8 pricing models dominating the subscription economy

↳ (And why 99.9% of businesses are using them)
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​1. Flat-rate​
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One price.
Unlimited access.
No surprises.
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Customers crave simplicity.
They love transparency.
And they need predictability.
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Seen in: Streaming, Entertainment, Media, Loyalty programs.
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2. Tiered​
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Different customers.
Different needs.
Different price points.
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Hot take: Rule of 3 – no more, no less.
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Seen in: SaaS, Fintech.
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3. Usage-based
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Pay for what you use.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
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This model fits like a glove…
Especially when usage varies.
Think storage space, data transfer, user seats.
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Seen in: Cloud Services, Telecom, SaaS, Fintech.
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4. Freemium
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Give a little.
Get a lot.
Start with free.
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Entice them with premium.
Watch your user base explode.
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Seen in: Software, SaaS, Edtech, AI.
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5. Discounted​
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Early adopters.
New customers.
They love a good deal.
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Lower the price.
Raise the interest.
Build your base—fast.
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Seen in: E-commerce, Streaming Services.
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6. Bundling​
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More for less.
That’s the promise.
And it’s a valuable one.
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Bundle services.
Add value.
Make it hard to say no.
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Seen in: Telecom, Media, Software, E-Commerce.
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7. Contract-based​
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Commitment pays off.
For them—and for you.
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Longer contracts mean…
Lower rates.
Reduced churn.
Predictable revenue.
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Seen in: Telecom, SaaS, Edtech, Agencies.
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8. Free Trial​
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Let them try before they buy.
But after the trial?
They’re in.
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High-risk, high-reward.
A customer acquisition machine.
But watch your merchant processing.
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Seen in: Streaming, Software, E-Commerce, Gaming.
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Which model will you test?