11 Recurly competitors: How they compare in the billing space

Choosing the right subscription billing platform can make or break your SaaS business. Recurly is a popular choice, but it’s far from being the ideal option. That's why we've analyzed the top Recurly competitors to help you find the solution that’s best for you

Read on to learn:

• Key features to consider when choosing a Recurly alternative
• In-depth comparisons of the leading subscription billing platforms
• How to evaluate pricing, integrations, and support options
• Which alternative is the best fit for your business size and growth stage

Let’s get started by explaining what Recurly is. 

What is Recurly?

Recurly is a subscription management and recurring billing platform. It provides tools for managing subscriptions, automating invoices, and processing payments. It also helps you gain insights into customer behavior. 

At its core, Recurly helps firms automate the process of collecting recurring payments from their customers. It supports various subscription models, including fixed, tiered, usage-based, and hybrid pricing. 

Recurly also offers features for managing customer trials, upgrades, downgrades, and cancellations.

Payment gateway integrations

Recurly offers integrations with various payment gateways, but it's important to note that it is not a payment gateway itself. 

The Recurly payment gateway refers to its functionality in connecting with and managing different payment providers. It allows businesses to choose the payment methods that best suit their needs and customer preferences.

Ideal use cases

Recurly is a good fit for businesses with:

• Recurring revenue models: Think businesses that rely on subscriptions, memberships, or any type of recurring payment structure.
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• A need for solid churn reduction tools: Recurly's dunning management and analytics features can help businesses proactively reduce customer churn.
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• A preference for a developer-friendly platform: Recurly's APIs and integrations make it a good choice for businesses with technical resources who want to customize their billing workflows.

Why people look for Recurly alternatives

Recurly reviews often highlight certain limitations that can prompt users to explore alternatives. Here are three common reasons why people seek out Recurly competitors:

1. Limited customization options

Recurly offers some flexibility, but can fall short when it comes to highly customized billing scenarios. Businesses with unique pricing models or intricate workflows may find Recurly restrictive. 

Solution: For those needing greater flexibility, Orb and Maxio are excellent alternatives. Orb allows you to define and measure customer usage in a highly customizable fashion. Maxio offers extensive options for tailoring billing workflows and integrations.  

2. Less intuitive user interface

Some users find Recurly's interface less intuitive than other platforms. This limitation is particularly true for those who are less technical. This can lead to a steeper learning curve and challenges in managing subscriptions effectively.

Solution: If ease of use is a priority, Chargebee and Billsby are strong contenders. Both platforms are known for their user-friendly interfaces and intuitive dashboards and are more accessible to non-technical users.

3. Scalability concerns for high-growth businesses

Recurly can handle a certain level of growth, but it isn’t the most scalable solution for businesses experiencing rapid expansion. Companies with a high volume of transactions will find that Recurly's performance becomes a bottleneck.

Solution: For businesses anticipating rapid growth, Orb and Zuora are designed to handle high volumes. Orb excels at scaling with growing SaaS companies. Zuora is built for enterprise-level scalability.

How we chose the top Recurly competitors

We've carefully curated this list of Recurly competitors, taking into account the needs of various businesses. But how did we narrow it down? What criteria did we use to select these specific alternatives? We focused on three core features:

• Ease of use: A billing platform should be intuitive and easy to navigate, even for non-technical users. We prioritized platforms with user-friendly interfaces and clear documentation.
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• Scalability: As your business grows, your billing platform needs to keep pace. We looked for solutions that could handle increasing transaction volumes and changing billing needs.
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• Customization options: Every business is unique, and your billing platform should be adaptable. We favored platforms that offer a range of customization options. Especially those that accommodate different pricing models, workflows, and integrations.

In addition to these core features, we also considered the following:

• Competitive pricing
• Wide range of integrations
• Security and compliance

Top 11 Recurly alternatives in 2024

1. Orb - Best for usage-based billing with granular data analysis and highly customizable pricing models.
2. Chargebee — Best for subscription-first businesses needing powerful revenue recovery tools and flexible subscription management.
3. Maxio — Best for scaling B2B SaaS companies that require advanced revenue recognition and GAAP-compliant reporting.
4. Zoho Billing — The most budget-friendly option, ideal for small businesses already within the Zoho ecosystem.
5. Sage Intacct — Best for companies needing a truly unified platform to manage all financial operations, from accounting to billing.
6. FastSpring — Best for international SaaS businesses seeking to offload the finer details of global tax compliance.
7. Paddle — Best for developers who want to simplify billing integrations and reduce time to market with a Merchant of Record model.
8. SubscriptionFlow — Best for businesses prioritizing a balance of cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and robust analytics.
9. Billsby — Best for non-technical users who value simplicity and ease of use above all else.
10. Stax Bill — Best for high-growth companies focused on automating billing tasks and optimizing payment collection.
11. Zuora Billing — The most scalable solution, ideal for large enterprises with complex billing needs and high transaction volumes.

Let’s get more specific by analyzing each one of these in more detail:

Please note: The prices shown here are current as of the time of publishing in January 2025, and these prices may change. For the latest info on pricing, go to the respective company websites.

1. Orb

Orb is a billing platform that simplifies managing usage-based billing for B2B SaaS companies. It's designed to handle high volumes of data and complex pricing models with ease. 

Orb's core strength lies in its ability to make even the most complicated billing scenarios clear, manageable, and accurate. Here's a closer look at some of its key features:

• Handles large-scale event ingestion for usage-based billing: Orb's architecture is built to ingest and process massive amounts of usage data in real-time, making sure that every billable event is tracked accurately. 
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• Detailed invoicing: Orb provides highly detailed invoices with usage graphs, timelines, and individual pricing data. This level of transparency gives your customers a clear understanding of their charges.
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• Direct integrations: Orb integrates with data warehouses like Snowflake and finance software like QuickBooks and Netsuite. Orb simplifies your data flow and makes financial analysis much easier.
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• Advanced plan versioning: Orb allows you to easily update your pricing plans without the need for problematic data migrations. It’s super simple to adjust your pricing as your business grows and evolves.
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• SQL editor: For those who need advanced customization and data reporting, Orb offers an SQL editor. The editor gives you granular control over your billing data and allows for specialized financial analysis.

Advantages over Recurly

• Superior invoicing and data handling: Orb offers more detailed and transparent invoices compared to Recurly. It provides a complete breakdown of usage, including graphs, timelines, and individual pricing data, all in a single source of truth.
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• Simplified pricing updates: Orb's plan versioning feature simplifies pricing adjustments and eliminates the need for complex migrations, offering a smoother workflow compared to Recurly.
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• Intuitive design: Orb's user-friendly interface makes it easier for both technical and non-technical users to manage billing. This is a significant advantage over Recurly, which is less intuitive for some users.

Ideal users

Orb is best suited for B2B SaaS companies of all sizes, particularly those with:

• Usage-based pricing models: If you charge customers based on their consumption of your service (e.g., API calls, data storage), Orb is an excellent choice.
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• Complex pricing structures: Orb can handle a wide range of pricing models, including tiered pricing, volume discounts, and hybrid models.
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• High volume of usage events: Orb's architecture is designed to handle massive amounts of data, making it ideal for businesses with high-volume usage events.

Pricing

Orb's pricing begins at $720 per month when paid annually. This plan includes up to $100,000 in monthly billing volume, with an additional fee of 0.8% applied to any overages.

Bottom line

Orb is a top Recurly competitor because it offers a user-friendly platform with powerful features specifically designed for usage-based billing. Its detailed invoicing, integrations, and simplified pricing updates make it an ideal choice for scaling B2B SaaS companies 

2. Chargebee

Chargebee is a popular subscription management platform known for its user-friendly interface and wide array of features. It simplifies recurring billing, subscription management, and customer retention efforts. 

Advantages over Recurly

• More robust dunning management: Offers greater flexibility for customizing dunning communications and retry logic.
  
• Wider range of integrations: Connects with more business tools, including CRM, accounting, and helpdesk platforms.
   
• Greater pricing transparency: Features a clear pricing structure with predictable tiers and overage fees.

Ideal users

• Subscription-first businesses: Companies where subscriptions are the core revenue driver, such as SaaS, subscription boxes, or membership sites.
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• High-growth startups: Startups experiencing rapid growth and needing a platform that can scale with their billing volume.
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• Businesses with a global customer base: Chargebee's support for multiple currencies and payment gateways makes it suitable for companies selling internationally.

Pricing

Offers a free plan for businesses with under $250,000 in annual billing, with paid plans starting at $599 per month.

Bottom line

Chargebee is a solid Recurly alternative for those needing strong dunning management and diverse integrations. However, its limited customization and potential scalability issues may not suit companies with highly intricate billing needs.

3. Maxio

Maxio is a billing and financial operations platform built for B2B SaaS. It's designed to handle contracts, automate revenue recognition, and provide detailed financial reporting. 

Advantages over Recurly

• More advanced billing functionality: Offers features like automated revenue recognition that complies with GAAP, which Recurly lacks.
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• Scalability for high-growth companies: Built to handle large subscriber volumes and billing processes, ideal for rapidly expanding businesses.
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• Greater customization: Provides more options for tailoring the platform to specific business needs compared to Recurly.

Ideal users

• Mid-sized to large B2B SaaS companies: Companies with intricate billing needs and the internal resources to manage a sophisticated platform.
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• Companies with a strong finance function: Those with finance teams who can leverage Maxio's advanced reporting and revenue recognition capabilities.
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• Businesses focused on financial compliance: Maxio's GAAP-compliant automation is a significant advantage for companies prioritizing accurate financial reporting.

Pricing

Starts at $599 per month and varies based on billing volume and modules selected. There’s a free version for 30 days. 

Bottom line

Maxio is a strong Recurly competitor for B2B SaaS companies that need advanced billing, scalability, and customization. However, its complexity and higher cost may make it less appealing to smaller businesses or those with simpler billing requirements.

4. Zoho Billing

Zoho Billing is a budget-friendly recurring billing solution that's part of the larger Zoho ecosystem of business applications. It offers a good range of features, including subscription management, invoicing, expense tracking, and project billing. 

Advantages over Recurly

• Cost-effectiveness: Zoho Billing is significantly more affordable than Recurly, making it a budget-friendly option for small to medium-sized businesses.
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• Zoho ecosystem integration: Integrates with other Zoho applications, such as Zoho CRM and Zoho Books, streamlining workflows and data sharing.
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• Strong feature set for the price: Offers a complete set of features, including multi-currency support, advanced reporting, and a client portal, at a competitive price point.

Ideal users

• Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs)
• Existing users of Zoho products
• Companies with basic recurring billing needs
• Businesses looking for an affordable solution

Pricing

Starts at $25 per organization per month (billed annually).

Bottom line

Zoho Billing is one of the most cost-effective Recurly competitors that's well-suited for smaller businesses already invested in the Zoho ecosystem. While it isn’t the best fit for all users, its affordability and integration with other Zoho apps make it a good tool for managing recurring revenue.

5. Sage Intacct

Sage Intacct is a cloud-based accounting and financial management platform that goes beyond basic billing features. It provides a complete suite of tools for managing core financials, including accounts payable/receivable, cash management, and inventory tracking. 

Advantages over Recurly

• Unified financial management: Sage Intacct provides a single platform for managing all financial operations, eliminating the need for separate systems.
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• In-depth financial features: Offers a wider range of financial management tools compared to Recurly, including fixed asset management and advanced compliance features.
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• Scalability and industry-specific solutions: Designed to scale with businesses of all sizes and offers specialized solutions for various industries — an aspect that Recurly struggles with.

Ideal users

• Growing businesses needing a complete financial management solution
• Companies looking to integrate accounting, billing, and HR functions
• Organizations prioritizing financial reporting and compliance

Pricing

Available only by request.

Bottom line

Sage Intacct is a powerful Recurly competitor for businesses that need a unified platform for managing all their financial operations. While its subscription management features may not be as specialized as those offered by Recurly, its financial tools and scalability make it a solid choice for growing businesses.

6. FastSpring

FastSpring is an e-commerce platform specifically designed for companies selling software globally. 

It goes beyond basic subscription management by offering a full suite of back-office functions, including global tax calculation and remittance, fraud management, and compliance with local transaction laws. 

Advantages over Recurly

• Simplified global expansion: FastSpring handles the complexities of international sales tax, VAT, and other regulatory requirements, making it easier for businesses to sell globally compared to Recurly.
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• Focus on reducing churn: Offers features like localized checkout experiences, multiple payment options, and automated dunning management to improve customer experience and reduce churn.
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• Streamlined digital commerce: Provides a complete e-commerce solution for software businesses, including payment processing, subscription management, and back-office functions, all in one platform.

Ideal users

• Software companies selling internationally
• Businesses looking to simplify global tax compliance
• Companies prioritizing a frictionless customer experience
• Organizations seeking a complete e-commerce solution

Pricing

FastSpring's pricing is available upon request. 

Bottom line

FastSpring is one of Recurly's top competitors for software companies focused on global expansion and simplifying the complexities of international e-commerce. Its broad platform and focus on customer experience make it a valuable tool for businesses looking to grow their revenue and expand their reach.

7. Paddle

Paddle is a revenue delivery platform designed specifically for SaaS businesses. It simplifies global selling by acting as a Merchant of Record (MoR), handling sales tax, VAT, and compliance for transactions worldwide. 

Paddle also provides tools for subscription management, billing, and customer retention. It allows SaaS companies to focus on product development and growth while Paddle takes care of the complexities of selling internationally.

Advantages over Recurly

• Simplified global tax compliance: Paddle takes on the burden of calculating and remitting sales tax globally. It eliminates a major administrative task for businesses selling internationally.
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• Merchant of Record (MoR) model: By acting as the MoR, Paddle assumes responsibility for legal and financial compliance, reducing risk for SaaS businesses.
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• Developer-friendly tools: Offers integrations with development tools and platforms, making it easier for developers to manage subscriptions and billing within their existing workflows.

Ideal users

• SaaS companies selling globally
• Businesses looking to offload tax compliance
• Developers seeking simplified billing integrations

Pricing

Paddle charges a $5 per checkout transaction plus a 50-cent transaction fee, with specific details available on their website.

Bottom line

Paddle is a valuable Recurly competitor for SaaS firms looking to simplify global selling and offload the burdens of international tax compliance. Its MoR model and developer-friendly tools make it a strong choice for businesses focused on growth and expansion in overseas markets.

8. SubscriptionFlow

SubscriptionFlow is a powerful subscription management platform designed to meet the needs of diverse business sizes. It excels in providing a flexible and data-rich environment for subscription billing, payment processing, and customer management.

Advantages over Recurly

• Comprehensive reporting tools: SubscriptionFlow offers advanced analytics and reporting features that provide deep insights into customer behavior and billing trends, going beyond the capabilities of Recurly.
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• Flexible integrations: The platform integrates seamlessly with numerous payment gateways, CRM systems, and accounting tools, giving businesses greater control over their workflows.
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• Customizable billing options: Unlike Recurly, SubscriptionFlow supports a wide array of pricing models, from standard subscriptions to complex tiered and hybrid models.
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• Advanced payment recovery tools: Features like automated retries, intelligent dunning management, and payment notifications help minimize revenue leakage due to failed transactions.

Ideal users

• Mid-sized and enterprise businesses: Companies looking for advanced features without enterprise-level complexity.
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• Subscription-first businesses Those with diverse pricing models and a need for high customization.
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• Data-driven organizations: Teams focused on leveraging analytics for growth and customer retention.

Pricing

SubscriptionFlow’s pricing starts at $99/month. It includes $100k revenue a year and 25 of free onboarding. 

They also have a custom pricing option, but you’ll need to contact their sales team for it. 

Bottom line

SubscriptionFlow stands out as a Recurly alternative by offering greater flexibility, robust integrations, and a focus on actionable analytics. It's particularly well-suited for businesses that prioritize operational efficiency and a data-driven approach to subscription management.

9. Billsby

Billsby is a recurring billing and subscription management platform that emphasizes simplicity and ease of use. It aims to make the process of setting up and managing recurring subscriptions straightforward, even for businesses with limited technical expertise. 

Billsby provides a clean interface and intuitive workflows, along with features like automated invoicing, payment collection, and customer self-management. 

Advantages over Recurly

• Ease of use: Billsby is designed to be more user-friendly than Recurly, with a simpler interface and intuitive workflows that require minimal technical knowledge.
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• Focus on self-service: Provides a robust customer self-service portal, allowing customers to manage their subscriptions, update payment details, and access invoices independently.
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• Competitive pricing: Like many Recurly competitors, Billsby offers more affordable pricing plans, making it a more reasonable option for smaller businesses or those with tight budgets.

Ideal Users

• Small businesses and startups
• Companies with simple recurring billing needs
• Businesses prioritizing a user-friendly platform
• Organizations with limited technical resources

Pricing

Billsby offers a tiered pricing structure based on the number of customers and features, starting with a basic free plan and additional features in the Core plan at $45 per month.

Bottom line

Billsby is a much more user-friendly alternative to Recurly that simplifies recurring billing and subscription management. Its focus on ease of use and customer self-service makes it a good option for smaller businesses or those new to subscription models. However, its limited customization options may not be suitable for companies with more refined billing needs. 

10. Stax Bill

Stax Bill (formerly known as Fusebill) is a cloud-based subscription and invoice management platform that aims to automate and simplify recurring billing processes. It offers a range of features designed to help businesses improve efficiency and reduce manual effort associated with billing. 

Stax Bill emphasizes automation, accuracy, and flexibility in managing subscriptions and invoices.

Advantages over Recurly

• Stronger emphasis on automation: As we said above, Stax Bill places a greater focus on automating billing tasks, reducing manual effort and errors compared to Recurly.
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• More detailed financial management: Offers more granular control over financial processes, including advanced revenue recognition and deferred revenue management, which may be lacking in Recurly.
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• Enhanced payment collection: Provides tools to improve payment collection rates, such as automated credit card retries and customizable dunning communication, leading to better revenue recovery compared to Recurly.

Ideal users

• Growing businesses with detailed billing needs
• Companies seeking to automate billing processes
• Organizations prioritizing accurate financial management
• Subscription-based businesses with high transaction volumes

Pricing

Stax Bill’s pricing starts at $499/month (billed annually). 

Bottom line

Stax Bill is one of the top Recurly competitors when it comes to prioritizing automation and detailed financial management in subscription billing. 

Its focus on efficiency, accuracy, and payment collection makes it a strong choice for growing businesses. However, its pricing may be less competitive for smaller businesses with basic billing needs compared to other alternatives.

11. Zuora Billing

Zuora Billing is an enterprise-grade subscription management platform designed for large businesses with intricate recurring revenue models. It offers a sweeping suite of tools for managing subscriptions, billing, and finance operations. 

Advantages over Recurly

• Greater scalability: Zuora is built to handle high volumes of transactions and complex billing scenarios, making it more suitable for large enterprises compared to Recurly.
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• More advanced financial features: Offers more robust financial management capabilities, including revenue recognition, accounting integrations, and customizable reporting.
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• Enterprise-grade integrations: Provides integrations with enterprise-level CRM and ERP systems, facilitating seamless data flow across different platforms.

Ideal users

• Large enterprises with intricate subscription models
• Companies with high transaction volumes
• Businesses with a dedicated finance team
• Organizations prioritizing robust financial reporting and compliance

Pricing

Zuora's pricing is available upon request. 

Bottom line

Zuora Billing is a powerful competitor to Recurly for large enterprises that require a thorough and scalable subscription management solution. However, its complexity and higher cost can make it less suitable for smaller businesses with simpler billing needs.

FAQs

What is the cheapest Recurly alternative?

Zoho Billing is the most budget-friendly option, starting at just $39 per month. It offers a solid set of features for small businesses at a very competitive price.

What is the easiest to use?

Orb is designed with simplicity in mind, making it super user-friendly, even for those without technical expertise. Its intuitive interface and simplified workflows make it easy to manage both subscriptions and billing.

Which alternative is best for developers?

Paddle is an excellent choice for developers. It offers a developer-friendly MoR model that simplifies billing integrations. 

Next steps: Use Orb to gain an edge with usage-based billing 

Now that we’ve put the top Recurly competitors on the market under the lens, you’re set to make a choice. If you're seeking a done-for-you, powerful solution for usage-based billing management, you should go with Orb.

Learn more about Orb’s extensive suite of tools. Make sure to also check out our flexible pricing options in detail and find one that fits your budget and specific needs. You can rest easy knowing that Orb handles billing, so you don’t have to.