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

# How billing works

> Monthly credit, per-instance trial, the committed model and the single monthly invoice

Enterprise charges for what you actually use, with a monthly minimum already included in your plan. This page explains each part of the model.

## Monthly credit (base)

Your plan includes a **monthly amount** that works as a usage credit.

* If the month's usage stays **within** the credit, you pay the plan amount, nothing more.
* If usage goes **over** the credit, you pay for the usage.

Think of the credit as a floor: you never pay less than the plan amount, and you only pay more when consumption exceeds that floor.

## 7-day trial per instance

Every new instance gets a trial period that starts **the first time a WhatsApp connects** to it (7 days by default, according to your contract).

<Check>An instance created and **never connected** is not billed and does not consume the trial.</Check>
<Check>The trial clock starts on the first connection, not on creation.</Check>

### The two trial clocks

The trial deadline is the **earlier** of two clocks. Whichever closes first ends the trial:

* **Number clock**: 7 days from that **number's first connection**, counted even if it was on an earlier instance. Recreating the instance does not reset this clock.
* **Creation clock**: 7 days from **this instance's creation**. It is a cap that prevents creating instances and only connecting them much later to stretch the trial.

In practice, an instance created and connected on the same day uses the full 7 days. A number that had connected before, or an instance created long before it connects, has the trial limited by whichever clock closes first.

## The committed model

When an instance **becomes billable**, it commits the amount proportional to the days **remaining until the cycle renews**. That amount is reserved for the whole cycle.

* Deleting or logging out the instance does **not** refund the committed amount, it runs until renewal.
* At renewal, the cycle is closed and a new one starts, with a new base and a new window.

<Note>
  Deleting an instance mid-cycle frees the slot so you can create another, but does **not** reduce the current cycle's invoice: the commitment holds until renewal.
</Note>

## One charge per month

Everything is added up and charged **at once**, on your billing day. You do not get one invoice per instance, you get a single invoice with the cycle's total.

## One trial per WhatsApp number

The free trial is granted **once per number**. A number that already used the trial before goes straight to billing when it connects again, but this does **not** block creating or connecting the instance.

<Note>
  The waiting period for the same number to trial again depends on your contract. In the default model, the trial is granted once per number.
</Note>

## Numeric example

The values below are generic. Assume a 30-day cycle, a monthly credit `C` and a per-instance price `V` set in your contract.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Commitment when it becomes billable">
    There are 10 days left until renewal when the instance becomes billable. It commits about `10/30 × V` of the cycle.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Deleting does not refund">
    You delete that instance on day 5. Even so, it counts the **10 committed days** until renewal, not the 5 it actually ran.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Usage above the credit">
    You keep 40 instances active for the whole cycle. Usage is `40 × V`. If `40 × V` is greater than `C`, your invoice is `40 × V` (the usage).
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Agree on the values of `C` and `V` with the sales team. This page describes **how** the calculation happens, the numbers for your plan live in your contract.
</Info>

## Next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Billing control" icon="sliders" href="/en/enterprise/billing-control">
    Force billing or keep an instance on trial.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Enterprise webhooks" icon="webhook" href="/en/enterprise/webhooks">
    Track trial start and end and the switch to billing.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>