The hottest Pricing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

SaaS Catch-22

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
💼 Business Pricing
  1. SaaS companies face a tough choice when introducing AI. They need to show that people are using the AI, but doing so might hurt their profits.
  2. Lower gross margins can be a good sign for a SaaS company using AI, as it shows real usage of their product. Some companies like Figma are embracing this trend by not raising prices even with added features.
  3. Investors are still focused on profit margins, leading to pressure for companies to maintain traditional financial metrics. Companies need to find a balance between fostering AI adoption and quick monetization.

Buy Bordeaux in the summer

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🍲 Food & Drink Pricing
  1. Avoid buying Bordeaux in summer—foreign buyers tend to bid less then because climate-change worries peak, so prices drop.
  2. The same bottle often sells for more abroad than in France, but that foreign premium fluctuates a lot and can even disappear or reverse.
  3. When climate-change awareness rises, foreign bids fall by about 3.5%, with bigger discounts for vintages near the end of their drinking window and for lesser producers.

Target practice

let them eat cake • 279 implied HN points • 16 Aug 19
🍲 Food & Drink Pricing
  1. Consider the importance of paying restaurant staff enough to sustain a long-term career, not just a job.
  2. Running a regenerative restaurant that prioritizes staff, community, and environment over purely financial gains is a tantalizing idea with economic and social implications.
  3. The analysis of a hypothetical NYC restaurant suggests that to pay staff fair wages, pricing might need to increase, possibly by at least 20%, to sustain the business model.

Pricing Roundup (featuring Casey Hill)

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
💼 Business Pricing
  1. PerformYard made their pricing page clearer by simplifying the layout. This helps potential customers understand the options better and navigate easily.
  2. Pipedrive has introduced usage thresholds that will help them manage pricing based on customer usage. This change is common in CRM tools and may lead to more upgrades.
  3. Buffer rebranded some features as Community and added new functions. This shift aims to enhance user engagement by emphasizing community aspects.
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perfectly normal

let them eat cake • 199 implied HN points • 28 Jun 19
🍲 Food & Drink Pricing
  1. Minetta Tavern in New York offers a burger and beer for $37-45, a modern price for traditional items.
  2. The pricing of the burgers reflects the high cost of ingredients and the challenging work in the food industry.
  3. There is a movement towards collectively run restaurants like the one in Oakland, offering a different approach to food service.

How I’d Run a SaaS Pricing Project from Scratch

Good Better Best • 7 implied HN points • 07 Jun 25
💼 Business Pricing
  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 to do when your value metric becomes obsolete

Good Better Best • 4 implied HN points • 15 Aug 25
💼 Business Pricing
  1. When your pricing model becomes outdated, like moving off server counts, you need to find a new way that makes sense for your customers. This could mean switching to something like project-based pricing.
  2. It's important to simplify your pricing to make it easy for customers to understand and buy. Complicated pricing can lead to frustration and lost sales.
  3. As technology, especially AI, evolves, companies must regularly check if their pricing still reflects the value they provide. Adapting early can help businesses stay ahead.

How Temu’s semi-managed model could change everything …

Tech Buzz China Insider • 2 HN points • 11 May 24
🕹 Technology Pricing
  1. Temu's semi-managed model could have significant impacts on the e-commerce landscape, serving as a stepping stone to potential future developments.
  2. Temu is strategically reducing its reliance on the US market to improve profitability and aims to expand its influence globally.
  3. Key factors influencing Temu's performance include customer demographics, market share, logistics strategies, pricing mechanisms, and aggressive marketing plans.

The New Startup Pricing Playbook, with Kyle Poyar

Good Better Best • 4 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
💼 Business Pricing
  1. AI startups need to talk about pricing early. It's better to know what customers value before you launch than to guess later and face backlash.
  2. Pricing models aren't one-size-fits-all. Each model has its pros and cons, so it's important to understand what works best for your product and your customers.
  3. SaaS companies should focus on what their software actually does, not just what it stores. Providing actionable results is key to staying competitive.

Fullstory's Enterprise Transformation

Good Better Best • 4 implied HN points • 13 Jun 25
💼 Business Pricing
  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.

What's included?

let them eat cake • 99 implied HN points • 20 Mar 19
🍲 Food & Drink Pricing
  1. Tipping in restaurants impacts the professionalization of the hospitality industry by altering how servers view themselves and their work.
  2. Tipping causes restaurants to underprice their products, erasing the true cost and undervaluing the work of the staff.
  3. Implementing all-inclusive pricing can lead to challenges in balancing wages between front-of-house and back-of-house staff, emphasizing the need for major changes in restaurant pricing expectations.

Pricing Change Analysis: Airtable and Aha!

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25
💼 Business Pricing
  1. Airtable changed its pricing model from an AI add-on to a credit system, making it easier for teams to use AI features without needing to contact sales.
  2. Credits in Airtable can be shared among users, which helps teams manage their usage better and encourages upgrades when they hit limits.
  3. Aha! launched a project management tool that fits well with their existing products, but its many pricing options could confuse customers instead of helping them choose easily.

SaaS tiered pricing: why do it & its implications to engineering

Brick by Brick • 27 implied HN points • 21 Aug 23
💼 Business Pricing
  1. SaaS companies often use tiered pricing with free, middle, and high tiers to attract different customer segments.
  2. Each tier serves a purpose: free for lead generation, middle as the anchor attracting most customers, and high for generating the most revenue.
  3. Assigning features to pricing tiers has implications on product development, requiring deliberate assignment, modular implementation, and robust analytics.

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

Good Better Best • 6 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
💼 Business Pricing
  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.

Common Chicanery about Competition (from the archives)

Economic Forces • 6 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
💼 Business 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.

Ergonomic Pricing: The AI-Native Pricing Model

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
💼 Business Pricing
  1. AI is changing how companies price their services. Instead of charging by the number of users, some companies are now billing based on the outcomes or results they provide.
  2. The 'Ergonomic Pricing' model focuses on what customers want, making it easier for them to understand and predict their costs. This helps companies avoid the complexity of various traditional pricing strategies.
  3. It's important for companies to ensure that their pricing aligns with the value offered. This model helps create a clear connection between what customers pay and the level of service they receive.

The 7 Most Effective SaaS Discount Strategies (with Examples)

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 04 Jul 25
💼 Business Pricing
  1. Annual discounts are popular because they help companies get cash flow and keep customers longer. They are a great option if your average customer value is high.
  2. Volume discounts let customers save money the more they buy. This strategy can be beneficial across different pricing models, but companies need to be careful not to over-discount.
  3. Introductory discounts attract new users by making it easier to start using a product. They can be great for boosting conversion, but companies should keep an eye on whether these users stick around.

Inside Superhuman's Pricing Evolution

Good Better Best • 5 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
💼 Business Pricing
  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.

The most overlooked skill in pricing and packaging

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
💼 Business Pricing
  1. Effective pricing is about more than just numbers; it's like building a muscle that gets better with practice. Teams should focus on improving their pricing strategies regularly.
  2. Clear communication is crucial when changing pricing. If customers don't understand the changes or think they are losing out, it can lead to confusion and complaints.
  3. Early announcements and using visuals can make pricing changes easier for customers. The key is to keep the communication thoughtful and consistent.

Economics 101 with Lt. Surge

Malt Liquidity • 12 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Pricing
  1. Price is never fixed; liquidity is essential for determining true asset value and facilitating trading.
  2. Surge pricing is a rapid increase in price due to fluctuating supply and demand, different from traditional linear pricing models.
  3. In the business of food delivery, balancing in-store and app orders requires strategic pricing adjustments to maximize profitability and control over the network.

Companies don’t wait for tariffs to come into effect

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
💰 Finance 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 Price and Package Professional Services in SaaS

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 30 May 25
💼 Business Pricing
  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.

Breakdown: Monday.com's AI Credit Model

Good Better Best • 3 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
💼 Business Pricing
  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.

Pricing Roundup: Breakdowns for Monday, Loom, and Klaviyo

Good Better Best • 4 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
💼 Business Pricing
  1. Monday increased the default user count from 3 to 10, aiming to attract larger customers. This change makes it clearer who their ideal customers are and improves pricing appeal.
  2. Loom launched a new AI plan with a usage limit, offering a fresh way to monetize for business users. Unlike other models, Loom's plan helps free users transition into paying customers without a complicated structure.
  3. Klaviyo emphasized the benefits of using both SMS and email, showing customers a 19% sales boost. They also introduced a handy pricing calculator to help brands understand the combined value of using both services.

January Roundup (20 Pricing and Packaging Updates)

Good Better Best • 3 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
💼 Business Pricing
  1. There have been many changes in pricing models for software companies lately. Companies are focusing more on how they package and price their services to attract customers.
  2. Features are being adjusted to create clearer paths for customers to upgrade. This includes limiting features on lower plans to encourage users to move to higher-paying options.
  3. Many companies are experimenting with new pricing strategies to improve conversions. For example, adding email trials or changing how users are categorized in plans.

Want To Know How To Calculate Your Enterprise AI Usage? You Can't!

Theology • 3 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Pricing
  1. Different AI services have complicated pricing models that make it hard to budget. This can lead to unexpected costs every month.
  2. It's tough to compare different AI vendors since their pricing isn't standardized. You might not even know if you're paying for the same features with different companies.
  3. Trying to manage multiple AI platforms can be a headache. In the end, the savings you expect might vanish due to the effort needed to track everything.

Deconstructing Clay's Pricing Strategy

Good Better Best • 4 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
💼 Business Pricing
  1. Clay has a unique pricing model that doesn't charge per user. Instead, it uses a credit system, allowing teams to collaborate without adding costs for each user.
  2. Their pricing strategy has evolved over time with clear updates. Clay focuses on making sure customers understand how to use their credits effectively.
  3. They offer different plans that grow in features and flexibility, helping businesses of all sizes easily pick the plan that fits their needs.

Cheatcodes for Usage-Based Pricing (with Scott Woody)

Good Better Best • 1 implied HN point • 18 Jul 25
💼 Business Pricing
  1. Usage-based pricing can help businesses align costs with actual value, making it easier for customers to pay based on what they use. This model is preferred in industries like AI where services scale rapidly.
  2. Setting clear guardrails and allowing customers to manage their budgets can prevent unexpected costs. Providing upfront credits helps customers understand their anticipated spending.
  3. Companies should prepare for a shift in internal processes when adopting usage-based pricing. This includes changes in sales tactics, finance calculations, and product features to ensure visibility and control for users.

Driving a Hard Bargain

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 7 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💼 Business Pricing
  1. Haggling can lead to better outcomes for both parties in transactions.
  2. People haggle not only to save money but also for a sense of accomplishment or entertainment.
  3. Haggling can serve as a form of price discrimination based on willingness to negotiate, benefiting both consumers and sellers.

Everything you wanted to ask about the pricing in B2B SaaS | Alex David (Corrily, Segment, Simon-Kucher)

nonamevc • 8 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
💼 Business Pricing
  1. Consider different stages in pricing strategy based on company revenue: early stage, growth stage, and scaling stage.
  2. Placement of pricing function within a B2B SaaS organization can vary in sales, product, or finance/operations departments.
  3. Testing pricing changes, preventing price anchoring, and understanding rational buyer behavior are crucial in B2B SaaS pricing.

Price Testing 101 with Justin Farris (GitLab, Zillow)

Good Better Best • 1 implied HN point • 20 Jun 25
💼 Business Pricing
  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.

Roundup: Google Gemini, "Service-as-a-Software" and A New Era for SaaS Margins

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Pricing
  1. Google has bundled its Gemini AI with Workspace plans, making it cheaper for users but risking lower profits. This strategy may help them gain more customers quickly.
  2. Human support will be essential for using AI effectively. Even with AI tools, we still need humans to refine the results and handle complex tasks.
  3. Different companies are adopting various pricing models for their AI services. Google's approach focuses on getting users to adopt their technology, while Microsoft is looking to charge more based on usage.

The Best of Good Better Best, 2024

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
💼 Business Pricing
  1. AI in pricing is becoming really important. Companies are trying different ways to charge for AI features, and it's exciting to see how they'll do it.
  2. Seat-based pricing isn’t going away. Companies are getting creative with how they charge per user, making it more flexible for different types of customers.
  3. Customer support is changing too. Businesses are exploring how AI can help with support, but some are still focusing on personalized service to keep things human.

Pricing Roundup: Breakdowns for Ramp, Ahrefs, and Mixpanel

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
💼 Business Pricing
  1. Some SaaS companies like Ramp and Docker have made recent changes to their pricing and product offerings. For example, Ramp reorganized its pricing page to highlight its features better.
  2. Ahrefs adjusted their pricing for additional users, lowering costs for the Lite plan while increasing them for more advanced plans. This can help attract new users while still encouraging upgrades.
  3. Mixpanel made a significant change by reducing the number of free events allowed but added new features. This suggests a focus on getting free users to convert to paid plans more quickly.

Pricing Strategy Breakdown: beehiiv 🐝

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
💼 Business Pricing
  1. Beehiiv has a smart pricing model that offers a free plan with great features, perfect for newbies to grow their newsletter. They also have different paid plans based on subscriber numbers, making it easy for users to find the right fit.
  2. The company regularly updates its features, often adding them to lower-priced plans, which keeps all users happy and supports their growth. It's about helping users succeed rather than just chasing profits.
  3. Beehiiv’s approach focuses on rapid development and customer feedback, allowing them to adapt quickly and maintain a competitive edge in the newsletter space. This flexibility is a big part of their success.

Should Wendy's Introduce Surge Pricing?

Economic Forces • 4 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Pricing
  1. Dynamic pricing and price discrimination are complex but can benefit both firms and consumers by adjusting prices based on demand and consumer willingness to pay.
  2. Price discrimination, when done thoughtfully, can lower prices for some consumers while increasing profits for firms, ultimately benefiting both parties.
  3. Despite advancements in digital tools for dynamic pricing, many companies, including Wendy's, are cautious due to the importance of maintaining customer trust and long-term relationships.

SaaS Shrinkflation

Good Better Best • 6 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Pricing
  1. SaaS companies are implementing Shrinkflation by reducing usage limits while keeping prices the same.
  2. The debate between PLG and SLG in SaaS focuses on removing friction for customers.
  3. Recent SaaS trends aim to make it easier for small teams to build products and offer outcome-based solutions.