Billing
Billing in xtra audio operates at two levels: the project level for payment methods, billing address, and invoices, and the station level for plan selection, addons, and station-specific subscriptions.
Billing Pages
| Page | Path | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Project Billing | Project sidebar → Billing | Payment methods, billing address, tax ID, project addons, invoices |
| Station Billing | Station sidebar → Billing | Current plan, station addons, station invoices, cancellation |
Plans
Each station runs on a plan that determines available features and resource limits. Plans differ in storage, encoder slots, simultaneous studio users, log retention, and feature access.
A full comparison of plans, features, and pricing is available on the xtra audio pricing page. The same comparison is shown in the app when creating a station or changing a plan.
Billing Interval
Plans are available with two billing intervals:
| Interval | Description |
|---|---|
| Monthly | Billed each month, cancel anytime |
| Yearly | Billed once per year at a discounted rate |
Yearly billing reduces the effective monthly cost. The savings are displayed in the plan selection wizard.
Free Trial
Some plans include a free trial period. During the trial:
- No charges are made
- All plan features are available
- The trial duration is displayed on the billing page
- The first charge occurs when the trial ends
Cancelling during the trial period prevents any charges.
Change a Plan
- Open the station Billing page
- Click Change Plan
- Select the new plan and billing interval
- Review the cost preview
- Confirm the change
Upgrades
Upgrades take effect immediately. The remaining value of the current billing period is credited toward the new plan. The price difference is charged right away.
If the upgrade requires 3D Secure authentication, the payment page opens in the browser. The plan change activates after authentication completes.
Downgrades
Downgrades are scheduled for the end of the current billing period. The station keeps its current plan and features until the new billing cycle begins.
Scheduled downgrades appear on the station billing page and can be cancelled before they take effect.
WARNING
Downgrading may reduce storage, encoder slots, or feature access. Ensure current usage fits within the lower plan limits before the change takes effect.
Addons
Addons extend capabilities beyond the base plan. Each addon has its own subscription and is billed monthly.
Addon Types
| Type | Scope | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Project Addon | Applies to the entire project | Additional storage |
| Station Addon | Applies to a single station | StereoTool license |
Quantity Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Single | One per project or station (activate or deactivate) |
| Stackable | Can be purchased in increments for increased capacity |
Stackable addons are purchased in fixed increments. For example, storage addons are added in blocks of 25 GB.
Manage Addons
- Navigate to Addons in the project or station sidebar
- Browse available addons grouped by category
- Click an addon to activate it
- Select the quantity (for stackable addons)
- Review pricing and confirm
Active addons appear at the top of the page. Some addons offer a trial period.
Change Addon Quantity
For stackable addons, the quantity can be adjusted after purchase.
- Increasing the quantity takes effect immediately with prorated charges
- Decreasing the quantity is scheduled for the end of the billing period
Cancel an Addon
- Navigate to the addon in the project or station Addons page
- Click the addon
- Click Cancel
The addon remains active until the end of its billing period. Cancelled addons can be reactivated before the period ends.
Payment Methods
Payment methods are managed at the project level and apply to all stations and addons within the project.
Supported Payment Methods
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Credit / Debit Cards | Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners, JCB, UnionPay, Maestro |
| PayPal | Linked PayPal account |
Add a Payment Method
- Open the project Billing page
- Click Manage next to Payment Methods
- Click Add Payment Method
- Enter the payment details and confirm
The first payment method added becomes the default. Additional methods can be set as default after being added.
Remove a Payment Method
- Open the project Billing page
- Click Manage next to Payment Methods
- Click the delete icon next to the payment method
The default payment method cannot be removed. Set a different method as default first.
Stripe Billing Portal
A link to the Stripe billing portal is available on the project billing page. The portal provides additional payment management options directly through Stripe.
Billing Address and Tax ID
Billing Address
- Open the project Billing page
- Click Edit next to Billing Address
- Enter the address details (country and postal code are required)
- Save the changes
Tax ID
A tax ID (VAT number) can be added for business accounts.
- Open the project Billing page
- Click Edit next to Tax ID
- Select the tax ID type and enter the number
- Save — the ID is validated automatically
| Tax ID Type | Format | Region |
|---|---|---|
| EU VAT | e.g. DE123456789 | European Union |
| GB VAT | e.g. GB123456789 | United Kingdom |
| CH VAT | e.g. CHE-123.456.789 | Switzerland |
Providing a valid tax ID enables reverse-charge invoicing for B2B transactions within the EU.
Invoices
Invoices are generated for each billing cycle and displayed on the billing page.
Project Invoices
The project billing page shows all invoices across stations and project addons.
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Number | Invoice number |
| Date | Issue date |
| Status | Paid, open, void, or uncollectible |
| Amount | Total amount charged |
| Download link |
Station Invoices
Each station billing page shows invoices specific to that station's subscription.
Invoice Details
Each invoice contains:
- Line items with descriptions and amounts
- Billing period (start and end date)
- Subtotal, tax, and total
- A link to the Stripe-hosted invoice page
Discounts
Active discounts appear on the project billing page. Each discount shows:
- Discount name
- Percentage off
- Remaining months (if time-limited)
Discounts are applied automatically to applicable invoices.
Payment Status
The billing status affects station availability.
| Status | Description | Station Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Payment is current | Normal operation |
| Pending | Initial setup or awaiting 3D Secure confirmation | Station is being provisioned |
| Past Due | Payment failed, automatic retry in progress | Station remains active temporarily |
| Suspended | All payment retries failed | Station cannot stream |
| Canceled | Cancellation scheduled or completed | Station runs until period end |
Payment Failures
When a payment fails:
- The station enters past due status
- Stripe retries the charge automatically over several days
- If retries fail, the station moves to suspended status
- A suspended station cannot be started or stream
To resolve a suspended station, update the payment method on the project billing page. The station reactivates after a successful charge.
3D Secure Authentication
Some payments require 3D Secure (3DS) authentication. When required:
- A payment confirmation page opens
- Complete the authentication with the bank
- The subscription activates after confirmation
If authentication is not completed within a few minutes, a notification is sent with a link to retry.
Cancellation
Cancel a Station
- Open the station Billing page
- Scroll to the Danger Zone section
- Click Cancel
- Review the consequences and confirm
After cancellation:
- The station continues running until the end of the current billing period
- A 7-day grace period follows before data is deleted
- Schedules, encoder configurations, and history are removed after deletion
- Media files in the shared library are not affected
Reactivate a Station
If a station is cancelled but the billing period has not ended:
- Open the station Billing page
- Click Reactivate in the cancellation banner
Reactivation restores the station to active status with the same plan.
Cancel a Project
Cancelling a project ends all station subscriptions and addon subscriptions.
- Open the project Billing page
- Scroll to Cancel Subscription
- Confirm the cancellation
The project and all stations remain accessible until the end of the current billing period. A cancelled project can be reactivated before the period ends.