> For a complete page index, fetch https://sync.so/docs/llms.txt

# Billing

> sync. labs API pricing and billing guide. Subscription plans, usage-based billing, cost estimation, and payment details for lip sync generation.

## How does Sync Labs billing work?

Sync Labs uses a **subscription + usage** model. Your subscription unlocks higher limits, premium features, and discounts, while you pay for what you generate. Usage is calculated per output frame, with per-second rates (at 25 fps) ranging from \$0.04 (lipsync-2) to \$0.133 (sync-3).

### Model pricing at a glance (at 25 fps)

| Model         | Per-second rate       |
| :------------ | :-------------------- |
| lipsync-2     | \$0.04 — \$0.05/sec   |
| lipsync-2-pro | \$0.067 — \$0.083/sec |
| sync-3        | \$0.107 — \$0.133/sec |

For full plan details, see the [pricing page](https://sync.so/pricing).

## Free trial

New to Sync Labs? Every free account gets **3 free generations per month** (including [lipsync-2 pro](/models/lipsync#lipsync-2-pro)) plus **10 text-to-speech generations**, with a maximum duration of 20 seconds. Of your 3 monthly generations, **at most 1 can be Sync 3** with a 15-second limit. No credit card required.

This is a great way to explore Sync Labs and test our models before committing to a plan.

Free generations are only available on free accounts. Once you subscribe, you move to usage-based billing; there's no monthly free generation allowance on paid plans.

## Subscriptions

When you subscribe, you unlock higher concurrency, longer video durations, premium features (such as "Reasoning mode", "Automatic Speaker Detection", "Team workspaces", etc.), access to all models (including [react-1](/models/react)), and usage discounts on higher tiers.

Once subscribed, you pay for what you use. No credits, no prepayment — just generate and pay for what you use.

See our [pricing page](https://sync.so/pricing) for plan details and model rates.

## Usage billing

You're billed based on what you generate. We calculate usage by counting the frames in your output video and multiplying by the per-frame price for the model you used. Each model has different rates—see our [pricing page](https://sync.so/pricing) for details.

**How usage invoices work:**

Your usage accumulates until it hits your tier's threshold, at which point an invoice is automatically generated and your card is charged.

| Tier     | Invoice threshold |
| -------- | ----------------- |
| Hobbyist | \$6               |
| Creator  | \$20              |
| Growth   | \$50              |
| Scale    | \$250             |

For example, if you're on the Creator plan and your usage reaches \$20, an invoice is created and charged to your card automatically.

If a usage invoice goes unpaid, generations are blocked until the invoice clears.

## Unpaid usage limits

To prevent runaway bills, new generations may temporarily pause if your unpaid usage climbs unusually high between invoices. You'll see a message like: *"You've temporarily hit your unpaid usage limit."*

The pause resets automatically — usually within minutes — as long as your payment method is valid.

**If you see this:**

* Wait a few minutes.
* Confirm your payment method is valid at [sync.so/billing/subscription](https://sync.so/billing/subscription).
* If the pause persists, email [support@sync.so](mailto:support@sync.so) with your account email.

## Estimating costs

Before you generate, you can see the estimated cost in the bottom right corner of the playground. You can also use our "Estimate cost" calculator on our [pricing page](https://sync.so/pricing) to forecast your bills.

#### Estimate costs via API

Use the [Estimate Cost endpoint](/api-reference/api/generate-api/estimate-cost) to calculate lip sync generation costs before submitting a job. This is useful for building cost controls into your application.

```typescript estimate_cost.ts
import { SyncClient } from "@sync.so/sdk";

const sync = new SyncClient();

const estimate = await sync.generations.estimateCost({
    input: [
        { type: "video", url: "https://your-cdn.com/video.mp4" },
        { type: "audio", url: "https://your-cdn.com/audio.wav" },
    ],
    model: "lipsync-2",
});

console.log(`Estimated cost: $${estimate.totalCost}`);
console.log(`Estimated frames: ${estimate.totalFrames}`);
```

```python estimate_cost.py
from sync import Sync
from sync.common import Audio, Video

sync = Sync()

estimate = sync.generations.estimate_cost(
    input=[
        Video(url="https://your-cdn.com/video.mp4"),
        Audio(url="https://your-cdn.com/audio.wav"),
    ],
    model="lipsync-2",
)

print(f"Estimated cost: ${estimate.total_cost}")
print(f"Estimated frames: {estimate.total_frames}")
```

Cost varies by model. Higher-quality models like sync-3 and lipsync-2-pro cost more per frame than lipsync-2. See the [pricing page](https://sync.so/pricing) for per-model rates.

## Exporting usage data

You can export your usage records as a CSV from the billing page.

**How to export:**

1. Go to [sync.so/billing/usage](https://sync.so/billing/usage)
2. Apply any filters (date range, API key, model, etc.)
3. Click the download button in the top-right

The export respects your current filters—if you've filtered to a specific API key or date range, only those records will be included.

**What's included:**

| Column       | Description                                                         |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Type         | "Lipsync" for generations, or the integration name for integrations |
| API Key      | The API key name used for the generation                            |
| Job ID       | The generation ID                                                   |
| Frames       | Number of frames processed                                          |
| Cost         | Cost in dollars (4 decimal places)                                  |
| Model        | Model used for the generation                                       |
| Processed At | UTC timestamp when the generation completed                         |

The filename follows the format `[team-name]-usage-[start-date]-to-[end-date].csv`.

## Payment & invoices

We use Stripe to process payments. If a charge fails, Stripe will retry for 5 days. If payment still fails after 5 days, your subscription will be automatically cancelled.

Keep your payment method up to date to avoid interruptions.

## Cancellation

You can cancel your subscription at any point without additional fees. When you cancel, you keep access to the platform until the end of your current billing cycle. If you continue generating during this time, usage charges still apply and will be billed when thresholds are reached.

**How to cancel:**

1. Log in to your [sync.so](https://sync.so) account
2. Go to **Billing** in the left-hand sidebar
3. Click **Cancel Subscription** in the top-right corner of the Billing page
4. Complete the short feedback survey, then confirm your cancellation through Stripe

Canceling your subscription stops future billing but does not refund past charges. For refunds, see below.

## Refunds

We understand that circumstances change. Refund eligibility is based on your subscription tier and usage during the billing period.

**Refund conditions by tier:**

| Tier     | Eligibility                                                              |
| -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Hobbyist | Full refund of monthly subscription if you've used 1,500 frames or fewer |
| Creator  | Full refund of monthly subscription if you've used 1,500 frames or fewer |

**Important notes:**

* Refunds apply only to the base price of your monthly subscription invoice, not usage invoices
* Frame usage is calculated based on the videos generated at the time of your refund request
* Refund requests must be submitted within the current billing period
* If you forgot to cancel and were charged, you are only eligible for a refund on your most recent subscription charge
* Processing of approved refunds typically takes 5–7 business days

**How to request a refund:**

1. Go to [sync.so/billing/subscription](https://sync.so/billing/subscription)
2. Click **Manage billing**
3. You'll be redirected to Stripe where you can see **Cancel + refund** options
4. Follow the prompts to submit your refund request

If you no longer have access to your subscription for any reason, contact our support team and we'll assist you with the refund process.

## Enterprise & custom pricing

Need higher limits, volume discounts, or custom terms? Contact us at [sales@sync.so](mailto:sales@sync.so).

## FAQ

#### What does each plan include?

Each Sync Labs plan unlocks different limits and features:

| Plan     | Price    | Max Duration | Concurrent Jobs | Usage Discount |
| :------- | :------- | :----------- | :-------------- | :------------- |
| Free     | \$0      | 20 seconds   | 1               | None           |
| Hobbyist | \$5/mo   | 1 minute     | 1               | None           |
| Creator  | \$19/mo  | 5 minutes    | 3               | None           |
| Growth   | \$49/mo  | 10 minutes   | 6               | 5% off         |
| Scale    | \$249/mo | 30 minutes   | 15              | 20% off        |

Watermarks are removed on Creator and above. All paid plans include API access and all models. Growth and Scale add Batch API and team workspaces. See the [pricing page](https://sync.so/pricing) for full details.

#### What are the Scale plan limits and features?

The Scale plan (\$249/month) is designed for high-volume production use. It includes 30-minute max video duration, 15 concurrent jobs, 50 voice clones, 20% usage discount on all models, Batch API for launching hundreds of videos, team workspaces with 5 seats, a delegated support channel, and no watermark. See the [pricing page](https://sync.so/pricing) for current rates.

#### Why am I charged both a subscription fee and usage fees?

Your subscription unlocks platform features like higher concurrency, longer video durations, and watermark removal (Creator+). Usage fees are separate—you pay for each generation based on the model and output duration.

#### Does my subscription include credits for video generation?

No. Your subscription fee covers platform access and feature unlocks. Video generations are billed separately based on usage.

#### How many videos can I create with my subscription?

There's no limit on the number of videos. Your subscription unlocks capabilities (concurrency, max duration, etc.), and each generation is charged based on output frames.

#### Why was I charged multiple times this month?

Usage charges accumulate as you generate. Each time your usage hits your tier's threshold, an invoice is automatically created and charged. If you generate a lot, you may hit the threshold multiple times in a month.

#### I paid for a subscription but can't generate videos—why?

If you have an unpaid usage invoice, generations are blocked until it clears. Check your billing settings in the dashboard to see if there's an outstanding invoice warning.

#### Why am I seeing 'You've temporarily hit your unpaid usage limit'?

This is a short, automatic pause that kicks in when unpaid usage climbs unusually high between invoices. It resets on its own — usually within minutes — as long as your payment method is valid. See [Unpaid usage limits](#unpaid-usage-limits) for what to do if the pause persists.

#### What does my subscription fee cover vs. usage fees?

Subscription covers platform access, concurrency limits, max video duration, watermark removal (Creator+), and access to subscription-only models like [react-1](/models/react). Usage fees cover the actual compute cost of each generation.

#### Why do my videos have a watermark?

Watermarks are controlled by your account plan, not by whether you generate through Studio or the API. Watermarks are removed on Creator plans and above. Hobbyist and free accounts will see a sync watermark on generated videos.

#### How is usage calculated?

We count the frames in your output video and multiply by the per-frame price for the model you used. Different models have different rates—check our [pricing page](https://sync.so/pricing) for details.

#### I was charged but my usage shows a different amount—why?

Usage shown in the dashboard is real-time, while invoices are generated when thresholds are hit. There may be a small delay between usage accruing and the invoice being created. If something looks off, reach out to support.

#### Can I pay only for usage without a subscription?

No. To unlock usage-based billing, you need to subscribe to one of our plans. Free accounts get 3 generations per month (of which at most 1 can be Sync 3) but can't pay for additional usage without subscribing.

#### What happens when I cancel my subscription?

Cancellation takes effect at the end of your billing cycle—you keep access until then. If you generate during this period, usage charges still apply and will be billed at the normal thresholds.

#### What do I do if my payment fails or my card is declined?

Sync Labs uses Stripe to process all payments. If your card is declined, first verify your card number, expiration date, and CVC are entered correctly. Contact your bank to check whether international transactions are blocked, since Stripe processes payments through US-based infrastructure. Try a different card or payment method if the issue persists. If the pay button is missing or unresponsive, clear your browser cache, disable ad blockers, and reload the page. When a payment fails, Stripe retries the charge automatically for up to 5 days before cancelling your subscription. For persistent payment errors, email [support@sync.so](mailto:support@sync.so) with your account email and the exact error message displayed so the team can investigate the charge on Stripe's end.

#### Why was I charged after cancelling my subscription?

When you cancel your Sync Labs subscription, access continues until the end of your current billing period — cancellation does not take effect immediately. Any usage-based charges you incur before that period ends are still billed when they hit your tier's invoice threshold or at the close of the cycle. For example, if you cancel mid-month on the Creator plan but generate videos totaling \$20 in usage before the period ends, that usage invoice is charged to your card automatically. Check your generation history at [sync.so/billing/usage](https://sync.so/billing/usage) to verify which charges correspond to which generations. If you believe a post-cancellation charge is incorrect, contact [support@sync.so](mailto:support@sync.so) with your account email and the invoice ID from your billing dashboard.

#### How many videos can I generate on each plan?

Generation limits depend on your plan tier. Free accounts receive 3 generations per month (20 seconds max for lipsync models, 15 seconds max for Sync 3), with at most 1 of those 3 being a Sync 3 generation. All free outputs include a watermark. Paid plans — Hobbyist (\$5/month), Creator (\$19/month), Growth (\$49/month), Scale (\$249/month), and Enterprise (custom) — have no per-generation cap. Instead, you pay per second of processed output based on the model: \$0.04–\$0.05/sec for lipsync-2, \$0.067–\$0.083/sec for lipsync-2-pro, and \$0.107–\$0.133/sec for sync-3. Watermarks are removed on Creator plans and above; Hobbyist outputs still include a watermark. Maximum video duration increases with each tier. Use the [Estimate Cost endpoint](/api-reference/api/generate-api/estimate-cost) or the Studio playground cost estimator to calculate costs before submitting a generation job.

#### How do I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

You can change your subscription tier at any time from the billing page in your Dashboard at [sync.so/billing/subscription](https://sync.so/billing/subscription). Upgrades take effect immediately — Stripe charges the prorated difference between your current plan and the new plan for the remainder of your billing period, so you only pay for the days remaining. Downgrades take effect at the start of your next billing cycle, meaning you keep your current tier's features until that cycle ends. If you are an academic institution, nonprofit, or high-volume user, discounted pricing may be available — contact [sales@sync.so](mailto:sales@sync.so) or [support@sync.so](mailto:support@sync.so) with details about your organization, project scope, and expected monthly usage to discuss custom terms.

#### Why do I see multiple charges on my card?

Sync Labs bills your subscription fee and your usage fees as separate line items, which is why you may see two or more charges from Sync Labs in a single month. Your subscription fee (for example, \$19/month on Creator) is charged on your billing date each month. Usage fees are charged separately whenever your accumulated generation costs reach your tier's invoice threshold — \$6 for Hobbyist, \$20 for Creator, \$50 for Growth, or \$250 for Scale. If you generate heavily, you can hit the usage threshold multiple times in one billing period, resulting in several usage invoices plus your subscription charge. View a full breakdown of every charge, including timestamps and amounts, in your Dashboard under [Billing](https://sync.so/billing/usage).

## Billing Reference

### How Billing Works

Sync Labs uses a subscription + usage model. The subscription unlocks features, concurrency, and longer video durations. Usage is billed separately based on actual output frame count, with per-second rates varying by model. There are no credits or prepayment -- you generate and pay for what you use.

### Plan Tiers and Pricing

| Plan       | Monthly Fee | Invoice Threshold | Max Video Duration | Concurrent Jobs | Voice Clones |   Usage Discount   | Watermark |
| :--------- | :---------: | :---------------: | :----------------: | :-------------: | :----------: | :----------------: | :-------: |
| Free       |     \$0     |        N/A        |     20 seconds     |        1        |       0      |        None        |    Yes    |
| Hobbyist   |  \$5/month  |        \$6        |      1 minute      |        1        |       3      |        None        |    Yes    |
| Creator    |  \$19/month |        \$20       |      5 minutes     |        3        |       5      |        None        |     No    |
| Growth     |  \$49/month |        \$50       |     10 minutes     |        6        |      15      |  5% off all models |     No    |
| Scale      | \$249/month |       \$250       |     30 minutes     |        15       |      50      | 20% off all models |     No    |
| Enterprise |    Custom   |       Custom      |       Custom       |      Custom     |    Custom    |       Custom       |     No    |

### Scale Plan Details

* Monthly fee: \$249/month
* Max video duration: 30 minutes per generation
* Concurrent jobs: 15
* Voice clones: 50
* Usage discount: 20% off all model per-second rates
* Batch API: Yes — launch hundreds of videos programmatically
* Team workspaces: 5 seats included
* Delegated support channel
* No watermark
* Access to all models including react-1

### Growth Plan Details

* Monthly fee: \$49/month
* Max video duration: 10 minutes per generation
* Concurrent jobs: 6
* Voice clones: 15
* Usage discount: 5% off all model per-second rates
* Batch API: Yes
* Team workspaces: 3 seats included
* No watermark
* Access to all models including react-1

### Creator Plan Details

* Monthly fee: \$19/month
* Max video duration: 5 minutes per generation
* Concurrent jobs: 3
* Voice clones: 5
* Own TTS API key support
* Active speaker detection
* No watermark
* Access to all models including react-1

### Hobbyist Plan Details

* Monthly fee: \$5/month
* Max video duration: 1 minute per generation
* Concurrent jobs: 1
* Voice clones: 3
* API access
* Watermark on output

For current plan pricing, see [https://sync.so/pricing](https://sync.so/pricing).

### Per-Second Rates by Model

Pricing varies by model AND by plan tier. Per-second rates are derived using 25 fps as a reference; actual billing is per output frame regardless of the input frame rate. These are the base (Hobbyist/Creator) rates. Growth gets 5% off, Scale gets 20% off.

| Model              | Base Rate (Hobbyist/Creator) | Growth Rate (5% off) | Scale Rate (20% off) |
| :----------------- | :--------------------------- | :------------------- | :------------------- |
| lipsync-1.9.0-beta | \$0.025/sec                  | \$0.024/sec          | \$0.02/sec           |
| lipsync-2          | \$0.05/sec                   | \$0.048/sec          | \$0.04/sec           |
| lipsync-2-pro      | \$0.083/sec                  | \$0.079/sec          | \$0.067/sec          |
| sync-3             | \$0.133/sec                  | \$0.127/sec          | \$0.107/sec          |
| react-1            | \$0.167/sec                  | \$0.158/sec          | \$0.133/sec          |

IMPORTANT: Each model has DIFFERENT pricing. Do NOT assume all models cost the same.

### Free Trial Limits

| Field                            | Value                                             |
| :------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------ |
| Total generations per month      | 3                                                 |
| Sync 3 sub-limit                 | 1 of 3 (15 seconds max)                           |
| TTS generations per month        | 10                                                |
| Maximum video duration (lipsync) | 20 seconds                                        |
| Credit card required             | No                                                |
| Available models                 | All lipsync family models including lipsync-2-pro |

Sync 3 generations count toward your total 3 generations per month. For example, if you use your 1 Sync 3 generation, you have 2 remaining lipsync generations.

Free generations are only available on free accounts. Once you subscribe, you move to usage-based billing with no monthly free generation allowance.

### Refund Policy

| Field                           | Value                                              |
| :------------------------------ | :------------------------------------------------- |
| Eligible tiers                  | Hobbyist and Creator                               |
| Usage threshold for full refund | 1,500 frames or fewer                              |
| Refund scope                    | Base subscription invoice only, not usage invoices |
| Processing time                 | 5--7 business days                                 |
| Request method                  | Billing page > Manage billing > Stripe portal      |

Refund requests must be submitted within the current billing period. If you forgot to cancel, only the most recent subscription charge is eligible.

### Common Billing Issues

| Problem                                            | Cause                                         | Solution                                                        |
| :------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Cannot generate videos despite active subscription | Unpaid usage invoice blocking generations     | Check billing dashboard for outstanding invoices                |
| Charged multiple times in one month                | Usage hit invoice threshold multiple times    | Normal behavior; each threshold crossing triggers a new invoice |
| Subscription cancelled unexpectedly                | Payment failed after 5 days of Stripe retries | Update payment method and resubscribe                           |
| Watermark on generated videos                      | On Hobbyist or free plan                      | Upgrade to Creator plan or higher to remove watermarks          |
| Want usage-only billing without subscription       | Not supported                                 | A subscription is required to unlock usage-based billing        |