Why We Switched from Subscriptions to Pay-Per-Minute Encoding
Today we shipped a new pricing model for VideoFlowEngine.
No more monthly subscription tiers. Instead: one-time credit packs — encoding minutes you buy once and use whenever you need them. They never expire.
Here's the honest version of why we made this change.
The problem with subscription tiers for a tool like this
When we launched, we had three tiers: Free, Starter ($49/mo), and Pro ($99/mo). The logic was familiar — SaaS has tiers, so we had tiers.
But video encoding doesn't work like a SaaS feature set. The difference between a Free user and a Starter user isn't that they get access to different features. It's that one encodes more videos than the other.
A course creator with 10 long-form lessons doesn't need the same plan as one with 50 short clips. But both were paying the same $49/month whether they encoded 2 videos that month or 20.
Paying a monthly subscription for a tool you only use occasionally feels wrong — because it is wrong.
The feedback we kept hearing: "I love the streaming speed, but I don't encode videos every month. Why am I paying monthly?"
That's a fair question. We didn't have a good answer.
What we replaced it with
Encoding minutes as currency. You buy a pack once, it tops up your balance, and you spend it as you encode.
One minute of source video = one encoding minute. A 10-minute course lesson costs 10 credits. A Starter pack covers around 30 such lessons. Credits never expire — buy in bulk when it makes sense, spend over months.
What changed for your account today
- Everyone starts with 30 free minutes — already in your account, no action needed
- Full HD 1080p for all accounts — removed the 720p cap that was on the free tier
- No watermark on any video — removed entirely
- Existing videos keep streaming — credits only matter when you encode new uploads, not for playback of what's already there
- Buy credits from inside WordPress — go to VideoFlowEngine → Settings → Buy Credits
What happens when credits run out
New uploads are paused until you top up. Existing published videos keep streaming — we never interrupt playback for content that's already encoded. The plugin shows your remaining balance and a low-balance warning when you're under 30 minutes.
Already connected? Open VideoFlowEngine → Settings in your WordPress admin. Your balance is shown at the top. If you need more minutes, the Buy Credits section is right there — Stripe checkout, takes 30 seconds.
Why this is better for most sites
If you encode videos regularly: a $19 pack (700 minutes) covers roughly 70 ten-minute videos. For an active course site uploading a few lessons a week, that's months of headroom with no monthly commitment.
If you encode occasionally: buy a Starter pack ($9), use it over the next six months, top up when needed. No subscription running in the background for a tool you use three times a quarter.
If you're just getting started: 30 free minutes is already in your account. That's enough to encode and publish two or three real videos before you need to make any decision about buying credits.
Questions?
Reply to any email we've sent you — it comes directly to me. Or use the contact form on this site. Happy to help with the transition.
See the new pricing
One-time packs. Credits never expire. Buy when you need to encode.
View Credit Packs →