A Comparative Guide of the 6 Best Maxio Alternatives and Competitors in 2024

Maxio (formerly SaaSOptics and Chargify) is one of the popular subscription management tools out there.

Over the last few years, Maxio has done a decent job of handling standard subscription management and usage-based pricing models. Having said that, there are a few areas where Maxio falls short.

If you’re looking to move beyond the basic subscription management functionalities of Maxio, we’ve got you sorted. We have done our groundwork and have shortlisted the top Maxio alternatives for you to consider.

Before we unpack the benefits of Maxio’s competitors, here’s your TL;DR.

TL;DR

• Maxio’s limitations in pricing and billing capabilities, not to mention a high price tag, a long onboarding process, poor customer service, inefficient reporting, and a lack of scalability features, have led to many users expressing their dissatisfaction with the tool.
• We’ve got the six best alternatives to Maxio — Zenskar, Chargebee, Recurly, Zoho Billing, Stripe Billing, and Zuora. We’re taking a look at their key features, why they are better than Maxio, pros and cons, pricing plans, and user reviews.
• From automation capabilities to pricing flexibility, usage data management, dunning sequences, reporting, and integration features — we are also listing out key factors to consider when you are screening different Maxio competitors.

Why should you consider alternatives to Maxio?

While Maxio has made a mark in the B2B SaaS billing space, some B2B companies may want to consider alternatives to Maxio that are more flexible in handling complex pricing models and usage-based billing needs.

As a subscription management tool, Maxio supports sales-negotiated contracts and even helps clients manage billing exceptions, proration, and discounts all within their platform. 

Now here’s the downside…

Maxio only supports vanilla subscriptions. What does this mean? It doesn’t have a built-in pricing configuration feature to support the more complex pricing and billing use cases. 

From challenges with poorly documented APIs to incorrect invoices, and difficulties in managing usage records — users of Maxio have expressed their frustration with the tool’s billing capabilities, as seen below.

We are unloading a few more reasons for you to consider switching to Maxio’s competitors.

Maxio’s pricing is on the higher end

Maxio is one of the more expensive billing management tools out there. It comes with a hefty price tag of $5,000 annually. The tool’s high pricing is a clear miss for smaller businesses or those that don’t use the full suite of features and have more straightforward billing needs. 

Lengthy onboarding and poor customer service

Another drawback that stood out was that the onboarding process took way too long. Their customer support service is also not up to par. Users have expressed concerns about the long response times and limited availability of customer support executives. 

Usage and metered billing limitations 

Though Maxio supports usage data storage within the platform and even backs event ingestion via API or through Airbyte integration — its usage-based billing features have a few limitations. For instance, Maxio requires usage data to be time-stamped, which can lead to inconsistencies when managing start and end dates across different time zones.

Reporting can be better

Many users have pointed out that Maxio has limited reporting capabilities on its dashboard. Especially when it comes to generating specific reports or gathering exclusive insights — there is a ton of manual work that is needed to refine the data and analytics that are produced by the tool.

Usability and scalability struggles 

For enterprises with nuanced billing and accounting needs, Maxio doesn’t pass for a scalable billing system. There are also a few concerns regarding the clunky search functionality and the billing functions downstream that are not fully automated.

The 6 best Maxio alternatives and competitors reviewed

Let’s now take a closer look at the top 6 Maxio alternatives — Zenskar, Chargebee, Recurly, Zoho Billing, Stripe Billing, and Zuora.

By giving you a lowdown of their key features, pros and cons, and pricing — and backing it up with user reviews — we’re making sure that you pick a tool that is a perfect fit for your business needs.

1. Zenskar

Zenskar is an easy-to-use, enterprise-grade billing solution. The platform removes the manual hassles of managing billing by providing advanced automation capabilities. The tool’s proprietary graphical data model is designed to handle diverse pricing plans and contract terms — giving businesses unparalleled flexibility to create subscriptions, usage-based pricing, or hybrid pricing models without any constraints.

Most legacy tools on the market are rooted in older technologies and require engineering bandwidth to bridge billing gaps. Zenskar defies the limitations of these traditional tools by automating processes like usage data metering, payment collections, and revenue recognition. The best part? Zenskar’s no-code UI is ideal for non-tech users, freeing up valuable engineering resources for core tasks.

While Maxio handles usage-based billing, what gives Zenskar an advantage over the tool is that Zenskar is designed to manage and streamline complex contracts and edge cases. Instead of force-fitting your use case into rigid templates, Zenskar interprets and configures complex pricing plans and contract terms as objects on a graph that can be linked however you need them. 

To top it off, apart from handling advanced pricing plans (we’re talking part-prepaid, part-postpaid contracts, bundles, or ramp deals), you can choose from a library of pricing plans or build one from scratch using a drag-and-drop configuration.

Zenskar also helps you stay compliant with ASC 606 and automates all your dunning sequences and email communications.

Add to that, Zenskar integrates with 200+ data sources and warehouses and 35+ tools — to best fit your needs and enable you to tailor any billing plan, no matter how unique it is. 

Related Reading: Zenskar vs. Maxio

Features that deserve a mention

• A drag-and-drop contract builder to create pricing plans with zero constraints
• No-code usage aggregation
• Automated payment collections with branded email templates and communications on usage reports and receipts
• Subscription billing cycles can be configured differently from the invoicing period
• Custom rules to tailor revenue recognition as per your business needs
• Advanced provisioning and entitlement management capabilities
• A customizable, self-serve billing portal for customers

Pros

• Manages products and features with different nuanced billing cadences, currencies, discounts, and entitlements
• Automates the process of creating journal entries and posting them to ledgers
• Customizes invoicing schedules for different customer segments
• Schedules revenue recognition periodically, manually, or through specific events or triggers
• Integrates with tools like Avalara and adds tax computations to the invoices automatically
• Sets up revenue periods irrespective of the contract duration to give you more control over your accounting periods
• Collects payments via popular platforms like Stripe, Adyen, Razorpay, or offline payment methods.

Cons

• Non-revenue features like expense management and accounts payable cannot be automated‍

Pricing

Zenskar’s pricing model can be customized to suit your needs. Regardless of which plan you are on, you get access to all the features and can get unlimited support — be it for migration, implementation, custom development, or integration — without any additional charges. Click here to get a custom quote.

User reviews

• G2 Ratings: 4.9 out of 5

2. Chargebee

Chargebee is a robust platform for recurring billing and subscription management. It comes with an intuitive interface and caters more to clients with traditional subscription models than modern businesses with usage-based pricing and metered billing. 

When compared to Maxio, Chargebee is more capable of handling international growth as it supports 100+ currencies and multiple languages and also provides 60+ marketplace integrations.

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‍Features that deserve a mention

• Trials and self-serve management tools
• 360° revenue reporting
• Entitlements management platform

Pros

• Connects with multiple third-party CRM, accounting, and finance tools
• Offers a unified dashboard to manage billing, revenue tracking, collections, and retention management
• Automates workflows for invoice generation and payment collections

Cons

• Highly complex configuration and setup features
• New feature requests take a long time to be addressed

Pricing

• Starter: Begin with a free plan 
• Performance: $599/month
• Enterprise: Contact their sales team to get a pricing plan tailored to your requirements

User reviews

G2 Ratings: 4.4 out of 5

‍3. Recurly

Next up, we have Recurly — an intuitive subscription management tool that excels at handling recurring billing and churn management.

Given how Maxio is comparatively rigid when it comes to customization, Recurly’s developer-centric approach allows for greater customization. 

‍Features that deserve a mention

• Multi-subscription support
• Recovered Revenue Dashboards highlight how much revenue is saved
• Recurly Checkout offers a personalized and frictionless checkout experience

Pros

• Combines one-time and recurring items and manages multiple subscriptions per account
• Handles many-to-one invoicing hierarchy
• Sets up multiple dunning campaigns for different cohorts

Cons

• Lack of clarity in invoices for customers
• Issues with pausing and restarting the account

Pricing

• Starter: This is a free plan that is best suited for startups and SMBs
• Professional: Mid-size companies looking to scale their operations can reach out to the team for a custom quote
• Elite: Enterprises dealing with diverse subscription offerings can speak to the team for exclusive pricing plans 

‍User reviews

G2 Ratings: 3.9 out of 5

4. Zoho Billing

With a user-friendly interface, Zoho Billing’s low-code billing platform simplifies and automates workflows.

For small to mid-sized businesses with straightforward billing needs, Zoho Billing is a more affordable option compared to Maxio.

‍Features that deserve a mention

• Personalized customer portal for viewing quotes and managing transactions
• Flexible trial configurations
• Customizable proration options

Pros

• Saves time with automated collection processes, from billing reminders to payment handling
• Provides multi-currency and multilingual capabilities
• Captures every billable minute and obtains client approvals for time entries

Cons

• Lengthy and cumbersome onboarding process

Pricing

• Standard Edition: $15
• Professional Edition: $39
• Premium Edition: $79
• Custom: Organizations with growing billing capabilities can reach out to their sales team for an exclusive pricing plan

User reviews

G2 Ratings: 4.4 out of 5

5. Stripe Billing

Stripe billing is a modular billing platform that offers intuitive APIs and high-quality SDKs to ensure a smooth and hassle-free billing implementation process.

While businesses face scalability issues with Maxio, Stripe Billing is designed to handle high-volume transactions and complicated payment scenarios.

Features that deserve a mention

• The Stripe Billing API can be easily integrated with existing websites, mobile apps, and CRM systems
• Pre-built payment forms
• Smart Retries and recovery workflow automation to maximize revenue

Pros

• Sends ‘one-time and recurring’ invoices to customers
• Adjusts billing easily with discounts and trials
• Accepts all major debit and credit card payments in 135+ currencies and supports local payment methods

Cons

• Stripe Billing’s pricing structure is complicated
• Reaching Stripe Billing’s customer support service is often challenging

Pricing

Stripe offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model that charges 0.7% of the billing volume.

User reviews

G2 Ratings: 4.4 out of 5

‍6. Zuora

Loaded with features for one-time as well as recurring and usage-based charges — Zuora provides a wide range of solutions, including financial governance and analytics, payment gateway integrations, and automation workflows.

Zuora’s advanced analytics and reporting module is much superior to Maxio’s reporting capabilities and offers in-depth insights into financial performance, customer behavior, and subscription management.

Features that deserve a mention

• Customizable billing triggers 
• Drag-and-drop consumption pricing designer
• 80+ built-in integration connectors designed for ERPs, CPQs, and CRMs

Pros

• Sets up billing triggers based on specific dates or events
• Keeps customers informed with proactive threshold notifications
• Provides real-time visibility into usage data

Cons

• Issues in third-party integrations
• Some features, like bulk editing, require engineering bandwidth

Pricing 

Get in touch with them to know all about their pricing details.

User reviews

G2 Ratings: 3.9 out of 5

Top things to consider when choosing the best alternatives to Maxio

Here are a few key factors to consider when choosing the best alternatives to Maxio:

• Though automation is a no-brainer, we want to bring it up as a critical aspect of ensuring smooth billing workflows. Consider a tool like Zenskar that automates subscription management, invoice generation, payment reminders, and end-to-end accounting journal entries.
• Ensure the tool comes with advanced billing and usage data management capabilities that will help you create any pricing model you can imagine. 
• Smart dunning sequences are another non-negotiable feature that will help you speed up collections and improve cash flow.
• Opt for a tool that lets you stay on top of critical revenue data and streamline financial reporting for an accurate and seamless audit process.
• The billing platform that you choose should be able to easily integrate with your existing tech stack.

What makes Zenskar the best Maxio alternative?

From providing an unparalleled contract automation engine and a decoupled nature of billing and metering to a developer-free billing experience — Zenskar is flexible in every conceivable way.

Beyond building a strong foundation for billing and subsequent financial operations, Zenskar’s advanced capabilities are designed to make it easier to streamline even the downstream functions, such as payment reconciliation and accounting.

With dedicated migration support, 24/7 customer service, and developer-free billing processes — Zenskar removes the gruntwork, giving you back your time to grow your business. 

You can now take Zenskar for a test run. Explore our sandbox at zero cost and experience the platform at its best without spending a single dollar.

Get started with your pilot for free today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the best alternatives to Maxio?

The best alternatives to Maxio include more flexible billing options like Zenskar, which offers advanced pricing and contract configuration capabilities. There are a few other options like Chargebee, Recurly, Zoho Billing, Stripe Billing, and Zuora that make the list of the top Maxio competitors.

2. What are some of the limitations of a tool like Maxio?

There are a few limitations and areas where Maxio falls short. Maxio’s pricing is on the higher end. Besides that, users have pointed out that the tool has a lengthy onboarding process and an incredibly slow customer support service. Overall, the usability, scalability, and reporting functionalities are not up to the mark compared to other Maxio alternatives like Zenskar.

3. What are the top features you need to look for in a billing tool?

Apart from ensuring the tool is intuitive and easy to use, some of the top features that can guarantee a frictionless experience are advanced billing, pricing, and usage data management capabilities. Additionally, automated payment reminders, reporting features, and integration features will help you support different billing and payment capabilities.

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