8 pricing models dominating the subscription economy

↳ (And why 99.9% of businesses are using them)

1. Flat-rate

One price.
Unlimited access.
No surprises.

Customers crave simplicity.
They love transparency.
And they need predictability.

Seen in: Streaming, Entertainment, Media, Loyalty programs.

2. Tiered


Different customers.
Different needs.
Different price points.

Hot take: Rule of 3 – no more, no less.

Seen in: SaaS, Fintech.

3. Usage-based


Pay for what you use.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.

This model fits like a glove…
Especially when usage varies.
Think storage space, data transfer, user seats.

Seen in: Cloud Services, Telecom, SaaS, Fintech.

4. Freemium


Give a little.
Get a lot.
Start with free.

Entice them with premium.
Watch your user base explode.

Seen in: Software, SaaS, Edtech, AI.

5. Discounted


Early adopters.
New customers.
They love a good deal.

Lower the price.
Raise the interest.
Build your base—fast.

Seen in: E-commerce, Streaming Services.

6. Bundling


More for less.
That’s the promise.
And it’s a valuable one.

Bundle services.
Add value.
Make it hard to say no.

Seen in: Telecom, Media, Software, E-Commerce.

7. Contract-based


Commitment pays off.
For them—and for you.

Longer contracts mean…
Lower rates.
Reduced churn.
Predictable revenue.

Seen in: Telecom, SaaS, Edtech, Agencies.

8. Free Trial


Let them try before they buy.
But after the trial?
They’re in.

High-risk, high-reward.
A customer acquisition machine.
But watch your merchant processing.

Seen in: Streaming, Software, E-Commerce, Gaming.

Which model will you test?

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