Reader-supportedSome links may earn us a commission; the stated criteria and verdict do not change.How we earn

Interactive cost model

A $19 tool rarely costs exactly $19.

Calculate first-year software cash and economic cost, effective monthly cost, cost per client, and a contribution break-even. Change every input—the assumptions are yours, not hidden in a ranking.

USD model · Price anchors checked August 19, 2026 · Taxes and FX excluded

Live effective monthly cost$0View model
Revenue minus delivery costs that increase with that client—not the headline contract value.
Time cost
Use a defensible internal value. Labor remains separate from cash in the results.

How to read the output

“Client equivalents per month” divides effective monthly economic cost by the contribution you entered for one client. The whole-client figure rounds up. It is a coverage threshold, not a forecast or proof that the software caused any sale. Cash cost excludes the time value; economic cost includes it.

A conservative buying rule

Do not buy a recurring tool merely because one future client could pay for it. Name the bottleneck, estimate the hours or opportunities it already costs, and choose a review date. If the tool does not remove that constraint, export your data and cancel.

Price note: Figures are starting-point snapshots from vendor pages checked August 19, 2026. Contact tiers, sends, seats, add-ons, annual prepayment, promotions, taxes, and exchange rates can change the amount.