specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Chromatic
providerId: chromatic
created: '2026-07-11'
modified: '2026-07-11'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Visual Testing
- Storybook
- UI Testing
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of Chromatic spend. Chromatic is a SaaS visual testing platform billed
  on a subscription plus snapshot-usage model: each tier bundles a monthly snapshot
  allowance and cross-browser scope, and snapshots consumed above the allowance are
  billed as overage (about $0.008 per snapshot on Starter and Pro). The primary cost
  driver is snapshot volume, which is the product of stories tested, browsers, and
  viewports per build multiplied by build frequency in CI. TurboSnap change detection
  is the main lever to cut cost by only snapshotting changed stories.
notes: >-
  Snapshot overage rate and included allowances captured from chromatic.com/pricing
  on 2026-07-11; verify during reconciliation. Enterprise pricing is custom.
sources:
- https://www.chromatic.com/pricing/
- https://www.chromatic.com/docs/billing/
- https://www.chromatic.com/docs/turbosnap/
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Chromatic
serviceCategory: Developer Tools and Testing
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription-Plus-Usage
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Purchase
  - Usage
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Chromatic
  ServiceCategory: Developer Tools and Testing
  ProviderName: Chromatic
  PublisherName: Chromatic
  InvoiceIssuerName: Chromatic
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Usage
  PricingCategory: Subscription-Plus-Usage
meters:
- name: subscription
  description: Fixed monthly plan fee (Starter $179, Pro $399) bundling an included snapshot allowance.
  unit: subscription
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - plan
- name: snapshots
  description: Captured snapshots (one image per story, per browser, per viewport); billed as overage above the plan allowance.
  unit: snapshots
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - project
  - browser
- name: turbosnap_savings
  description: Snapshots skipped by TurboSnap change detection, reducing billable snapshot volume.
  unit: snapshots
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - project
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track snapshots per project, browser, and viewport, and monitor monthly usage against the plan allowance to anticipate overage.
- name: Allocation
  description: Split Chromatic projects per app/team so snapshot usage and overage map to internal cost centers.
- name: Optimization
  description: Enable TurboSnap to skip unchanged stories, trim redundant browsers/viewports, and gate visual tests to meaningful branches/PRs to reduce snapshot volume.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign project owners and review snapshot burn against the plan allowance each billing cycle before overage accrues.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com