Ad Orbit (MagHub) vs Mirabel Magazine Manager
Publishers shortlisting magazine ad sales software often end up comparing Ad Orbit, formerly MagHub, with Mirabel's The Magazine Manager. Both are built around advertising revenue, and both describe CRM, orders, billing and production in one platform. This page sets out what each vendor documents on its own public pages, with a source and date for every cell. It does not rate either product. Where a capability is not on a cited page, the table says “does not document”, which is not the same as not having it.
RunMags is a third option, described after the comparison. Explore the publishing software comparison hub.
How the sources were checked
Mirabel statements come from pages on magazinemanager.com retrieved 2026-10-04. Ad Orbit's website returned HTTP 403 to direct requests during the 2026-10-04 review, so its statements come from search-indexed text of Ad Orbit's official pages and help documentation, reviewed 2026-10-04; that indexed text can be several months older than the live page. Every statement is vendor-claimed: neither product was operated for this comparison. Ask each vendor to confirm the current edition, modules and terms.
Ad Orbit vs Mirabel Magazine Manager at a glance
| Area | Ad Orbit (MagHub) | Mirabel Magazine Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Ad sales and orders | Rate-card orders for print and digital inventory. Sales packages can span publications, carry package or item discounts and be invoiced together. Overbooking is governed by user permissions. Sources: order management, sales packages and sales permissions (help docs, search-indexed text reviewed 2026-10-04). | Proposals convert to confirmed orders in one click, multi-issue contracts create every future issue order, and real-time inventory tracking is described as preventing overbooking. Source: ad order management page, retrieved 2026-10-04. |
| CRM | Publisher CRM is part of the documented offering, alongside an advertiser portal and reporting. Source: Ad Orbit homepage, search-indexed text reviewed 2026-10-04. | Publishing CRM with contact histories, proposals and contracts, support for multiple publications and shared contact records. Source: publishing CRM page, retrieved 2026-10-04. |
| Contracts and e-signature | Orders can be sent to the client for approval with digital signatures. Source: order management (help docs, search-indexed text reviewed 2026-10-04). | Insertion orders and contracts are generated automatically, and e-signature is documented. Sources: ad order management page and e-signature announcement, retrieved 2026-10-04. |
| Billing and accounting sync | Delivery-linked invoicing, payment capture, configurable GL mapping, period locking and product-based revenue recognition. Names QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Xero, Sage Intacct, Sage, Stripe, Authorize.net and Avalara. Does not document Fortnox or EU VAT. Source: billing and finance page, search-indexed text reviewed 2026-10-04. | Multi-issue invoicing, payment posting and A/R aging. Integrates with QuickBooks (Desktop through the Web Connector, and Online), Xero, Sage, Epicor and Microsoft Dynamics GP. Does not document Fortnox or EU VAT. Sources: billing and invoicing page and integrations page, retrieved 2026-10-04. |
| Production and flatplan | MagBuilder links the layout to production and editorial reports, with spreads, inserts, PDF output, Issuu and printer sync. Source: MagBuilder layout actions (help docs, search-indexed text reviewed 2026-10-04). | DigitalStudio builds a flat plan from live ad orders, routes proofs to advertisers and triggers tearsheets and invoices. The pricing page lists digital editions and tearsheets as optional add-ons. Sources: DigitalStudio page and pricing page, retrieved 2026-10-04. |
| Editorial | Editorial records per issue with writers and photographers, due dates, agreements, per-issue budgets and purchase orders. Source: creating an editorial (help docs, search-indexed text reviewed 2026-10-04). | Each title carries its own editorial calendar, and project management tracks issues, ad materials, client approvals and production handoffs. Does not document an editorial writing tool or CMS. Source: project management page, retrieved 2026-10-04. |
| Subscriptions and circulation | Subscription web forms per publication, and a WordPress plugin that limits premium content to subscribers with access to an issue. Sources: subscription web form and WordPress entitlement (help docs, search-indexed text reviewed 2026-10-04). | Subscription and recurring billing through Mirabel's ChargeBrite platform, including dunning that retries the payment during a grace period. Source: subscription management page, retrieved 2026-10-04. |
| Published price | Per user per month, with no platform fees, as quoted in the RunMags Ad Orbit guide, checked 2026-10-04. Ad Orbit's website returned HTTP 403 to direct requests during this review, so see the vendor's pricing page for current rates and editions. | Per user per month, billed annually in US dollars: $92 for 3–5 users, falling to $66 for 51 or more, labelled “Special Introductory Pricing”. No month-to-month option. Source: pricing page, retrieved 2026-10-04. |
| Free trial | Does not document a free trial in the sources reviewed: the Ad Orbit homepage and help documentation, search-indexed text reviewed 2026-10-04. | Does not document a free trial on its pricing page, which offers a demo instead. Source: pricing page, retrieved 2026-10-04. |
Prices are the vendors' published list prices on the date shown and exclude add-ons, services and taxes. Ask both vendors for a written quotation for the same users, titles and modules.
Pick Ad Orbit if…
- you sell packages across several publications and want them discounted and invoiced together;
- your finance team wants GL mapping, period locking and revenue recognition documented inside the ad system;
- your production team wants layout, PDF output, Issuu and printer sync from the same platform;
- you use NetSuite, Sage Intacct or Avalara, which Ad Orbit names on its finance page.
Pick Mirabel Magazine Manager if…
- you want every per-user price band published, from 3 to 51 or more users, before the first sales call;
- you want multi-issue contracts that create every future order, with inventory tracking described as preventing overbooking;
- your production team wants a flat plan built from live orders, with proof routing and tearsheets;
- you also want subscription billing with dunning from the same vendor, through ChargeBrite;
- you use QuickBooks Desktop, Epicor or Microsoft Dynamics GP.
Both lists come from the vendors' own pages cited above. Either product may cover more than its public pages show, so ask each vendor to demonstrate the same job: one multi-issue advertising agreement from proposal to paid invoice.
A third option: RunMags
RunMags connects your magazine business from proposal to paid invoice, with Maggie built in. It is worth a look if neither vendor's documented scope fits the way you work.
- Published price and a self-serve trial. Plans are priced by the number of legal entities and magazine brands you run, current prices are on the RunMags pricing page, and you can start a 14-day free trial without a credit card.
- Fortnox and EU VAT. Customers, advertiser invoices and their credit notes sync to Fortnox, QuickBooks Online or Xero, per legal entity, and RunMags handles EU VAT. Subscription invoices are not part of that sync.
- One system across print and digital. Print, digital and newsletter ads are order rows on the same contract, signed print bookings appear on the flatplan for their issue, and billing invoices the booked issues. Stories and editorial assets sit in the same system.
RunMags does not have inventory availability or overbooking controls, tear sheets or a Google Ad Manager integration yet, so compare all three against how your team sells. For a step-by-step evaluation brief, read the MagHub / Ad Orbit alternative or the Mirabel Magazine Manager alternative guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are MagHub and Ad Orbit the same product?
MagHub is the earlier name of Ad Orbit, and Ad Orbit kept MagHub-branded material on its website at the RunMags source review dated 2026-09-12. Confirm the product edition, modules and contract with the vendor when you compare an existing installation.
How does Ad Orbit pricing compare with Mirabel Magazine Manager pricing?
Both price per user per month. On 2026-10-04 Mirabel's pricing page listed $92 per user for 3 to 5 users, falling to $66 for 51 or more, billed annually. Ad Orbit's website returned HTTP 403 to direct requests on that date, so check its pricing page for current rates and editions. Add-ons, services and the edition change the final cost, so compare written quotations for the same team.
Do Ad Orbit or Mirabel support Fortnox or EU VAT?
Neither documents Fortnox or EU VAT on the pages reviewed on 2026-10-04. Ad Orbit names QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Xero and Sage; Mirabel lists QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, Epicor and Dynamics GP. RunMags syncs customers, advertiser invoices and their credit notes to Fortnox, QuickBooks Online or Xero per legal entity, and handles EU VAT.
Can I try Ad Orbit, Mirabel or RunMags for free?
Neither Ad Orbit nor Mirabel documents a free trial on the pages reviewed on 2026-10-04; Mirabel's pricing page offers a demo. RunMags offers a 14-day free trial without a credit card.
Compare all three with your own workflow
Bring an example agreement, your number of titles and the accounting system you use. Start a trial or book a walkthrough with the team.
