85- Pricing strategy for your AI software

Are you pricing your AI software correctly? Whether you’re trying to attract early users to a new AI SaaS offering or rethinking your model to scale an established product, you have to choose the right pricing model. If you pick the right one for your stage and audience, you’ll avoid churn risks and gain a new strategic tool to drive growth. In Episode 85 of B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks, host Brian Graf and guest CMO Antoine Vial break down the major pricing models emerging in the AI-driven SaaS space – from traditional seat-based subscriptions to usage-based and outcome/value-based pricing. You’ll learn how to align your pricing with your ideal customer profile and overall go-to-market strategy, ensuring your pricing not only generates revenue but also reinforces the value of your AI-powered solution. Here are the episode's critical subjects: Why pricing is a critical differentiator in the AI SaaS market: How the explosion of AI startups has made pricing strategy a key way to signal value and stand out in a crowded field. Pros and cons of key pricing models: An in-depth look at seat/subscription pricing vs. usage-based pricing vs. value-based (outcome-based) pricing – including their benefits (e.g. predictability vs. flexibility) and potential downsides (like cost unpredictability or complexity). Hybrid pricing strategies in action: How combining models (for example, a base subscription plus usage-based add-ons or credits) can balance stable revenue with customer flexibility, and why this hybrid approach is popular for many AI-powered tools. When to use each model based on growth stage: Guidance on matching your pricing strategy to your company’s maturity – from keeping it simple at the MVP stage to reduce friction, to moving toward value-based pricing once you have product-market fit and proven outcomes. Aligning pricing with your ideal customer profile: The importance of understanding your target audience’s expectations and industry norms (e.g. are they used to pay-per-use or prefer flat rates?) and tailoring your pricing model to meet those expectations and maximize adoption. ​​Using pricing to build credibility and trust: How a well-designed pricing scheme can serve as a credibility signal – for instance, value-based pricing demonstrates confidence in your product’s ROI – and why transparency (like free tiers or clear pricing pages) can lower barriers for new users. Common pitfalls to avoid in pricing an AI product: Insights on mistakes SaaS companies make, such as overcomplicating pricing too early or misaligning price with value, and how to iterate and test your pricing safely as you learn from customer behavior. Get ready to explore which pricing strategies work best at different stages of a company’s growth and product maturity -- information that's applicable to early-stage startups and scale-ups alike. Certain approaches (like hybrid usage models or value-based pricing) can build credibility and trust with customers, while others can create churn risk if misaligned with customer expectations. B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks is one of the most respected voices in the SaaS industry. It is hosted by two leading marketing and revenue growth experts for software: Stijn Hendrikse: Author of T2D3 CMO Masterclass & Book, Founder of Kalungi Brian Graf: CEO of Kalungi B2B SaaS companies move through predictable stages of marketing focus, cost and size (as described in the popular T2D3 book). The best founders, CFOs and COOs in B2B SaaS rely on a balance of marketing leadership, strategy and execution to produce the customer and revenue growth they require. Staying flexible and nimble is a key marketing asset in a hard-charging B2B world. Resources shared in this episode: BSMS 84 - Positioning for AI SaaS companies BSMS 67 - The impact of AI on marketing Unlocking the power of AI: Transform your content creation process The State of B2B SaaS SEO in the Age of AI [2025] T2D3 CMO Masterclass Submit and vote on our podcast topics ABOUT B2B SAAS MARKETING SNACKS Since 2020, The B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks Podcast has offered software company founders, investors and leadership a fresh source of insights into building a complete and efficient engine for growth. Meet our Marketing Snacks Podcast Hosts: Stijn Hendrikse: Author of T2D3 Masterclass & Book, Founder of Kalungi As a serial entrepreneur and marketing leader, Stijn has contributed to the success of 20+ startups as a C-level executive, including Chief Revenue Officer of Acumatica, CEO of MightyCall, a SaaS contact center solution, and leading the initial global Go-to-Market for Atera, a B2B SaaS Unicorn. Before focusing on startups, Stijn led global SMB Marketing and B2B Product Marketing for Microsoft’s Office platform. Brian Graf: CEO of Kalungi As CEO of Kalungi, Brian provides high-level strategy, tactical execution, and business leadership expertise to drive long-term growth for B2B SaaS. Brian has successfully led clients in all aspects of marketing growth, from positioning and messaging to event support, product announcements, and channel-spend optimizations, generating qualified leads and brand awareness for clients while prioritizing ROI. Before Kalungi, Brian worked in television advertising, specializing in business intelligence and campaign optimization, and earned his MBA at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business with a focus in finance and marketing. Visit Kalungi.com to learn more about growing your B2B SaaS company.