---
title: "Lago vs Orb: Which is Better in 2026? | App Stack Builder"
description: "Lago vs Orb compared for 2026 — pricing, free tiers, features, pros & cons. See which usage-based billing & metering tool is the better fit for your startup."
source: https://appstackbuilder.com/compare/lago-vs-orb
retrieved: 2026-10-08
---

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=getlago.com&sz=128)

vs

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=withorb.com&sz=128)

# Lago vs Orb: Which is Better in 2026?

Usage-Based Billing & Metering

Choosing between [Lago](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/lago) and [Orb](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/orb)? Both are popular usage-based billing & metering tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.

Quick verdict

Lago is the safer pick if budget matters — it has a free tier, while Orb does not. Choose Orb when its specific features justify the cost.

## Lago vs Orb — Side by Side

|                | Lago                                                  | Orb                                                   |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| Category       | Usage-Based Billing & Metering                        | Usage-Based Billing & Metering                        |
| Pricing        | Free · paid from $599/mo                              | Usage-based                                           |
| Starting price | Free tier available                                   | Pay-as-you-go                                         |
| Free tier      | ✓                                                     | —                                                     |
| Rating         | 4.6                                                   | 4.6                                                   |
| Best for       | Usage-Based Billing & Metering — billing, usage-based | Usage-Based Billing & Metering — billing, usage-based |

## Pros & Cons

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=getlago.com&sz=128)

[Lago](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/lago)

* ✓Open source and self-hostable
* ✓Handles hybrid subscription + usage pricing
* ✓Works with several payment providers, not just Stripe
* ✗Self-hosting billing means you own its uptime
* ✗Advanced features (RBAC, SSO) are paid add-ons
* ✗Cloud pricing beyond Starter is mostly quote-based

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=withorb.com&sz=128)

[Orb](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/orb)

* ✓SQL-defined metrics are flexible and auditable
* ✓Simulate pricing changes on historical usage
* ✓Strong finance and warehouse integrations
* ✗No self-serve plan or public prices
* ✗Overkill for simple subscription billing
* ✗Now owned by a payments company (Adyen)

## Key Features Compared

### Lago

* ✓Hosted by Lago
* ✓Usage ingestion and invoicing

### Orb

* ✓Real-time event ingestion
* ✓Usage and hybrid billing
* ✓Invoicing and tax integrations

### Choose Lago if…

* ✓You want to start free — Lago has a free tier and Orb does not.
* ✓Open source and self-hostable
* ✓Handles hybrid subscription + usage pricing
* ✓Works with several payment providers, not just Stripe
[Lago review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/lago)

### Choose Orb if…

* ✓SQL-defined metrics are flexible and auditable
* ✓Simulate pricing changes on historical usage
* ✓Strong finance and warehouse integrations
[Orb review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/orb)

## Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lago better than Orb?⌄

Lago is the safer pick if budget matters — it has a free tier, while Orb does not. Choose Orb when its specific features justify the cost.

What is the difference between Lago and Orb?⌄

Lago — Open-source usage-based billing: meter events, price them with any model, and generate invoices. Self-host free or use Lago Cloud. Orb — Usage-based billing and revenue platform for high-volume SaaS and AI companies, with real-time metering and SQL-defined metrics. Sales-led pricing. Both are usage-based billing & metering tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.

Lago vs Orb: which is cheaper?⌄

Lago pricing: Free · paid from $599/mo. Orb pricing: Usage-based. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.

Which is rated higher, Lago or Orb?⌄

In our catalog, Lago rates 4.6 out of 5 and Orb rates 4.6 out of 5 — they are evenly matched.

See more options in our guide to the [best usage-based billing & metering tools for startups](https://appstackbuilder.com/categories/usage-billing).

## Still not sure which to pick?

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[Build my stack free ](https://appstackbuilder.com/build-stack)