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

# Understanding Chatarmin Variable Database Costs

> Chatarmin guide: Understanding Chatarmin Variable Database Costs

At Chatarmin, our pricing includes a **variable cost component** based on the number of contacts stored and actively managed in your account.

This ensures that pricing scales fairly with usage and the system load required to deliver WhatsApp messaging, automation, analytics, and AI support.

This article explains exactly:

* **Which contacts count toward billing**
* **Which contacts do not**
* **How monthly contact costs are calculated**
* **Why customers sometimes see higher numbers than expected**

## **1. What Are Variable Contact Costs?**

In addition to your base subscription fee, Chatarmin charges based on your **active contact volume**.

Contacts represent the people you communicate with through WhatsApp flows, support, campaigns, and automation.

The more contacts your account handles, the more infrastructure and processing power is required - which is why variable pricing exists.

## **2. Which Contacts Count Toward Billing?**

Only contacts that are considered **active and reachable** are included.

These include:

### **✅ Single Opt-In Contacts**

Customers who have opted in once to receive WhatsApp messages.

### **✅ Double Opt-In Contacts**

Customers who confirmed their subscription twice (strongest opt-in standard).

### **✅ Transactional Opt-Ins**

Contacts who opted in specifically for order-related communication (e.g. shipping updates, support flows).

## **3. Which Contacts Do Not Count Toward Billing?**

Chatarmin does **not** charge for contacts that cannot be messaged or are inactive.

These include:

### **❌ Opt-Out Contacts**

Customers who unsubscribed or replied “STOP”.

### **❌ None Contacts**

Contacts that exist in the system but have no valid opt-in status or cannot receive messages.

**So in short:**

You only pay for contacts you can actually reach and message.

## **4. How Is Contact Billing Calculated Each Month?**

Chatarmin bills based on the **peak number of billable contacts during a billing period**.

This means:

You are billed for the maximum active contact load within that month - not only the number of contacts on the last day.

This reflects the real system usage over time.

Peak within timeframe = billed. Peak load on system.

## **5. Example: How Contact Billing Works**

Let’s walk through a simple example:

### **January**

You have **2000 active contacts**.

During January, 1000 contacts opt out or are deleted.

Even though you end the month with 1000, you will still pay for: ✅ **2000 contacts**

Because that was your peak active contact count in January.

### **February**

You start with **1000 reachable contacts**.

No new opt-ins are added.

You will pay for: ✅ **1000 contacts**

### **March**

You gain 1000 new opt-ins.\
Your contact count goes back up to 2000. You still have 1000 Opt-Outs.

You will pay for: ✅ **2000 contacts**

## **6. Why This Model Makes Sense**

This model ensures fair billing because:

* The system needs to support the highest contact load you reach
* Contact spikes still require infrastructure and processing
* Customers cannot artificially reduce billing by deleting contacts at the end of the month

## **7. Summary**

To keep it simple:

* You pay only for **active opt-in contacts**
* You do **not** pay for opt-outs or none contacts
* Billing is based on the **monthly peak contact volume**
* Contact deletions or opt-outs affect the **next billing cycle**