# Introducing pay-as-you-go pricing

> Stedi now offers a pay-as-you-go plan with full production access. Pay only for the transactions you use, with volume discounts and no monthly minimums.

Published Jun 1, 2026

Category: Products

We're introducing a new pay-as-you-go pricing plan. With the new pay-as-you-go plan, you get a full production account (including API and SFTP access) and only pay for the transactions you use, with [automatic volume discounts](https://www.stedi.com/pricing) and no monthly minimums, setup fees, or per-provider/location fees.

Previously, API and SFTP access was only available with a \$500 monthly minimum plan. That minimum priced out startups, practices, and solo developers who wanted to move from prototype to production without a commitment.

## Sandbox and production accounts

Every new Stedi account now starts as a free sandbox account, limited to [test mode](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/test-mode), and can be upgraded to a production account via self-service.

Sandbox accounts let you run [mock eligibility checks](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/api-reference/mock-requests-eligibility-checks) and [test the claims workflow](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/test-claims-workflow) without sending real transactions. Developers and [coding agents](https://www.stedi.com/blog/how-to-use-stedi-with-a-coding-agent) can build and test their Stedi integration in a free sandbox account using [test API keys](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/api-reference#api-key-types) or a [test SFTP](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/test-claims-workflow#sftp). When they're ready to move to production, they can upgrade in account settings and swap in a production API key.

Production accounts can process unlimited transactions with real payers on one of two pricing plans:

- **Pay as you go**: 100% usage-based pricing with automatic volume-based discounts.

- **Custom**: Discounted usage rates for customers with high transaction volume. You also get enterprise features like SSO, SCIM, and consolidated billing for [integrated accounts](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/integrated-account-overview).

Existing Stedi accounts stay on their current pricing plans by default and can switch to a pay-as-you-go or custom plan at any time by contacting Stedi support.

## How pay-as-you-go pricing works

The pay-as-you-go plan uses tiered pricing. For most transactions, the per-transaction rate drops as your monthly volume grows.

When you [sign up](https://portal.stedi.com/auth/sign-up?redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fportal.stedi.com%2Fapp%2Fcreate-account) for the pay-as-you-go plan, you add a credit card and fund an initial Stedi account balance, starting at \$25.

Each transaction draws down the balance at the rate for its pricing tier. See our [pricing page](https://www.stedi.com/pricing) for an estimator and full breakdown of each tier.

[Watch the video](https://www.stedi.com/blog/media/introducing-pay-as-you-go-pricing/tH1DVHzZr0EGDALUFgmIMteE9U.mp4)

Stedi automatically adds funds to your balance when it drops below a trigger you set. For example, you can add \$25 to your balance whenever it falls below \$10, the minimum trigger.

Auto recharge

Your balance rolls forward month to month. At the end of each month, Stedi sends an invoice that covers your monthly usage. If you send zero transactions in a month, you pay nothing.

### Free features

The following features are free on all production plans:

- Unlimited user seats and providers

- [277CA claim acknowledgments](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/claim-responses-overview#277ca-claim-acknowledgment)

- [Transaction enrollment](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/transaction-enrollment), including our [Transaction Enrollment API](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/api-reference/post-enrollment-create-enrollment)

- [Payers API](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/api-reference/get-search-payers), our searchable, programmatic payer list

- The [Stedi MCP server](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/mcp-server) for AI agents

- [Stedi Agent](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/stedi-agent)

Every Stedi customer also receives [real-time support](https://www.stedi.com/support) over Slack, Microsoft Teams, and email. Our average response time is less than 10 minutes during business hours.

## Sign up in less than two minutes

[Sign up](https://portal.stedi.com/auth/sign-up?redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fportal.stedi.com%2Fapp%2Fcreate-sandbox) for a free sandbox account. It takes less than two minutes. No credit card is required. When you're ready to send production transactions, upgrade to the pay-as-you-go plan.