How pay-per-play billing works
What counts as a play, what each plan includes, how the free trial works, and why your invoice number won't match Analytics.
With VSL Max you pay for plays, not bandwidth or number of videos. This guide covers what's counted, what each plan includes, and where to track usage.
What counts as a play
Today, a play is counted when the VSL Max player loads the video during a visit to your page. It counts once per player load, with or without sound. Watching again without leaving the page doesn't create another play.
The preview you see inside the dashboard, on the video screen, doesn't count as a play. Set things up and watch as much as you want without using your plan.
What each plan includes
Plans are monthly and differ by the number of included plays. There's no limit on videos: what the plan limits is the number of plays.
- Starter: $39 per month, 6,000 plays.
- Pro: $99 per month, 25,000 plays.
- Max: $199 per month, 60,000 plays.
The bigger the plan, the lower the cost per play. AI maximization and variation tests are included in every plan.
How the free trial works
Every new account starts with 100 trial plays. The plan you picked at sign-up starts after 14 days or when the 100 plays run out, whichever comes first. The first monthly charge happens at that point.
To start sooner, open Account settings › Plan & billing and use Activate plan now on the free trial notice. It keeps the plan you chose and the invoice is issued right away. The confirmation shows up in your account within a few seconds.
What happens when your plan plays run out
Your VSLs stay live. Each play above what your plan includes in the cycle costs $0.005 and goes on your next invoice, together with the monthly fee. Nothing is interrupted.
Details on usage above your plan, and how to lower that cost, are in Overage plays.
Where to check your usage
- At the top of the dashboard, the Plays indicator shows plays used this month out of your plan total. Click it to open Plan & billing.
- In Account settings › Plan & billing › Overview you'll see this month's plays, how many are left, and the renewal date.
- The Statement tab lists usage and the History tab lists invoices. History is only visible to admins.
Why Analytics shows a different number
Each video's Analytics tab only counts viewers who played with sound, shows one video at a time, and includes the current day. Billing counts player loads across the whole account, per billing cycle.
That's why the two numbers move together but are never identical. To check your invoice, always use Plan & billing, not Analytics.
How to change plans
- Open Account settings › Plan & billing.
- Go to the Plans tab.
- Pick the new plan and confirm.
With an active subscription, the change happens without leaving the dashboard and Stripe prorates the difference for the cycle. Only account admins can change plans.