Best Open Source Billing and Invoicing Tools in 2026
·OSSAlt Team
billinginvoicingopen-sourcecomparison2026
Best Open Source Billing and Invoicing Tools in 2026
Stripe Billing takes 0.5-0.8% of recurring revenue. Chargebee starts at $249/month. Here are the best open source billing and invoicing alternatives.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Best For | License | Stars | Self-Host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lago | Usage-based billing | AGPL-3.0 | 7K+ | Docker |
| Kill Bill | Enterprise billing | Apache-2.0 | 4.5K+ | Docker |
| InvoiceNinja | Invoice management | AAL | 8K+ | Docker |
| InvoicePlane | Simple invoicing | MIT | 2.5K+ | PHP |
| Crater | Small business | AGPL-3.0 | 7.7K+ | Docker |
Detailed Breakdown
Lago — Best Usage-Based Billing
Replaces: Stripe Billing, Chargebee, Recurly
- Usage-based and subscription billing
- Real-time metering
- Coupons and credits
- Prepaid wallets
- Invoicing engine
- Webhook events
- REST API
- Integrations (Stripe, payment gateways)
Best for: SaaS companies with usage-based pricing (API calls, compute, storage).
Kill Bill — Best Enterprise
Replaces: Zuora, Stripe Billing (enterprise)
- Subscription management
- One-time and recurring payments
- Proration and plan changes
- Multi-currency
- Tax integration
- Revenue recognition
- Plugin architecture
- Used by Groupon, Zendesk, others
Best for: Large companies with complex billing requirements.
InvoiceNinja — Best Invoicing
Replaces: FreshBooks, QuickBooks (invoicing)
- Professional invoice templates
- Client portal
- Recurring invoices
- Expense tracking
- Time tracking
- Payment gateway integration (Stripe, PayPal, etc.)
- Quotes and proposals
- Mobile apps
Best for: Freelancers and small businesses who need professional invoicing.
Crater — Best Small Business
Replaces: Wave, FreshBooks
- Invoice creation and management
- Expense tracking
- Payment tracking
- Tax configuration
- Multi-currency
- Client management
- Clean, modern UI
Best for: Small businesses who need simple invoicing without complexity.
Choosing the Right Tool
| Need | Choose |
|---|---|
| Usage-based/SaaS billing | Lago |
| Enterprise subscription | Kill Bill |
| Professional invoicing | InvoiceNinja |
| Simple small business | Crater or InvoicePlane |
Cost Savings
| Scenario | Stripe Billing (0.5%) | Self-Hosted Lago | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100K MRR | $500/month | $54/year (VPS) | $5,946/year |
| $500K MRR | $2,500/month | $54/year (VPS) | $29,946/year |
Compare all billing tools on OSSAlt — features, pricing models, and integrations side by side.