Subscription billing is essential for SaaS companies. It ensures consistent revenue, supports flexible pricing models, and reduces manual effort in managing recurring payments.
According to Chargebee, up to 35% of recurring payments fail, with some businesses seeing failure rates as high as 70%. This leads to missed revenue, customer churn, and support overhead. Reliable subscription billing software reduces those risks by automating invoicing, renewals, and payment recovery.
Why these 10 platforms are listed:
This guide includes billing software that supports common SaaS models: monthly, annual, tiered, and usage-based billing. Each platform was selected for its:
- Recurring payment automation
- Developer or API access
- Compatibility with CRM or accounting tools
- UK VAT and compliance support
- Suitability for early-stage or growing SaaS companies
The goal is to help founders and product teams choose a billing system that fits their payment structure, customer volume, and operational setup.
Comparison Table: UK Subscription Billing Software (2025)
Platform | Best For | Pricing (2025) | UK SaaS Compatible | Onboarding Support |
---|---|---|---|---|
Finexer | UK SaaS needing Open Banking payments & white-labeling | Usage-based, no setup or cancellation fees, startup discounts | Yes – tailored for UK regulations & Open Banking | 3–5 weeks of hands-on assistance, Open Banking ready |
Stripe Billing | Developers wanting quick, flexible API billing | From 0.5% per transaction + fixed fees | Yes – strong UK user base and GBP support | Self-service dashboard onboarding |
Chargebee | Finance teams needing granular billing & dunning control | Tiered plans from £250/mo; add-ons extra | Yes – EU & UK tax support, GBP billing | 1–2 weeks guided setup (sales support) |
Recurly | B2C and B2B recurring revenue ops at scale | Custom pricing; starts near £300/mo | Yes – UK support, multi-currency available | implementation assistance |
Zuora | Enterprise-level subscription businesses | Custom enterprise pricing, multi-module | Yes – UK enterprise support available | paid enterprise onboarding |
Maxio | SaaS with complex B2B contract billing | Custom pricing, quote required | Yes – supports GBP & UK tax handling | Custom onboarding via success team |
Zoho Billing | Zoho ecosystem users & small SaaS teams | From £20/mo, usage-based pricing | Yes – built-in GBP and UK tax fields | 1–2 weeks setup with docs & ticketing |
Sage Intacct | Finance-led SaaS with deep accounting needs | Quote-based pricing, per-user model | Yes – core UK finance features supported | onboarding with training |
Paddle | SaaS with global customer base and tax needs | Revenue share + onboarding compliance fee | Yes – UK tax compliance & checkout flows | onboarding with KYC flow |
Billsby | Early-stage SaaS needing simple subscriptions | £35/mo flat, no revenue share | Yes – GBP support, limited HMRC sync | Self-guided setup, chat-based support |
1. Finexer
![10 Best Subscription Billing Software for UK SaaS & Startups [2025] 2 Subscription billing software](/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Finexer-Homepage-1024x420-1.webp)
Quick Summary for Founders
Finexer is a UK-based subscription billing software designed for SaaS companies and startups that want complete control over recurring payments and faster settlement. It offers direct Open Banking integration, flexible billing APIs, and startup-friendly pricing.
What Makes It Different?
- 3–5 weeks of hands-on onboarding and integration assistance
- Save up to 90% on transactional costs
- Fully white-labelled billing and payment experience
- API access with sandbox, webhooks, and role-based controls
- Designed specifically for UK SaaS companies using GBP
- Focused on reducing failed payments through direct bank connections
What to Watch Out For
- Built for UK-registered businesses only
- Requires basic developer involvement to implement the API
- Does not support card-based billing methods
Pricing & Billing Terms (2025)
No setup fees. No cancellation fees. Finexer offers discounts for startups and early-stage SaaS teams. It is one of the most affordable recurring billing providers in the UK, using a usage-based model instead of flat fees or percentage-based charges. Unlimited sandbox access is available at no cost for testing and development.
Why SaaS Companies Choose Finexer
SaaS businesses often need more than just recurring billing; they need infrastructure built for B2B/B2C use cases. Finexer focuses on business-grade Open Banking, not just consumer flows.
“Our business isn’t about the volume of consent, it’s about delivering high-quality services to some of the biggest names in the industry. We needed a partner who understood the importance of providing business-focused solutions, and Finexer joined us on that journey.”
— Penny Phillips, Chief Commercial Officer at Sysynkt
Finexer’s approach includes hands-on onboarding, white-labelled billing APIs, and a commitment to helping SaaS teams deploy fast without sacrificing control or compliance.
Get Started
With Finexer, you get API-level flexibility, startup discounts, and billing automation that fits your UK SaaS stack.
Try Now2. Stripe Billing
![10 Best Subscription Billing Software for UK SaaS & Startups [2025] 3 image 76](/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-76-1024x631.webp)
Quick Summary for Founders
Stripe Billing is one of the most widely adopted subscription billing software tools among SaaS startups. It supports recurring payments, invoicing, and flexible pricing structures, all integrated into Stripe’s global payments ecosystem.
What Makes It Different?
- Ideal for usage-based, tiered, and seat-based plans
- Offers built-in invoicing, discounts, trials, and tax handling
- Includes Smart Retries and automatic payment recovery tools
- Designed for developers with extensive API documentation and SDKs
- Scales globally with multi-currency and multi-language support
What to Watch Out For
- Settlement is based on card processing timelines, not instant
- Fees can grow quickly with high transaction volume
- Branding control is limited if you use Stripe-hosted invoices
Pricing & Billing Terms (2025)
Stripe Billing charges 0.5% per recurring transaction, in addition to standard Stripe processing fees. It is a popular option among startups looking for easy-to-integrate recurring subscription billing software, though the cost may rise with scale. A free sandbox is available, and usage-based pricing tools are included by default.
3. Chargebee
![10 Best Subscription Billing Software for UK SaaS & Startups [2025] 4 image 77](/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-77-1024x424.webp)
Quick Summary for Founders
Chargebee is a robust subscription billing software platform trusted by SaaS companies at various stages. It supports recurring billing models ranging from fixed to usage-based pricing and is built to manage invoices, tax rules, and revenue operations at scale.
What Makes It Different?
- Customisable billing logic for monthly, annual, and hybrid plans
- Advanced dunning tools to reduce churn and recover failed payments
- Prebuilt integrations with popular CRMs, accounting systems, and tax engines
- Real-time reporting on MRR, churn, revenue recognition, and forecasts
- Designed to handle both self-service and sales-led billing flows
What to Watch Out For
- Feature-rich dashboard may be overwhelming for small teams
- Setup and onboarding can take time for complex plans
- Best suited for scaling SaaS teams with mature revenue operations
Pricing & Billing Terms (2025)
Chargebee’s paid plans start at $249/month, with support for core online subscription billing software features including invoicing, tax, and integrations. Usage-based billing, revenue recognition, and multi-site support are available on higher tiers. No free plan is available, but a sandbox is provided for testing.
📚Guide: Optimise customer experience with Finexer
4. Recurly
![10 Best Subscription Billing Software for UK SaaS & Startups [2025] 5 image 78](/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-78-1024x496.webp)
Quick Summary for Founders
Recurly is a flexible recurring subscription billing software used by SaaS companies that require strong payment recovery tools and subscription lifecycle management. It’s built for revenue retention, offering smart retry logic, churn insights, and global payment support.
What Makes It Different?
- Automated dunning and intelligent retry workflows for failed payments
- Supports hybrid models: fixed pricing + metered usage
- Real-time analytics for churn, lifetime value, and MRR trends
- Accepts multiple payment methods including PayPal, Apple Pay, and ACH
- Easily integrates with CRM, ERP, and data analytics tools
What to Watch Out For
- Pricing includes a revenue-based fee, which may impact margins at scale
- More suitable for mid-to-large SaaS teams than early-stage startups
- UI flexibility is limited for full white-labelling
Pricing & Billing Terms (2025)
Recurly starts at $199/month, plus 0.9% of processed revenue. The base plan includes core features found in most subscription billing software tools, including dunning, analytics, and payment method support. Sandbox environments are available, but there is no free tier.
5. Zuora
![10 Best Subscription Billing Software for UK SaaS & Startups [2025] 6 image 79](/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-79-1024x453.webp)
Quick Summary for Founders
Zuora is an enterprise-grade subscription billing software platform used by large SaaS providers, B2B platforms, and digital services. It focuses on complex subscription management, global compliance, and full-scale revenue automation.
What Makes It Different?
- Handles complex pricing structures: volume-based, ramp deals, and multi-entity billing
- Native support for ASC 606 and IFRS 15 revenue recognition standards
- Advanced reporting on deferred revenue, billing schedules, and collections
- Integrated quote-to-cash workflows across sales and finance teams
- Scalable for multi-region SaaS businesses and cross-border compliance
What to Watch Out For
- Enterprise-level pricing and onboarding requirements
- May be excessive for early-stage or SMB SaaS companies
- Requires time and resources to customise and integrate fully
Pricing & Billing Terms (2025)
Zuora does not publicly list pricing. Plans are tailored for mid-market and enterprise customers. Most implementations include billing, invoicing, tax, and compliance features expected from leading online subscription billing software. Expect a sales-led process, multi-month deployment, and optional professional services.
📚Best Embedded Payments API for UK
6. Maxio
![10 Best Subscription Billing Software for UK SaaS & Startups [2025] 7 image 80](/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-80-1024x442.webp)
Quick Summary for Founders
Maxio is a recurring subscription billing software built specifically for B2B SaaS companies. It combines flexible billing tools with advanced revenue recognition, making it a strong fit for finance teams managing complex contracts and compliance obligations.
What Makes It Different?
- Focus on SaaS metrics: MRR, ARR, deferred revenue, churn, and upsell tracking
- Automates revenue recognition with GAAP-compliant reporting
- Supports contract-based billing, usage metering, and renewal management
- Integrates with CRMs like Salesforce and accounting platforms like QuickBooks
- Designed for finance and operations teams who need audit-ready data
What to Watch Out For
- Not ideal for early-stage SaaS startups or self-serve billing flows
- More financial controls, fewer marketing or pricing automation tools
- Requires finance or ops expertise to configure reporting workflows
Pricing & Billing Terms (2025)
Maxio offers custom pricing based on transaction volume and feature needs. While it doesn’t have fixed-tier pricing, it includes all essential features found in the best subscription billing software for B2B SaaS: invoicing, analytics, revenue recognition, and CRM integrations.
7. Zoho Billing
![10 Best Subscription Billing Software for UK SaaS & Startups [2025] 8 image 81](/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-81-1024x397.webp)
Quick Summary for Founders
Zoho Billing is a cost-effective online subscription billing software designed for startups and growing SaaS businesses. Part of the broader Zoho ecosystem, it simplifies recurring invoicing, plan management, and customer communication.
What Makes It Different?
- Easy setup with pre-configured billing workflows and hosted pages
- Built-in client portal for invoice access, upgrades, and cancellations
- Supports freemium, tiered, and usage-based billing models
- Seamless integration with Zoho Books, Zoho CRM, and payment gateways
- Ideal for founders already using Zoho’s suite of SaaS tools
What to Watch Out For
- Limited customisation compared to API-first billing platforms
- Less suited for high-volume, enterprise-grade subscription management
- Open Banking or direct bank integration is not supported natively
Pricing & Billing Terms (2025)
Zoho Billing offers a free tier for up to 20 customers, with paid plans starting at just £15/month. It includes all core features you’d expect from a subscription billing software tool: recurring invoices, plan upgrades, dunning, and client management.
8. Sage Intacct
![10 Best Subscription Billing Software for UK SaaS & Startups [2025] 9 image 82](/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-82-1024x458.webp)
Quick Summary for Founders
Sage Intacct is a finance-first subscription billing software used by established SaaS companies with complex reporting and compliance requirements. It combines automated billing with robust general ledger and revenue recognition tools under one financial system.
What Makes It Different?
- Deep revenue automation features, including deferred revenue and ASC 606 compliance
- Ideal for audit-ready finance teams managing multi-entity billing
- Natively integrates with Salesforce, Expensify, and payment gateways
- Includes contract billing, renewals, and tiered pricing automation
- Designed for SaaS CFOs prioritising financial transparency and controls
What to Watch Out For
- Not startup-focused, best suited for mature finance functions
- Requires full implementation and configuration; no plug-and-play experience
- UI is optimised for accountants, not product or growth teams
Pricing & Billing Terms (2025)
Sage Intacct uses quote-based pricing, tailored for mid-sized to enterprise SaaS teams. While not the cheapest option, it offers comprehensive compliance and reporting tools that set it apart from lightweight recurring subscription billing software platforms.
9. Paddle
![10 Best Subscription Billing Software for UK SaaS & Startups [2025] 10 image 83](/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-83-1024x470.webp)
Quick Summary for Founders
Paddle is an all-in-one subscription billing software tailored for SaaS companies that sell globally. It combines payments, billing, tax compliance, and merchant of record services to help software businesses handle international growth without added admin.
What Makes It Different?
- Acts as the Merchant of Record (MoR), handling tax, VAT, and compliance
- Built-in support for global currencies, localised checkouts, and fraud protection
- Offers recurring billing, upsell workflows, and pricing localisation
- Revenue delivery, tax remittance, and compliance are managed by Paddle
- Focused entirely on SaaS businesses scaling across borders
What to Watch Out For
- MoR model means you don’t directly control the payment processor
- Revenue is paid out after processing, not in real time
- Platform fees may be higher than typical online subscription billing software, depending on volume
Pricing & Billing Terms (2025)
Paddle charges a flat 5% + 50¢ per transaction. This includes billing, tax compliance, and fraud handling, making it a viable option for SaaS teams seeking a full-service recurring subscription billing software without managing multiple vendors.
10. Billsby
![10 Best Subscription Billing Software for UK SaaS & Startups [2025] 11 image 84](/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-84-1024x492.webp)
Quick Summary for Founders
Billsby is a UK-friendly subscription billing software designed for early-stage SaaS startups and digital platforms. It offers recurring billing, plan customisation, and self-service portals, all without the overhead of enterprise billing stacks.
What Makes It Different?
- Fast setup with no-code hosted checkout and pricing pages
- Supports metered billing, addons, coupons, and pricing variations
- Data compliant with GDPR; UK and EU-based infrastructure
- Developer API for deeper SaaS customisation and automation
- Local currency support, including GBP, making it ideal for UK SaaS businesses
What to Watch Out For
- Limited financial reporting and integrations for larger teams
- Not suitable for enterprise-grade SaaS with multiple legal entities
- Branding and feature customisation limited on free plans
Pricing & Billing Terms (2025)
Billsby offers a free plan for up to £5,000/month in revenue. Paid tiers begin at £36/month, with an additional 0.4% on revenue above the threshold. This makes it one of the most accessible online subscription billing software platforms for UK startups aiming to scale without upfront costs.
Choosing the Right Subscription Billing Software for 2025
Subscription billing software is no longer optional for growing SaaS businessesit’s a core part of how you collect, retain, and scale revenue. The platforms listed above serve different needs across pricing models, feature depth, onboarding support, and UK-specific compliance.
For startups looking for fast deployment, hands-on assistance, and seamless integration with Open Banking payments, Finexer stands out as the most affordable and customisable option available. If your priorities include revenue recognition, churn management, or enterprise-level infrastructure, tools like Zuora, Chargebee, and Recurly are also worth considering.
Each provider has its trade-offs. That’s why this guide focused on real evaluation criteria: onboarding time, API flexibility, UK compatibility, and 2025 pricing transparency, not just feature checklists.
Still deciding? Start with a provider that fits your business stage today but can scale with you tomorrow.
What is subscription billing software?
Subscription billing software is a platform that automates recurring payments, invoicing, and revenue management for businesses offering products or services on a subscription basis. It helps SaaS companies manage pricing models, customer lifecycles, and compliance.
Which subscription billing software is best for UK SaaS startups?
For UK SaaS startups, Finexer offers the most affordable and flexible solution, with Open Banking integration, no setup fees, and 2–4 weeks of onboarding support. Other strong contenders include Stripe Billing for developer teams and Chargebee for finance-led scaleups.
How do I choose the right subscription billing system?
To choose the best subscription billing system for your business, compare tools based on:
->Onboarding support time
->UK pricing transparency
->API and white-label capabilities
->Integration with payment gateways
Your choice should align with your revenue model, compliance requirements, and growth goals.
Does Open Banking work with subscription billing?
Yes. Some platforms, like Finexer, allow SaaS companies to accept instant bank payments using Open Banking APIs. This reduces card fees, improves cash flow, and removes friction for B2B billing models.
Join the UK SaaS companies switching to Finexer for instant, affordable, and developer-friendly billing automation.