Headline: advertised monthly vs the three‑year bill

Across the 12 products in the prices we hold the three‑year cost if you pay the published entry monthly price for 36 months ranges from $180 (Trello, entry monthly billed monthly but an annual equivalent exists) to $720 (Figma). Where we hold an annual‑equivalent monthly price, paying annually cuts the 36‑month bill by between about 20% and 27% versus staying on the entry monthly price — a meaningful gap that vendors often bury behind a single monthly figure.

How we calculate

We use the monthly figures in our catalogue multiplied by 36 to produce a three‑year invoice. Where our catalogue includes an annual_equivalent_monthly value we show the alternative three‑year total if the customer chooses annual billing (annual price spread evenly as a monthly equivalent). We do not assume seat counts, feature add‑ons or discounts beyond those two published monthly rates, and we do not pretend anyone here tried the products.

Three‑year totals (using the prices we hold)

  • Slack — entry $8.75/mo → 36‑month total $315; annual equivalent $7.25/mo → 36‑month total $261. Gap: $54 (20.7%).
  • Figma — entry $20.00/mo → 36‑month total $720. (We do not hold an annual equivalent for Figma.)
  • Notion — entry $10.00/mo → 36‑month total $360. (No annual equivalent held.)
  • Plutio — entry $19.00/mo → 36‑month total $684; annual equivalent $15.00/mo → 36‑month total $540. Gap: $144 (26.7%).
  • Zoom Workplace — entry $16.99/mo → 36‑month total $611.64; annual equivalent $14.16/mo → 36‑month total $509.76. Gap: $101.88 (20.0%).
  • monday.com — entry $12.00/mo → 36‑month total $432; annual equivalent $9.00/mo → 36‑month total $324. Gap: $108 (25.0%).
  • Trello — entry $6.00/mo → 36‑month total $216; annual equivalent $5.00/mo → 36‑month total $180. Gap: $36 (20.0%).
  • Canva — entry $18.00/mo → 36‑month total $648; annual equivalent $15.00/mo → 36‑month total $540. Note: our prices also show a renewal monthly of $18, which raises the question of whether first‑term discounts or promotional rates apply — read vendor pages. Gap (entry vs annual): $108 (20.0%).
  • Airtable — entry $24.00/mo → 36‑month total $864; annual equivalent $20.00/mo → 36‑month total $720. Gap: $144 (20.0%).
  • Mailchimp — entry $20.00/mo → 36‑month total $720; annual equivalent $20.00/mo → 36‑month total $720 (no difference in the figures we hold).
  • ClickUp — entry $10.00/mo → 36‑month total $360; annual equivalent $7.00/mo → 36‑month total $252. Gap: $108 (30.0%).
  • SuiteDash — entry $19.00/mo → 36‑month total $684. (No annual equivalent held.)

What the gap means in practice

Two points matter for budgeting: (1) whether you pay monthly or prepay annually, and (2) whether the vendor charges per seat or as a flat site licence. Annual billing often appears as a clear discount on vendor pages; for example Zoom’s documentation for some plans notes savings when you prepay annually, and Slack’s pages show separate monthly and annual pricing options. zoom.us

Seat‑based pricing — the model used by many collaboration tools — multiplies the per‑seat monthly charge by headcount and so magnifies the three‑year totals if headcount grows. Glossaries and vendor documentation make the mechanics explicit: a per‑seat price is multiplied by number of licensed users and billing periods, and vendors handle mid‑term seat additions or removals differently (some true‑up at renewal, some bill immediately). That behaviour changes actual spend versus the simple 36× calculation here. mowt.com

Three practical takeaways

  1. Don’t budget off the single monthly figure. The three‑year totals above show the scale of difference you get simply by choosing monthly vs annual billing on plans where both prices exist. Vendors commonly list a monthly price on marketing pages; annual prepayment often reduces that monthly equivalent by roughly 10–30% in practice. Zoom’s materials, for example, discuss annual savings; industry commentary and audits of pricing practices show annual discounts are common. zoom.us
  2. Seat models amplify uncertainty. For seat‑based products (Slack, Notion, Airtable, ClickUp, Zoom Workplace, Trello, monday.com and others in our list) a single new hire immediately increases the recurring line item. Budgeting must therefore include likely seat growth and the vendor’s approach to mid‑term seat changes (immediate billing vs next‑period true‑up). Vendor documentation and pricing glossaries explain those mechanics; treat headcount as a driver, not a constant. mowt.com
  3. Watch renewal and promotional language. Some entries in the prices we hold include a separate renewal figure; Canva’s record in our catalogue includes a renewal monthly of $18 while the annual equivalent we hold is $15. That pattern is consistent with vendors offering a lower rate for a first term or with promotional pricing that later reverts higher — the vendor’s pricing and FAQ pages are the authoritative source for how renewals work. Always read the renewal terms on the vendor page. join.slack.com

How to turn these figures into a three‑year budget

Start from the figures above, then:

  • Decide monthly vs annual billing for each product and apply the corresponding monthly figure from your vendor page or our catalogue.
  • For seat‑based products forecast headcount per product and multiply by the chosen monthly rate; for flat‑rate products treat the plan as a single line item.
  • Allow a 5–15% contingency for add‑ons, storage increases or API/usage charges on top of base plans — these are common and can push real bills above the base three‑year totals.

Final note

The three‑year totals here are arithmetic from the plan prices we hold. They are useful as a baseline comparison but not as a final quote — vendors publish bespoke enterprise pricing, seat true‑ups and add‑on charges that change the invoice. For vendor‑published details on billing cadence and plan differences see the vendor pricing pages we reference. join.slack.com