OpenMeter (Kong Konnect Metering) vs Lago
Agent-native side-by-side. Scores are curated estimates on a 0–10 scale. Lock-in: higher = worse. Prefer JTBD picks via /api/decide when choosing for a job.
| Dimension | OpenMeter (Kong Konnect Metering) | Lago |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 7.9 | 8.3 |
| Capability fit | 8.4 | 8.6 |
| Price / performance | 7.8 | 8.8 |
| Latency / reliability | 8.4 | 8.0 |
| Developer & agent DX | 8.2 | 8.0 |
| Privacy / data retention | 8.2 | 9.0 |
| Lock-in risk (higher = worse) | 5.5 | 3.0 |
| Maturity / track record | 8.0 | 7.8 |
| Pricing | As of 2026-09-14: OpenMeter Cloud repositioned as Kong Konnect Metering & Billing — real-time AI/API usage meters, entitlements, rate cards, invoicing. Strong fit for token metering via Kong plugin (meter_ai_token_usage)… | As of 2026-09-14: AGPLv3 OSS metering/billing — self-host free (infra+eng). Lago Cloud remains package/sales-led; docs FAQ does not publish a Cloud seat/event table. Third parties historically cite low-hundreds $/mo star… |
| Tagline | Best when your agent product is an API gateway problem (entitlements + token meters). Orb for pricing… | Depot OSS pick for AI usage metering when you refuse to marry Stripe's meter model. Still collect cash with… |
OpenMeter (Kong Konnect Metering)
Best when your agent product is an API gateway problem (entitlements + token meters). Orb for pricing science; Lago for OSS; Stripe for simple SaaS. Strengths: Real-time entitlement gating for AI APIs; Native AI token metering examples; Backed by Kong distribution.
Strengths
- Real-time entitlement gating for AI APIs
- Native AI token metering examples
- Backed by Kong distribution
Weaknesses
- Product identity shifted into Kong Konnect
- Less pure-billing polish than Orb
- Pricing tied to Kong commercial motion
Lago
Depot OSS pick for AI usage metering when you refuse to marry Stripe's meter model. Still collect cash with Stripe/Adyen. Strengths: OSS / self-host exit ramp; Purpose-built usage billing primitives; Vendor-neutral vs Stripe-only meters.
Strengths
- OSS / self-host exit ramp
- Purpose-built usage billing primitives
- Vendor-neutral vs Stripe-only meters
Weaknesses
- AGPL compliance diligence required
- Cloud pricing less transparent than Stripe
- You own more billing ops than Stripe Billing
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