Small Business Software Cost Index
How much does business software cost? This live index summarizes starting prices and free-plan availability across the software tracked by WiseTechList.
Software cost by category
Median prices use currently published starting prices that can be converted into a clear monthly amount. USD and IDR are kept separate rather than using an estimated exchange rate.
| Category | Tools tracked | Free plans | Median starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI | 17 | 13 (76%) | $19.99/mo |
| Analytics | 5 | 4 (80%) | $20.00/mo |
| Automation | 8 | 7 (88%) | $16.00/mo |
| CMS | 6 | 6 (100%) | Not enough data |
| CRM | 6 | 4 (67%) | $14.00/mo |
| Design & Creative | 7 | 6 (86%) | $12.00/mo |
| Ecommerce | 2 | 1 (50%) | Not enough data |
| Email Marketing | 11 | 9 (82%) | $13.00/mo |
| Marketing | 5 | 3 (60%) | $11.88/mo |
| Productivity | 13 | 12 (92%) | $8.13/mo |
| SEO | 6 | 4 (67%) | $110.27/mo |
| Social Media Management | 5 | 3 (60%) | $11.88/mo |
| Website Builder | 8 | 6 (75%) | $10.00/mo |
Methodology
WiseTechList uses the starting price stored for each published software profile. Promotional discounts, taxes, seat requirements, usage tiers, contact limits, and add-ons can make the real bill different. Annual-billing prices are treated as their displayed monthly equivalent. Tools with variable or unclear prices remain in the database but are excluded from median calculations.
Suggested citation: “WiseTechList Small Business Software Cost Index, accessed November 1, 2026.”