specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Fern
providerId: fern-api
created: '2026-07-11'
modified: '2026-07-11'
reconciled: false
tags:
- SDK Generation
- API Documentation
- Developer Tools
- Open Source
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of Fern spend. Fern is open-core: the `fern` CLI and code
  generators are open source (Apache-2.0), so running SDK and docs generation
  in your own CI/CD carries only your compute cost with no vendor invoice. The
  hosted Docs and SDK product is a SaaS subscription billed per plan - Hobby
  (free), Team (flat monthly, billed yearly), and Enterprise (custom) - with the
  AI documentation features (Ask Fern) metered against a monthly AI-credit
  allowance included in each plan. The dominant Fern-invoiced cost is the
  subscription tier plus any Enterprise add-ons (self-hosting, SSO, support).
notes: >-
  Team subscription advertised at $150/month billed yearly; Enterprise is
  custom. AI credits (250/mo Hobby, 1000/mo Team) are included allowances, not
  separately metered overages in public docs. Verify current pricing and
  allowances on the Fern pricing page during reconciliation.
sources:
- https://buildwithfern.com/pricing
- https://buildwithfern.com/
- https://github.com/fern-api/fern
- 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: Fern
serviceCategory: Developer Tools
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription-Based
  billingFrequency: Yearly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Purchase
  - Usage
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Fern
  ServiceCategory: Developer Tools
  ProviderName: Fern
  PublisherName: Fern
  InvoiceIssuerName: Fern
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Purchase
  PricingCategory: Subscription-Based
meters:
- name: subscription_seats
  description: Team member seats included in the plan tier (Hobby 2, Team 5, Enterprise custom).
  unit: seats
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - account
  - plan
- name: ai_credits
  description: Monthly AI credits consumed by Ask Fern and AI documentation features.
  unit: credits
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - plan
- name: cli_compute
  description: Infrastructure cost of running the open-source Fern CLI generators in CI/local (no Fern invoice).
  unit: hours
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - deployment
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track subscription tier, seat usage, and monthly AI-credit consumption per Fern organization.
- name: Allocation
  description: Map Fern seats and docs/SDK projects to the product or team that owns them.
- name: Optimization
  description: Run SDK and docs generation on the open-source CLI to avoid paid overages; right-size the plan tier to actual seats and AI-credit usage; reserve Enterprise add-ons (self-hosting, SSO) for teams that need them.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign an owner for the Fern subscription; review seat and AI-credit usage against the plan allowance each cycle.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com