Scalable subscription billing software made to fit you | 2024

Let's be honest, billing isn't the most glamorous part of running a SaaS business. But it's absolutely essential. And that's where we at Orb come in.

In this guide, we’ll show you why Orb is the best option for your subscription billing software needs in 2024. Then, you’ll see how Orb stacks up against some big names in the industry. 

But first, let’s go over how we set ourselves apart from the rest. 

What makes Orb stand out as a subscription billing software 

We’re going to look at Orb in six key areas. In each of them, we’ll show you exactly how Orb makes a true difference. We’ll kick things off by talking about Orb’s core offering:

Billing that just works

Orb isn't just another billing tool; it's a billing engine. It transforms your raw usage data into accurate, crystal-clear invoices. It's designed to earn — and keep — your customers' trust. How? With transparent billing that always adds up. 

Orb's metering infrastructure creates a single source of truth for your billing data. This means less time wrestling with data pipelines and more time focusing on growing your core product.

Orb easily connects your product usage data with your billing. You get a complete picture, all in one place, thanks to minute-to-minute reporting. No more hopping between tools for audits or digging through spreadsheets for answers. It's all there, in real-time.

Because Orb is built for scale and reliability, you can rest easy knowing your billing infrastructure is rock-solid. We handle the technical heavy lifting.

The best part? Orb has usage-based and event-based billing capabilities. This means you don’t need to just settle with subscription-based billing. You can adapt as your product changes. 

Imagine you’ve released a new AI feature that requires API calls. You can use even-based billing and charge customers fairly without revenue leaking or surprise fees. You can even implement hybrid models, so subscription-based billing can coexist with other models too. 

A billing platform that scales with you 

One of the biggest headaches in subscription billing is how to evolve your pricing as your product and customer base grow. We understand this, and that's why we’ve built a platform that lets you change your pricing on the fly.

Want to try volume discounts? Dimensional pricing? Prepaid credits? Orb helps you do it. You can even A/B test different pricing strategies to see what resonates best with your customers.

But it's not just about experimentation. Orb also gives you the tools to implement those changes smoothly. Need to adjust prices for a single customer or a whole segment? Orb makes it simple. 

You can even schedule price changes in advance and manage different plan versions. All from one intuitive interface. This kind of flexibility means you can ship pricing updates as often as you ship product updates. You’re keeping your revenue strategy aligned with your product roadmap at all times. 

Integration made easy across the board

Your billing platform shouldn't be an island. It needs to play well with your existing systems. Orb gets this, offering direct integration with the tools you already know and love.

Whether you're using Salesforce for CRM, Netsuite for ERP, or even good old Excel for data analysis, Orb has you covered. Our API allows for custom configurations. This guarantees that your billing data flows smoothly into your other systems.

Orb also integrates with popular data warehouses, giving you a centralized hub for all your billing data. This opens up a world of possibilities for advanced analytics and reporting. It enables you to gain deeper insights into your revenue streams and customer behavior.

White-glove customer support

We all know the feeling of wrestling with a software issue when the customer support is less than subpar. Orb offers white-glove customer support, meaning you get dedicated attention and expert guidance every step of the way.

Our support team isn't just here to troubleshoot problems. We're your partners in success. We'll help you set up your billing system but won’t stop there. We’ll help you get the most out of our features. And if you ever hit a snag, experts are a Slack message away. 

But Orb's commitment to customer support goes beyond just a responsive team. Orb also provides extensive documentation and resources to help you get up to speed quickly. This way, you can troubleshoot common issues on your own.

Security and compliance you can trust

When it comes to billing, trust is non-negotiable. Your customers need to know that their financial data is safe and sound and you need to be confident that your billing system is bulletproof. That's why Orb takes security and compliance seriously.

Orb is SOC 2 certified. This means we meet rigorous standards for security, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. In other words, your data is in good hands.

But Orb goes beyond just meeting industry standards. We’re constantly monitoring and updating their security measures to stay ahead of emerging threats. This includes things like encryption, access controls, and regular security audits.

When it comes to compliance, we stay up to date on the latest regulations. We guarantee that your billing practices are always in line with industry standards.

Customer success stories that speak volumes

Orb’s customer success stories are a testament to the power and flexibility of their platform.

Take Materialize, for example. They were launching a cloud offering and needed a billing system. Particularly, they needed one that could handle their unique pricing structures and usage tracking.

Orb stepped up to the plate, providing them with the flexibility, accuracy, and reporting capabilities they needed. With Orb, Materialize improved its financial operations and gained insights into customer behavior.

Or consider Replit, an online coding platform. They wanted to adopt a usage-based pricing model for a new product, but their existing billing system wasn't up to the task. Orb swooped in, enabling Replit to launch their new product on time and with the pricing model that best served their customers.

Then there's Stytch, an authentication platform that was struggling with time-consuming billing. Orb automated their billing and freed up valuable time for their team to focus on product development.

These are just a few real-life examples of how Orb has helped businesses of all sizes achieve their goals. With a track record of high customer satisfaction and retention rates, Orb is a billing platform that delivers results.

How Orb stacks up against the competition

When you're choosing a billing platform, it's crucial to see how the contenders stack up. Let's take a closer look at how Orb compares to some popular alternatives:

Chargebee

Chargebee is a cloud-based subscription management platform. It's designed to simplify recurring billing and streamline subscription-related tasks. It's user-friendly and great at handling global subscriptions, but it can get pricey with those pesky overage fees. While it's a good starting point for businesses dipping their toes into subscriptions, 

Orb offers a level of flexibility that Chargebee simply can't match. As explained before, Orb goes beyond what a run-of-the-mill subscription billing software can do. 

Maxio

Maxio is a billing and financial operations platform built for B2B SaaS companies. It's a powerful tool for handling complex contracts and revenue recognition. Because of this, it’s a favorite among finance professionals. 

However, its steep learning curve and hefty price tag might scare off smaller businesses. It’s even less user-friendly for those without dedicated finance teams. If you need a billing platform that's easy for everyone to use, Orb's intuitive interface is a breath of fresh air.

Recurly

Recurly is a subscription billing platform that's a hit with developers thanks to its customizable nature. It does a decent job with recurring payments, but when it comes to usage-based billing, it falls short. 

Its reporting and analytics are limited, invoices can be confusing, and customer support leaves much to be desired. If you need a billing platform that prioritizes clear communication and customer satisfaction for usage-based models, Orb has a clear advantage.

Zuora

Zuora is a giant in the enterprise billing space, known for its extensive features and deep customization options. It's a good fit for large businesses with complex billing needs. The issue is its complexity and high cost can be a deterrent for smaller or mid-sized companies. 

Orb offers a more streamlined and cost-effective solution. It’s capable of handling intricate billing scenarios without overwhelming your team. It eclipses subscription billing software that requires lengthy setup processes. 

Next steps

While each platform has its merits, Orb truly shines when it comes to subscription billing, ease of use, and overall value. Its ability to scale with your business, adapt to changing needs, and provide clear, accurate invoices sets it apart from the competition.

Here’s how Orb makes billing easier:

• Your data, your way: Orb integrates with the tools you already use, pulling in usage data from sources like S3 and Segment. You get a unified view of your data, making accurate billing a breeze.
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• Customizable metrics: With Orb, you define the usage metrics that matter to your business. Whether it's API calls or data storage, Orb tracks it so that your billing is aligned with your product's value.
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• Adaptable pricing: Orb's user-friendly interface lets you create and manage any pricing model you can dream up. No coding is required, just simple, intuitive controls. This means you can experiment, iterate, and find the pricing strategy that maximizes your revenue.
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• Billing on autopilot: From calculating usage to sending out invoices and collecting payments, Orb takes care of it all. No more manual processes.

Ready to see how Orb is the subscription billing software for you? Discover how it can transform your billing strategy for yourself. Schedule a demo and find out.