specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: PubNub
providerId: pubnub
created: '2026-05-08'
# Provenance stamped 2026-08-11: this artifact was written by the API Evangelist
# bulk sweep dated 2026-05-08, not harvested from the provider. See roadmap#35.
method: generated
modified: '2026-05-08'
reconciled: true
tags:
  - Realtime
  - FinOps
  - FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of PubNub. MAU-only billing model. Cost forecast hinges on accurately predicting
  Monthly Active Users; messages, channels, and storage within tier are bundled. Unlike
  competitors, peak concurrent connections do not generate separate cost.
sources:
  - https://www.pubnub.com/pricing/
  - 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: PubNub
serviceCategory: Realtime Infrastructure
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription with MAU Allowance
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
    - Subscription
    - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: PubNub Realtime
  ServiceCategory: Realtime Infrastructure
  ProviderName: PubNub
  PublisherName: PubNub
  InvoiceIssuerName: PubNub
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Subscription
meters:
  - name: subscription
    description: Monthly subscription per keyset; tier sets MAU allowance.
    unit: month
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - keyset
  - name: mau
    description: Monthly Active Users (distinct UUIDs in the period).
    unit: user_month
    aggregation: count_distinct
    dimensions:
      - keyset
principles:
  - name: Visibility
    description: Track distinct PubNub UUIDs per month per keyset; map to product.
  - name: Allocation
    description: Allocate by keyset and product line.
  - name: Optimization
    description: De-duplicate UUIDs across products; reuse a single keyset where possible to amortize MAU floor.
  - name: Accountability
    description: Assign a billing owner per keyset; review at renewal.
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: kin@apievangelist.com