Lago: Open-Source Billing Platform for Usage-Based and Subscription Models

Lago: Open-Source Billing Platform for Usage-Based and Subscription Models

Summary

Lago is an open-source, AI-native billing platform designed for usage-based, subscription-based, and hybrid pricing models. It provides comprehensive infrastructure for metering, billing, and revenue management, enabling product-led companies to track and bill for any consumption. With its API-first approach and flexible deployment options, Lago offers a robust solution for modern billing needs.

Repository Info

Updated on April 26, 2026
View on GitHub

Tags

billingusage-based-billingfintechopen-sourcemeteringsubscriptionspaymentsGo

Click on any tag to explore related repositories

Introduction

Lago is an open-source, AI-native billing platform designed for usage-based, subscription-based, and hybrid pricing models. It provides comprehensive infrastructure for metering, billing, and revenue management, enabling product-led companies to track and bill for any consumption. With its API-first approach and flexible deployment options, Lago offers a robust solution for modern billing needs.

Installation

To get started with Lago on your own infrastructure, you'll need Docker, Docker Compose, and Git. The self-hosted setup allows for full control over your data and environment.

Here's a quick start guide:

# Clone the repo
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/getlago/lago.git
cd lago

# Generate RSA key
echo "LAGO_RSA_PRIVATE_KEY=\"$(openssl genrsa 2048 | openssl base64 -A)\"" >> .env
source .env

# Start Lago
docker compose up

After running these commands, the Lago UI will be accessible at http://localhost and the API at http://localhost:3000. For advanced configurations or if your server is not at localhost, refer to the official self-hosted documentation.

Examples

Lago is an API-first platform, meaning every feature is accessible via its powerful REST API. Developers can integrate Lago into their applications using official SDKs available for Node.js, Python, Ruby, and Go.

For practical implementation examples, including how to send events, manage subscriptions, and generate invoices, the official documentation provides detailed guides. You can also explore various billing templates that reproduce pricing models from leading companies, helping you quickly set up complex billing logic.

Why Use Lago

  • Open-Source & Control: Gain full control over your billing data and infrastructure by self-hosting, or leverage the transparency of its open-source code with Lago Cloud.
  • Comprehensive Billing Features: From real-time usage metering and automated invoicing to payment orchestration, entitlements, and revenue analytics, Lago covers the entire billing lifecycle.
  • Payment-Agnostic: Integrates seamlessly with various payment gateways like Stripe, Adyen, and GoCardless, offering flexibility in your payment stack.
  • API-First Design: Its robust REST API ensures easy integration and automation of billing processes within your existing systems.
  • Security & Compliance: SOC 2 Type II certified, providing assurance for data security and operational integrity.
  • AI-Native Capabilities: Includes Lago AI for billing intelligence and an MCP server for AI agents, catering to modern, data-driven businesses.

Links