Softwr

Accounting · head to head

Lago vs Stampli

Lago logo

Lago

Accounting

Open-source billing infrastructure for usage-based models

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stampli logo

Stampli

Accounting

AI-powered accounts payable automation

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Lago has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Lago free tier limited to 10,000 entities per month with 5M event cap; Stampli no transparent pricing published; quote-based model required
  • They diverge on capability: Lago covers Real-time usage metering, Stampli covers AI invoice processing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lago and Stampli actually diverge.

Attributes where Lago and Stampli differ
AttributeLagoStampli
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelFreemium with optional paid tierssubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, Self-hosted, On-premise, VPCWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Accounting).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Lago

  • Real-time usage metering
  • Multiple pricing models
  • Automated invoicing
  • Prepaid credits
  • Entitlements
  • Multi-currency support
  • Payment orchestration
  • Revenue analytics

Only in Stampli

  • AI invoice processing
  • Approval workflows
  • Vendor management
  • Payment processing
  • Audit trails
  • NetSuite
  • Sage Intacct
  • QuickBooks

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Lago

  • Building usage-based billing for high-volume APIs and infrastructurenot Stampli
  • Implementing metered billing for AI and tokenized servicesnot Stampli
  • Creating subscription and hybrid pricing modelsnot Stampli
  • Managing multi-currency billing for global companiesnot Stampli
  • Maintaining billing infrastructure without vendor lock-innot Stampli

Stampli

  • Accounts payable automationnot Lago
  • Invoice processing and capturenot Lago
  • Vendor managementnot Lago
  • Expense management and procurementnot Lago

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Lago

  • Free tier limited to 10,000 entities per month with 5M event cap
  • No specific pricing published for Pro annual plan or Scale plan
  • Self-hosted and on-premise deployments require engineering resources
  • Community support only on free tier
  • Scale plan requires annual contracts and sales engagement

Stampli

  • No transparent pricing published; quote-based model required
  • Specific pricing for individual modules or add-ons not available on pricing page
  • Cost varies based on invoice volume, complexity, and customization needs

Pricing, plan by plan

Lago

Free
  • Build (Free)Free
    • 10,000 managed entities per month
    • 5M usage events per month
    • 1K events per second rate limit
  • Pro$399/month
    • 10,000 entities included (graduated pricing to 100K)
    • 25M usage events included (to 500M with graduated rates)
    • 10K events per second (upgradeable to 100K)
  • Scale$null/custom
    • Custom entity and event volumes
    • 50K events per second (upgradeable to 100K)
    • RBAC and SSO (SAML)

Stampli

$29/month
  • Essential$undefined/month
    • Invoice processing
    • Basic approvals
    • Email notifications
  • Professional$undefined/month
    • AI-powered coding
    • Advanced workflows
    • ERP integrations
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom workflows
    • API access
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Lago if

  • You need real-time usage metering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, Self-hosted, On-premise, VPC.
  • You also want multiple pricing models.
Lago review

Choose Stampli if

  • You need ai invoice processing.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want approval workflows.
Stampli review

Questions people ask

Is Lago or Stampli better?
Neither clearly leads. Lago starts at Free and Stampli at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lago or Stampli?
Lago has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Lago and $29/month for Stampli.
Does Lago or Stampli run on more platforms?
Lago runs on Web, Cloud, Self-hosted, On-premise, VPC. Stampli runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Lago for free?
Yes. Lago has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Stampli starts at $29/month.
What is Lago best used for?
Lago is most often used for building usage-based billing for high-volume apis and infrastructure, implementing metered billing for ai and tokenized services, creating subscription and hybrid pricing models, managing multi-currency billing for global companies. Of those, building usage-based billing for high-volume apis and infrastructure and implementing metered billing for ai and tokenized services are not what Stampli is typically brought in for.
What can Lago do that Stampli cannot?
Lago covers Real-time usage metering, Multiple pricing models, Automated invoicing, Prepaid credits. Stampli covers AI invoice processing, Approval workflows, Vendor management, Payment processing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lago: Can I use Lago open-source for free?

Yes, Lago is open-source under the AGPLv3 license and can be self-hosted. The cloud-based Build plan is also free with limits of 10,000 entities and 5M events per month.

Source
Stampli: What does Stampli cost?

Stampli does not publish fixed pricing. The company uses a custom quote-based model. Visitors are directed to 'Request a Quote' and meet with an AP expert to discuss pricing based on their specific invoice volume and requirements.

Source
Lago: What payment providers does Lago integrate with?

Lago integrates with Stripe and Adyen for payment processing. It is not a payment processor itself but orchestrates payments through these providers.

Source
Stampli: What is included in Stampli's standard offering?

Stampli's core accounts payable solution includes unlimited invoice capture, entities/locations, vendors, and PO matching; automated processing via Stampli Cognitive AI; 12 pre-built reports; interactive dashboards; a dedicated Customer Success Manager; and support with under 90-second response time.

Source
Lago: Does Lago support multiple currencies?

Yes, Lago supports multi-currency billing with automatic currency conversion for global businesses.

Source
Stampli: How long does it take to implement Stampli?

Stampli uses a 'fulfillment-first' implementation approach and deploys in weeks versus competitors requiring months or longer.

Source
Stampli: What add-on modules are available with Stampli?

Optional modules include Procurement, Direct Pay functionality, credit card programs, advanced vendor management, and expense management. Pricing for add-ons requires requesting a custom quote.

Source
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