Self-host UniBee
v1.9.0Open-source billing for SaaS subscriptions and usage pricing
- Stars
- 233
- Requires
- MySQL, Redis
unibee/apiWhat is UniBee?
UniBee provides a billing system for SaaS companies to handle subscriptions, invoices, usage-based charges, and payments. It includes an admin portal for setup, a customer portal, and a REST API for integration. The platform works with payment providers like Stripe, PayPal, and crypto, and connects to SendGrid, Segment, and VATSense for taxes. Deployment uses Docker Compose with MySQL and Redis. A free community edition exists alongside paid cloud and on-premise tiers.
Should you self-host UniBee?
UniBee scores 48/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #10 of 13 in Billing. It has 233 GitHub stars.
It shipped 1 stable release in the past year. The latest, v1.9.0, came out on 6 January 2026.
Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. An official Docker image is available. It is AGPL-3.0-licensed.
Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Lago (71/100, 10 715 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See UniBee vs Lago side by side.
Features
- Admin portal
- Discounts and promotions
- Invoicing
- Multiple payment gateways
- Product and plan management
- Reports and analytics
- REST API
- Subscription Management
- Tax Calculation
- Transaction Management
- Usage-Based Billing
- User Management
- User portal
- Webhooks
UniBee README
FAQ
What's a recommended setup sequence?
Read Introduction → Configure Products & Plans → Set up Taxes (VATSense) if needed → Run Sandbox tests with gateway test resources → Go live.
Do you provide an API and how do I authenticate?
Yes, the API uses Bearer tokens in the Authorization header obtained via member authentication endpoints.
How do I test payments and subscriptions end-to-end?
Use the Testing Cards (Sandbox) guide with official test resources for Stripe, PayPal, Payssion, and Antom (Alipay) to simulate success/failure flows.
How do I collect taxes automatically?
Integrate VATSense from Admin Portal → Settings → Integrates by adding your API key for automatic tax computation on charges.
Does UniBee support usage-based billing?
Yes, billable metrics support multiple aggregation types including Count, Count Unique, Latest, Max, and Sum with analytics and reporting.
Can I assign a plan to a specific user?
Yes, you can assign subscriptions to users with or without requiring payment, useful for internal or testing purposes.
What plan types can I create?
You can create Main plans, Recurring add-ons, and One-time payments with configurable currency, price, and billing interval.
What is UniBee and who is it for?
UniBee is an open-source billing system for SaaS businesses, designed as a user-friendly, cost-effective alternative to closed-source solutions.
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