Best Free Pricing Calculators Online (2025)

Set profitable prices with free calculators for markup, margin, freelance rates, discounts, and subscription pricing strategies.

Guide Overview

Pricing is the single highest-leverage decision in any business. Set your price too low and you work harder for less profit; too high and you lose deals to competitors. These free pricing calculators help freelancers, retailers, and SaaS founders model different strategies until the numbers work.

Focus: pricing strategy tools for businesses and freelancers

Markup vs. Margin: The Difference That Makes or Breaks Profit

Many business owners confuse markup and margin, and the mistake can be costly. A 50 percent markup on a $10 product means you sell at $15, but your margin is only 33 percent. Our markup calculator converts between the two instantly so you always know your true profit percentage. Understanding this distinction is critical for setting prices that cover overhead and leave room for growth.

How to Set Freelance Rates That Actually Pay the Bills

Most freelancers undercharge because they anchor to their last salary without accounting for self-employment tax, health insurance, unpaid time off, and business expenses. The freelance rate calculator factors in all of these hidden costs and works backward from your desired annual income to a minimum hourly or project rate. It also shows the difference between billable and non-billable hours so you do not accidentally give away half your time for free.

Cost-Plus vs. Value-Based Pricing

Cost-plus pricing adds a fixed percentage to your costs, ensuring every sale is profitable but potentially leaving money on the table. Value-based pricing sets the price according to what the customer is willing to pay based on the outcome you deliver. Both approaches have their place. Our calculators let you model each strategy and compare the revenue impact side by side so you can choose the right approach for each product or service.

Running Discounts Without Destroying Your Margins

A 20 percent discount sounds modest, but if your margin is 30 percent, you just gave away two-thirds of your profit. The discount calculator shows the true cost of promotions in dollar terms and tells you how much additional volume you need to break even on the deal. This is essential math for Black Friday sales, coupon campaigns, and wholesale negotiations where discounts are expected but must be sustainable.

Subscription and SaaS Pricing Models

Subscription businesses live and die by metrics like average revenue per user, churn rate, and lifetime value. The subscription pricing calculator helps you model different tier structures, annual vs. monthly billing discounts, and expansion revenue assumptions. Small changes in pricing architecture can compound into massive revenue differences over 12 months, which is why modeling before launching a new plan is always worth the time.

Tools in This Guide

Use these tools in sequence based on your workflow needs.

Freelance Rate Calculator

Calculate your ideal hourly or project rate based on your desired salary, expenses, taxes, and billable hours.

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Markup & Margin Calculator

Convert between markup and margin percentages instantly. Calculate selling price from cost and desired profit.

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Discount & Sale Price Calculator

Calculate sale prices, discount percentages, double discounts, and original prices. See why stacked discounts aren't additive.

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Salary to Hourly Converter

Convert annual salary to hourly rate and vice versa. Accounts for vacation weeks, hours per week, and overtime.

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Profit Margin Calculator

Calculate gross margin, operating margin, and net profit margin from your revenue, COGS, and operating expenses.

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Cost-Plus Pricing Calculator

Set selling prices from unit costs and target markup while testing multiple margin scenarios.

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Value-Based Pricing Calculator

Estimate pricing based on customer value delivered rather than pure cost inputs.

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Wholesale Price Calculator

Calculate wholesale and retail prices from cost, margin targets, and channel markups.

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Project Pricing Calculator

Price fixed-scope projects using hours, rates, risk buffer, and overhead assumptions.

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Subscription Pricing Calculator

Model subscription tiers, churn sensitivity, and recurring revenue impact of pricing changes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good profit margin for a small business?

It varies by industry, but most small businesses target a net profit margin between 7 and 15 percent. Service businesses and software companies can often achieve 20 percent or higher because they carry lower cost of goods. Use the profit margin calculator to see where you stand relative to your industry.

How do I convert my salary to a freelance hourly rate?

Start with your desired annual income, add the cost of benefits you will need to self-fund (health insurance, retirement, PTO), add business expenses, then divide by your realistic billable hours per year. Most freelancers can bill 1,000 to 1,400 hours annually, not 2,080.

Should I use cost-plus or value-based pricing?

Cost-plus works well for commoditized products where customers compare prices directly. Value-based pricing is better for differentiated services or products where the outcome is worth significantly more than the cost to deliver. Many businesses use a hybrid approach.

How much discount can I offer without losing money?

That depends entirely on your margin. If your gross margin is 50 percent, a 25 percent discount cuts your profit in half but you still make money. If your margin is 20 percent, a 25 percent discount means you lose money on every sale. Always run the math before committing to a promotion.

What is the difference between markup and margin?

Markup is the percentage added to cost to arrive at the selling price. Margin is the percentage of the selling price that is profit. A 100 percent markup equals a 50 percent margin. They describe the same relationship from different perspectives.

How should I price a subscription product?

Anchor your pricing to the value the customer receives, not your costs. Offer two or three tiers to capture different willingness-to-pay segments. Consider annual billing discounts of 15 to 20 percent to improve cash flow and reduce churn.

Last updated: June 1, 2025