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How to Tell a SaaS Promo From a Real Price Cut

That “now $50/mo” SaaS plan might be an introductory rate that jumps back next year. Use Markup’s dated pricing history to see the standing price a promo reverts to before you sign up or upgrade.

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A SaaS pricing page shows “now $50/mo” and the plan looks cheaper than last month. Sometimes that is a real price cut. Often it is a SaaS introductory price — a first-year or first-months rate that quietly reverts to the normal price later. This howtoany guide shows how to tell the two apart before you sign up, upgrade, or move your team.

Markup keeps a public, dated record of what SaaS tools charge (email, design, docs, hosting, CRM, AI assistants, and similar). It does not track laptop, Chromebook, or other retail product prices.

Why a lower price is not always a price cut

Vendors use promotions to win sign-ups: “25% off your first year”, “50% off for three months”, “new customers only”. The banner shows the low number; the renewal charges the standing price. If you budget on the promo, the bill jumps when it ends — and that jump is not a price increase, it is the price you were always going to pay.

Markup treats these separately. A promotion is recorded as a promotion together with the price it reverts to. It is not counted as a price cut, and its ending is not counted as an increase.

Steps

  1. Note the deal you were offered. Write down the SaaS product, plan, the price shown, and any small print such as first year only, first three months, or new customers only.

  2. Open the product on Markup. Go to markupwatch.com , search the product, and open its product page (or browse /products ).

  3. Find the standing price. In the current plans table, check whether the price is marked as an introductory or promotional rate and read the price it reverts to afterwards.

  4. Read the change log for real cuts. Look for a dated change where the standing price itself dropped. A promotion starting is not a price cut, and a promotion ending is not a price increase.

  5. Budget for the price after the promo. Multiply the standing price by your seats and months, and set a reminder before the intro period ends so you can downgrade, switch, or keep the plan on purpose.

Example: an intro rate on an email tool

At the time of writing (October 2026), Kit on Markup lists its Pro plan at an introductory $50 a month — extra 25% off the first year — then $66 a month. Read only the banner and Pro looks like it got cheaper. Read the record and you budget for $66 from year two. Prices change, so always check the live product page.

Signs you are looking at a promo, not a cut

  • Time-limited wording such as first year, first three months, or for a limited time
  • “New customers only” — existing subscribers keep paying the standing price
  • A crossed-out higher price right next to the offer
  • A discount that only applies to annual billing for the first term
  • No dated change to the standing price in the product’s history

Comparing yearly and monthly billing too? See how to spot annual vs monthly SaaS pricing traps. Want an email when a tool you pay for moves? See how to get SaaS price increase alerts.

Open Markup , look up the deal you were offered, and check the price it reverts to before you commit.

FAQ

What is a SaaS introductory price?

An introductory price is a temporary rate, often for the first months or first year, that reverts to the normal standing price afterwards. Markup records it as a promotion together with the price it reverts to, not as a price cut.

How can I tell if a SaaS price drop is permanent?

Open the product on Markup and check the current plans table and change log. A real cut shows up as a dated change in the standing price. A promotion is labelled as introductory or promotional with the price it returns to.

Is a promotion ending counted as a price increase?

No. On Markup, a promotion ending is not recorded as an increase, because the standing price did not change. Only changes to the standing price go on the record as increases or cuts.

Does Markup track retail discounts on laptops or other products?

No. Markup tracks SaaS pricing only — software plans, seats, and dated changes. It does not track laptops, Chromebooks, or other physical retail prices.