The Decline of One-Size-Fits-All SaaS

For years, the SaaS industry has been dominated by massive, all-in-one platforms. The pitch was simple: one software that could handle everything. But lately, I’ve been noticing a shift. More and more businesses are ditching bloated, one-size-fits-all SaaS products in favor of custom-built solutions that fit their exact needs.

This shift isn’t just a trend—it’s a fundamental change in how businesses approach software. And honestly, it makes total sense. Let’s talk about why it’s happening and what it means for the future of SaaS.

The Problem with All-in-One SaaS

If you’ve ever used a big-name SaaS tool, you’ve probably experienced this:

• You only need a handful of features, but you’re paying for a ton of extras you’ll never use.
• The UI feels cluttered because it's designed to cater to thousands of different use cases.
• Customizing it to fit your workflow is either impossible or requires expensive third-party integrations.
• The learning curve is unnecessarily steep because the software is trying to be everything for everyone.

Sound familiar? It’s because traditional SaaS companies follow a volume-based model. They build software that tries to appeal to as many users as possible. The result? Bloated, expensive tools that often fail to fully meet the needs of individual businesses.

According to a study by Productiv, the average company uses 254 different SaaS apps. But here’s the kicker: employees only actively use 45% of them. That’s a lot of wasted money and complexity. No wonder businesses are looking for alternatives.

Why Businesses Are Moving to Custom-Built Tools

A few years ago, if you wanted a software tool tailored to your business, you had to hire developers and spend months (or even years) building it from scratch. That was expensive and time-consuming, so most companies settled for off-the-shelf SaaS.

But things have changed. Now, businesses have more options:

• No-code and low-code platforms allow companies to build custom solutions without writing code.
• API-first SaaS tools make it easier to stitch together smaller, specialized apps that work exactly the way you need.
• AI-driven automation is reducing the need for complex, feature-heavy software by streamlining repetitive tasks.

These advancements mean that companies no longer have to settle for generic software. They can create exactly what they need, often at a fraction of the cost of traditional SaaS subscriptions.

The Rise of No-Code and the “Build-Your-Own” Movement

One of the biggest drivers of this shift is the rise of no-code platforms. They let businesses create their own internal tools, automations, and even customer-facing SaaS products without hiring a team of developers.

For example, I’ve seen small businesses build lightweight CRMs tailored to their sales process instead of forcing themselves to adapt to a massive, overpriced CRM suite. I’ve also seen startups launch SaaS products in weeks using no-code instead of spending months developing them from scratch.

The benefits are obvious:

• Flexibility: Businesses can build exactly what they need—no more, no less.
• Cost-effectiveness: No more paying for bloated features they don’t use.
• Speed: Custom tools can be built in days or weeks instead of months.
• Ease of use: Since they’re built specifically for a team’s workflow, there’s no unnecessary complexity.

Even at a bigger scale, companies are adopting this mindset. According to Gartner, by 2025, 70% of new applications developed by enterprises will use low-code or no-code technologies. That’s a massive shift.

What This Means for the Future of SaaS

So, does this mean traditional SaaS is dead? Not exactly. There will always be a place for widely used tools like Slack, Notion, or Zoom. But for many businesses, the future of software looks more like a collection of specialized, custom-built tools rather than one giant, bloated platform.

Here’s what I think we’ll see more of:

• Micro-SaaS businesses offering hyper-focused solutions that solve one problem really well.
• More modular SaaS tools that integrate seamlessly with others rather than trying to do everything.
• An explosion of no-code-built apps as businesses realize they don’t need a dev team to build what they need.
• More businesses “building their own SaaS” instead of relying on pre-built platforms.

For anyone in the SaaS world, this shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge? If you’re building a traditional, feature-heavy SaaS product, you’ll need to rethink your approach. The opportunity? There’s huge potential in offering lean, customizable solutions that fit this new way of thinking.

Final Thoughts

The era of one-size-fits-all SaaS is fading. Businesses are tired of paying for unnecessary features, dealing with bloated UIs, and struggling to adapt their workflows to rigid software. Instead, they’re looking for software that adapts to them.

Whether that means using no-code tools to build their own solutions or opting for modular, specialized software, one thing is clear: the future of SaaS is all about flexibility and customization.

As someone who’s been deep in the SaaS and no-code space, I find this shift exciting. It’s never been easier for businesses to get exactly what they need without the usual headaches. And for makers and indie hackers? This is a golden opportunity to build lean, highly-targeted SaaS products that truly solve problems.

What do you think? Have you seen this trend in your own work? Let’s discuss