Prorated vs Full

A usage-based charge is either prorated or fully-billed. The difference is how Lago charges a unit added mid-period: prorated charges bill it for the days it was used, fully-billed charges bill it for the whole period.

Prorated charges

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API

Only charges that are recurring (billable metric with recurring argument set to true), invoiced in arrears, with a charge_model defined to standard, graduated or volume can be prorated. If your charge is pay-in-advance, it can only be prorated if the charge_model is standard.

Set the prorated parameter to true to prorate a charge. A unit added during the billing period is then charged for the number of days it was used, not for the whole period.Take prorated Seats, where each seat costs $10. A seat added on July 10th is used for 22 days of the period, so Lago charges it for those 22 days:Example: (1 Seat x $10), used for 22 days = $7.33

Create a charge that is prorated by setting prorated to true.

  LAGO_URL="https://api.getlago.com"
  API_KEY="__YOUR_API_KEY__"

  curl --location --request POST "$LAGO_URL/api/v1/plans" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $API_KEY" \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
    "plan": {
      "name": "Startup",
      "code": "startup",
      "interval": "monthly",
      "description": "This is a basic plan description",
      "amount_cents": 10000,
      "amount_currency": "USD",
      "trial_period": 3.0,
      "pay_in_advance": true,
      "bill_charges_monthly": false,
      "charges": [
        {
          "billable_metric_id": "__BILLABLE_METRIC_ID__",
          "charge_model": "standard",
          "pay_in_advance": true,
          "invoiceable": true,
          "min_amount_cents": 0,
          "prorated": true,
          "properties": {
            "amount": "10"
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  }'

Fully-billed charges

Dashboard
API

Note that metered charges (billable metrics with recurring set to false) are automatically fully-billed.

Set the prorated parameter to false to bill a charge in full. A unit added during the billing period is then charged for the whole period, whatever the number of days it was used.Take fully-billed Seats, where each seat costs $10. A seat added on July 10th is used for 22 days of the period, and is still charged in full:(1 Seat x $10), used for 22 days = $10.

Create a charge that is billed fully by setting prorated to false.

Note that metered charges (billable metrics with recurring set to false) are automatically fully-billed.

  LAGO_URL="https://api.getlago.com"
  API_KEY="__YOUR_API_KEY__"

  curl --location --request POST "$LAGO_URL/api/v1/plans" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $API_KEY" \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
    "plan": {
      "name": "Startup",
      "code": "startup",
      "interval": "monthly",
      "description": "This is a basic plan description",
      "amount_cents": 10000,
      "amount_currency": "USD",
      "trial_period": 3.0,
      "pay_in_advance": true,
      "bill_charges_monthly": false,
      "charges": [
        {
          "billable_metric_id": "__BILLABLE_METRIC_ID__",
          "charge_model": "standard",
          "pay_in_advance": true,
          "invoiceable": true,
          "min_amount_cents": 0,
          "prorated": false,
          "properties": {
            "amount": "10"
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  }'

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Prorated vs Full

Prorated charges

Fully-billed charges

​Prorated charges

​Fully-billed charges

Prorated charges

Fully-billed charges