Metered billing
Charging customers based on what they actually consumed in a billing period - tokens, image renders, agent runs - instead of a flat subscription fee.
Last updated: 2026-05-10
Definition
Metered billing tracks every billable action a customer takes (a "usage event") and aggregates them into a quantity that drives invoicing. For AI apps, the events are usually LLM calls, image renders, or agent runs. Metered billing requires a metering layer (counts events, enforces limits, exposes analytics) and an invoicing layer (turns totals into invoices). AIPricingLab is the metering layer; Stripe Billing or Lago is the invoicing layer.
Example
A user generates 87 images in March on a "$10/mo includes 100 renders, $0.20 each after" plan. Their March bill is $10 (within the included quota - no overage charges).
Related terms
Usage-based pricing
A pricing model where the customer's bill scales with their usage of the product, instead of a flat subscription. Sometimes called "consumption pricing" or "pay-as-you-go".
GlossaryComposite event
A single tracked event (one vevee.track call) that, via match rules, increments more than one limit group at the same time. The default model in AIPricingLab.
GlossaryLimit group
The basic unit of quota in AIPricingLab: a label, a unit, a quota, a period, and a list of match rules that decide which events count toward it.