SaaS · 5 min read

How to Read a SaaS Contract Before You Sign

Clicking "I agree" on a software subscription can lock you into a year, hand over data rights, and cap the vendor’s liability at almost nothing. Check these before you commit.

Who owns your data — and can they train AI on it?

Confirm you keep ownership of your data, and look for any right to use it to "improve" or train AI models.

Auto-renewal and the cancellation window

Many contracts renew automatically and require 30–90 days’ notice to cancel. Note the exact deadline.

Liability cap vs. your real exposure

A cap of "one month of fees" won’t cover a data breach. Weigh the cap against what a failure would actually cost you.

Price increases

Look for unilateral price hikes on renewal and how much notice you get.

Uptime / SLA and data export

Check whether there’s an uptime commitment with real remedies, and that you can export your data on termination before it’s deleted.

Don't guess — check your actual contract

Upload your saas contract and our AI will flag the risky clauses in plain English, tuned to your state, with a downloadable report and redline.

This guide is general information from ClauseAudit, not legal advice. Laws vary by state and change — consult a qualified attorney for your situation.