The hottest Pricing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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The state of B2B monetization in 2025

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 520 implied HN points • 04 Jun 25
💼 Business Software Pricing Subscription SaaS AI
  1. Traditional pricing models like flat-rate and seat-based are losing popularity. Companies are now favoring hybrid pricing to better match value and costs.
  2. Hybrid pricing is becoming the go-to choice for software companies, providing flexibility and a better upselling opportunity while keeping it simple for customers.
  3. Outcome-based pricing is highly desired but rarely adopted because it's complicated. Most companies struggle with measuring and ensuring consistent results for customers.

Why Streaming Subscription Prices Will Continue to Rise

The Honest Broker • 25300 implied HN points • 02 Nov 24
💼 Business Media Entertainment Pricing Strategy Consumer behavior
  1. Streaming subscription prices are increasing because companies are focusing on making more profit from fewer customers. They believe it's better to charge loyal users more instead of trying to attract new ones.
  2. The entertainment industry is cutting back on creating new content, which means we might see fewer movies and shows. This reduction is part of a strategy to maintain profits even as customer numbers decline.
  3. While big companies may struggle, this situation could open doors for indie creators. As larger companies shrink, new opportunities for creativity and innovation might arise for others.

Intercom's decisive bet on AI

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 315 implied HN points • 21 May 25
💼 Business Startups Technology AI Pricing Customer Service
  1. Intercom was quick to invest in AI, becoming a leader by being the first major SaaS company to do so. Their 'war time' CEO, Eoghan McCabe, made bold decisions to redefine customer support with AI.
  2. The quality of AI tools matters more than just having features. Intercom's Fin AI agent succeeded through a lot of testing, improving its ability to resolve customer inquiries from 25% to 56%.
  3. Competitors now have to focus on delivering results, not just flashy marketing. Businesses need to educate their customers on how to choose AI products based on effectiveness, not just promises.

The Startup Pricing Journey 💸

The VC Corner • 439 implied HN points • 30 Jul 24
💼 Business Startup Pricing Monetization Market Strategy Growth
  1. Pricing is super important for startups because it affects how customers see your product and can help grow your business.
  2. In the beginning, startups need to choose a pricing strategy that can change and adapt as they learn more about the market.
  3. A good pricing strategy helps with attracting and keeping customers, while a bad one can lead to problems for the startup.

Price Testing 101 with Justin Farris (GitLab, Zillow)

Good Better Best • 1 implied HN point • 20 Jun 25
💼 Business Pricing Marketing SaaS Product Development Sales
  1. Pricing updates can take a lot of time due to slow billing systems. Using a centralized rate card model can help make changes faster and easier.
  2. A/B testing prices works well in some situations but isn’t always practical. Testing prices in similar markets might be a good option if you need to keep pricing public.
  3. Creating a clear framework for volume pricing helps build trust and makes negotiations smoother. This way, both sides can understand the pricing logic, leading to better relationships.
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Fullstory's Enterprise Transformation

Good Better Best • 4 implied HN points • 13 Jun 25
💼 Business SaaS Enterprise Pricing Product Strategy Market Trends
  1. When a company wants to sell to bigger businesses, it needs to change its products to meet different needs. Just scaling existing features isn't enough.
  2. Adding professional services can help customers get more value from a product. These extra services can make a big difference in how well customers use the product.
  3. A company's pricing strategy should fit how larger organizations buy. Sometimes that means moving from easy self-service pricing to more custom and guided deal structures.

Ski Lift Pricing and the Lessons from Vail’s Challenge

Gad’s Newsletter • 70 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
💼 Business Economics Pricing Labor Operations Strategy
  1. Skiing in the U.S. is becoming very expensive and often feels exclusive. Many ski resorts focus on making money rather than being inclusive to all skiers.
  2. The Epic Pass has changed how skiing works by giving access to multiple resorts. However, this has led to long wait times and overcrowded slopes, making the skiing experience less enjoyable.
  3. In Europe, ski resorts are often more affordable and competitive, allowing more people to enjoy skiing. This makes skiing feel less like a luxury and more accessible for everyone.

How I’d Run a SaaS Pricing Project from Scratch

Good Better Best • 7 implied HN points • 07 Jun 25
💼 Business SaaS Pricing Marketing Product Strategy
  1. Understanding where your company is in its growth journey is important for setting the right pricing strategy. Different stages, like proving demand or expanding revenue, need different pricing approaches.
  2. Focus on areas where you can make the most impact with your pricing project, such as your product monetization strategy and pricing plans. Collaborate with other teams to ensure everyone is on the same page.
  3. When adjusting pricing, start with the fundamentals like plan structure and feature packaging before touching the actual price points. Making sure your pricing model is clear and aligned with customer needs is key.

What I learned from tracking 443 SaaS pricing pages

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 907 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
💼 Business SaaS Pricing Marketing Growth Strategy
  1. Many SaaS companies are raising their prices. In 2024, about 42% of them made adjustments, with an average increase of 20%.
  2. Some companies are adding or removing plans to better meet customer needs. Others are being more strategic with their pricing pages to attract larger clients.
  3. Pricing strategies are evolving, with some companies using discounts to gain new customers while others maintain strict pricing models to target premium segments.

What would a $2,000-a-month ChatGPT look like?

Enterprise AI Trends • 168 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Software Pricing Enterprise Markets
  1. The future of AI will see two main pricing categories: low-end for general users and high-end for specialized, enterprise-focused users. There's not much room in the middle.
  2. High-end AI products will need to be built on strong industry knowledge and proprietary data to be successful. This means startups might struggle to compete.
  3. AI companies can charge a lot because their products provide immense value in competitive fields, where even a small advantage can lead to big profits.

Companies don’t wait for tariffs to come into effect

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
💰 Finance Economics Investing Trade Inflation Pricing
  1. Companies often raise prices immediately when there are announcements of new tariffs. They do this to prepare for higher future costs even before tariffs actually take effect.
  2. Retailers have shown that price increases on imported goods tend to stay high, even if tariffs are later paused or reversed. This suggests that once prices go up, it can be hard for them to come back down.
  3. The price changes from tariffs could impact inflation in the US economy. This means the Federal Reserve may need to pay close attention to these trends to manage economic stability.

How to Push Back on High Quotes or Pricing

Nail It and Scale It • 59 implied HN points • 13 Jun 24
💼 Business Negotiation Pricing Marketing Consulting Sales
  1. There are different pricing models like Cost Based Pricing, Value Based Pricing, and Competitive Pricing. Each has its own approach, and knowing these can help you negotiate better.
  2. When facing a high quote, compare it with multiple offers to push back effectively. This gives you leverage and helps you find a fair price.
  3. Being clear about what you're willing to pay and understanding the value of the service can help you have better negotiations without getting stuck on high quotes.

How to have "the talk" with your customers

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 607 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
💼 Business Marketing Finance Pricing Customer Relationships Product Development
  1. Increase ACV by asking customers about willingness-to-pay without directly asking for a specific price.
  2. Understand that ACV growth involves price increases, product expansion, and knowing what customers value.
  3. As your business scales, consider factors like pricing, packaging, and customer willingness to pay to optimize revenue.

How To Create Life-Changing Events: 5 Timeless Rules

America 2.0 (by Gary Sheng) • 137 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business Event Planning Networking Partnerships Pricing Entrepreneurship
  1. Aim to create a memorable event experience that elevates attendees' lives and makes them feel it was time well spent.
  2. Curate a great guest list for your event to ensure a positive atmosphere and provide opportunities for valuable connections among attendees.
  3. Design each moment of your event meticulously, from initial promotion to follow-up, ensuring thoughtful details that make attendees feel valued and create lasting impressions.

How to Price and Package Professional Services in SaaS

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 30 May 25
💼 Business SaaS Pricing Marketing Professional Services Customer Support
  1. SaaS companies are changing how they think about professional services, especially with AI automating tasks. Good onboarding and support can make a big difference in customer satisfaction.
  2. It’s helpful to clearly define the scope and access to these services. Different customers might need different levels of support, so offering choices can increase satisfaction.
  3. Pricing professional services can be tricky. Companies are finding success with tiered packages, bundling support with subscriptions, or charging a flat fee. Finding the right pricing model can drive growth.

Workshop announcement: $95 price for non-tenure track or professors with higher teaching loads

Scott's Substack • 117 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🚌 Education Workshop Teaching Causal Inference Pricing Learning
  1. Workshop offering discounted price of $95 for non-tenure track professors or those with high teaching loads
  2. Workshop covers topics like potential outcomes model, unconfoundedness, and instrumental variables
  3. Teaching style focuses on comprehension, confidence, and competency in applying causal inference methods

Can PLG beat Salesforce?

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 599 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
💼 Business Startups Product-led growth Marketing Pricing Customer Feedback
  1. Product-led growth is disrupting many software categories, but CRM remains dominated by traditional players.
  2. Attio successfully launched a product-led growth CRM platform after three years of development, achieving rapid customer adoption.
  3. Attio strategically designed their pricing and packaging, experimented with freemium pricing, and focused on customer engagement for user acquisition.

Common Chicanery about Competition (from the archives)

Economic Forces • 6 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
💼 Business Economics Competition Market Theory Supply and Demand Pricing
  1. You don't need complete knowledge or information for competition to exist. All you need is an understanding of your own likes and the price of the goods.
  2. Competition does not mean that companies make no profit. In fact, if prices are above costs, companies can still earn profits even in a competitive market.
  3. You don't need an endless number of buyers and sellers to have competition. Even a few sellers can compete if their products are good substitutes for each other.

Permissions Required to Migrate to the New Simplified Pricing Model in Microsoft Sentinel

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Security Software Microsoft Sentinel Pricing
  1. To migrate to the new simplified pricing model in Microsoft Sentinel, you need specific permissions like "Microsoft.OperationsManagement/solutions/write" on the "SecurityInsights(<workspace name>)" solution resource.
  2. Support is considering updating documentation or the built-in role for easier migration to the new pricing model.
  3. Stay updated on resolving the permission issue by following the provided links to Microsoft Security Insights show and joining the MSI Show Discord Server.

Ancova Energy Markets Update

Ancova • 58 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
💰 Finance Energy markets Pricing Crude Oil Natural Gas
  1. Crude oil prices are holding up despite increased U.S. storage, supported by Asian demand and high U.S. exports.
  2. U.S. O&G rig count decreased, with oil rigs taking a major hit while natural gas rigs increased slightly.
  3. Natural gas prices are rising due to colder temperatures, lower production, and increased LNG output, impacting both demand and pricing.

Ancova Energy Market Update

Ancova • 58 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
💼 Business Energy Oil Markets Pricing
  1. Crude oil prices are rising due to various factors like weak U.S. dollar and decreased inventory.
  2. U.S. oil and gas rig count shows fluctuations across different basins and sectors.
  3. Natural gas market faces challenges with mild demand, impacting prices and regional cash prices.

10 Years of Solo Consulting (Part 2)

burkhardstubert • 79 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
💼 Business Consulting Pricing Strategy Career Entrepreneurship
  1. It's important to charge more for strategic advice compared to implementation work. Clients often don't realize the value they get from your expertise, so it's beneficial to price according to the value you create.
  2. Using productized services can save time and increase income. These services combine a standard product with a small amount of customization for each client, allowing you to charge more consistently.
  3. Setting your own payment terms can lead to better cash flow and less hassle. By charging clients upfront or setting clear rules about payments, you can avoid the stress of late payments and complicated contracts.

Lending Protocol Taxonomy, part 2: Interest Rates

David’s Substack • 39 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
💰 Finance Interest Rates Pricing Auctions
  1. Interest rates in lending protocols are usually quoted as annualized percentage rate (APR) or yield (APY).
  2. Different pricing mechanisms in lending protocols include orderbook pricing, utilization-based pricing, auctions, and manual/governance-led pricing.
  3. Protocols like Ajna and Tazz introduce innovative ways to set interest rates without relying on oracles, enabling unique functionalities.

Fair Price Theory

Tom Thought • 39 implied HN points • 26 May 23
💼 Business Economics Pricing Market Dynamics Value Creation Labor Market
  1. Every good or service has a fair price, whether it's labor dependent on skill or a product based on cost of parts and labor.
  2. There is no definitive 'fair' price, only the market price determined by what people are willing to pay.
  3. Value of a product depends on consumer demand, not just on the labor or materials that went into it. Pay isn't determined solely by skill, but by usefulness and rarity of the skill in demand.

Don’t Sell Yourself Cheap

Build To Scale • 19 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
💼 Business Startups Pricing Customers Market fit
  1. When pricing software, focus on value over cost. It's vital to find the right balance and not undervalue your product.
  2. Adapt pricing based on customer segments. Small businesses and larger enterprises have different budgets and needs, so consider offering various editions or plans.
  3. Avoid commodity pricing and aim for a pricing model customers can easily understand. Make sure pricing generates positive margins and evolves with your company.

10 Ways to Price and Package AI (for any customer)

Good Better Best • 6 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
💼 Business Pricing SaaS Consulting Marketing Partnerships
  1. AI can be effectively priced using different strategies like freemium, free trials, and personal add-ons. These methods encourage users to explore AI features while still aiming for possible upgrades.
  2. Offering tiered pricing or credit models helps companies capture different user needs. This way, customers can choose plans that suit their usage levels and budget.
  3. AI can be positioned as a premium offering within corporate plans. This not only adds value to the product but can also justify higher prices for enterprise clients.

Inside Superhuman's Pricing Evolution

Good Better Best • 5 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
💼 Business SaaS Pricing Growth Strategy Customer success
  1. Superhuman started with a single $30/month price to differentiate itself in a crowded email market. This pricing strategy boosted user activation since customers felt the need to get their money's worth.
  2. Their pricing evolved from a simple model to three tiered options, tailored to different user needs. This change aimed for simplicity while capturing diverse customer groups effectively.
  3. To smoothly transition customers to new pricing, Superhuman focused on research, planning, and transparency. They allowed a grace period for existing customers to adjust, which helped them maintain customer trust.

Breakdown: Monday.com's AI Credit Model

Good Better Best • 3 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
💼 Business SaaS Pricing AI Project management Automation
  1. Monday.com has introduced an AI credit model that charges users based on successful tasks completed by AI. This encourages teams to try out AI features without fear of wasting credits.
  2. The AI features include automations, dynamic data processors, templates, and specialized assistant apps, all aimed at making workflows more efficient and productive.
  3. This credit-based pricing model allows for flexibility and predictability in costs, but can also add complexity that companies must manage.