What is a DCU?
The Smart Way to Pay for Automation
CloudQix uses DCUs, or Data Call Units, to offer a more flexible, usage-based pricing model for automation. Instead of charging by user, flow, or fixed-tier limits, CloudQix charges based on the actual work your integrations perform.
One DCU equals 64KB of data processed. Whether you’re moving data between systems, transforming it, or triggering logic, your usage is measured by the total data volume your automation consumes.
Why a DCU
Most integration pricing models are built to benefit the platform, not the user.
Some tools charge you for every action, even if it’s trivial. Others hide their pricing behind sales calls or charge based on how many apps you connect, regardless of use. Enterprise-grade platforms often base costs on backend capacity you don’t control or use.
CloudQix takes a different approach.
You only pay for what your workflows actually do. With DCUs, pricing is tied directly to the volume of data processed. That means no inflated fees, no hidden thresholds, and no need to overestimate your usage. Just transparent, scalable pricing based on measurable
How a DCU Works
A Data Call Unit (DCU) equals 64 kilobytes (KB) of data processed by CloudQix.
Every workflow uses a minimum of 2 DCUs, one for the incoming request and one for the outbound call. Additional DCUs are used for larger payloads or when your workflow includes multiple inbound or outbound calls. For example, a flow with one input and two outputs would use 3 DCUs.
There are no charges for data transformations, conditionals, loops, or other logic within the workflow. You only pay for the data movement, not the orchestration.
Examples:
- Create a contact record (simple payload, under 64KB), 2 DCUs
- Sync an order with product, customer, and tax data (~200KB), 4 DCUs
- Filter, enrich, and send multi-record transactions (500KB+), 8 to 10 DCUs
Your usage is automatically tracked per flow, and you can monitor it anytime in your dashboard.
DCU Limits by Plan
Plan, Monthly DCUs, Best For
- Free, 10,000, Testing and light usage
- Pro, 75,000, Consultants, freelancers, small teams
- Growth, 400,000, Agencies and scaling businesses
Enterprise plans include custom DCU allocations, private cloud options, and SLA-backed support.
Benefits of DCU-Based Pricing
- Volume-Based – You only pay based on how much data is processed
- Transparent – Each unit equals 64KB, with no hidden rules
- Flexible – Flows can scale in size and complexity without artificial limits
- Predictable – Monitor usage in real time and stay ahead of your thresholds
FAQs About DCU
What is a DCU?
Data Call Unit represents 64 kilobytes of data processed
by CloudQix. This includes data movement, transformation, logic, and system-level operations
within your workflows.
How do I know how many DCUs I’m using?
Your CloudQix dashboard shows
DCU usage. You’ll see how much data you’ve processed, and which flows are most active.
What happens if I hit my DCU limit?
If you’re on a paid plan and exceed
your monthly DCU limit, you’ll receive a notification. The system will automatically add
additional DCUs to your account at your plan’s current unit price, ensuring your workflows
continue running without interruption.
Do DCUs roll over if I don’t use them all?
No. DCUs reset monthly based
on your billing cycle. We are exploring roll-over support for future plan options.
Get in Touch
Our support team is here to help with anything you need.