The Future of SaaS Pricing Models
Puntos Clave
Un resumen ejecutivo de los hallazgos principales de este estudio para una lectura rápida.
The Software as a Service (SaaS) landscape is evolving rapidly. As user acquisition costs rise, companies are rethinking how they monetize their products. This study analyzes the shift from per-seat pricing to usage-based models.
The Problem with Per-Seat Pricing
Traditionally, SaaS companies have charged a fixed fee per user. While predictable, this model has significant drawbacks:
- Shelfware: Companies pay for seats that are never used.
- Barrier to Adoption: Teams are hesitant to add new members, slowing down product virality.
- Value Mismatch: The value derived is not always correlated with the number of humans logging in.
"Pricing is not just a tactic; it is the ultimate reflection of your product's value proposition." — Pricing Strategy Expert
usage-Based Pricing: A New Paradigm
Companies like Snowflake and AWS have popularized consumption-based pricing.
Comparative Analysis
| Feature | Per-Seat | Usage-Based |
|---|---|---|
| Predictability | High | Low (Variable) |
| Upside Potential | Capped by headcount | Unlimited |
| Customer Alignment | Low | High |
Conclusion
For infrastructure and API-first products, usage-based pricing is the superior model. However, for collaboration tools where network effects are key, a hybrid model may be the optimal strategy.