Illustrative index · Updated May 2026
SaaS Inflation Index
How much software costs have risen across the ecosystem. Illustrative data to show that SaaS prices are climbing faster than inflation.
Avg. price increase
20.3%
2020 → 2026
Largest jump
33.4%
Zoom
Tools per employee
14.7
2026 estimate
Price per seat: 2020 vs 2026
Per user/month, USD. Click a row for detail.
SaaS tools per employee by year
Stack size is growing; more tools mean more cost and complexity.
Insight: From 8.2 to 14.7 tools per employee (2020→2026), about a 79% rise in tool sprawl.
Increases by category
Security
+18.5%
Communication
+21.1%
Productivity
+19.8%
CRM
+25.3%
Marketing
+22.7%
Design
+15.9%
Methodology & sources
This is an illustrative index based on public pricing, industry trends, and market analysis. It is not definitive vendor pricing. Data is per user/month (USD), excluding enterprise and promotional pricing. Tools-per-employee figures are from industry research and may vary by company size and region.
Limitations: Actual prices vary by region, plan, volume discounts, and currency. Verify with vendors before decisions.
For citation: OptyStack. (2026). SaaS Inflation Index (Illustrative). https://optystack.ai/saas-inflation-index
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