# Computer Plans

Vagon Computer pricing is split into two parts so you only pay for what you actually use. A small monthly storage subscription keeps your computer and files on the cloud, and a separate usage fee covers the time you spend in active sessions.

## The Pricing Model

Vagon billing has two components:

* **Storage subscription.** A flat monthly fee keeps your Vagon Computer and its files available on the cloud. The subscription includes an initial storage allocation, and you can expand storage from your Dashboard if you need more room.
* **Usage fee.** You are charged for the time you spend in an active session, based on the performance option you selected. Usage is metered by the minute, while performance options are listed at hourly rates to keep them easy to compare.

{% hint style="info" %}
Usage is billed by the minute, not by the hour, so you only pay for the time the computer is actually active.
{% endhint %}

Hourly rates vary by performance tier and by region. For current rates of each performance option, storage tier, and region, see [vagon.io/pricing](https://vagon.io/pricing) and [vagon.io/region-prices](https://vagon.io/region-prices).

## Plan Types

Vagon supports a few different ways to pay for usage on top of the storage subscription:

* **Pay-as-you-go.** Add credit to your balance and spend it as you run sessions. Best for variable or unpredictable workloads.
* **Hourly usage on subscription.** Keep the monthly storage subscription active and pay only for the hours you actually use the computer.
* **Heavier subscription tiers.** Higher-tier plans pair storage with included usage and additional performance options.

Higher performance options cost more to run. If a task does not need a high-end GPU machine, pick a lighter option to keep usage costs down.

## Start Your Trial

Vagon offers a paid trial so new users can try the platform end to end.

1. Create a Vagon account.
2. Complete the initial computer setup and enter payment details.
3. The trial starts automatically once setup is complete.

The trial is a small one-time charge that includes one hour of Planet performance usage and one week of computer storage. The fee is in place to discourage abuse of trial accounts. Current trial pricing is listed on [vagon.io/pricing](https://vagon.io/pricing).

When the trial ends, your computer automatically renews into your chosen plan. The storage subscription is billed to your account balance or payment method, and usage is charged according to the performance option you select for each session.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you want to continue using Vagon after the trial without setting up a new computer, do not let your storage subscription lapse. Renewing before the current period ends keeps your installed applications and files in place.
{% endhint %}

## Picking the Right Plan

Match the plan to how often you actually plan to use the computer.

**Occasional use, once every few months.** Keep the monthly storage subscription only while you are actively using Vagon. Pay for usage as you go, then end your subscription when you are finished. You will need to reinstall your applications the next time you start because data is removed when the subscription ends.

**Short-term projects.** Create the computer, work through the project, and end the subscription when you are done. Your data stays in place until the end of the current plan period, so there is no need to keep paying for additional months after the project wraps.

**Regular use, monthly or more often.** Keep a continuous subscription. It is more cost-efficient than restarting from scratch each time, and you avoid having to reinstall applications between sessions.

## Multiple Computers per Account

Each Vagon account currently supports one Vagon Computer per subscription. Support for multiple computers in a single subscription is on the roadmap.

If you need several computers for a team, use Vagon for Teams, which is designed to manage multiple cloud computers and users together.

## Discounts

Vagon keeps profit margins intentionally slim to keep ongoing usage fees low, so general-purpose discounts are limited. Pricing improves over time as the user base grows.

## Next Steps

{% content-ref url="/pages/Euj9ioJdqhUxCYMbWepx" %}
[Credits and Balance](/computer/plans-and-billing/credits-and-balance.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/xLH94nGFCBVD3uGThLIk" %}
[Subscription and Payments](/computer/plans-and-billing/subscription-and-payments.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/5eC8iMR1VM0vuyIqNBEN" %}
[Performance Options & Specs](/computer/features/performance-options-and-specs.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/jUyY3e46bN7chxmKnLiM" %}
[How to Use Vagon Computers](/computer/introduction/how-to-use-vagon-computers.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


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