> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://academy.shade.inc/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://academy.shade.inc/administration-and-security/billing.md).

# Billing

Billing is managed at the workspace level, and only the workspace owner can view and manage billing. The pricing is simple: you are charged for the number of seats and the amount of storage your workspace has purchased. You can view our pricing plans [here](https://shade.inc/pricing). Seat and storage increases take effect immediately and are prorated for the remainder of the billing cycle. Seat and storage reductions take effect at the next renewal period.

Our billing viewing and management is split between 2 pages on the app.

<figure><img src="https://450378260-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUNq6h2Bfw7aAK0J2ffnZ%2Fuploads%2FlIfNaYBPK7IsZyWKQmuc%2FBilling.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=3a9c2ef1-6aba-4122-bb74-1d848970da35" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Usage

Your workspace usage can be found under Settings/Usage, and is available to workspace admins and the workspace owner. This page is an overview of how your workspace is using storage, seats, and guests.

To free up space, click **Free up storage** on the storage card and pick a drive to open the File Manager. The File Manager lists every file in that drive, lets you search, filter, and sort by size or upload date, and lets you select files and delete them in bulk.

## Billing

Your workspace billing can be found under Settings/Billing. This page is only visible to the workspace owner and includes:

* **Plan details:** your current plan and billing period, and the option to change your plan.
* **Usage:** your seats and storage, with **Manage seats** and **Manage storage** to buy more or reduce them.
* **Payments & Invoices:** your payment methods, invoice recipients, and past invoices.

## FAQs

### How can lower my bill?

You can move your workspace members to being guests on the drives they need to access. Note that drive guests will not be able to mount or access metadata on those drives even if they have full access. Purchasing storage in bulk is another way to lower your storage cost. You can also lower your storage costs by considering using a proxy workflow [here](https://academy.shade.inc/guides). In a proxy workflow you keep your raw files on disk or NAS, and sync proxies to a mounted Shade drive.


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