How billing works
A clear explanation of how we count usage and what your plan includes.
Sessions vs queries
Query
Every search API call counts as one query. As a customer types in your search bar, each keystroke (after 2 characters) triggers a search. Typing "nike shoes" fires roughly 4 queries: "ni", "nik", "nike", "nike shoes".
Queries are tracked internally for our cost monitoring. They are not used for billing.
Session
One customer using your search bar once. A session starts when the customer begins typing and ends when any of these happens:
- Click - customer clicks a product in the results
- Enter - customer presses Enter to confirm their search
- Idle - 3 seconds of no typing (customer is reading the results)
- Leave - customer switches tabs or navigates away
Once a session ends, no more events are counted from it. If the customer searches again, a new session starts.
Your plan limit is based on sessions - not queries.
Why we bill by sessions
Billing by query would mean a single customer typing "comfortable running shoes" uses 15+ queries just from normal typing. That is not fair to you.
With session-based billing, that same customer counts as 1 session regardless of how much they typed, refined, or reworded their search. You pay for real customer interactions, not keystrokes.
Example
A customer visits your store and searches for sneakers:
Types: n, ni, nik, nike, nike s, nike sh, nike shoes
Queries fired: 6
Hovers over a result, clicks it
Session settles on click - 1 session counted
Later the same customer searches again for "blue running shoes". That is a second session.
Total: 2 sessions billed (not 12+ queries).
Plan limits
| Plan | Sessions / month | Products |
|---|---|---|
| Growth - $39/mo | 10,000 | 1,000 |
| Scale - $199/mo | 100,000 | 10,000 |
Session and query counters reset on the first day of each calendar month.
What happens when you hit your limit
When your monthly session limit is reached, the search widget stops returning results and shows a fallback message. Your store continues to work normally - only the search feature pauses until the counter resets next month or you upgrade your plan.