# Pay as you go

Real estate is not predictable. Shoots spike. Seasons shift. Clients call last minute. Pay as you go is your safety net when you go beyond your plan. You keep working. You only pay for the extra usage.

### Why creators use pay as you go

* **Flexible cashflow.** Pay only when you exceed your plan.
* **Spend control.** Set a monthly spend limit and get warned before you go over.
* **Usage visibility.** Track your progress in real time and review every charge.
* **Freedom to grow.** Say yes to extra work without losing control of spend.

{% hint style="success" %}
We also offer **pay as you go-only** plans.

Your monthly plan can be as low as **1 listing**. This is great if you're just starting your career as a real estate photographer. See plan options here: <https://www.fotello.co/pricing>
{% endhint %}

***

### How it works

#### 1) Enable pay as you go

1. In the dashboard, click the **Remaining listings** banner on the top right.
2. Review the details.
3. Click **Enable pay as you go**.

You can also enable pay as you go from **Settings → Plan & Billing → Pay as You Go** using the toggle at the top of the page.

<figure><img src="https://3077795705-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9bFz3iNv5JjEmRK1wNQO%2Fuploads%2FTzlREODdzqZbU2tcrrUx%2FPAYG%20limit%20settings.png?alt=media&#x26;token=53977555-d421-45bb-90e2-17d433530d59" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
Only the team owner can enable pay as you go.
{% endhint %}

#### 2) Keep creating when you hit your plan limit

When your included usage runs out (for example listings, photos, twilights, staging, etc.), Fotello will:

* Prompt you for consent (if pay as you go isn't enabled), then
* Continue creating using pay as you go once you confirm

#### 3) Understand the rate

Pay as you go pricing depends on which plan you're on.

See current rates and what's included per plan:

* <https://www.fotello.co/pricing>

{% hint style="info" %}
If you expect regular pay as you go usage, upgrading is usually cheaper. Use [Change Plan](https://uni.fotello.co/billing/change-plan) to increase your commitment.
{% endhint %}

***

### When you're charged

#### Charged after you use

Invoices are triggered automatically by our system. Timing depends on your plan and your credit history with Fotello.

To view invoices:

1. Go to **Settings → Plan & Billing → Invoices**.
2. Or open: <https://app.fotello.co/dashboard/settings/subscription/invoices>

#### If you upgrade mid-cycle

If you upgrade mid-cycle:

* Any accrued pay as you go usage is settled at that point.

#### If you cancel

If you cancel, we first settle any outstanding balance for the current cycle. That includes any pay as you go usage.

***

### See your usage anytime

Go to **Settings → Plan & Billing → Pay as You Go** to see a running total for the current cycle. You'll also see a detailed breakdown for every dollar (and cent) charged. This includes extra listings, photo edits, twilights, staging and more.

Or open: <https://app.fotello.co/dashboard/settings/subscription/pay-later-usage>

You can filter usage by date range using the date picker, including presets for the current billing period or all time.

#### Export usage as CSV

To download your pay as you go usage for bookkeeping or expense tracking:

1. Go to **Settings → Plan & Billing → Pay as You Go**.
2. Select the date range you want to export.
3. Click the **Export** button above the usage table.

The CSV includes the usage ID, type, team member, date, and amount for each line item.

#### Set a monthly spend limit

In the same **Pay as You Go** tab, you can set a **Monthly Spend Limit** for the current billing period.

This gives you more control over pay as you go usage. You set the maximum amount of pay as you go usage allowed during the current billing period.

We added this for one reason. It helps you stay in control. Billing stays clear, predictable, and easier to manage during busy months.

<figure><img src="https://3077795705-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9bFz3iNv5JjEmRK1wNQO%2Fuploads%2F1tpc0M1rrPcJjMVAWpQB%2FPAYG%20limit.png?alt=media&#x26;token=5b5f11ae-93d7-4d1d-8957-7d2cfcbd2591" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### What this means

Your monthly spend limit is **not** an extra fee, deposit, or charge.

It is simply a cap on pay as you go usage for the billing period.

You are only billed for the pay as you go usage you actually use.

#### What counts toward the limit

Any eligible pay as you go usage on your account counts toward the limit, including:

* Pay as you go listings
* Extra photos
* Twilight
* Staging
* AI revisions
* Other pay as you go features on your plan

#### How it works

You can view your monthly spend limit and current usage in **Settings → Plan & Billing → Pay as You Go**.

Once set, you'll be able to:

* See how much of the limit you've used
* Track your progress against the limit in real time
* Get a warning when you're getting close

If you reach the limit, new pay as you go usage is paused until:

* You increase the limit, or
* Your next billing period begins

If you try to keep using pay as you go features after that, Fotello will prompt you to increase your limit before continuing.

This acts as a guardrail. It helps prevent unexpected usage from continuing past the amount you're comfortable with.

#### Example

If your monthly spend limit is **$35**, that does **not** mean you'll be charged **$35**.

It means your account can use up to **$35** in pay as you go usage during that billing period.

If you only use **$12**, you are only billed **$12**.

#### Why we added this

We built this to make pay as you go more transparent and more customer-friendly.

The goal is flexibility without losing control. The monthly spend limit helps you monitor usage, avoid surprises, and decide exactly how much extra usage your account can allow.

#### Disable pay as you go

If you no longer want to use pay as you go, you can turn it off anytime:

1. Go to **Settings → Plan & Billing → Pay as You Go**.
2. Toggle the switch off.
3. Confirm in the dialog.

Once disabled, any usage beyond your plan limits will be blocked — including extra listings, photos, staging, twilights, upscaling, AI revisions, and premium website templates. You can re-enable it anytime using the same toggle.

***

### Smart ways to save

* **Upgrade before a busy stretch.** Higher commitment usually lowers your unit cost.
* **Consider annual if you're seasonal.** Annual gives you a full year of listings upfront.
* **Use pay as you go as your buffer.** Keep it on, then review monthly.

### Need help choosing the most cost-effective setup?

You've got a few options:

* **Book a call** and we'll recommend the best fit: <https://cal.com/fotello/fotello-connect>
* **Message us** anytime via chat.
* **Compare plans** here: <https://www.fotello.co/pricing>


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