# Pricing plans (/subscriptions/pricing-plan) Choose from four subscription pricing models: Fixed, Quantity, Volume-based, and Tiered-based to customize your plan setup and payment structure. When you set up your subscription plan, you can choose from four different pricing models: * [Fixed](#fixed-pricing-plan) * [Quantity](#quantity-based-plan), also known as user or seat-based * [Volume-based](#volume-based-plan) * [Tiered-based](#tiered-based-plan) ## Fixed-pricing plan [#fixed-pricing-plan] A fixed-pricing plan is a frequency-based subscription plan that charges customers a fixed amount at a fixed frequency. Sample use cases: * Video or music streaming services that charge a monthly or yearly fee. * Gym or club membership. * Box subscriptions, such as grooming, clothing, beauty, and food. ### Examples [#examples] * Plan 1: $5 per month for a music streaming service * Plan 2: $100 per year for a gym membership ### Sample request [#sample-request] The following sample request shows how to create a fixed pricing plan. Use this sample to adjust your code when you [create a plan](/subscriptions/about). API endpoint used: [Create plan](/api/subscriptions/v1/plans-create)
```bash lineNumbers curl -v –X POST https://api-m.sandbox.paypal.com/v1/billing/plans \ -H "Accept: application/json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer ACCESS-TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -H "PayPal-Request-Id: PLAN-18062020-001" \ -d '{ "name": "Premium Music Plus", "description": "A premium plan with music download feature", "product_id": "PROD-5RN21878H3527870P", "billing_cycles": [{ "frequency": { "interval_unit": "MONTH", "interval_count": 1 }, "tenure_type": "REGULAR", "sequence": 1, "total_cycles": 0, "pricing_scheme": { "fixed_price": { "value": "5", "currency_code": "USD" } } }], "payment_preferences": { "auto_bill_outstanding": true, "payment_failure_threshold": 1 } }' ``` ## Quantity-based plan [#quantity-based-plan] A quantity-based pricing plan charges subscribers by the quantity of goods or services to which they subscribed. A quantity-based pricing plan charges subscribers by the quantity of goods or services to which they subscribed. * Service company offers remote tech support to small companies. * A software company charges for the number of software licenses. * Pet store offers a dog food subscription that charges customers based on the number of bags. ### Examples [#examples-1] * Plan 1: $5 per software license per month * Plan 2: $9 per dog food bag per week During subscription creation, the subscriber chooses a quantity. That quantity determines the amount charged every regular billing cycle. * Subscription 1: * A subscriber signs up for a plan of $5 per software license per month * A subscriber requests 10 licenses when they sign up * The net subscription price is 10 x 5 = $50 per month * Subscription 2: * A subscriber signs up for a plan of $9 per food bag per week * A subscriber requests 5 food bags when they sign up * The net subscription price is 9 x 5 = $45 per week > **Note:** **Note:** Subscribers can request an update to the quantity as things change. The new quantity and definition determine the new price that's applicable to subsequent billing cycles. ### Sample request [#sample-request-1] The following sample request shows how to create a quantity-based pricing plan. Use this sample to adjust your code when you [create a plan](/subscriptions/about). The following sample request shows how to create a quantity-based pricing plan. Use this sample to adjust your code when you `quantity_supported`. In this sample, the [Create plan](/api/subscriptions/v1/plans-create)
```bash lineNumbers curl -v –X POST https://api-m.sandbox.paypal.com/v1/billing/plans \ -H "Accept: application/json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer ACCESS-TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -H "PayPal-Request-Id: PLAN-18062020-001" \ -d '{ "name": "Classic treat", "description": "500gm dog food per bag", "product_id": "PROD-6DN21878H3529990P", "billing_cycles": [{ "frequency": { "interval_unit": "WEEK", "interval_count": 1 }, "tenure_type": "REGULAR", "sequence": 1, "total_cycles": 0, "pricing_scheme": { "fixed_price": { "value": "9", "currency_code": "USD" } } }], "quantity_supported": true, "payment_preferences": { "auto_bill_outstanding": true, "payment_failure_threshold": 1 } }' ``` ## Volume-based plan [#volume-based-plan] A volume-based pricing model defines the subscription's price based on the price per unit of the number of product units within a specified range. A volume-based pricing model defines the subscription's price based on the price per unit of the number of product units within a specified range. * Bulk SMS, email, and voice services * Bulk SAAS based platform charges for a given number of product licenses * Cloud based service platform charges for data storage based on volume ### Examples [#examples-2] #### Plan 1 [#plan-1] A merchant offers a volume-based monthly plan that provides software licenses to businesses using these defined fees: | Number of software licenses | Price per license (per month) | | --------------------------- | ----------------------------- | | 1-5 | $15 | | 6-10 | $14 | | 11-15 | $13 | | 16-20 | $12 | | 21 and beyond | $11 | During subscription creation, the subscriber chooses a quantity. That quantity determines the amount charged every regular billing cycle. * Subscription 1 * A subscriber signs up for plan 1 * A subscriber requests 14 licenses when they sign up. The price is calculated based on 3rd tier (11-15) * The net subscription price is 14 x 13 = $182 per month * Subscription 2 * A subscriber signs up for plan 1 * A subscriber requests 25 licenses when they sign up. The price is calculated based on 5th tier (21 and beyond) * The net subscription price is 25 x 11 = $275 per month #### Plan 2 [#plan-2] A merchant offers a volume-based monthly plan that provides tech support and assistance to relevant businesses with the using these defined fees: | Number of technicians (Tech Support) | Price per technician (per month) | | ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------- | | 1-10 | $30 | | 11-20 | $29 | | 21-30 | $28 | | 31 and beyond | $27.5 | * Subscription 1 * A subscriber signs up for plan 2 * A subscriber requests 8 licenses when they sign up. The price is calculated based on 1st tier (1-10) * The net subscription price is 8 x 30 = $240 per month * Subscription 2 * A subscriber signs up for plan 2 * A subscriber requests 25 licenses when they sign up. The price will be calculated based on 3rd tier (21-30) * The net subscription price is 25 x 28 = $700 per month > **Note:** **Note:** Subscribers can request an update to the quantity as things change. You can also customize the price for a subscriber or plan level at any time. The new quantity and definition determine the new price that's applicable to subsequent billing cycles. ### Sample request [#sample-request-2] The following sample request shows how to create a volume-based pricing plan. Use this sample to adjust your code when you [create a plan](/platforms/subscriptions/integrate/). The following sample request shows how to create a volume-based pricing plan. Use this sample to adjust your code when you `pricing_model`.`quantity_supported` parameters indicate that this plan is a volume-based plan. API endpoint used: [Create plan](/api/subscriptions/v1/plans-create)
```bash lineNumbers curl -v –X POST https://api-m.sandbox.paypal.com/v1/billing/plans \ -H "Accept: application/json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer ACCESS-TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -H "PayPal-Request-Id: PLAN-18062020-001" \ -d '{ "name": "Standard Plan", "description": "Volume based Software Licenses", "product_id": "PROD-6DN21878H3529990P", "billing_cycles": [{ "frequency": { "interval_unit": "MONTH", "interval_count": 1 }, "tenure_type": "REGULAR", "sequence": 1, "total_cycles": 0, "pricing_scheme": { "pricing_model": "VOLUME", "tiers": [ { "starting_quantity": "1", "ending_quantity": "5", "amount": { "value": "15", "currency_code": "USD" } }, { "starting_quantity": "6", "ending_quantity": "10", "amount": { "value": "14", "currency_code": "USD" } }, { "starting_quantity": "11", "ending_quantity": "15", "amount": { "value": "13", "currency_code": "USD" } }, { "starting_quantity": "16", "ending_quantity": "20", "amount": { "value": "12", "currency_code": "USD" } }, { "starting_quantity": "21", "amount": { "value": "11", "currency_code": "USD" } } ] } }], "quantity_supported": true, "payment_preferences": { "auto_bill_outstanding": true, "payment_failure_threshold": 1 } }' ``` ## Tiered-based plan [#tiered-based-plan] A tier-based pricing model defines the subscription's price and any price changes based on the quantity of product units within a tier. A tier-based pricing model defines the subscription's price and any price changes based on the quantity of product units within a tier. * Bulk SMS, email, and voice services * SAAS charges for a given number of product licenses priced differently across tiers * Cloud based service platform changes for data storage priced differently across tiers ### Examples [#examples-3] #### Plan 1 [#plan-1-1] A merchant offers a tiered-based monthly plan that provides software licenses to businesses using these defined fees: | Number of software licenses | Price per license (per month) | | --------------------------- | ----------------------------- | | 1-5 | $15 | | 6-10 | $14 | | 11-15 | $13 | | 16-20 | $12 | | 21 and beyond | $11 | During subscription creation, the subscriber chooses a quantity. That quantity determines the amount charged every regular billing cycle. * Subscription 1 * A subscriber signs up for plan 1 * A subscriber requests 14 licenses when they sign up * The net subscription price is 5 x 15 + 5 x 14 + 4 x 13 = $197 per month * Subscription 2 * A subscriber signs up for Plan 1 * A subscriber requests 25 licenses when they sign up * The net subscription price is 5 x 15 + 5 x 14 + 5 x 13 + 5 x 12 + 5 x 11 = $325 per month #### Plan 2 [#plan-2-1] A merchant offers a tiered-based monthly plan that provides tech support and assistance to relevant businesses with the following fee schedule: | Number of technicians (Tech Support) | Price per technician (per month) | | ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------- | | 1-10 | $30 | | 11-20 | $29 | | 21-30 | $28 | | 31 and beyond | $27.5 | During subscription creation, the subscriber chooses a quantity. That quantity determines the amount charged every regular billing cycle. * Subscription 1 * A subscriber signs up for Plan 2 * A subscriber requests 14 licenses when they sign up * The net subscription price is 10 x 30 + 4 x 29 = $416 per month * Subscription 2 * A subscriber signs up for Plan 2 * A subscriber requests 25 licenses when they sign up * The net subscription price is 10 x 30 + 10 x 29 + 5 x 28 = $730 per month > **Note:** **Note:** Subscribers can request an update to the quantity as things change. You can also customize the price for a subscriber or plan level at any time. The new quantity and definition determine the new price that's applicable to subsequent billing cycles. ### Sample request [#sample-request-3] The following sample request shows how to create a tiered-based pricing plan. Use this sample to adjust your code when you [create a plan](/platforms/subscriptions/integrate/). The following sample request shows how to create a tiered-based pricing plan. Use this sample to adjust your code when you `pricing_model`.`quantity_supported` parameters indicate that this plan is a tiered-based plan. In this sample, the [Create plan](/api/subscriptions/v1/plans-create)
```bash lineNumbers curl -v –X POST https://api-m.sandbox.paypal.com/v1/billing/plans \ -H "Accept: application/json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer ACCESS-TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -H "PayPal-Request-Id: PLAN-18062020-001" \ -d '{ "name": "Platinum Plan", "description": "Tiered based pricing for technical support", "product_id": "PROD-6DN21878H3529990P", "billing_cycles": [{ "frequency": { "interval_unit": "MONTH", "interval_count": 1 }, "tenure_type": "REGULAR", "sequence": 1, "total_cycles": 0, "pricing_scheme": { "pricing_model": "TIERED", "tiers": [ { "starting_quantity": "1", "ending_quantity": "10", "amount": { "value": "30", "currency_code": "USD" } }, { "starting_quantity": 11", "ending_quantity": "20", "amount": { "value": "29", "currency_code": "USD" } }, { "starting_quantity": "21", "ending_quantity": "30", "amount": { "value": "28", "currency_code": "USD" } }, { "starting_quantity": "31", "amount": { "value": "27.5", "currency_code": "USD" } } ] } }], "quantity_supported": true, "payment_preferences": { "auto_bill_outstanding": true, "payment_failure_threshold": 1 } }' ## See also * Use the [Plans resource group](/api/subscriptions/v1#plans) of the Subscriptions REST API to manage plans, including updating pricing, updating the plan, and deactivating the plan. export const _frontmatter = {"title":"Pricing plans","contentType":"Docs","keywords":"subscriptions, pricing plans","productStatus":"Current","apiVersion":"v1","date":"2022-04-06T23:06:12.000Z"} ```