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Key Takeaways from the State of French SaaS Pricing Report

by
in
Aleksandra Romańczyk
Head of Marketing, Valueships
October 3, 2024
pricing
analysis
growth

Intrigued by how French SaaS companies craft the pricing that reflects their reputation for quality and sophistication?  

The 'State of French SaaS Pricing' report uncovers the strategies behind their success, giving you insights on how to stay ahead.

It's like cracking a code, and the 'State of French SaaS Pricing' report has decoded it for you.

We've partnered with the B2B Rocks to dive into the pricing details of over 2,000 companies! We've carefully analyzed their pricing pages—examining their offers, how they’re presented, the features that set them apart, and the pricing strategies behind it all.

If you want to discover the smart strategies driving these companies' success and growth, you’re in the right place. We've gathered key insights that you won’t want to miss.

Ready to dive in? Explore further, or download the full report now.

About the Methodology

The report contains an analysis of over 2,000 French SaaS companies. The data was gathered in partnership with B2B Rocks, thoroughly reviewing pricing pages to evaluate core metrics, packaging models, and overall market positioning.

Companies were analyzed for their monetization strategies and geographical potential, with a focus on identifying trends related to international expansion and revenue growth beyond new customer acquisition.

The study aimed to provide actionable insights into pricing strategies and expansion revenue opportunities, particularly emphasizing the mature state of the French SaaS market.

TL;DR

  • The French SaaS market began its rise in 2010, with a significant boom between 2015 and 2020.
  • The top 5 SaaS categories represent more than 40% of the French market: ERP, Vertical Industry, HR, Marketing, and Collaboration & Productivity.
  • Larger companies are more likely to have websites in English, indicating a correlation between company size and international expansion.
  • Over 95% of French SaaS products display pricing in just one currency, signaling a focus on local or regional markets.
  • Only 40% of French SaaS products feature a pricing page, potentially missing an opportunity for customer engagement.
  • The average number of pricing plans offered is slightly above 3.1, though the recommended average is 3.5.
  • Common price points on French SaaS pricing pages are 76, 132, and 214 EUR.
  • Offering custom plans, avoiding freemium models, and shifting away from user-based pricing are associated with higher price points.
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Seven Takeaways

#1 No Pricing Page on a Company’s Website = lack of transparency

According to the research, 40% of French SaaS companies have a pricing page, while 60% do not. This means that more than half of the companies are not fully capitalizing on the potential of their pricing page.

The lack of the pricing page indicates:  

  • Lower Adoption of Product-Led Growth: A smaller percentage of software companies have adopted product-led growth, limiting the scalability and accessibility typically offered by this approach.
  • Poorer Commercial Maturity: Companies that stick to sales call methods often lack commercial maturity, as they miss out on flexible pricing options like usage-based or tiered pricing. This limits their ability to attract a wider range of customers.
  • Focus on Outreach and Relationships: These companies focus more on outreach and building relationships rather than inbound marketing. While this can result in higher customer value, it also makes their software less accessible to smaller SMB customers who may struggle without flexible pricing options.

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#2 Lack of “Most Popular” Plans

A significant 70.7% of French companies do not specify which of their plans is "most popular," potentially missing out on opportunities to improve conversion rates and optimize customer decision-making.

Only 29.3% of companies in France encourage customers to select a highlighted plan, a proven tactic that can enhance conversions and reflect a product-led approach. While France's performance is comparable to the Nordics and Benelux, it is far ahead of Germany, which scores poorly on design and UX-related pricing practices. However, France still lags behind Poland, where companies excel in digital pricing strategies.

The following information regarding pricing for the average French SaaS company can be observed:

  • The average price of the cheapest plan is €94.71.
  • The average price across all plans is €198.25.
  • The average price of the most expensive plan is €347.66.

#3 Growth hack: the bigger the number of plans, the bigger the price difference

In the report, readers can also find a comparison of the average prices for SaaS plans, outlined as follows:

  • The average price of the cheapest plan shows variability across different numbers of pricing plans offered: €99 for companies with 1 plan, €72 for those with 2 plans, €76 for those with 3 plans, €44 for those with 4 plans, and €51 for companies offering more than 4 plans.
  • The average price of all plans together also varies depending on the number of plans offered: €114 for companies with 2 plans, €150 for those with 3 plans, €151 for those with 4 plans, and €244 for companies offering more than 4 plans.
  • The average price of the most expensive plan increases with the number of plans offered: €158 for companies with 2 plans, €241 for those with 3 plans, €323 for those with 4 plans, and peaking at €693 for companies offering more than 4 plans.

#4 Only a little above 1/5 of French companies use the Freemium plan

According to the report, only 22% of French companies use the freemium model. This suggests that many of these companies are focusing more on sales-driven or enterprise-level strategies, favoring direct sales interactions over a free-to-access approach.

From the perspective of Valueships, offering a freemium plan requires careful consideration. Freemium models should provide genuine value to users, rather than merely functioning as a tool for UX testing. Without delivering clear benefits, companies risk discouraging potential customers from fully engaging with their products.

Furthermore, freemium models can reduce a customer’s willingness to pay for the full product. When users start with a free version, they may perceive the solution as less valuable, which could hinder conversion to paid plans.

The low percentage of freemium models could be also a sign of a more controlled, personalized customer acquisition strategy. Instead of relying on free access to gain users, these companies may prefer to emphasize tailored sales journeys that build relationships through direct interaction and personal touchpoints.

In line with this approach, the report found that there are 36.6% of custom plans, proving the preference for flexibility that caters to specific client needs. Companies that provide custom plans tend to enjoy higher prices than those without such options, which underscores the value of offering a sales-driven option alongside a product-led strategy. By introducing tailored pricing, companies can appeal to higher-tier customers, demonstrating the sophistication and versatility of their product, and potentially boosting their ARR by serving multiple use cases.

#5 Currency geolocalization

Despite the global nature of modern commerce, only 5% of companies offer currency geolocalization. From Valueships' experience, even small steps toward geolocalization significantly increase customers' willingness to pay, as they feel more comfortable accepting higher prices in their local currency. This strategy has also been shown to boost conversion rates, creating a win-win for businesses.

Supporting this, research by Paddle highlights that currency options make a notable difference. Companies offering just two currencies grew 13% faster in 2021 compared to those with only one. Businesses with 25 or more currencies saw even greater benefits, experiencing 25% higher growth than their single-currency counterparts.

#6 Subscription types

The report highlights that monthly payment plans are overwhelmingly popular, with 93.4% of companies offering this option, making it the most common subscription type. Meanwhile, yearly payment plans are available in 48.9% of companies, indicating that nearly half provide an alternative for customers looking for longer-term commitments.

The data also reveals that less frequent subscription options such as quarterly, biennially, semiannually, and daily payment plans are far less common, collectively representing less than 5% of all subscription types. This suggests that companies prioritize simplicity, focusing on the more standard monthly and yearly billing cycles.

Interestingly, 56.2% of companies offer only one subscription type, while 43.8% provide more than one option. This indicates that while many companies stick to a single pricing structure, a significant portion is open to offering multiple subscription models to cater to a broader range of customer preferences. This flexibility could be a key factor in improving conversion rates, as giving customers more choices can encourage higher engagement and retention.

#7 AI feature

Surprisingly, only 10% of companies in France currently offer AI-related features, indicating that the integration of artificial intelligence is still in its early stages. Despite global advancements in AI, many French businesses seem to be holding back, either due to resource constraints or a cautious approach to adopting new technologies.

This low adoption rate, however, presents a significant opportunity for early movers. As AI becomes more prevalent, companies that integrate these features now could gain a competitive edge, positioning themselves ahead of the curve when the broader market inevitably catches up.

What ELSE can you expect from the report? 
  • Pricing strategies of French B2B SaaS companies.
  • Insights from the examination of over 2,000 pricing pages might be valuable in shaping your own pricing strategy.
  • How many pricing plans should be displayed on your pricing page?
  • This analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of price structures, plan options, currencies, add-ons, subscription durations, and user-based pricing models.
  • The findings will help you identify the industries French SaaS companies cater to, their employee sizes, and potential areas for growth.
  • A look into how AI features might impact future pricing strategies in the SaaS industry.

Download the report!

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Aleksandra Romańczyk
Head of Marketing, Valueships

B2B marketing professional with over 6 years of experience in growth-driven strategies. Currently at Valueships, focusing on marketing strategies and insights. Passionate about creating international pricing reports and collaborating with SaaS communities across Europe. Skilled in developing brand communication, crafting content, and managing marketing projects.

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Aleksandra Romańczyk
Head of Marketing, Valueships

B2B marketing professional with over 6 years of experience in growth-driven strategies. Currently at Valueships, focusing on marketing strategies and insights. Passionate about creating international pricing reports and collaborating with SaaS communities across Europe. Skilled in developing brand communication, crafting content, and managing marketing projects.