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

# Pricing & Plan Types

> Explore PlayFlow Cloud's flexible and transparent pricing for game server instances.

<Frame>
  <div className="p-6 bg-gradient-to-br from-indigo-600 to-blue-500 rounded-lg shadow-lg">
    <h2 className="text-xl font-bold mb-2 text-white">Flexible, Transparent Game Server Pricing</h2>

    <p className="text-indigo-100">
      PlayFlow Cloud offers usage-based billing with no long-term commitments.
      Only pay for the compute time your servers actually run.
    </p>
  </div>
</Frame>

## Instance Types & Pricing

PlayFlow Cloud offers a comprehensive range of server options to power your game's multiplayer infrastructure:

* **Standard Instances** - Efficient shared CPU resources with quick deployment. Optimized for development environments, testing, and games with variable player loads. Provides an excellent balance of performance and cost-effectiveness.

* **Dedicated Instances** - Guaranteed CPU resources that deliver consistent performance. Ideal for production environments where reliable, predictable performance is critical for player experience. Ensures stability during high-demand periods.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="All Instances">
    <div className="mt-4">
      <p className="mb-4">Our complete range of game server instances, from low-cost development options to high-performance dedicated resources.</p>

      | Instance Type      | CPU Type  | vCPU | RAM   | Price (USD/hr) |
      | :----------------- | :-------- | :--- | :---- | :------------- |
      | `micro`            | Standard  | 1    | 512MB | \$0.01         |
      | `small`            | Standard  | 1    | 1GB   | \$0.02         |
      | `medium`           | Standard  | 1    | 2GB   | \$0.04         |
      | `large`            | Standard  | 2    | 4GB   | \$0.06         |
      | `xlarge`           | Standard  | 4    | 8GB   | \$0.12         |
      | `dedicated-small`  | Dedicated | 1    | 2GB   | \$0.07         |
      | `dedicated-medium` | Dedicated | 1    | 4GB   | \$0.09         |
      | `dedicated-large`  | Dedicated | 1    | 8GB   | \$0.13         |
      | `dedicated-xlarge` | Dedicated | 2    | 16GB  | \$0.26         |

      <Info>
        `small` is the default compute size if you don't pass `compute_size` when starting a server. Standard instances use shared vCPU; dedicated instances use performance (dedicated) vCPU.
      </Info>
    </div>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Standard Instances">
    <div className="mt-4">
      <p className="mb-4">Standard instances use shared CPU resources and are ideal for development, testing, and games with moderate performance requirements.</p>

      | Instance Type | vCPU | RAM   | Price (USD/hr) |
      | :------------ | :--- | :---- | :------------- |
      | `micro`       | 1    | 512MB | \$0.01         |
      | `small`       | 1    | 1GB   | \$0.02         |
      | `medium`      | 1    | 2GB   | \$0.04         |
      | `large`       | 2    | 4GB   | \$0.06         |
      | `xlarge`      | 4    | 8GB   | \$0.12         |
    </div>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Dedicated Instances">
    <div className="mt-4">
      <p className="mb-4">Dedicated instances provide guaranteed CPU resources, ensuring consistent performance for production games and demanding workloads.</p>

      | Instance Type      | vCPU | RAM  | Price (USD/hr) |
      | :----------------- | :--- | :--- | :------------- |
      | `dedicated-small`  | 1    | 2GB  | \$0.07         |
      | `dedicated-medium` | 1    | 4GB  | \$0.09         |
      | `dedicated-large`  | 1    | 8GB  | \$0.13         |
      | `dedicated-xlarge` | 2    | 16GB | \$0.26         |
    </div>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Plans

Every new organization starts on the **Free** plan. Upgrade to **Pro** when you need more concurrent servers, longer-running sessions, or access to every compute size.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Free" icon="rocket">
    Best for prototyping and testing.

    * **1** active server at a time
    * Forced `small` compute size
    * Forced **1 hour** TTL (server auto-stops after 3600s)
    * No compute billing — you're never charged
    * No credit card required
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pro — $20/mo" icon="crown">
    Best for launching and scaling a live game.

    * **Unlimited** active servers
    * Every compute size (`micro` through `dedicated-xlarge`)
    * TTL up to **24 hours** (86400s)
    * Usage-metered compute billing at the per-hour rates above, on top of the \$20/mo base
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Info>
  The per-hour instance rates in the tables above apply to metered compute on the Pro plan. Free-plan servers run the `small` size at no charge.
</Info>

## Key Features

<Steps>
  <Step title="Usage-Based Billing">
    Pay only for the compute time your servers run, metered proportionally to runtime. No flat monthly server fees.
  </Step>

  <Step title="No Hidden Fees">
    Transparent pricing with no surprise charges. Unlimited data transfer included with all plans.
  </Step>

  <Step title="On-Demand Servers">
    Launch servers when you need them through the dashboard or API. Servers start on demand and are billed only while they run.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Global Deployment">
    Deploy your game servers across 13 regions worldwide to reduce latency for all your players. A `region` is required when you start a server.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Free Development Tier">
    Get started for free with 1 active server, a forced `small` size, and a 1-hour TTL — no credit card and no compute charges.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Frequently Asked Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How does usage-based billing work?">
    <p>PlayFlow Cloud meters your server usage while each server is running. When you start a server, we begin counting its runtime and stop when the server is terminated (or auto-stops at its TTL). Usage is billed proportionally to runtime at the per-hour rate for the compute size, and totals accrue over your billing cycle. Free-plan servers are never charged.</p>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is there a minimum usage time?">
    <p>There is no minimum usage requirement or contract. Compute is billed proportionally to how long your server runs (fractional-hour windows at the per-hour rate), so a server that runs for a few minutes costs only a small fraction of its hourly price. Very short sessions may be absorbed rather than metered.</p>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Are there any long-term commitments?">
    <p>No, PlayFlow Cloud is entirely pay-as-you-go. There are no contracts, minimum spending requirements, or termination fees. You can start or stop using our services at any time without penalty.</p>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is data transfer included?">
    <p>Yes! All PlayFlow plans include unlimited data transfer at no extra cost. You'll never be charged for bandwidth — only for the compute time your servers are running. A soft fair-use limit applies to prevent abuse, but it's more than enough for the vast majority of games.</p>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do you offer custom plans for large-scale deployments?">
    <p>Yes, for large-scale deployments or games with specific requirements, please contact our sales team to discuss custom plans and potential volume discounts. We can tailor solutions for studios of any size and games of any scale.</p>
    <p>Reach out via our <a href="https://discord.gg/P5w45Vx5Q8">Discord community</a> or through the support options in your dashboard.</p>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<div className="flex justify-center mt-12 mb-8">
  <a href="https://app.playflowcloud.com" className="px-8 py-4 bg-gradient-to-r from-indigo-600 to-blue-500 text-white font-medium rounded-md hover:from-indigo-700 hover:to-blue-600 transition-all duration-200 shadow-md flex items-center space-x-2 transform hover:-translate-y-0.5">
    <span>Deploy Your Game Server Now</span>

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