Tier Structure
Imperial offers four tiers designed to scale with your needs. Paid access is applied via redemption keys in fixed durations.Free
Perfect for trying out Imperial
Starter
For hobbyists and side projects
Pro
For creators and growing platforms
Business
For teams and production apps
Detailed Comparison
- Storage & Operations
- Features
- Pricing (Key Durations)
| Feature | Free | Starter | Pro | Business |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storage | 1 GB | 5 GB | 10 GB | 200 GB |
| Monthly Operations | 10,000 | 100,000 | 1,000,000 | 5,000,000 |
| Class A Operations | 1.0 weight | 1.0 weight | 1.0 weight | 1.0 weight |
| Class B Operations | 0.1 weight | 0.1 weight | 0.1 weight | 0.1 weight |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Egress Fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
What are Operations?
Operations measure your API usage. Imperial uses a weighted system:Class A Operations (1.0 weight)
Class A Operations (1.0 weight)
Heavy operations that modify or create resources: - Uploading files - Deleting files -
Updating metadata Each Class A operation counts as 1 operation toward your limit.
Class B Operations (0.1 weight)
Class B Operations (0.1 weight)
Light operations that only read data: - Viewing files via
/v/:id endpoint - Serving images
from CDN Each Class B operation counts as 0.1 operations toward your limit (10 views = 1
operation).Example Usage
With the Pro tier (1M operations/month):- Upload 100,000 files (100K operations)
- Those files get 9,000,000 views (900K operations)
- Total: 1M operations ✅
Zero Egress Fees
Unlike traditional image hosts, Imperial never charges for bandwidth or traffic:Imperial uses Cloudflare R2 storage with zero egress fees. Your content can go viral without
bankrupting you.
Storage Optimization
Maximize your storage with these features:Auto-Compression
- Reduce image file sizes by 40-70%
- Configurable quality levels (50-100)
- No visible quality loss on most images
- Automatic for images, skipped for videos
Smart Deletion
- Delete old uploads to free space
- Bulk delete from dashboard
- Instant storage reclamation
Getting Paid Access
Choose Tier + Duration
Visit the Billing page in your dashboard
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I exceed my storage limit?
What happens if I exceed my storage limit?
You won’t be able to upload new files until you either: - Delete old uploads to free up space -
Upgrade to a higher tier - Enable compression to reduce file sizes Existing files remain
accessible.
What happens if I exceed my operations limit?
What happens if I exceed my operations limit?
Your uploads and API requests will be rate-limited until your next active key period or tier
upgrade. Existing files remain accessible via CDN. Consider upgrading if you consistently hit your
limit.
Can I downgrade my plan?
Can I downgrade my plan?
Yes. Tier/access changes are handled through key redemption and access-expiry transitions. If your
usage exceeds your active tier limits, you’ll need to delete files first.
Do you offer refunds?
Do you offer refunds?
Key purchases are reviewed case-by-case. Contact support via
Discord for refund requests.
Can I get a custom plan?
Can I get a custom plan?
Business tier customers can contact us for custom enterprise plans with higher limits, dedicated
support, and SLA guarantees.
Is there a free trial?
Is there a free trial?
The Free tier is available indefinitely with no credit card required. You can test Imperial’s
features before committing to a paid plan.