Answer

Should I charge monthly or annual for my SaaS?

Verified · editorial policy

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TL;DR

Question
Should I charge monthly or annual for my SaaS?
Direct answer
Offer both. Monthly as the default lowers commitment friction for new buyers; annual at a 15 to 25% discount captures buyers who've already decided. Locking customers into annual-only structures works for established brands but underconverts for indie SaaS where buyers haven't built trust yet.
Category
pricing
Last verified
May 19, 2026

Direct answer

Direct answer

As of , the answer is: Offer both. Monthly as the default lowers commitment friction for new buyers; annual at a 15 to 25% discount captures buyers who've already decided. Locking customers into annual-only structures works for established brands but underconverts for indie SaaS where buyers haven't built trust yet.

People also ask

Should I charge monthly or annual for my SaaS?

Offer both. Monthly as the default lowers commitment friction for new buyers; annual at a 15 to 25% discount captures buyers who've already decided. Locking customers into annual-only structures works for established brands but underconverts for indie SaaS where buyers haven't built trust yet.

What's the nuance?

Annual plans churn 3 to 5x less than monthly. Annual customer LTV is typically 8 to 12x monthly customer LTV.

What else should I know?

Customers who choose annual at signup are 'high-conviction' buyers; they convert at lower top-of-funnel rates but stay much longer.

What's the common mistake here?

Trigger annual upgrade prompts at day 60 to 90 of monthly use – the buyer has formed a habit and is more receptive to annual commitment.

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