Recurly vs Chargebee

Subscription billing that doesn't make you want to pull your hair out when you need to handle a prorated refund meets subscription billing that doesn't make you want to pull your hair out when you need to handle a prorated refund. Here's our take.

Recurly

Nice Pick

Subscription billing that doesn't make you want to pull your hair out when you need to handle a prorated refund.

Pros

• Handles complex subscription logic like upgrades, downgrades, and pauses without custom code
• Built-in dunning management to automatically retry failed payments and reduce churn
• Strong API with webhooks for real-time subscription events and easy integration
• Supports multiple currencies and tax compliance (VAT, GST) out of the box

Cons

• Pricing is steep for small startups, with setup fees and percentage-based transaction cuts
• Reporting can feel limited compared to pulling raw data into your own analytics

Chargebee

Subscription billing that doesn't make you want to pull your hair out when you need to handle a prorated refund.

Pros

• Handles complex subscription logic like upgrades, downgrades, and prorations automatically
• Integrates with over 30 payment gateways and accounting tools out of the box
• Provides detailed revenue analytics and dunning management to reduce churn
• Supports global tax compliance (VAT, GST, etc.) without custom code

Cons

• Pricing tiers can get expensive as you scale, especially with add-ons
• Customization beyond their UI sometimes requires webhook hacking

The Verdict

Use Recurly if: You want handles complex subscription logic like upgrades, downgrades, and pauses without custom code and can live with pricing is steep for small startups, with setup fees and percentage-based transaction cuts.

Use Chargebee if: You prioritize handles complex subscription logic like upgrades, downgrades, and prorations automatically over what Recurly offers.

The Bottom Line

Recurly wins

Subscription billing that doesn't make you want to pull your hair out when you need to handle a prorated refund.