Got billed too much (again)?
# supportj
Josef
03/08/2025, 1:30 AMHello, could support help me help understand why the call costs in the logs are not the same of the amount that is billed?
For instance, on marech 4 I got billed for 260usd, while the cost in the call logs come down at around 140usd. Maybe it is something I'm not seeing, but please help me understand, so I can bill correctly to clients.
v
Vapi Support Bot
03/08/2025, 1:32 AMHi there! I understand your concern about the billing discrepancy. There are several possible reasons why your call logs show around $140 while you were billed $260:
1. **Telephony costs**: While Vapi charges a platform fee of $0.05/minute, additional telephony costs from providers like Twilio or Vonage are billed separately and can significantly increase the total cost [per minute from $0.05 to as high as $0.20](https://discord.com/channels/1211482211119796234/1211483291191083018/1336010280819359845).
2. **Additional service providers**: If you're using services like:
- Deepgram for transcription (~$0.01/min)
- Custom AI models (varies)
- Premium voices like ElevenLabs (~$0.04/min)
These are charged at-provider rates on top of Vapi's platform fee [according to our documentation](https://docs.vapi.ai/billing/examples).
3. **Billing method differences**: Costs might be billed either provider-side if your keys are on file, or through Vapi if they use their keys, which could affect how charges appear [in your billing](https://docs.vapi.ai/billing/cost-routing).
To get a precise explanation for your specific case, I'd recommend checking your detailed billing statement to see the breakdown of all charges. If you'd like me to look into your specific account details, please provide your account ID or email.
Sources:
- [Discord Message about Platform Fees](https://discord.com/channels/1211482211119796234/1211483291191083018/threads/1336010280819359845)
- [Vapi Billing Examples Documentation](https://docs.vapi.ai/billing/examples)
- [Vapi Cost Routing Documentation](https://docs.vapi.ai/billing/cost-routing)
j
Josef
03/08/2025, 1:34 AMOrgID: 9c0fbec1-bd95-4216-a0d1-93780d63bcb0
Josef
03/08/2025, 1:34 AMhoflandservices@gmail.com
Josef
03/08/2025, 1:34 AMBut what has twilio to do with it? These costs are included in the call cost right?
Josef
03/08/2025, 1:35 AMAnd if not, I pay twilio on twilio itself and not on Vapi right? Because I get billed by twilio aswell
Josef
03/08/2025, 2:16 AMBecause if all those 10usd charges are from twilio, I already paid that on twilio itself, so why cant I recharge my vapi account? I can do nothing because of these unpaid invoices, but if I pay them, I paid double?? (twilio and Vapi)
Josef
03/08/2025, 2:17 AMPlease help me understand, why am I billed so much
Josef
03/08/2025, 2:18 AMI paid like 400usd to vapi and twilio combined for less then 800 call minutes
Josef
03/08/2025, 2:18 AMHow is that possible
s
Shubham Bajaj
03/10/2025, 7:38 PM@Josef can you confirm is orgName
hoflandservices@gmail.com's Orgj
Josef
03/11/2025, 3:31 AMYes
Josef
03/11/2025, 3:32 AMI don't understand, why are the combined costs in the call logs saying something else?
Josef
03/11/2025, 3:32 AMHow much per minute does this come too? I paid Twilio en Vapi 400 total for 800 minutes, that comes down on 50c per minute? That cant be right right?
k
Kyle
03/13/2025, 6:41 PMHi @josef, Twilio's pricing structure is separate from Vapi's, combining them is not right with Vapi use instead you should be calculating the costs separately. Also could you please record a Loom video demonstrating the cost increase in the Vapi dashboard?
j
Josef
03/14/2025, 3:15 AMHi, are you here?
Josef
03/14/2025, 3:18 AMI understand you sending me the total spend. I can see that too. I just want to know how it is possible I got billed so much. Just look at these invoices and THEIR TIMESTAMPS. I got billed 10usd EVERY MINUTE, sometime in the SAME minute. How is that even possible if there is a max of 10 simultanious calls and the costs are 0.15usd?
Could you please take a look at the call logs, instead of sending me an overview of the insight. Please explain to me how I get billed 10usd EVERY MINUTE, it does not make sense to me.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1347743323346960394/1349944641939837011/image.png?ex=67d4f16b&is=67d39feb&hm=38fd9445df711c28174f1685f6ae91476d06a321e4a4d29c03b39984806af564&
Josef
03/14/2025, 3:18 AMThanks in advance
Josef
03/14/2025, 3:24 AMOn the 4th of march: I got exactly 77 calls, they were all 10 minutes long, all costing (as shown in the call logs), between 1usd and 1.45usd. This comes down on a MAXIMUM of 111usd (and this is if they were all 1.45usd, which they are not).
PLEASE tell me why, on the 4th of march, I got 26(!) time billed for 10usd for credits, which comes down on 260usd. Please help me understand, and don't just send a screenshot of the oversight of spendings.
Josef
03/14/2025, 3:24 AMThank you
s
Shubham Bajaj
03/16/2025, 11:40 AMHey @Josef please allow me some time to thoroughly verify each of your transactions and get back to you.
j
Josef
03/16/2025, 12:05 PMYes please
k
Kyle
03/17/2025, 11:07 AMSent you calendly link in DM and we can take a look into it over there!
j
Josef
03/17/2025, 11:14 AMAh oke thanks