Why it happens
Your plan includes a fixed amount of use. A plan covers a number of orders, events or a level of tracked revenue. A busy month, a sale or a holiday season can pass it, and each unit above it is charged as a usage charge.
Usage charges follow the app's own 30-day cycle. Shopify's help says app usage charges are tied to a 30-day billing cycle specific to each app. Because that cycle can differ from your Shopify billing cycle, usage from one app cycle can be split across two Shopify bills.
The capped amount, which Shopify's admin calls the spending limit, is the most the app can charge for use in one cycle. Shopify's developer docs call it the maximum amount of usage to bill within the 30-day billing cycle. You approve it when you choose the plan. Shopify's help says that once the spending reaches the limit, no more usage charges for that app are allowed until a new billing cycle starts.
The app may ask you to raise the cap. When usage reaches the cap, an app can ask you to approve a higher one. Shopify's help says you can increase an app's spending limit from Settings > Apps in your Shopify admin.
Check it yourself
- 1In your Shopify admin, open Settings > Billing and look at the app's charges on your bills: the plan price and any usage charges listed apart.
- 2Open the app's own billing page. It should show what the plan includes, the price per unit above it, and how much you used in the current cycle.
- 3In Settings > Apps, find the app and look at its spending limit for usage charges.
- 4Compare the dates. A usage charge from the end of one app cycle can show on the next Shopify bill, so one busy month can look like two higher bills.
- 5Work out the next month at your volume: the plan price, plus the units above the plan times the price per unit, up to the cap. Then compare it with the next plan up, which may cost less at that volume.
- 6If a charge looks wrong, ask the app's developer first. Shopify's help sends refund requests for app charges to the app developer.
FAQ
Does tracking stop when the capped amount is reached?
That depends on the app. Shopify stops further usage charges until the next cycle. Whether the app keeps tracking is the app's own rule, so check its terms.
Why do I see usage charges on two bills for one busy month?
The app's 30-day cycle and Shopify's billing cycle can start on different days, so usage from one app cycle can be split across two Shopify bills.
Can an app raise the cap without me?
No. You approve the capped amount when you choose the plan, and Shopify asks you to approve a new one when the app asks for more.
Do yearly plans have usage charges?
It depends on the app. Some apps charge no usage on yearly plans; check the app's pricing and terms.