> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pictify.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Usage & Billing

> Monitor usage and manage your Pictify subscription

# Usage & Billing

Track your API usage, understand your billing, and manage your Pictify subscription.

## Usage Dashboard

Access usage analytics at **Settings** > **Usage**.

### Overview Metrics

| Metric            | Description                           |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| **Total Renders** | Images, GIFs, and PDFs generated      |
| **API Calls**     | Total API requests (including failed) |
| **Bandwidth**     | Data transferred from CDN             |
| **Storage**       | Template and asset storage used       |

### Time Periods

View usage for different periods:

* **Today** - Current day (UTC)
* **This Week** - Sunday to Saturday
* **This Month** - Calendar month
* **Custom Range** - Select specific dates

### Charts

Interactive charts show:

* **Daily renders** over time
* **Renders by type** (image, GIF, PDF)
* **Renders by template**
* **API response times**
* **Error rates**

## Plan Limits

### Free Plan

| Resource  | Limit       |
| --------- | ----------- |
| Renders   | 100/month   |
| API Calls | 1,000/month |
| Templates | 5           |
| Bandwidth | 1 GB/month  |

### Pro Plan

| Resource  | Limit        |
| --------- | ------------ |
| Renders   | 5,000/month  |
| API Calls | 50,000/month |
| Templates | 50           |
| Bandwidth | 50 GB/month  |

### Business Plan

| Resource  | Limit         |
| --------- | ------------- |
| Renders   | 50,000/month  |
| API Calls | 500,000/month |
| Templates | Unlimited     |
| Bandwidth | 500 GB/month  |

### Enterprise

Custom limits based on your needs. Contact sales for details.

## Usage Alerts

Get notified before reaching limits:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Alerts**
2. Configure thresholds:
   * 50%, 75%, 90%, 100% of limit
3. Choose notification method:
   * Email
   * Slack
   * Webhook

## Billing

### Viewing Invoices

1. Go to **Settings** > **Billing**
2. Click **Invoices** tab
3. Download PDF invoices

### Payment Methods

Add or update payment methods:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Billing**
2. Click **Payment Methods**
3. Add card or connect bank account

### Billing Cycle

* Monthly plans bill on subscription date
* Annual plans bill once per year
* Overages are billed at the end of each month

## Upgrading Your Plan

### From Dashboard

1. Go to **Settings** > **Billing**
2. Click **Change Plan**
3. Select your new plan
4. Confirm upgrade

Upgrades take effect immediately. You're prorated for the remaining billing period.

### Downgrading

1. Go to **Settings** > **Billing**
2. Click **Change Plan**
3. Select lower tier

Downgrades take effect at the end of your billing period.

## Overage Handling

When you exceed plan limits:

### Soft Limits (Pro and above)

* API continues to work
* Overage charges apply
* Rates vary by resource

### Hard Limits (Free plan)

* API returns `429 Plan Limit Exceeded`
* Upgrade or wait for next billing cycle

### Overage Rates

| Resource  | Pro Overage  | Business Overage |
| --------- | ------------ | ---------------- |
| Renders   | \$0.01/each  | \$0.005/each     |
| API Calls | \$0.001/each | \$0.0005/each    |
| Bandwidth | \$0.10/GB    | \$0.05/GB        |

## Cost Optimization

### Reduce Renders

1. **Cache rendered images** - Don't regenerate unchanged content
2. **Use bindings** - Auto-refresh images instead of re-rendering
3. **Batch similar renders** - Use batch API for efficiency

### Reduce Bandwidth

1. **Choose appropriate formats** - JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics
2. **Optimize dimensions** - Don't render larger than needed
3. **Use CDN caching** - Set appropriate cache headers

### Right-Size Your Plan

Compare your usage to plan limits:

1. View historical usage in dashboard
2. Identify usage patterns
3. Choose plan that fits typical usage
4. Consider annual plans for savings

## Team Usage

For team accounts, view usage by:

### By Team Member

See renders attributed to each user:

1. Go to **Usage** > **By User**
2. Filter by date range
3. View per-user metrics

### By API Key

Track which keys generate the most usage:

1. Go to **Usage** > **By API Key**
2. Identify high-usage keys
3. Set per-key rate limits if needed

## Export Usage Data

Download usage data for analysis:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Usage**
2. Click **Export**
3. Choose format (CSV, JSON)
4. Select date range
5. Download file

## Understanding Your Invoice

Invoice line items include:

| Item                  | Description                               |
| --------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| **Base Plan**         | Monthly/annual subscription               |
| **Render Overage**    | Additional renders beyond plan            |
| **API Call Overage**  | Additional API calls beyond plan          |
| **Bandwidth Overage** | Additional data transfer                  |
| **Add-ons**           | Premium features (priority support, etc.) |
| **Credits**           | Applied promotional credits               |

## Tax Information

### VAT/GST

If you're in a region with VAT/GST:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Billing**
2. Click **Tax Information**
3. Enter your VAT/GST number
4. Tax will be adjusted on future invoices

### Tax Exemption

For tax-exempt organizations:

1. Contact support with exemption documentation
2. We'll update your account
3. Future invoices will exclude tax

## Cancellation

To cancel your subscription:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Billing**
2. Click **Cancel Subscription**
3. Select reason (helps us improve)
4. Confirm cancellation

After cancellation:

* Access continues until end of billing period
* Data retained for 30 days
* API keys stop working at period end
* Download any needed data before then