Research Note: Pricing defines the rules, but behavior determines the outcome.
Usage-Based
Pricing Models.
From pure consumption to hybrid-tiered structures. Understand the four monetization archetypes shaping modern software and the revenue behavior each one creates.
Workload-Driven
Compute / Storage
Revenue scales with infrastructure consumption such as compute, storage, or processing volume.
Seat + Usage
Human + Workload
A fixed user base combined with a variable usage layer for fairness and expansion.
Functional Modules
Multi-team SaaS
Different capabilities monetize differently across teams, units, or stages of maturity.
Pure Consumption
API / Tokens
Customers pay directly for actual usage units such as API calls, tokens, workflows, or events.
Get the Pricing Taxonomy Guide
Secure the 2026 Model Map, including the Value Metric Selection Framework and early access to future pricing diagrams and field notes.