Billing & Usage
Basestack Feature Flags uses a usage-based billing model that charges you only for what you use, with a minimum monthly spend. This guide explains how billing works, how to manage your subscription, and how to understand your usage.
Understanding Your Subscription
Basestack Feature Flags offers a Usage-Based Plan that provides:
- Minimum Spend: $5 per month
- Usage Credits: Includes $5 of usage credits
- Unlimited Features: Unlimited projects, environments, flags, segments, rollouts, teams, members, and more
- Pay-as-You-Go: Additional usage is charged per unit beyond the included credits
The usage-based model means you only pay for what you use. If your usage is below the $5 credit, you'll only be charged the minimum $5 per month.
Accessing Billing & Usage
Navigate to your account settings to view billing information:
- Click on your profile icon in the navigation bar
- Select "Account Settings" or "Manage Subscription"
- Click on the "Billing" tab
You'll see:
- Your current plan and subscription status
- Usage meters showing consumption
- Estimated costs for the current billing period
- Payment method information
Understanding Usage Meters
Your usage is tracked through several meters:
API Requests
- Cost: $0.00001 per request
- Usage: All API requests to fetch feature flags count toward this meter
- Examples: SDK requests, REST API calls, webhook deliveries
Email Notifications
- Cost: $0.002 per notification
- Usage: Each email notification sent counts toward this meter
- Examples: Flag change notifications, team invitations, activity alerts
Usage meters reset at the beginning of each billing cycle. Your included $5 credit is applied first, then additional usage is charged.
API requests are the primary usage meter for Feature Flags. Most costs come from your applications fetching flag values. Consider caching flag values in your application to reduce API requests.
Viewing Your Usage
On the Dashboard
Your dashboard shows an Account Insights section with:
- Current Usage: Projects, flags, teams, and members
- Usage Meters: Detailed breakdown of metered usage
- Estimated Cost: Projected cost for the current billing period
- Renewal Date: When your subscription renews
In Billing Settings
The Billing page provides detailed information:
- Current Plan: Your active subscription plan
- Usage Meters: Detailed meters with consumed units and costs
- Estimated Cost: Total estimated cost including minimum spend
- Billing Cycle: Monthly billing interval
Monitor your usage regularly to understand your costs and optimize your API usage. The estimated cost updates in real-time as you use the service.
Subscription Status
Your subscription can have different statuses:
Active
- Status: Subscription is active and working
- Features: All features are available
- Billing: You're being charged according to your usage
- Renewal: Subscription will renew automatically
Inactive
- Status: No active subscription
- Features: Limited features available (projects and teams work, but API endpoints are disabled)
- Billing: No charges
- Action: Add billing details to enable full features
Without an active subscription, API endpoints are disabled. You can still create projects and manage teams, but your applications won't be able to fetch feature flags until you add billing details.
Managing Your Subscription
Upgrading or Activating Subscription
Navigate to Billing
Go to your profile → Account Settings → Billing tab.
Complete Checkout
Click "Upgrade Plan" or "Enable Subscription" to proceed to checkout. You'll be redirected to a secure payment page.
Add Payment Method
Enter your payment details:
- Credit or debit card
- Billing address
- Review and confirm your subscription
Payment processing is handled securely through Polar. Your payment information is never stored on Basestack servers.
Managing Payment Methods
Update your payment method:
- Go to Billing settings
- Click "Manage Subscription"
- You'll be redirected to the customer portal
- Update your payment method or billing information
Keep your payment method up to date to avoid service interruptions. You'll receive notifications if payment fails.
Canceling Your Subscription
Access Customer Portal
Click "Manage Subscription" in your Billing settings. This redirects you to the secure customer portal.
Navigate to Cancellation
In the customer portal, find the cancellation option in your subscription settings.
Confirm Cancellation
Follow the prompts to cancel your subscription. You'll be asked to confirm the cancellation.
Understand Cancellation Effects
After cancellation:
- Your subscription remains active until the end of the current billing period
- You'll continue to have access until the period ends
- No further charges will be made
- You can reactivate anytime
Canceling your subscription will disable API endpoints at the end of your billing period. Make sure your applications can handle the service interruption or export your flag configurations before cancellation.
Billing Cycles
Monthly Billing
- Charged: Every month on your subscription start date
- Minimum: $5 per month
- Flexibility: Easy to cancel or change anytime
Understanding Costs
Minimum Spend
Every billing cycle includes a $5 minimum spend, which provides:
- $5 credit toward usage (API requests)
- Access to all features
- Unlimited projects, environments, flags, segments, rollouts, teams, and members
Additional Usage
Beyond the included credit, you're charged for:
- Additional API requests
- Email notifications
Estimated Costs
The estimated cost shown in your dashboard includes:
- Minimum spend ($5)
- Additional usage charges
- Excludes applicable sales taxes (e.g., VAT)
Estimated costs are calculated based on your current usage and update in real-time. Final charges may vary slightly based on actual usage.
Optimizing API Usage
Since API requests are the primary cost driver, here are ways to optimize:
Caching Strategies
- Client-Side Caching: Cache flag values in your application to reduce API calls
- SDK Caching: Use SDK caching features to minimize requests
Best Practices
- Use SDKs: SDKs include built-in caching and optimization
- Batch Requests: Fetch multiple flags in a single request when possible
- Reduce Polling: Increase polling intervals for non-critical flags
- Monitor Usage: Track your API request patterns to identify optimization opportunities
Most SDKs include intelligent caching that automatically reduces API requests. Check your SDK documentation for caching configuration options.
Payment Methods
Supported Payment Methods
- Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
- Debit cards
- Other payment methods available through Polar
Payment Security
- All payments are processed securely through Polar
- Payment information is encrypted and never stored on Basestack servers
Billing Notifications
You'll receive notifications for:
- Subscription Activation: When your subscription is activated
- Payment Success: When payment is successfully processed
- Payment Failure: If payment fails (with instructions to update)
- Renewal Reminders: Before your subscription renews
- Cancellation Confirmation: When you cancel your subscription
Keep your email address up to date to receive important billing notifications. Check your spam folder if you're not receiving emails.
Troubleshooting Billing Issues
Payment Failed
If your payment fails:
- Check Payment Method: Ensure your card is valid and has sufficient funds
- Update Payment Method: Go to Billing → Manage Subscription → Update payment method
- Contact Support: If issues persist, contact support for assistance
Unexpected Charges
If you see unexpected charges:
- Review Usage Meters: Check your usage meters to understand what was charged
- Review Billing History: Check your billing history in the customer portal
- Contact Support: Reach out if you need clarification on charges
Subscription Not Active
If your subscription shows as inactive:
- Check Payment Status: Ensure your payment method is valid
- Complete Checkout: If you haven't completed checkout, finish the process
- Contact Support: If issues persist, contact support
High API Usage
If you're seeing high API usage costs:
- Review SDK Configuration: Check if caching is enabled
- Analyze Request Patterns: Identify which applications or flags generate the most requests
- Optimize Polling: Increase polling intervals where appropriate
Best Practices
- Monitor Usage: Regularly check your usage meters to understand costs
- Optimize API Calls: Use caching and optimize polling intervals
- Keep Payment Updated: Ensure your payment method is always current
- Understand Costs: Review estimated costs regularly to avoid surprises
- Use SDKs: Leverage SDK caching features to reduce API requests
Set up monitoring for your API usage to track trends and identify optimization opportunities. Most applications can significantly reduce API requests with proper caching.