Subscription Billing Software: Best Practices & Top Subscription Software for SaaS Companies

Subscription-based businesses, especially SaaS companies, use subscription billing software to manage recurring payments.

The subscription e-commerce market is projected to grow from $326.44 billion in 2024 to $539.16 billion in 2025. This is at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 65.2%.¹ Implementing effective subscription management and billing solutions is crucial for capitalizing on this growth.

This article will explore top subscription billing tools. It will also look at features and solutions to consider for your automated payments strategy.

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Subscription Billing Software: Comparison of Top Platforms

Provider	Key Features	Main Fees
Stripe Billing	Automated invoicing, flexible billing cycles, usage-based pricing, tax compliance	0.7% of billing volume
Chargebee	Subscription management, dunning management, analytics, multiple payment gateways	Starts at $599/month for advanced features
Recurly	Customizable subscription plans, revenue recovery, fraud prevention, analytics	Starts at $249/month
Zuora	Enterprise-grade billing, revenue recognition, global payments, automation	Custom pricing for enterprise businesses based on usage
Paddle	All-in-one billing, tax handling, fraud protection, and compliance for SaaS businesses	5% + $0.50 per transaction
Braintree (by PayPal)	Recurring billing, multi-currency support, PayPal & Venmo integration	2.59% + $0.49 per transaction

Best Subscription Billing Tools

1. Stripe Billing

Stripe Billing is a robust subscription management and recurring payment solution. It's designed for businesses of all sizes.

Stripe Billing offers global payment support. This includes automated invoicing, flexible billing cycles, usage-based pricing, and tax compliance. It integrates with multiple payment gateways. Additionally, it provides advanced analytics for deeper insight into revenue and performance.

Stripe Billing is ideal for growing SaaS companies and enterprises. It is especially suitable for companies that are handling high transaction volumes. Its standout feature is its smart invoicing automation that reduces payment failures.

Cost: 0.7% of billing volume and applicable Stripe fees.

💰 Money-saving tip: If you receive payments in a currency that is the same as your bank account’s, Stripe does not perform currency conversion. With Wise, you can open one Wise account with multiple currencies and link it to Stripe to receive international payments.

2. Chargebee

Chargebee is a powerful subscription billing software. It includes many different features for subscription management. Chargebee simplifies complex billing models and supports multiple pricing strategies.

Churnbee also includes dunning management to support revenue recovery and involuntary churn. It also contains AI-powered revenue intelligence to optimize pricing and customer retention.

Chargebee also integrates with various payment gateways and accounting tools.

Cost: Starts at $599/month for advanced features.³

3. Recurly

Recurly offers customizable subscription plans with automated dunning. It also provides fraud prevention to enhance recurring billing processes. It integrates with popular CRMs, ERPs, and payment providers to streamline operations.

It’s best suited for SaaS businesses handling diverse subscription models, allowing for easier management. Recurly’s standout feature is its revenue recovery tools, which help reduce churn by retrying failed payments.

Cost: Starts at $249/month⁴

4. Zuora

Zuora is an enterprise-level subscription management platform. It offers advanced revenue recognition tools to comply with financial regulations.

It includes features for key areas such as automating billing, revenue recognition, and global payments. Zoura also provides deep analytics and insights into the customer lifecycle.

Zuora is best for enterprises with complex billing needs.

Cost: Custom pricing based on usage.⁵

5. Paddle

Paddle is an all-in-one billing and tax management solution tailored for SaaS businesses. Its built-in tax handling facilitates seamless global transactions. This makes it a good fit for international businesses.

It handles compliance, fraud prevention, and checkout optimization while simplifying global payments. Paddle is great for startups and small SaaS businesses expanding internationally.

Cost: 5% + $0.50 per transaction.⁶

6. Braintree (by PayPal)

Braintree offers flexible recurring billing and multi-currency support. It also provides seamless PayPal/Venmo integration for subscription businesses. For businesses using PayPal for payments, Braintree can be a complementary piece for seamless financial operations. It also offers enhanced fraud protection backed by PayPal’s security infrastructure.

Cost: 2.59% + $0.49 per transaction.⁷

Try Wise Business to Save Time and Money on SaaS Billing

Wise Business is ideal for SaaS companies with international customers and vendors. It provides cost-effective international payments for subscription-based businesses. Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. With multi-currency accounts, mid-market exchange rates, and no hidden fees, it’s a smart choice for managing global subscriptions.

Businesses can hold and pay in 40+ currencies, minimizing foreign exchange losses.

Cost: No monthly fees

What Is Subscription Billing Software Useful For?

Subscription billing software automates managing recurring payments for businesses that operate on a subscription-based model.

It streamlines invoicing, payment collection, and customer lifecycle management. It also helps with revenue tracking to ensure seamless billing operations.

Features and Capabilities

Subscription billing software offers a variety of features and capabilities. It helps SaaS businesses gain control of financial operations and automate processes.

• Automating Recurring Payments: Eliminates manual invoicing and ensures timely payments.

• Managing Customer Subscriptions: Allows businesses to easily track, modify, and update customer subscriptions.

• Revenue Forecasting & Analytics: Provides insights into customer churn, revenue trends, and financial health.

• Multi-Currency & Global Payments: Supports businesses with international customers, handling exchange rates and compliance.

• Reducing Payment Failures: Implements dunning management to retry failed transactions. This also includes preventing revenue loss.

• Integrating with Business Tools: Syncs with accounting software, CRMs, and ERPs for efficient operations.

Importance for Recurring Revenue Models

Maintaining a steady and predictable revenue stream is crucial in a subscription-based business. Subscription billing software ensures businesses can efficiently manage aspects such as recurring payments and reduce churn. This also helps maximize revenue retention.

Below are some of the areas rgar billing software can make a difference in:

Predictable Cash Flow

Automates billing cycles to ensure consistent revenue without manual intervention.

Customer Retention

Simplifies renewals, reduces failed payments, and improves the overall customer journey.

Scalability & Growth

Allows businesses to handle increasing subscribers without operational bottlenecks.

Compliance & Security

Ensures adherence to PCI DSS standards and global tax regulations for international transactions.

Reduced Revenue Leakage

Implements dunning management strategies to recover failed payments and minimize lost revenue.

How to Implement Subscription Billing Software

Implementing subscription billing software requires strategic planning to ensure the tool streamlines financial operations and helps create robust processes for revenue management.

Integration with Existing Systems

For a smooth transition, subscription billing software should integrate with essential business tools. This includes:

• Accounting Software: Sync invoices, payments, and revenue data with platforms like QuickBooks, Xero, or NetSuite.

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Connect with Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zoho to manage subscriber data and interactions.

• Payment Gateways: Ensure compatibility with payment gateways for secure transactions and automated billing.

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems: Integrate with SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics to align billing with broader business operations.

Best Practices for Success

To maximize the benefits of subscription billing software, businesses should follow these key strategies:

Automate Billing & Payment Reminders

Reduce late payments by enabling auto-renewals, dunning management, and automated invoice generation.

Ensure Compliance & Security

Choose platforms that comply with PCI DSS regulations and local tax laws for secure transactions.

Offer Multiple Payment Options

Improve customer retention by accepting credit cards and bank transfers. Consider including digital wallets and cross-border payments as well.

Monitor Key Metrics

To refine pricing strategies, track metrics such as Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR), churn rates, and subscriber growth.

Provide Self-Service Portals

Empower customers to update payment methods, upgrade/downgrade plans, and manage subscriptions independently.

Discover Wise Business: The Easy Way to Receive Recurring Payments from Around the World

Managing subscription billing and recurring payments is crucial for SaaS companies operating in multiple currencies.

Wise Business offers a seamless, cost-effective solution to receive payments. It simplifies global transactions and offers a free invoicing tool.

Open a Wise Business account online 🚀

With Wise Business, you can integrate with accounting software such as QuickBooks and Xero. Wise also integrates with several other financial tools for accurate billing and reconciliation.

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Sources:

1. https://www.giiresearch.com/report/tbrc1678427-subscription-e-commerce-global-market-report.html
2. Stripe Billing | Pricing
3. Chargebee
4. Recurly Pricing and Plans
5. Zuora
6. Pricing | Paddle
7. Braintree | Enterprise Payment Solution | PayPal US
   All sources checked March 2025