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

# Pricing & Tiers

> Compare Imperial's tier limits and duration-key pricing

## Tier Structure

Imperial offers four tiers designed to scale with your needs. Paid access is applied via redemption keys in fixed durations.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Free" icon="gift">
    Perfect for trying out Imperial
  </Card>

  <Card title="Starter" icon="rocket">
    For hobbyists and side projects
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pro" icon="star" color="#8b5cf6">
    For creators and growing platforms
  </Card>

  <Card title="Business" icon="briefcase">
    For teams and production apps
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Detailed Comparison

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Storage & Operations">
    | 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        |
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Features">
    | Feature                   | Free       | Starter    | Pro          | Business     |
    | ------------------------- | ---------- | ---------- | ------------ | ------------ |
    | **API Access**            | Upload Key | Upload Key | Full API     | Full API     |
    | **Request Analytics**     | ❌          | ❌          | ✅            | ✅            |
    | **Multiple API Keys**     | ❌          | ❌          | ✅ (up to 10) | ✅ (up to 10) |
    | **Auto Compression**      | ✅          | ✅          | ✅            | ✅            |
    | **Video Thumbnails**      | ✅          | ✅          | ✅            | ✅            |
    | **Two-Factor Auth (2FA)** | ✅          | ✅          | ✅            | ✅            |
    | **Passkeys (WebAuthn)**   | ✅          | ✅          | ✅            | ✅            |
    | **Email Verification**    | ✅          | ✅          | ✅            | ✅            |
    | **Priority Support**      | ❌          | ❌          | ✅            | ✅            |
    | **Uptime Target**         | 99.9%      | 99.9%      | 99.9%        | 99.99% SLA   |
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Pricing (Key Durations)">
    | Tier         | 1D     | 3D     | 7D      | 14D     | 30D     | 90D     | 365D     |
    | ------------ | ------ | ------ | ------- | ------- | ------- | ------- | -------- |
    | **Free**     | \$0    | \$0    | \$0     | \$0     | \$0     | \$0     | \$0      |
    | **Starter**  | \$0.49 | \$0.99 | \$1.49  | \$1.99  | \$2.49  | \$6.49  | \$19.99  |
    | **Pro**      | \$1.49 | \$2.99 | \$4.99  | \$5.99  | \$6.99  | \$18.99 | \$59.99  |
    | **Business** | \$2.99 | \$6.99 | \$10.99 | \$13.99 | \$16.99 | \$44.99 | \$149.99 |

    <Info>
      All prices in USD. Keys stack by duration when redeemed.
    </Info>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## What are Operations?

Operations measure your API usage. Imperial uses a weighted system:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### 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** ✅

<Tip>
  Views are extremely cheap! Your 1M operation limit allows for millions of views alongside regular
  uploads.
</Tip>

## Zero Egress Fees

Unlike traditional image hosts, Imperial never charges for bandwidth or traffic:

<ComparisonTable>
  <ComparisonRow>
    <ComparisonCell>
      **Traditional Host** Pay per GB downloaded - 1 TB = \~\$90/month - Viral content = surprise
      bills - Traffic spikes = cost spikes
    </ComparisonCell>

    <ComparisonCell>
      **Imperial** Unlimited bandwidth included - 1 TB = $0 - 100 TB = $0 - ∞ TB = \$0
    </ComparisonCell>
  </ComparisonRow>
</ComparisonTable>

<Info>
  Imperial uses Cloudflare R2 storage with zero egress fees. Your content can go viral without
  bankrupting you.
</Info>

## 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

<Tip>
  Enable auto-compression in [Settings → Uploads](https://app.imperial.gay/settings) to maximize
  your storage.
</Tip>

## Getting Paid Access

<Steps>
  <Step title="Choose Tier + Duration">
    Visit the [Billing page](https://shop.imperial.gay) in your dashboard
  </Step>

  <Step title="Buy or Receive a Key">
    Select a redemption key duration (1D, 3D, 7D, 14D, 30D, 90D, 365D)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Redeem Key">Redeem in the billing panel and confirm key details</Step>

  <Step title="Instant Activation">Tier and access period are applied immediately</Step>
</Steps>

## Frequently Asked Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do you offer refunds?">
    Key purchases are reviewed case-by-case. Contact support via
    [Discord](https://discord.gg/imperial) for refund requests.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I get a custom plan?">
    Business tier customers can contact us for custom enterprise plans with higher limits, dedicated
    support, and SLA guarantees.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Need Help Choosing?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Join Discord" icon="discord" href="https://discord.gg/imperial">
    Ask our community for advice
  </Card>

  <Card title="View Dashboard" icon="chart-line" href="https://app.imperial.gay">
    Check your current usage
  </Card>

  <Card title="Start Free" icon="rocket" href="https://app.imperial.gay/register">
    Try Imperial with no commitment
  </Card>

  <Card title="Contact Sales" icon="envelope" href="https://discord.gg/imperial">
    Discuss custom enterprise plans
  </Card>
</CardGroup>