What Is Pay-As-You-Go?
Pay-As-You-Go is Blockfrost's flexible billing option that lets you customize your API usage and pay only for the resources you consume. Instead of choosing a fixed monthly tier, you configure exactly how many projects, webhooks, and API requests you need, then pay accordingly.
The model works the way developer tooling should: start small, scale when your traffic grows, and never pay for capacity you're not using.
Blockfrost has always offered a free tier for developers getting started. Pay-As-You-Go sits between the free plan and enterprise contracts, giving growing projects a billing model that matches their actual usage patterns.
Why It Matters for Cardano Developers
Traditional API pricing forces developers into rigid tiers that rarely match real-world usage. You either overpay for capacity you don't use, or you hit limits that block production traffic at the worst possible time. Pay-As-You-Go eliminates this trade-off by letting you define your own resource envelope and pay exactly for what falls inside it.
For Cardano developers specifically, this model aligns with the ecosystem's principles of decentralization and self-sovereignty. You control your infrastructure costs the same way you control your on-chain transactions: precisely, transparently, and without intermediary overhead. Configure only the resources you need, pay with ADA directly from your wallet, scale up or down instantly from the dashboard, and access every Blockfrost endpoint without restrictions. No contracts, no lock-ins, no cancellation penalties.
What You Can Customize
The Pay-As-You-Go calculator on the Blockfrost dashboard lets you configure three core resource dimensions. Each dimension is independently adjustable, so you can tailor your plan to match your exact infrastructure needs without paying for bundled resources you don't require.
| Resource | What It Controls | Why It Matters | Example Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projects | Number of separate API project keys you can create, each with its own rate limits and usage tracking | Isolate environments (dev, staging, prod) or separate client projects with distinct keys | A development agency managing three client dApps creates a dedicated project for each, with independent monitoring and billing visibility |
| Webhooks | Number of webhook endpoints for real-time event notifications pushed to your server | Get notified instantly when transactions hit an address, blocks are minted, or pool parameters change | A DeFi dashboard subscribes to balance change events on 50 tracked addresses, routing notifications to different backend services |
| API Requests | Monthly request volume across all your projects, covering every endpoint in the Blockfrost API | Scale to match your traffic: a personal project needs thousands per month, a production dApp serving users globally may need millions | A portfolio tracker querying balances for 10,000 users every 15 minutes configures 2.9M monthly requests to handle the polling load |
Each resource is independently adjustable. You can run many projects with low request volume, or a single project with high throughput. The pricing adapts to your configuration in real time: the dashboard calculator shows your estimated monthly cost as you move each slider, so there are no surprises when you check out.
This granular approach to resource allocation means you never pay for a "tier" that bundles features you don't need. If you only need one project but require high request volume, you configure exactly that. If you need ten projects with moderate traffic each, that works too. The system is designed around your workload, not around pre-packaged plan levels.
Payment Methods
Pay-As-You-Go supports two payment options with no difference in service quality or feature access.
Ada (Native Cardano)
Send ADA directly from any Cardano wallet to a unique payment address generated in your Blockfrost dashboard. The only fee is the standard Cardano transaction fee (typically ~0.17 ADA), with no additional processing charges from Blockfrost and no minimum payment amount. Payments confirm within minutes.
Credit Card (Via Moonpay)
Pay with Visa, Mastercard, or other major cards through Blockfrost's Moonpay integration. A 4% processing fee applies per transaction, with a €30 minimum. Payments are instant, and no crypto wallet is required.
Both methods fund the same account, and you can switch between them at any time with no penalty. Teams holding ADA in their treasury can keep operations entirely within the Cardano ecosystem, while teams with traditional payment workflows can use familiar card-based billing.
How to Activate Pay-As-You-Go
Getting started with Pay-As-You-Go takes only a few minutes. The entire process is self-service through the Blockfrost dashboard, with no manual approval required. If you already have a Blockfrost account (even on the free tier), you can upgrade to PAYG directly from your plan settings.
- Log in to your Blockfrost dashboard. Go to blockfrost.io and navigate to your account's plan settings. If you don't have an account yet, sign up for free first: no credit card required for initial registration.
- Select Pay-As-You-Go. From the available billing plans, choose Pay-As-You-Go. This replaces your current plan (free or fixed tier) with the flexible usage-based model. Your existing project keys and API access remain active during the transition.
- Configure your resources. Use the interactive calculator to set your projects, webhooks, and request limits. Adjust each slider to match your current needs. The dashboard displays your estimated monthly cost in real time as you change each setting, so you can experiment with different configurations before committing.
- Review and check out. Confirm your resource summary and total cost breakdown before proceeding. This screen shows exactly what you're paying for: number of projects, webhook count, request volume cap, and the corresponding price.
- Pay with ADA or credit card. Send ADA to the generated wallet address, or pay with a credit card via Moonpay. Your resources activate immediately after payment confirms, with no provisioning delay or manual approval step.
The entire activation process takes under five minutes from login to live resources. Once your payment is confirmed, your new resource limits take effect immediately and you can start making API calls against your upgraded configuration right away.
Ready to move beyond the free tier? Configure your plan in minutes.
Who is Pay-As-You-Go For?
Pay-As-You-Go is designed for developers and teams who need more than the free tier but want to maintain precise control over their infrastructure costs. The flexible billing model serves a wide range of use cases across the Cardano ecosystem, from solo developers building side projects to funded startups scaling their first production dApp.
Growing dApps: If you've outgrown the free tier but don't need enterprise volume yet, PAYG lets you scale incrementally without jumping to a fixed plan. Start with one or two projects, a moderate webhook count, and 100K to 500K monthly requests, then scale up as user adoption increases. Your costs stay aligned with your actual growth curve.
Multi-project teams: Teams that need separate API keys for different environments (dev, staging, prod) or for different client projects benefit from PAYG's flexible project allocation. Configure 5 to 10 projects with independent rate limits and a shared request pool. Each project gets its own API key and usage tracking without requiring a bundled higher-tier plan.
Governance tooling builders: Building platforms that query Calidus Pool Keys, pool data, DRep registrations, or governance voting records? PAYG scales with your user base as Voltaire adoption grows, without requiring upfront capacity commitments. A typical setup includes 1 to 3 projects, a high webhook count for governance event monitoring, and 500K+ monthly requests during voting periods.
ADA-native teams: If your treasury is denominated in ADA, paying for API infrastructure in ADA keeps your operations simpler. No fiat conversions, no bank transfers, no payment intermediary accounts to manage. Use any configuration you need, funded directly from a Cardano wallet, and keep your treasury management entirely on-chain.
Seasonal or variable traffic: NFT drops, governance votes, DeFi liquidity events, and token launches create unpredictable traffic spikes. PAYG lets you provision for peaks and scale back during quieter periods without overpaying. Set a baseline configuration with the ability to rapidly increase request limits before known events, then reduce afterward.
Agencies and consultancies: If you manage Cardano projects for multiple clients and need isolated API access for each engagement, PAYG lets you create dedicated projects per client with transparent, per-project usage tracking. Configure multiple projects (one per client), moderate per-project request volume, and separate webhook endpoints per integration.
Regardless of which category you fall into, the core advantage is the same: you define the resources you need, you pay for exactly those resources, and you can adjust them at any time without friction. This model is particularly valuable in the Cardano ecosystem, where project timelines and adoption curves can be difficult to predict months in advance.
Pay-As-You-Go vs Fixed Monthly Plans
Blockfrost offers three billing approaches, each designed for a different stage of your project's lifecycle. Understanding the differences helps you choose the model that minimizes cost while providing the capacity your application needs. You can switch between plans at any time, so your billing model can evolve alongside your project.
| Feature | Free | Pay-As-You-Go | Fixed Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Structure | $0, always free | Based on your configured resource usage. Pay only for what you set up. | Fixed monthly fee determined by your selected tier level. |
| Projects | Limited to a small number of project keys | Fully configurable: set exactly the number of projects you need | Set by tier, bundled with other resources |
| API Request Volume | Rate-limited with a low daily cap | Configurable: adjust your monthly request limit with sliders | Set by tier, with overage policies depending on the plan |
| Webhooks | Limited number of webhook endpoints | Configurable: set the exact number of webhook endpoints you need | Set by tier, bundled with other resources |
| ADA Payments | N/A (no payment required) | Yes: send ADA directly from your wallet | Varies by plan, may require fiat payment |
| Credit Card Payments | N/A (no payment required) | Yes: via Moonpay integration (€30 minimum, 4% fee) | Yes: standard card payment processing |
| Resource Flexibility | No customization available | Full flexibility: adjust any resource at any time from the dashboard | Limited: must upgrade or downgrade to a different tier to change limits |
| Contracts & Commitments | None | None: no lock-ins, no cancellation penalties | Monthly or annual billing cycles depending on the plan |
| API Feature Access | Full API access within rate limits | Full API access with configured limits | Full API access with tier-defined limits |
| Best For | Prototyping, learning Cardano development, evaluating the Blockfrost API before committing to a paid plan | Growing projects, variable traffic, multi-project teams, ADA-native organizations, seasonal workloads | Predictable high-volume production applications with stable monthly traffic patterns |
The free tier is always available and always free: there is no expiration, no trial period, and no credit card required. Pay-As-You-Go adds flexibility for projects that need more than the free limits but want to control costs precisely. Fixed plans are best when you have stable, predictable API traffic and want simple monthly billing without thinking about resource configuration.
Many teams start on the free tier to prototype and test their integration, then move to Pay-As-You-Go as they enter production and need higher limits. Some eventually transition to fixed plans once their traffic patterns stabilize and they can predict their monthly usage with confidence. Blockfrost supports this natural progression with seamless plan transitions at any time.
FAQ
What is Blockfrost Pay-As You Go? Pay-As-You-Go is a flexible billing option where you configure exactly how many projects, webhooks, and API requests you need, then pay only for what you use. It sits between the free tier and fixed monthly plans, giving you granular control over both resources and costs without requiring a long-term commitment.
Can I pay with ADA? Yes. Send ADA directly from any Cardano wallet (Eternl, Nami, Lace, Yoroi, Daedalus, or hardware wallets) to a unique payment address generated in your Blockfrost dashboard. Standard Cardano transaction fees apply (typically ~0.17 ADA), with no additional processing charges from Blockfrost.
Is there a minimum payment? For credit card payments via Moonpay, the minimum is €30 per transaction with a 4% processing fee. For ADA payments, there is no minimum beyond the standard Cardano transaction fee. You can fund your account with any amount of ADA that suits your current needs.
Can I change my configuration later? Yes. You can adjust your projects, webhooks, and request limits at any time from the Blockfrost dashboard. Changes take effect immediately with no downtime or provisioning delay. You can scale up before a known traffic event (like an NFT drop or governance vote) and scale back down afterward.
What happens if I exceed my request limit? You'll receive an HTTP 402 response when your daily request limit is reached. Persistent overuse may result in temporary rate limiting (HTTP 429). Your existing data and project configuration remain intact. You can increase your limits at any time through the dashboard to restore full access immediately.
Is the free tier still available? Yes. The Blockfrost free tier is and always will be available with no expiration date and no credit card required. Pay-As-You-Go is an additional option for projects that need more capacity than the free plan provides. You can stay on the free tier as long as you want and upgrade to PAYG whenever you're ready.
Can I switch between PAYG and fixed plans? Yes. You can switch between billing models at any time from your dashboard. Your project keys, webhook configurations, and API access remain active during plan transitions. Many teams start with PAYG for flexibility, then move to a fixed plan once their usage patterns stabilize and they can predict monthly volumes with confidence.
