i wrote down ~100 public saas pricing pages so i'd stop guessing

I conducted a study, examining 100 public SaaS pricing pages, in an effort to avoid making uninformed decisions. Pricing decisions based on gut feeling or a single competitor's pricing were not yielding satisfactory results. Competitors often set prices at $29, while others opted for $49 as a premium option. This approach was problematic, as it relied on anchoring with extra steps, rather than a clear strategy.

To address this issue, I decided to gather data from various public SaaS pricing pages. I collected information on a wide range of products, including analytics tools, email tools, form builders, newsletter services, and hosting platforms. The goal was to document the pricing models and strategies employed by these companies. I made sure to only use factual information, avoiding any assumptions or speculation.

The study revealed that pricing pages often employed a combination of free tiers, annual discounts, and varying pricing structures. Free tiers typically offered a limited set of features, with the option to upgrade to remove branding, raise limits, or unlock additional collaboration tools. Annual discounts were also common, with businesses offering roughly two months of free service or a 15-20% discount.

It was observed that many indie SaaS companies priced their entry-level plans within the $9–25 range, which seemed to be a common starting point for new customers.

Interestingly, the study found that pricing structures varied widely, with some SaaS companies charging based on seats, usage, projects, or subscribers. This diversity suggested that there was no one-size-fits-all approach to pricing. Instead, each company had to determine the most effective pricing model for their specific product and target audience.

In summary, the study of 100 public SaaS pricing pages revealed a variety of pricing strategies, with annual discounts and free tiers being particularly common. The data also highlighted the importance of matching pricing models to the specific product and target audience, rather than simply copying competitors' prices.