For a decade, the SaaS (Software as a Service) business model with monthly subscription fees was the investor darling. But in 2026, the party is over. We are experiencing acute Subscription Fatigue. An average company now has 80+ different software subscriptions (Slack, Zoom, Trello, Jira, Notion, etc.) burdening OpEx (Operating Expense) without clear ROI. CFOs are starting 'The Great Unsubscribing', cutting software with overlapping features.
The Micro-SaaS Collapse
Thousands of Micro-SaaS startups offering only "one tiny feature" (e.g., just background remover, or just PDF converter) will die. These features have now become free commodities integrated into OS or major platforms (Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace). Customers no longer want to pay $10/month for something free AI can do.
Future: Outcome-Based Pricing
Our industry critique: The "Pay per Seat/User" model is a model that punishes growth. The more employees, the more expensive it gets, yet the software is the same. The future is Outcome-Based Pricing. Vendors no longer charge for tool rental, but charge a 'success percentage'. Example: AI Marketing isn't paid monthly, but paid 5% of the sales it generates. This forces vendors to truly deliver real value, not just 'rent out hoes'.