# TierGauge (full citation index)

> Live SaaS pricing and migration hub for marketing and sales tools, refreshed weekly from each vendor's public pricing page.

TierGauge tracks 37 marketing and sales tools across 21 categories. Every plan, price, limit, and feature is captured from the vendor's own pricing page on a weekly cron, with per-tool last_verified timestamps, and is published as both human-readable HTML and a CC BY 4.0 schema-pinned JSON API. Editorial posture is anonymous and disclosure-first: affiliate relationships are listed openly on the methodology page, and rankings are not influenced by them. This is the extended version of /llms.txt with one-line excerpts; for the curated short list see /llms.txt.

## Methodology and provenance

- [Methodology](https://tiergauge.com/methodology): plain-language version of the editorial standards. Every claim on the site should be traceable back to a rule listed here, including capture cadence, ranking inputs, and affiliate disclosure.
- [About](https://tiergauge.com/about): TierGauge is a live SaaS pricing and alternatives hub for marketing and sales tools. Pricing is captured weekly from each vendor's public pricing page and cited on every tool profile. Contact: contact@tiergauge.com.
- [Freshness](https://tiergauge.com/freshness): per-tool last-verified dates, bucketed fresh / due / stale aligned with the weekly scrape cadence. Sorted stalest-first.
- [Coverage](https://tiergauge.com/coverage): tools referenced as alternatives but not yet seeded into the spine; sorted by reference count, descending.
- [Changes](https://tiergauge.com/changes): chronological human-readable feed of detected anchor-price changes, tagged with direction (increase, decrease, added, removed, to-custom, from-custom).
- [Scrape runs](https://tiergauge.com/scrape-runs): per-tool most-recent scrape attempt with outcome, plans found, warnings, and error messages.
- [Status](https://tiergauge.com/status): build and pipeline health.
- [Privacy](https://tiergauge.com/privacy): privacy policy.

## Public data API (CC BY 4.0, free, no auth, CORS open, 10-minute cache)

- [/api/tools.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/tools.json): full feed. Shape: { feed_version, generated_at, count, tools: Tool[], per_tool_endpoints: string[] }. Validated against /api/tools.schema.json on every build.
- [/api/tools/{slug}.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/tools/kit.json): per-tool feed. One endpoint per slug; the index feed lists them all in per_tool_endpoints.
- [/api/categories/{slug}.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/categories/email-marketing.json): per-category feed. All tools whose primary or secondary category matches the slug, ranked the same as /best/<category>.
- [/api/migrations.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/migrations.json): 37 curated migration guides as structured JSON. Validated against /api/migrations.schema.json.
- [/api/changes.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/changes.json): pricing-change events feed. Shape: { feed_version, generated_at, count, events: PriceChange[] }. Stable URL for subscribe-by-polling.
- [/api/coverage.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/coverage.json): coverage gaps. Shape: { tools_tracked, gap_count, total_references, gaps[] }.
- [/api/freshness.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/freshness.json): per-tool freshness. Shape: { thresholds, buckets, tools[] }.
- [/api/scrape-runs.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/scrape-runs.json): per-tool latest scrape attempt and outcome.
- [/api/tools.schema.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/tools.schema.json): JSON Schema for tool feeds.
- [/api/migrations.schema.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/migrations.schema.json): JSON Schema for migration feeds.
- [/api/coverage.schema.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/coverage.schema.json): JSON Schema for coverage feed.
- [/api/freshness.schema.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/freshness.schema.json): JSON Schema for freshness feed.
- [/api/scrape-runs.schema.json](https://tiergauge.com/api/scrape-runs.schema.json): JSON Schema for scrape-runs feed.
- [/changes.xml](https://tiergauge.com/changes.xml): RSS 2.0 feed of pricing-change events.
- [API documentation](https://tiergauge.com/api): human-readable endpoint index with shapes, top-level keys, cache headers, and a per-tool / per-category catalog.

## Long-form analysis

- [State of SaaS Pricing, Q2 2026](https://tiergauge.com/posts/state-of-saas-pricing-q2-2026): a read of 37 marketing and sales tools we track plus 37 hand-written migration guides. What the pricing actually looks like in Q2 2026, where the cliffs are, and why buyers are switching the directions they are.

## Tool profiles (37)

- [beehiiv](https://tiergauge.com/tools/beehiiv): newsletter platform with built-in monetization.
- [Buffer](https://tiergauge.com/tools/buffer): simple per-channel social media scheduling for small brands and creators.
- [Buttondown](https://tiergauge.com/tools/buttondown): privacy-first newsletter tool for creators with a la carte add-on pricing instead of stacked tiers.
- [Cal.com](https://tiergauge.com/tools/cal): the open-source, self-hostable Calendly alternative.
- [Calendly](https://tiergauge.com/tools/calendly): the default meeting-scheduling tool, with per-seat pricing.
- [Close](https://tiergauge.com/tools/close): sales CRM with built-in calling, SMS, and email for outbound teams.
- [Convert](https://tiergauge.com/tools/convert): website A/B testing with transparent published pricing.
- [Crisp](https://tiergauge.com/tools/crisp): per-workspace live chat and shared inbox with omnichannel messaging.
- [Customer.io](https://tiergauge.com/tools/customer-io): behavior-driven messaging platform for product-led B2C and B2B teams.
- [Demio](https://tiergauge.com/tools/demio): browser-based webinars with automated and live formats for B2B marketing teams.
- [Drip](https://tiergauge.com/tools/drip): e-commerce email and automation built for Shopify and BigCommerce stores.
- [Flodesk](https://tiergauge.com/tools/flodesk): designer-focused email marketing with polished templates and a generous free tier.
- [Ghost](https://tiergauge.com/tools/ghost): hosted Ghost(Pro) for the open-source publishing platform; paid memberships native, no revenue share.
- [Help Scout](https://tiergauge.com/tools/help-scout): conversation-centric help desk and shared inbox for support teams.
- [Hightouch](https://tiergauge.com/tools/hightouch): warehouse-native Composable CDP and reverse-ETL for activating data into ad and SaaS tools.
- [Hunter](https://tiergauge.com/tools/hunter): B2B email finder and verifier with credit-based plans and a generous free tier.
- [Intercom](https://tiergauge.com/tools/intercom): per-seat customer messaging with Fin AI Agent for tier-1 deflection.
- [Kit](https://tiergauge.com/tools/kit): email marketing built for creators (formerly ConvertKit).
- [Leadpages](https://tiergauge.com/tools/leadpages): landing page builder with unlimited traffic on every tier and AI conversion routing.
- [lemlist](https://tiergauge.com/tools/lemlist): multichannel cold-outreach platform for email, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and calls.
- [Mailchimp](https://tiergauge.com/tools/mailchimp): the default email marketing platform for small businesses.
- [MailerLite](https://tiergauge.com/tools/mailerlite): email marketing with a generous free tier and clean editor.
- [Mailgun](https://tiergauge.com/tools/mailgun): developer-grade transactional email API and SMTP relay with deliverability tooling.
- [Mailtrap](https://tiergauge.com/tools/mailtrap): email delivery platform combining a production Email API with an Email Sandbox for safe pre-launch testing.
- [Mixpanel](https://tiergauge.com/tools/mixpanel): event-based product analytics with usage pricing and a generous free tier.
- [Omnisend](https://tiergauge.com/tools/omnisend): email, SMS, and push marketing built for e-commerce.
- [PostHog](https://tiergauge.com/tools/posthog): open-source product analytics, session replay, feature flags, and surveys in one stack.
- [Postmark](https://tiergauge.com/tools/postmark): transactional email API focused on inbox placement and detailed delivery analytics.
- [Postscript](https://tiergauge.com/tools/postscript): Shopify-native SMS marketing with platform fee plus per-message rates.
- [Resend](https://tiergauge.com/tools/resend): modern transactional email API with React Email integration and transparent volume pricing.
- [Substack](https://tiergauge.com/tools/substack): newsletter publishing with a 10% revenue share, no flat fee.
- [Surfer SEO](https://tiergauge.com/tools/surfer-seo): content optimization platform that ties NLP-based scoring to live SERP analysis.
- [Tally](https://tiergauge.com/tools/tally): free Typeform alternative with unlimited forms and submissions.
- [Triple Whale](https://tiergauge.com/tools/triple-whale): Shopify-first marketing attribution and e-commerce analytics with cross-device tracking.
- [Typeform](https://tiergauge.com/tools/typeform): premium conversational form and survey builder.
- [Unbounce](https://tiergauge.com/tools/unbounce): landing-page builder with built-in A/B testing and AI traffic optimization.
- [Webflow](https://tiergauge.com/tools/webflow): visual website builder with bundled CMS for design-led brands and content sites.

## Best-of category guides

- [Best email marketing for creators](https://tiergauge.com/best/email-marketing-for-creators): editorial top picks for newsletter writers, course sellers, and indie publishers.
- [Free email marketing](https://tiergauge.com/best/free-email-marketing): platforms with usable free tiers, ranked by what the free tier actually unlocks.
- [Newsletter platforms with built-in monetization](https://tiergauge.com/best/newsletter-platforms-with-built-in-monetization): tools where paid subscriptions, products, or ads are first-class.
- [Newsletter platforms for paid subscriptions](https://tiergauge.com/best/newsletter-platforms-for-paid-subscriptions): platforms ranked by how cleanly they support paid memberships and how much revenue they take.
- [Help desk for startups](https://tiergauge.com/best/help-desk-for-startups): support tooling ranked for small teams without enterprise budgets.
- [Analytics tools for startups](https://tiergauge.com/best/analytics-tools-for-startups): product analytics ranked by what's usable on the free or starter tier.
- [Landing page builders](https://tiergauge.com/best/landing-page-builders): editorial ranking with conversion features, pricing cliffs, and A/B testing notes.
- [Marketing tools for Shopify stores](https://tiergauge.com/best/marketing-tools-for-shopify-stores): cross-category roundup of the email, SMS, attribution, and CDP tools that integrate cleanly with Shopify.
- [Transactional email APIs](https://tiergauge.com/best/transactional-email-api): API-first delivery providers ranked by deliverability tooling and pricing transparency.
- [All best-of guides](https://tiergauge.com/best): full directory of per-category top picks.

## Migration guides (37)

Email marketing and creator publishing:
- [Substack to Kit](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/substack-to-kit): leave Substack's 10% revenue share. Kit charges a flat monthly fee that scales with list size, not with how much money you make.
- [Substack to beehiiv](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/substack-to-beehiiv): the closest like-for-like Substack experience without revenue share.
- [Substack to Ghost](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/substack-to-ghost): open-source self-hostable alternative with native paid memberships.
- [Mailchimp to Kit](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/mailchimp-to-kit): swap Mailchimp's contact-tier ratchet for creator-focused tooling.
- [Mailchimp to MailerLite](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/mailchimp-to-mailerlite): consistently cheaper at every tier with a more generous free plan.
- [Mailchimp to beehiiv](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/mailchimp-to-beehiiv): newsletter-shaped publication with built-in growth tooling.
- [Mailchimp to Flodesk](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/mailchimp-to-flodesk): flat-rate pricing regardless of list size, designer-focused templates.
- [Mailchimp to Omnisend](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/mailchimp-to-omnisend): for Shopify-first stores that want email plus SMS in one tool.
- [Mailchimp to Buttondown](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/mailchimp-to-buttondown): privacy-first, a la carte newsletter publishing.
- [Kit to beehiiv](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/kit-to-beehiiv), [beehiiv to Kit](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/beehiiv-to-kit): bidirectional swap between the two creator-newsletter leaders.
- [Kit to MailerLite](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/kit-to-mailerlite): cheaper alternative with similar feature footprint.
- [Kit to Customer.io](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/kit-to-customer-io), [Customer.io to Kit](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/customer-io-to-kit): when to graduate up or simplify down.
- [MailerLite to Kit](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/mailerlite-to-kit), [MailerLite to Mailchimp](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/mailerlite-to-mailchimp), [MailerLite to Flodesk](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/mailerlite-to-flodesk): MailerLite outbound options.
- [Flodesk to MailerLite](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/flodesk-to-mailerlite): when designer aesthetics aren't worth Flodesk's tier ceiling.
- [Omnisend to Mailchimp](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/omnisend-to-mailchimp): reverse path back to the default.
- [Ghost to beehiiv](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/ghost-to-beehiiv): off self-hosted Ghost into managed beehiiv.

Transactional email and deliverability:
- [Postmark to Resend](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/postmark-to-resend): modern API with React Email and transparent volume pricing.
- [Mailgun to Resend](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/mailgun-to-resend): off Mailgun's legacy stack onto a developer-first replacement.
- [Mailgun to Postmark](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/mailgun-to-postmark): when inbox-placement reputation matters more than feature surface.

Help desk and live chat:
- [Intercom to Help Scout](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/intercom-to-help-scout): off per-seat-plus-AI-resolution pricing into a flat conversation-based model.
- [Intercom to Crisp](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/intercom-to-crisp): per-workspace pricing instead of per-seat.
- [Help Scout to Crisp](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/help-scout-to-crisp), [Crisp to Help Scout](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/crisp-to-help-scout): bidirectional pair.
- [Crisp to Intercom](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/crisp-to-intercom): when AI deflection is worth the per-seat tax.

Calendar, forms, landing pages, sales, analytics:
- [Calendly to Cal.com](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/calendly-to-cal), [Cal.com to Calendly](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/cal-to-calendly): open-source vs the default, both directions.
- [Typeform to Tally](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/typeform-to-tally), [Tally to Typeform](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/tally-to-typeform): free unlimited vs premium conversational forms.
- [Leadpages to Unbounce](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/leadpages-to-unbounce), [Unbounce to Leadpages](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/unbounce-to-leadpages): bidirectional landing-page swap.
- [lemlist to Close](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/lemlist-to-close): from outreach-only into a full sales CRM.
- [Mixpanel to PostHog](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/mixpanel-to-posthog), [PostHog to Mixpanel](https://tiergauge.com/migrate/posthog-to-mixpanel): open-source all-in-one vs event-based analytics specialist.
- [All 37 migration guides](https://tiergauge.com/migrate): full index with editorial tags.

## Calculators

- [Cal.com calculator](https://tiergauge.com/calculator/cal): seats and price by tier.
- [Calendly calculator](https://tiergauge.com/calculator/calendly): per-seat cost projection.
- [Help Scout calculator](https://tiergauge.com/calculator/help-scout): user count to plan tier.
- [Intercom calculator](https://tiergauge.com/calculator/intercom): seats plus Fin Resolutions cost projection.
- [lemlist calculator](https://tiergauge.com/calculator/lemlist): seats and contact count by tier.
- [Stack calculator](https://tiergauge.com/calculator/stack): generic multi-tool stack cost.
- [Calculator index](https://tiergauge.com/calculator).

## How to cite

All endpoints and pages are CC BY 4.0. Attribution: link back to https://tiergauge.com or the specific source URL. Pricing data is scraped from official vendor pages and merged with editorial; always confirm current pricing with the vendor before purchasing. See /methodology for full details.