---
title: Set Up Billing
url: "/docs/billing/"
canonical_url: https://docs.blossom88.com/docs/billing/
markdown_url: https://docs.blossom88.com/docs/billing.md
summary: Try Blossom first, then set up billing once before your Apps run.
categories:
- billing
- account
---

# Set Up Billing

Try Blossom before you pay. Billing starts when something runs, and setup takes
a couple of minutes when you're ready.

## Free to explore

No payment method is needed to:

- Preview the App, Location, and Services a deploy would create
- Save plans and set up Apps, Environments, and Services
- Connect a cloud provider and add Locations

## What you need to deploy

| | Blossom Cloud | Blossom BYOC (bring your own cloud) |
|---|---|---|
| Payment method | Yes | Yes |
| Activation | $5 once, all of it toward usage | Not needed |
| Cloud account | Not needed | Yours, connected to Blossom |
| Servers billed by | Blossom | Your provider |

## 1. Add a payment method

Your first deploy asks for one and saves your plan; you can also start from
**Organization → Billing**. Choose **Continue to secure checkout** and finish
in Stripe. One setup covers Blossom Cloud and BYOC, and you return to your plan.

![The Set up billing page, with Blossom Cloud selected, Blossom BYOC beside it, and Continue to secure checkout highlighted.](/assets/images/billing/setup-light.png)


## 2. Activate Blossom Cloud

Open **Organization → Billing** and look for **Blossom Cloud**. Choose
**Pay $5 and activate Cloud** once per Organization, then deploy.

![The Activate Blossom Cloud step at the top of Billing, with Pay $5 and activate Cloud and Connect your cloud.](/assets/images/billing/activate-light.png)


- The full $5 goes toward Cloud usage across your Accounts. Unused credit
  carries forward.
- An Organization billing manager can activate Cloud once a payment method is
  set up.
- If Blossom can't start your first resource, contact support for a refund.

## Or bring your own cloud

Skip activation and run on your own provider account.
[Connect a cloud provider](/docs/locations/cloud-providers/) and
add a BYOC Location. Your provider bills the servers, and the first $20 of
Blossom fees each month is free for one Organization per owner.

## Check your setup


> **Ask your AI agent:** Is my Blossom Organization ready to deploy? Show my billing status and whether
> Blossom Cloud is activated.



    blossom billing:profile

`Status` reads `active` once billing is set up, and `Cloud Activation` changes
from `required` to `paid`.

## What You Get

- Deploys that start right away, on Blossom Cloud, your own cloud, or both
- One monthly invoice for what ran, with usage you can see in Blossom

Prices are on the [pricing page](https://app.blossom88.com/pricing).
[Capacity](/docs/capacity/#billing) explains how running resources
are billed.