- Guides
- Managing Subscriptions & Usage
Guides
Managing Subscriptions & Usage
Stay on top of message quotas, storage limits, and plan upgrades in PlotsAlot.
Managing Subscriptions & Usage
PlotsAlot offers flexible plans to match every stage of your journey—from exploratory hobby projects to enterprise-grade analytics. This guide shows you how to monitor usage, interpret limits, and adjust your subscription when needed.
1. Understanding Plan Tiers
| Tier | Ideal For | Monthly Message Quota | File Storage | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobby | Personal projects, students | 200 messages | 50 MB | Community forum |
| Pro | Growing teams | 5 000 messages | 5 GB | Priority email |
| Enterprise | Mission-critical workloads | Custom | Custom | Dedicated CSM |
2. Viewing Your Current Usage
Navigate to Account → Usage. You’ll find:
- Messages sent this billing cycle.
- Storage consumed by file attachments.
- Integrations connected.
- Days remaining in cycle.
Visual gauges help you see at a glance how close you are to each limit. When you reach 80 % of any quota, an in-app alert appears in the chat sidebar to prompt action.
3. Upgrading or Downgrading
- Click Change Plan from the Usage page.
- Select a tier that fits your needs.
- You’re guided through a secure checkout flow powered by our payment partner.
- Upon success, your new limits apply instantly—no downtime.
What About Downgrades?
You can switch to a lower tier at any point. The change takes effect at the next billing cycle, ensuring you never lose access to data already stored.
4. Managing Payment Methods
The Billing Portal allows you to:
- Update credit card details.
- View invoices.
- Manage billing contacts.
Access it via Account → Billing.
5. Usage Policies & Fair Use
To keep the service affordable and performant for all, PlotsAlot enforces fair-use safeguards:
- Excessive message rates trigger temporary slowdowns to maintain system stability.
- Abnormally large file uploads prompt a warning, suggesting archive or purge options.
- Unused message quota does not roll over to the next month.
6. Notification Settings
Customize thresholds for usage alerts:
- Message Alerts – Choose percentage thresholds (e.g., 50 %, 75 %, 90 %).
- File Storage Alerts – Receive emails when attachments approach capacity.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I hit my limit mid-month?
Your chats remain accessible, but you will not be able to send new messages or upload files until the limit resets or you upgrade.
Can I purchase add-on message packs?
Yes, optional one-off bundles are available in the Billing Portal.
Is there a free trial for Pro?
New users can activate a 14-day Pro trial directly from the Usage page with no credit card required.
Congratulations! You now have a solid grasp of how to control costs and capacity. Next, discover advanced visualisation techniques or return to the Introduction to explore more features.