On March 15, 2023, Firstory introduced a traffic-based pricing model to better support the diverse needs of modern podcasters.
Who is this for?
New Creators: Anyone who registered a Firstory account on or after March 15, 2023.
Legacy Users: If you joined before this date, you are currently not charged for traffic. We hope to grow together through our monetization features like ads and subscriptions.
Why charge based on downloads?
To sustain high-quality service and server stability as your show grows:
Free for Small Shows: Over 90% of our creators are unaffected. We offer 5,000 free monthly downloads.
Scalable for Pros: For enterprise users and large creators with high traffic or multiple shows, pricing scales with server usage while unlocking advanced professional features.
Key Plan Features Explained
Total Monthly Downloads: The combined download count of all podcasts under a single account.
Example: If you have 2 shows on the LITE plan, their combined downloads must stay under 10,000.
Ad Removal: The FREE plan includes mandatory pre-roll ads (with revenue share). Upgrading allows you to remove these ads for a cleaner listener experience.
Corporate Bank Withdrawal: Essential for legal entities or companies that need to withdraw sponsorship and ad earnings into a business bank account.
FAQ
Q: What happens if I exceed my monthly download limit?
A:You will receive a notification on or after your billing date. Your listeners can still listen for the time being. However, if you exceed the limit for two consecutive cycles, you must upgrade. Failure to do so will result in your audio files becoming unavailable once the limit is hit in the following month.
Q: How do I find my billing date?
A: Check your "Account Information" under "Next Billing Cycle." The "Day" of that date is your monthly settlement date.
Q: What if my traffic exceeds the highest plan?
A: We are open to custom partnerships that support your growth and cover server costs. Please contact: [email protected].
Q: How are fees calculated when changing plans?
A: Adjust your plan in "Account Information." The system automatically pro-rates the cost based on your remaining cycle and previous payments.