Struggling to justify paying $20k a year for partnership software just to see your own data? Let's clear the air. The old model of charging for "database storage" is dead.

In 2026, Data is a commodity. Access is the asset.

Most ecosystem platforms tax you just for uploading your CSVs. They put a toll booth on your own information. At PartnerMatchcoi, we flipped the model. We believe that Account Mapping, the act of seeing where your customers overlap with a partner should be a public utility.

We give you the map for free. We only charge you when you want to use the map to find treasure.

Here is the economic logic behind why we unbundled "Insight" from "Action," and why this model builds a stronger network for everyone.

The "Data Tax" is Anti-Network

Imagine if LinkedIn charged you $100 just to create a profile and upload your resume. Nobody would join. The network would be empty.

Old-school Account Mapping tools (the "Legacy Players") charge high license fees just to sync your CRM.

• The Result: You join, but your partners don't because they don't want to pay the fee.

• The Failure: You can't map accounts because the other side isn't there.

The PartnerMatch Fix: By making the Account Mapping functionality free for everyone, SaaS vendors, Agencies, Resellers, we remove the friction.

• You invite a partner.

• They join for free.

• You see the overlap immediately.

This ensures our network has Density. You aren't paying for an empty room.

[Internal Link Opportunity]: Link this section to Article #54: "Why We Built a Network, Not a Directory" to reinforce the network effect argument.

The Free Tier: Intelligence (The "What")

We believe you have a right to know your potential. On our Free Plan, any company can:

1. Sync their CRM (Securely).

2. Map Accounts with existing partners.

3. See the Overlap Count (e.g., "We have 400 mutual customers with Company X").

This creates the "Aha!" Moment. You see the number 400. You realize there is millions of dollars in untapped revenue sitting in that overlap. But knowing it is there is only half the battle.

The Paid Tier: Action (The "Who")

This is where we charge. Data tells you where the opportunity is. We charge for the tools to capture it.

Our Paid Plan unlocks the Connection Layer:

1. New Partner Discovery: Don't just map current partners; find new ones based on overlap potential.

2. The "Warm Intro" Workflow: Use our system to request introductions to the specific stakeholders within those overlapping accounts.

3. Messaging: Unlock the chat to operationalize the deal.

The Logic: You pay for Growth, not existence.

• If you just want to monitor your ecosystem? Free.

• If you want to close deals, generate leads, and recruit new partners? Paid.

[Internal Link Opportunity]: Link this section to Article #57: "Case Study: How One Match Led to a $50k Opportunity" to show the ROI of the paid features.

Why We Charge "Anyone" (Universal Fairness)

Unlike marketplaces that tax one side (SaaS) to subsidize the other (Agencies), we charge based on Utility.

• The Enterprise SaaS: Needs to recruit 50 new partners this year. -> They Pay.

• The Boutique Agency: Needs to find 3 new tech stacks to specialize in. -> They Pay.

If you are extracting commercial value from the network, whether you are a giant software co or a specialized consultant—you contribute to the platform. This creates a High-Quality Ecosystem. Everyone on the paid tier is "Skin in the Game" serious about business development. No tire kickers.

The "Try Before You Buy" Psychology

This model aligns perfectly with the modern B2B buyer's journey.

1. The Hook: You join for free to check an overlap.

2. The Proof: You see a "High Overlap" with a dream partner.

3. The Friction: You want to message them, but you are on the Free Plan.

4. The Purchase: You upgrade instantly because the ROI is visible before the payment.

You aren't buying a promise. You are unlocking a known quantity.

The Verdict for 2026

We don't want to lock your data up. We want to set it free so you can see how valuable your ecosystem actually is.

Use the Free Plan to build your strategy. Use the Paid Plan to execute it.