> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nodemaven.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How does Pay-as-you-go work?

> Pay-as-you-go is a one-off purchase with no expiry. Traffic from a cancelled subscription does not transfer to it.

**Pay-as-you-go is a one-off purchase, not a subscription.** You buy traffic when you need it, and nothing renews.

| | |
| - | - |
| Billing | One payment at a time. No automatic charges |
| Expiry | **None.** Your traffic does not expire |
| Repeat purchases | Buy again whenever you need more, as often as you like |
| Products | Residential and Mobile, same as every plan |

**Every Pay-as-you-go purchase includes both Residential and Mobile.** One balance, spendable on either.

## Buying traffic

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Pricing">
    Click **Pricing** in the left navigation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose an amount">
    Choose the amount of traffic you want.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Buy traffic">
    Click **Buy traffic**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pay">
    Complete the payment.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Traffic is added as soon as the payment clears. Your **Dashboard** shows the balance and your past invoices.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/yvkc0rpk/2671967606/b73dff897cf0d6cdb83a96b08a47/image.png" alt="NodeMaven dashboard showing the available traffic balance and past invoices after a Pay-as-you-go purchase" />
</Frame>

## Your traffic does not expire

Pay-as-you-go traffic does not expire. There is no monthly cycle to run out of, so nothing freezes and nothing lapses. Traffic left over from one purchase is still there when you buy again, and the balances simply add up.

<Warning>
  **Switching from a subscription to Pay-as-you-go**

  **If you cancel a subscription and move to Pay-as-you-go, the traffic left on that subscription is forfeited.** It does not transfer, and it does not come back later.

  This is different from letting a subscription expire and then buying another subscription, where the traffic freezes and returns.

  **Use up your subscription traffic before you switch.** If you have a large balance left, it is worth finishing it first.
</Warning>

## Pay-as-you-go or a subscription?

| | Pay-as-you-go | Monthly subscription |
| - | - | - |
| Price per GB | Higher | Lower |
| Commitment | None | Monthly |
| Traffic expiry | Never | Rolls over while you keep renewing |
| Best for | Occasional or unpredictable usage | Steady, predictable usage |

**Pay-as-you-go costs more per GB.** You are paying for flexibility. If your usage is steady month to month, a subscription is cheaper. The [Pricing page](https://nodemaven.com/pricing) has the current rates on both, and [how monthly subscriptions work](/billing/monthly-subscriptions) covers the other side.


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