’s good for SaaS companies looking for a fast, plug-and-play billing setup with simple plan management. Billsby offers rapid setup but has no native usage billing engine.

Key features

• Quick setup and launch: Launch recurring billing in minutes.
  
  Example: A SaaS team adding subscriptions during their MVP launch.
• Customer self-service portals: Manage billing, plan changes, and payment details.
  
  Example: A design SaaS letting users upgrade to new plans themselves.
• Basic metered billing: Supports per-seat billing and quantity pricing.

Pros

• Intuitive UI for non-technical teams.
  
  
• Affordable starting price for small SaaS.
  
  
• Prebuilt integrations with Stripe and PayPal.

Cons

• No support for complex usage-based pricing.
  
  
• Limited analytics compared to the best recurring billing software options.

Pricing

Billsby offers a free plan, and tiered prices start at $45/month for limited features.

Bottom Line

Billsby is one of the best subscription billing software options for SaaS startups needing simplicity. But for usage-based billing, there are many better options.

11. PayWhirl: Best for embedded checkout billing

PayWhirl lets SaaS companies embed recurring billing and checkout flows directly into their apps and websites.

Who is it for?

SaaS startups and mid-market teams wanting fast recurring billing integration without building from scratch.

PayWhirl excels at embeddable recurring billing solutions but lacks advanced usage-based billing. The thing is that PayWhirl offers basic recurring invoicing, but no event-based billing capabilities.

Key features

• Embedded checkout widgets: Drop recurring billing into your SaaS product.
  
  Example: A scheduling SaaS adding billing to its onboarding flow.
• Automated invoicing and payment collection: Recurring invoices and retry flows.
  
  Example: A digital membership SaaS billing monthly.
• Custom plans and add-ons: Build subscription bundles and flexible pricing tiers.

Pros

• Fast implementation for SaaS billing.
  
  
• Embeds directly in your SaaS UI.
  
  
• Clean customer portal for plan management.

Cons

• No usage tracking or real-time metering like Orb.
  
  
• Limited revenue recognition and financial reporting.

Pricing

There’s a free starter plan and paid tiers start at $49/month, with extra charges based on transaction volume.

Bottom line

PayWhirl is ideal for SaaS teams needing embedded billing fast. But for the best recurring billing software with usage-based pricing, Orb is the top choice.

12. Younium: Best for mid-market SaaS analytics

Younium is a recurring billing platform focused on subscription management and revenue analytics for mid-sized SaaS companies.

Who is it best for?

SaaS teams needing better visibility into MRR, churn, and subscription revenue. Younium offers advanced analytics but lacks Orb’s native metering for product-led usage billing.

Key features

• Revenue analytics dashboards: Track recurring revenue, churn, and upgrades.
  
  Example: A SaaS platform optimizing renewal rates across customer segments.
• Subscription management workflows: Automate renewals, upgrades, and plan changes.
  
  Example: A SaaS startup billing annually but offering mid-cycle upgrades.
• Billing and accounting integrations: Connect with ERP and CRM platforms.

Pros

• Strong financial reporting for SaaS CFOs.
  
  
• Customizable subscription management.
  
  
• Good fit for mid-market SaaS billing challenges.

Cons

• Usage-based billing requires external tools.
  
  
• More finance-ops focused than product-led billing like Orb.

Pricing

Younium offers custom pricing based on your billing and analytics needs.

Bottom line

Younium is one of the best SaaS billing software options for revenue analytics, but SaaS product teams needing usage-based billing will prefer Orb.

13. Stax Bill: Best all-in-one billing + payments

Stax Bill (formerly Fusebill) automates recurring billing and payment processing in one platform.

Who is it best for?

SaaS companies wanting an all-in-one billing and payments stack. Stax Bill simplifies SaaS billing and payments. The issue is that it isn’t built for true usage-based billing; it focuses on subscription management mostly.

Key features

• Subscription billing: Manages renewals, upgrades, and cancellations.
  
  Example: A SaaS training platform charging per user license.
• Integrated payments: Built-in payment gateway support.
  
  Example: SaaS platforms handling billing + payments in one stack.
• Automated invoicing: Generates recurring invoices and receipts.

Pros

• All-in-one recurring billing platform with payments.
  
  
• Reduces vendor management for SaaS finance teams.
  
  
• Simple to deploy for SaaS startups.

Cons

• Usage-based billing is limited to quantity-based subscriptions.
  
  
• Less flexible than Orb for SaaS companies needing event-based pricing.

Pricing

Growth plan starting at $499/month + transaction fees, with enterprise pricing for larger SaaS teams.

Bottom line

Stax Bill is a good billing and payments combo for small SaaS companies. But for usage-based pricing, Orb remains the best option.

How we compared these recurring billing software options

Here are the criteria we followed and what we looked for in the solutions:

• Usage-based billing support: Crucial for SaaS companies shifting toward product-led growth models. In user reviews, SaaS teams consistently mentioned the challenge of retrofitting flat-rate billing platforms to support real usage-based billing.
  
  
• Ease of setup and integrations: SaaS startups and mid-market teams often praised billing platforms that offered fast deployment and prebuilt integrations with Stripe, QuickBooks, and Salesforce.
  
  
• Revenue reporting and compliance: This is especially important for B2B SaaS. Users wanted recurring revenue reporting, GAAP-compliant revenue recognition, and real-time MRR tracking.

We tested these platforms across SaaS use cases, ranging from flat-rate billing for startups to usage-based billing for developer platforms. Testing included real-world billing setup, API usage, and invoicing workflows.

Extra factors we considered

• Scalability: We looked for recurring billing solutions that grow with your SaaS business, supporting higher event volumes and global payments.
  
  
• Customer support: Vendor responsiveness and documentation quality mattered when setting up advanced billing models.

Which recurring billing software should you choose?

For most SaaS companies, usage-based billing is the future. After testing 13 platforms, Orb is the best recurring billing software for SaaS businesses that want real-time metering and advanced billing models.

Choose Orb if you:

• Build a SaaS product with usage-based, hybrid, or event-driven pricing.
  
  
• Need real-time usage metering and automated invoicing.
  
  
• Operate a fast-scaling SaaS platform with technical billing complexity.

Choose solutions like Chargebee if you:

• Run a SaaS company with flat-rate or seat-based subscriptions.
  
  
• Want fast, simple SaaS billing setup.
  
• Don’t need usage metering but want strong subscription lifecycle management.

Final verdict

Based on testing, Orb is the best recurring billing software for SaaS companies prioritizing usage-based billing and scalability. Its pricing flexibility outperforms other platforms in this category. Many companies looking for the best subscription billing platform that scales well choose Orb.

Get started with Orb

Orb is the done-for-you billing platform that gives SaaS teams real-time usage tracking, flexible pricing models, and accurate invoicing, and data-driven forecasting with Orb Simulations. This provides you with the full monetization stack needed to manage recurring revenue at scale.

Get started today with Orb’s usage-based billing platform and automate your SaaS subscription billing the right way. Explore Orb’s pricing tiers and find a plan that fits your business needs.

FAQs

What is the best subscription billing software for B2B SaaS?

The best subscription billing software for B2B SaaS is Orb because it supports complex pricing models, real-time usage billing, and enterprise-grade invoicing. SaaS businesses with hybrid subscription and usage plans benefit from Orb’s scalability and transparency.

What's the leading usage-based billing software for B2B?

Orb is the leading usage-based billing software for B2B SaaS. It excels at real-time usage metering and automated, accurate invoicing. However, smaller SaaS companies with only flat-rate plans might find simpler tools like Chargebee easier to deploy.

Who offers the best real-time billing for subscription services?

Orb provides the best real-time billing for subscription services, allowing customers to preview their upcoming bill as usage occurs and companies to set thresholds for when customers should be automatically invoiced.

What software simplifies recurring electronic invoicing?

Chargebee simplifies recurring electronic invoicing for flat-rate SaaS plans. For usage-based SaaS billing, Orb automates recurring invoices with transparent usage breakdowns.

Can billing be automated?

Yes. Billing can be automated using recurring billing platforms like Orb for usage-based billing or Chargebee for flat-rate subscriptions. Automation reduces manual invoicing and improves revenue accuracy.