Depending on your plan, you may be billed for different aspects of your usage on Pencil Spaces. By default, you are only billed for usage if you're on a usage-based plan and if you've exceeded the credits alotted for the given billing period
You can learn more about how these numbers are calculated below.
Billable Space Hours
Billed Space hours accrue only when there are two or more users in a Space. If a teacher or participant is alone in the Space, no usage is billed.
Billable Space hours are calculated for each users in the Space. That means, if there are two users in the Space for one hour, there are two billable Space hours billed for that session.
In addition to the above:
We do not accrue hours when you join the Space on the same account with multiple devices - e.g., joining the Space on a desktop while annotating over PDF in the Space on an iPad. In these situations, you cannot join the same call on multiple devices at the same time.
We exclude inactivity from billing. If you leave a tab open and become inactive, our system will automatically detect this within 5 minutes and remove you from the Space. You will not be charged for the 5 minutes of inactivity or any time after you’ve been marked as inactive in the Space. You will become active in the Space again if you refresh the page or interact with it again.
Example Scenario
Let’s break it down with an example. Teacher Tina and Student Sam have a class scheduled from 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM. Tina joins the Space early at 8:50 AM to prepare, and Sam joins on time at 9:00 AM. Both leave at 9:30 AM when the class ends. During the session, Tina also uses her iPad to annotate while remaining on the call on her desktop.
Here’s how the billing works:
8:50 AM - 9:00 AM: Tina is the only participant in the Space, so no usage is billed.
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Both Tina and Sam are in the Space. Billed usage = 0.5 hours × 2 users = 1 billable Space hour.
Tina’s use of an iPad for annotations does not result in additional charges since it’s under the same account.
This ensures that billing is fair, transparent, and only based on active participation.
Cloud Recording Usage
Certain plans have a separate line-item for Cloud Recording usage. Cloud Recording hours accrue whenever there is a call with an active recording.
Unlike Space hours, cloud recording hours are calculated per Space and not per user. That means, if there are two users in the Space for one hour, only one hour is billed for that session.
Web Viewer Usage
Certain plans have a separate line-item for Web Viewer usage. Web Viewer hours accrue per browser hour.
That means, if there are two users in the Space for one hour with 4 active webviewers for the duration of the session, four hours are billed for that session.
Other Charges
Certain plans have specific charges that may differ from the ones listed above. Please contact your account manager if you believe these apply to your account.
For example:
Cloud Recording Storage is charged per GB per month for all storage in excess of the standard retention term associated with your plan.
Space Hours is charged per user per hour. Unlike billable Space hours, Space hours do not require at least two users in the Space, and do not deduct inactivity from the hours calculation (though a 5 minute cut-off for inactivity still applies).
Need More Support?
Please contact our 24/7 Pencil Spaces Support. We'd be glad to assist you.