Smaller businesses and startups usually opt for a pay-as-you-go pricing option for their communications APIs.  This means that they pay for services and communication tools as they use them, often by the minute, per message, or each individual authentication/verification. It’s ideal for businesses that aren’t yet sure which communication channels they need, or those that may not have frequent communication needs, but do need to be able to be contacted on multiple channels.  However, most companies also offer volume discounts or committed use discounts. This means that, as long as you commit to using only that provider for your CPaaS needs, you’ll receive a discount. Additionally, you can purchase minutes, messages, or other functionalities in bulk (a volume discount) for savings.  Finally, many platforms also offer packages that include multiple communications platforms in a single bundled plan.