Finding a subscription billing platform that offers the features you need to scale your business effectively is one of the most critical things you can do as a growth-stage SaaS startup. Here are some of the most important features to look for in a subscription billing platform, which can help you manage subscriptions, payments, and revenue efficiently.

Self-Serve Billing Portal
A self-serve billing portal allows your customers to manage their subscriptions, view their invoices, and update their payment information without having to contact your support team. This feature not only enhances the customer experience but also reduces the workload on your support team, enabling them to focus on more critical tasks.

Sign Up Links and Pricing Pages
Your subscription billing platform should provide you with the ability to create customizable sign-up links and pricing pages. These pages should be easy to design, with the option to add your branding and custom messaging. This feature will enable you to showcase your pricing plans and subscription options effectively, helping you convert more leads into paying customers.

Entitlement Management / Feature Gating
Entitlement management, also known as feature gating, allows you to control access to specific features within your SaaS product based on the customer's subscription plan. This feature enables you to offer different pricing plans with varying levels of access, providing your customers with more flexibility and options to choose from.

Payment Gateways
Your subscription billing platform should support multiple payment gateways, giving you and your customers the flexibility to choose the most convenient payment methods. Some popular payment gateways include Stripe, PayPal, and Braintree. Having multiple payment gateway options also helps you avoid potential issues with a single gateway, ensuring uninterrupted payment processing.

Integrations with CRM & Accounting
A good subscription billing platform should offer integrations with popular CRM and accounting tools, such as Salesforce, HubSpot, QuickBooks, and Xero. These integrations will help you streamline your workflows, automate data syncing, and reduce manual data entry. Additionally, the platform should support webhooks or native integrations, allowing you to connect with other tools and platforms seamlessly.

When selecting a subscription billing platform for your growing SaaS startup, it's essential to consider the features that will help you scale your business efficiently. By focusing on features like a self-serve billing portal, customizable sign-up links and pricing pages, entitlement management, multiple payment gateways, and integrations with CRM and accounting tools, you'll be better equipped to manage your subscriptions, payments, and revenue effectively. Remember to thoroughly evaluate each platform and take advantage of free trials and demos to find the right subscription billing solution for your business. With the right platform in place, you'll be well on your way to scaling your SaaS startup and achieving long-term success.

Stripe Billing is a popular recurring billing software from the well-known payment service provider, Stripe. This Chargebee competitor offers a range of features tailored to SaaS businesses and other subscription-based companies.

Highlights 
- Support for multiple payment methods, including credit cards, ACH transfers, and digital wallets
- Seamless integration with the Stripe payment platform for smooth payment processing
- Flexible billing and pricing models, including per-seat, usage-based, and tiered pricing
- Automated invoicing and payment collection
- Revenue recognition and reporting to help you stay compliant with accounting standards

Stripe Billing's pricing model is based on a transaction fee, making it an attractive option for businesses with low transaction volumes. However, keep in mind that you'll need to use Stripe as your payment gateway, which may be a deal-breaker for some businesses.

Zoho Subscriptions is another excellent Chargebee alternative for small businesses and large enterprises alike. As part of the Zoho suite of products, this offers seamless integration with other Zoho applications, so that's definitely a benefit if you're already an active user.

Highlights
- Support for multiple payment gateways, including Stripe, PayPal, and Razorpay
- A single dashboard to manage your subscriptions, payments, and customer information
- Automated billing, invoicing, and payment collection
- Dunning management to recover failed payments
- Customizable pricing plans and add-ons to suit your business needs

Zoho Subscriptions offers a 14-day free trial, with pricing plans starting at $49 per month for the basic plan. This subscription management platform is an excellent choice for businesses looking for a more affordable Chargebee alternative.

Recurly is a robust subscription management software that offers a wide range of features for managing your subscription payments.

Highlights
- Support for over 20 different payment gateways, giving you plenty of options for payment processing
- Automated billing and invoicing, with the ability to customize your billing schedules
- Flexible pricing models and add-ons to suit your business needs
- Dunning management to recover failed payments and reduce churn
- Advanced analytics and reporting to help you optimize your subscription revenue

Recurly offers a 30-day free trial, with pricing plans starting at $149 per month for the Core plan. This Chargebee alternative is a great option for businesses looking for a comprehensive subscription management solution with a high level of customization.

ChargeOver is a subscription billing platform that focuses on providing a simple and intuitive user experience with a range of features to help you manage your subscription billing.

Highlights
- Support for multiple payment gateways, including Stripe, Braintree, and Authorize.Net
- Automated invoicing, billing, and payment collection
- Custom pricing plans and add-ons to suit your business needs
- Dunning management to handle failed payments and reduce churn
- A user-friendly interface that makes it easy to manage your subscription billing

ChargeOver offers a 14-day free trial, with pricing plans starting at $65 per month for the Starter plan. This subscription billing software is an excellent choice for businesses looking for a simple and easy-to-use solution.

Octane is another subscription billing platform built specifically for SaaS businesses, offering a comprehensive solution for managing your subscription billing and revenue.

Highlights
- Support for multiple payment gateways, including Stripe, Braintree, and PayPal
- Flexible billing and pricing models, including usage-based, tiered, and per-seat pricing
- Automated invoicing and payment collection
- Dunning management to recover failed payments and reduce churn
- Advanced analytics and reporting to help you monitor your subscription revenue and make data-driven decisions

Octane's user-friendly interface makes it easy to set up and manage your subscription billing, while its integration capabilities allow you to connect with other essential SaaS tools and platforms. Pricing for Octane is available upon request, so you'll need to contact them to get a custom quote for your business.

Wingback is a subscription billing platform specifically designed for modern SaaS businesses. As one of the most robust Chargebee alternatives on the market, Wingback boasts a generous range of features tailored to the unique requirements of B2B SaaS companies specifically.

Highlights
- Support for multiple payment gateways, including Stripe, PayPal, and Adyen
- A powerful billing engine capable of handling complex pricing models, such as usage-based, tiered, and per-seat pricing
- Automated invoicing, billing, and payment collection
- Dunning management to handle failed payments and minimize churn
- Real-time analytics and reporting to help you optimize your subscription revenue

Wingback also offers seamless integration with popular SaaS tools and platforms, such as CRMs, data warehouses, and payment processors, ensuring a smooth and efficient subscription management experience. Pricing for Wingback is available upon request, so you'll need to contact them to get a custom quote for your business.

When it comes to choosing the right subscription billing platform for your business, it's essential to consider factors such as pricing, features, payment gateway integrations, and ease of use. By evaluating these five Chargebee alternatives, you'll be better equipped to find the perfect subscription management solution for your business.

Remember that the best subscription management platform for your business will dependon your unique needs and requirements. Make sure to take advantage of free trials and demos to get a feel for each platform before making your decision.

It's worth noting that many older subscription billing platforms were not initially designed with the specific needs of modern SaaS companies in mind. As a result, they may lack features or functionality that are essential for managing the complex billing scenarios and requirements of today's SaaS businesses. That's why it's crucial to consider newer alternatives like Wingback or Octane, which have been built from the ground up with the needs of SaaS companies in mind.

Choosing the right subscription billing platform for your SaaS business is crucial for managing your subscriptions, payments, and revenue effectively. With so many options available, it's essential to evaluate each platform based on its features, pricing, payment gateway integrations, and ease of use.

By considering these six Chargebee alternatives, including newer platforms like Wingback and Octane that have been specifically designed for modern SaaS companies, you'll be better equipped to find the perfect subscription billing solution for your business.

Make sure to take advantage of free trials and demos to get a feel for each platform before making your decision. And remember that the best subscription management platform for your business will depend on your unique needs and requirements. Good luck in your search, and may you find the perfect subscription billing platform to help your SaaS business thrive!