A Quick Guide to AI Software Pricing

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the software you use every day, and with it comes a new challenge: pricing. The traditional per-user subscription model doesn't always fit the value AI delivers through automation and efficiency.

So, what pricing models should you expect to see? This quick guide breaks down the most common approaches to help you make sense of the new software landscape.

1. Outcome-Based Pricing: Pay for Results

This innovative model ties cost directly to performance. You only pay when the AI achieves a specific, measurable result. For example, an AI customer service bot might charge $1 for every issue it successfully resolves.

• Pros: A clear link between cost and value. You only pay for success.
• Cons: Unpredictable monthly costs can make budgeting difficult.
  

2. Usage-Based Pricing: Pay for What You Use

Common in the AI world, this model charges you based on your consumption, similar to a utility bill. While this approach is fair, the downside is unpredictability; your final cost can change significantly each month based on your team's activity. To provide more budget control, a popular variation is a credit system, where your subscription includes a set number of "AI credits" to spend on features. The new challenge this creates is understanding what a credit is actually worth, making it difficult to forecast how many you'll truly need.

• Pros: Flexible and fair. You don't pay for features you don't use.
• Cons: Final costs are hard to predict, and the value of a "credit" can be abstract.

3. Fixed Pricing: The Familiar Subscription

This is the standard SaaS model: a flat fee (often per user, per month) for access to all features, including AI. Major players like Microsoft and Google have largely bundled their AI tools into existing subscription tiers this way.

• Pros: Simple, predictable, and familiar.
• Cons: The price may not align with the actual value or usage of the AI features.

The XMReality Approach: A Hybrid for Predictability and Flexibility

When developing our AI features, like automatic call summaries and transcription, we wanted a model that was simple, fair, and scalable.

That’s why we chose a hybrid approach to give our customers the best of both worlds.

Our core Professional and Enterprise plans remain a fixed, predictable subscription. We then include a generous amount of AI credits with these plans, allowing you to use AI features flexibly without worrying about surprise bills. This structure provides the budget certainty of a fixed price with the fairness of a usage-based model.

As AI continues to evolve, so will pricing. The key is to find a solution that offers a transparent and fair exchange of value for your specific needs.

For a behind-the-scenes look at our decision-making process, read the original post from our CEO where he shares his personal take on the AI pricing challenge.