Skip to main content
Every plan includes a number of conversations for each billing cycle. Agent replies and live-chat replies draw from the same allowance, and test conversations never draw from it. The Overview tab of Settings > Billing shows the allowance, the packs you bought, and the point where new conversations stop.
The Overview tab of the Billing settings page with the plan card, its usage bar, the Healthy badge and the Buy more button, above the Live chat seats and Payment method cards

​
What counts as one conversation

One conversation is one 24-hour window between one end user and one deployment on one channel. The first message from that end user opens the window and uses one conversation. Every message inside the next 24 hours, from the end user, the agent, or a human agent, is free. A message after the window closes opens a new window and uses one more conversation. While you hold no credits, the card footer states this rule in short form as 1 conversation = a 24h window / visitor. Once you hold credits, that footer reads +N credits available after your plan instead. Tars does not count separate conversations per agent reply, per gambit, or per handoff to live chat.

​
What is never billed

Only production traffic on a live deployment counts. These never use a conversation from your allowance:
  • Conversations in Test Mode inside the builder
  • Conversations on a staging deployment
  • Conversations with a draft that is not published
You can build and test as much as you need without touching the allowance.

​
The Plan conversations card

The top card on the Overview tab shows your plan badge and, below a divider, the Plan conversations section. It reads this cycle on monthly billing and this year on annual billing. Enterprise plans with unlimited volume show Unlimited instead of a count and hide the bar. The section shows one large number, for example 420 of 500 left, above a thin usage bar with two tick marks at 70% and 90%. Under the bar you see how many conversations you used and the date and time the allowance resets. A status badge in the corner tells you where you stand. Members who can manage billing see Upgrade for more on the Free plan. On a paid plan they see Buy more until the organization owns a pack, after which the button moves to the Conversation credits card. See Roles and permissions for who can manage billing.

​
The Conversation credits card

Conversation packs are extra conversations you buy on a paid plan. Tars spends first from the batch that expires soonest, which is normally the plan allowance for the cycle. Once your organization has bought or been granted extra conversations, a second card named Conversation credits with a Top-up badge appears beside the plan card. The card shows the total credits left, a bar for how much of the purchased total is used or expired, and one row per pack. Each row lists the purchase date, the pack size such as +1,000, the remaining balance, and the expiry date. Unused credits do not reset with your billing cycle, so a pack you bought in March still pays for conversations in June. The Free plan does not offer packs.

​
The Buy conversations dialog

Buy more on either card opens the Buy conversations dialog. The subtitle reads Priced at your plan rate followed by the validity, for example valid for 365 days. Enterprise contracts with an end date show valid until your contract ends instead.
The Buy conversations dialog with a list of pack sizes, the per-conversation price and total for each, and the Continue to payment button
The dialog lists the pack sizes your plan offers, from smallest to largest. Each option shows the size, such as +1,000 conversations, the price for each conversation, and the total. Select a size and choose Continue to payment to open Stripe checkout. When you return, the Billing page shows the toast Conversations added and the new pack appears in the credits table. See Invoices and payment issues for the receipt.

​
When the allowance runs out

On the Free and Premium plans, an empty allowance with no credits left pauses new conversations. A red strip appears at the top of the Overview tab and states Agent paused with the reason conversation limit reached. New chats get no reply, but end users inside an open 24-hour window can keep talking. The strip offers Buy more on Premium and Upgrade on Free to members who can manage billing. Enterprise plans do not pause. Past the included volume, an amber strip states Over your included volume and your account manager reconciles the extra usage. See Plans and upgrading for how Enterprise contracts set volume.

​
Usage notification emails

Tars emails every member whose role can manage billing when usage of the plan allowance crosses 70%, 90%, and 100%. Each threshold sends at most one email per billing cycle. When usage jumps past two thresholds at once, only the higher one sends. The subject names the threshold, for example You’ve used 70% of your TARS conversation allowance. The 70% email links to View usage, and the 90% email links to Buy a pack. At 100%, Free and Premium members get You’ve reached your TARS conversation limit with a Buy a pack or upgrade button. Enterprise members get You’ve reached your TARS conversation allotment and a note that service continues without interruption.