THE INFLUENCE OF PUSH AND PULL MOTIVATION ON CONVERSION INTENTION OF CANVA PRO THROUGH PERCEIVED VALUE(A STUDY ON GEN Z IN DENPASAR)

Authors

  • Riyan Priyambodo Pradana Universitas Udayana, Bali Author
  • Putu Yudi Setiawan Universitas Udayana, Bali Author
  • Gede Suparna Universitas Udayana, Bali Author
  • Ni Wayan Ekawati Universitas Udayana, Bali Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20507858

Keywords:

push motivation, pull motivation, conversion intention, perceived value, freemium, SOR model, according to the millennial generation vs generation Z, Canva Pro

Abstract

The freemium business model remains a cornerstone of the software as a service (SaaS) industry, yet consistently low free-to-paid conversion rates, estimated globally at just 2 to 5 percent, pose a persistent challenge to sustainable monetization. This study investigates how push motivation (dissatisfaction with free-tier limitations) and pull motivation (the attractiveness of premium features) influence users' conversion intention toward Canva Pro, with perceived value serving as a mediating variable. Drawing on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) framework and integrating Push- Pull Motivation Theory, Perceived Value Theory, and Expectation–Confirmation Theory, a quantitative survey was conducted among 126 Generation Z Canva users in Denpasar City, a digitally advanced urban center with an internet penetration rate of 90.59%. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results indicate that push motivation directly and significantly affects both conversion intention and perceived value. Pull motivation, while not exerting a significant direct effect on conversion intention, strongly predicts perceived value, which in turn drives conversion intention. Perceived value operates as a complementary partial mediator between push motivation and conversion intention, and as a full mediator in the pull motivation to conversion intention pathway. These findings carry both theoretical and practical implications for freemium service providers seeking to optimize user upgrade strategies.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

APJII. (2025). Laporan penetrasi internet Indonesia 2025. https://apjii.or.id

Armawan, I., Hermawan, A., & Patmi Rahayu, W. (2022). The application of SOR theory in social media marketing and brand purchase intention in Indonesia: Systematic literature review. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 10.

Backlinko. (2024). Canva user statistics. Retrieved from https://backlinko.com

Bansal, H. S., Taylor, S. F., & St. James, Y. (2005). Migrating to new service providers: Toward a unifying framework of consumers' switching behaviors. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 33(1), 96–115.

Baptista, E. A., de Sousa Saldanha, E., & Vong, M. F. (2020). The mediating effect of tourist satisfaction among pull and push factors on tourists' behavioural intentions. Journal of Business and Management, 2(1).

Bhattacherjee, A. (2001). Understanding information systems continuance: An expectation-confirmation model. MIS Quarterly, 25(3), 351–370.

Bhattacherjee, A., Limayem, M., & Cheung, C. M. K. (2012). User switching of information technology: A theoretical synthesis and empirical test. Information & Management, 49(7–8), 327–333.

Blut, M., Chaney, D., Lunardo, R., Mencarelli, R., & Grewal, D. (2024). Customer perceived value: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Journal of Service Research, 27(4), 501–524.

Canva Help Center. (2025). Canva Pro features. Retrieved from https://www.canva.com/help

Duffett, R. G., Edu, T., Negricea, I. C., & Zaharia, R. M. (2020). Effect of YouTube marketing communication on converting brand liking into preference among millennials regarding brands in general and sustainable offers in particular: Evidence from South Africa and Romania. Sustainability, 12(3), 1–24.

Dwiartini, M. Y., & Suasana, I. G. A. K. G. (2022). Peran kepercayaan memediasi pengaruh persepsi nilai terhadap niat beli Brew Me Tea secara online. E-Jurnal Manajemen Universitas Udayana, 11(4), 682–706.

Gan, T., Zheng, J., Li, W., Li, J., & Shen, J. (2023). Health and wellness tourists' motivation and behavior intention: The role of perceived value. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5).

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2021). Multivariate data analysis (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2022). PLS-SEM: Recommendations for practitioners. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice.

Handoyo, A. T., & Fikriah, N. L. (2024). The influence of perceived value and repurchase intention: Study of Generation Z GoSend consumers in Malang. Bisnis & Entrepreneurship, 18(2), 569–580.

Hochreiter, V., Benedetto, C., & Loesch, M. (2023). The Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) paradigm as a guiding principle in environmental psychology. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Development, 3(1), 7–16.

Hu, L., Chen, M., & Ding, N. (2025). Factors influencing digital media designers' subscription to premium versions of AI drawing tools through a mixed methods study. Scientific Reports, 15(1).

Kannan, P. K., Gu, X., & Li, H. (2023). Selecting and optimizing the freemium sales model. Impact at JMR.

Kim, S., Choi, M. J., & Choi, J. S. (2020). Empirical study on the factors affecting individuals' switching intention to augmented/virtual reality content services based on push-pull-mooring theory. Information, 11(1).

Komalasari, F., Christianto, A., & Ganiarto, E. (2021). Factors influencing purchase intention in affecting purchase decision: A study of e-commerce customer in Greater Jakarta. BISNIS & BIROKRASI: Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi dan Organisasi, 28(1).

Lee, E. S. (1966). A theory of migration. Demography, 3(1), 47–57.

Mehrabian, A., & Russell, J. A. (1974). An approach to environmental psychology. MIT Press.

Munawaroh, Z., & Wisastra, A. (2021). An analysis of push and pull factors towards purchase intention to shop at Batik Trusmi Cirebon. Conference Series, 3(2), 317–333.

Pamungkas, D. A. (2023). The influence of perceived value and product involvement towards purchase intention mediated by attitude. Journal of World Science, 2(7), 989–997.

Phan Trong, N., & Vo Thi Ngoc, T. (2024). Freemium users' push-pull motivation and willingness to pay for conversion intent from free to premium. Journal of Distribution Science, 22(11), 27–38.

Pratama, F., & Handoyo, S. E. (2024). Pengaruh perceived price dan perceived quality terhadap purchase intention melalui perceived value. Unpublished manuscript.

Shang, Y., Jiang, J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, R., & Liu, P. (2024). When does a freemium business model lead to high performance? A qualitative comparative analysis based on fuzzy sets. Heliyon, 10(3).

Sweeney, J. C., & Soutar, G. N. (2001). Consumer perceived value: The development of a multiple item scale. Journal of Retailing, 77(2), 203–220.

Tsai, H. T. (2023). Antecedents of consumer willingness to subscribe to premium services: A multi-theoretical perspective. Unpublished manuscript.

Wang, C., Liu, T., Zhu, Y., Wang, H., Wang, X., & Zhao, S. (2023). The influence of consumer perception on purchase intention: Evidence from cross-border e-commerce platforms. Heliyon, 9(11).

Widiastuti, L. P., Kusuma Ningrum, N., & Maharani, B. D. (2024). The influence of live streaming commerce on purchase intention based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) framework. International Journal of Economics Development Research, 5(4).

Wu, Y., & Kim, H. (2022). Understanding mobile game players' switching intention: Examining push, pull, and mooring effects. Information & Management, 59(3).

Yoon, C., & Lim, D. (2021). Customers' intentions to switch to internet-only banks: Perspective of the push-pull-mooring model. Sustainability, 13(14).

Yunita, E., & Munandar, J. M. (2023). The influence of push-pull-mooring effects on e-wallet customer switching in Generation Z in DKI Jakarta. The South East Asian Journal of Management, 17(1), 1–27.

Zainyah, et al. (2025). Purchase decision pada Canva Pro: Peran perceived value dan customer experience melalui customer satisfaction pada kalangan Gen Z di Sidoarjo. Unpublished manuscript.

Zeithaml, V. A. (1988). Consumer perceptions of price, quality, and value: A means-end model and synthesis of evidence. Journal of Marketing, 52(3), 2–22.

Downloads

Published

2026-06-02