Getting Started
Plans & pricing explained
BigIdeasDB has three tiers - Free, Lite, and Pro. This page explains what each one unlocks so you can pick the right level for how you work. For current prices, always check the pricing page.
Last updated: July 9, 2026
Quick answer
Free gives you tools, calculators, and limited browsing. Lite adds the continuously updated pain-points and SaaS-ideas databases. Pro unlocks everything - the MCP server, TrustMRR, unlimited BuildGuide journeys and Reddit pipelines, and full BuildHub.
- Free - free tools, calculators, idea generator, limited database browsing.
- Lite - full pain-points and SaaS-ideas database access.
- Pro - MCP server, TrustMRR, unlimited pipelines and BuildGuide, full BuildHub, priority support.
What each tier includes
The tiers are cumulative - each one includes everything below it and adds more.
- Free: the free tools and financial calculators, the AI idea generator, and limited browsing of the databases. Good for kicking the tires.
- Lite: access to the continuously updating pain-points database and the SaaS-ideas database. Good if you mostly want the research data.
- Pro: full access to every database and analysis tool, the hosted MCP server, Revenue Intelligence (TrustMRR), unlimited BuildGuide journeys, unlimited Reddit pipelines, full BuildHub, and priority support.
Which should I pick?
If you plan to validate with revenue data or connect your AI client via MCP, you need Pro. If you only want to read the pain-points and ideas data, Lite is enough. Everyone starts on Free.
Match the tier to how you work
The right tier depends on which stage of the founder journey you are in. If you are still exploring and want to feel out the interface, Free covers idea generation, evaluation, and calculators without any commitment. If your bottleneck is finding problems worth solving, Lite unlocks the two research databases that surface documented pain and scored SaaS opportunities.
- Just exploring - Free. Generate ideas, evaluate them, and model unit economics.
- Doing research - Lite. Read the pain-points and SaaS-ideas databases in full.
- Validating and building - Pro. Add TrustMRR revenue data, Stripe and Funded intelligence via the databases, the MCP server, and the full build tooling.
Pro is the only tier that connects to the outside: it is required to generate MCP credentials, which is what lets Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and other clients query the data directly. Pro also removes the caps on BuildGuide journeys and Reddit pipelines, so it fits founders running multiple validation tracks at once.
Upgrading and billing
You can upgrade at any time from the upgrade page. Monthly and yearly billing are available, and yearly saves versus paying monthly. For step-by-step billing help, see Manage your subscription.
Upgrades take effect immediately, so Pro features like the MCP server and TrustMRR unlock the moment your payment is confirmed. If you need to change tiers later, you can manage or cancel your plan from the same billing area - see Canceling and refunds for how that works.
Prices change - check the source
This page describes what each tier unlocks, not the exact price. Always confirm current pricing on the <a href="/upgrade">upgrade page</a> before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Lite and Pro?
Lite gives you the pain-points and SaaS-ideas databases. Pro adds everything else: the MCP server, TrustMRR revenue intelligence, unlimited BuildGuide journeys and Reddit pipelines, full BuildHub, and priority support.
Do I need Pro to use the MCP server?
Yes. The hosted BigIdeasDB MCP server requires a Pro membership to generate credentials.
Is there a free tier, and what does it include?
Yes. Free includes the free tools, all nine financial calculators, the AI idea generator, the idea evaluator, and limited browsing of the databases. No credit card is required to start.
Can I pay yearly instead of monthly?
Yes. Both monthly and yearly billing are available on paid tiers, and paying yearly costs less than paying month to month. You can upgrade or switch billing cadence at any time from the upgrade page.
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