Fair Use FAQs
Quick answers on what "unlimited" means, what isn't fair use, and how enforcement works
What is the Fair Use Policy, and why does it exist?
The Fair Use Policy is a guardrail that keeps Astell's "unlimited" features fast and reliable for everyone. Astell provides unlimited features for normal business use so teams can work without friction, but "unlimited" does not mean unrestricted automation, spamming, scraping, or behavior that degrades platform stability or bypasses intended use. The policy is aimed at preventing sustained abuse, not policing normal business usage.
What does "unlimited" include?
"Unlimited" applies to Native Data syncing from integrations, search, MCP connectors, and collaboration features. Chat (every model) is token-based and draws from your monthly pool. Fair use mainly applies when usage becomes automated, unusually high, or harmful to platform stability. Sapling may also be throttled earlier to protect free-tier reliability.
Will an occasional high-usage month affect me?
Generally, no. Astell looks for sustained abnormal patterns over time, not one-off bursts tied to legitimate work like migrations, audits, a big project, or onboarding. If you expect an unusual spike, email founders@labtwofour.com ahead of time to avoid unnecessary queuing and get guidance on selective sync and processing strategy.
What kinds of behavior are considered "not fair use"?
Activities that are not fair use:
- Spam or bulk automated messaging (e.g., running scripted chat at scale)
- Bypassing safeguards or limits (including attempts to evade usage controls)
- Syncing or ingesting data without permission (including third-party workspaces or datasets you're not authorized to access)
- Sharing accounts or seats outside your organization (or using one account for multiple unlicensed users)
- Reselling or redistributing Astell access (or offering Astell-powered services externally in violation of terms)
How is fair use enforced, and what happens if I exceed it?
Astell doesn't enforce a single fixed cap. It monitors for sustained abnormal patterns and typically: (1) notifies you with specifics; (2) works with you on configuration and optimization; (3) recommends the right plan or enterprise setup for legitimate high-volume needs. If clear abuse continues without resolution, Astell may reduce processing priority, apply temporary restrictions, or suspend access as a last resort. The default approach is collaboration, not punishment.
Is fair use enforced differently by plan?
Fair use expectations scale with plan tier. Higher-tier and enterprise plans are designed to support larger teams, heavier workloads, and sustained high-volume usage, including dedicated resources and priority processing. Prohibited behaviors remain disallowed on all plans. Enterprise customers also have access to custom allocations.
How will I know if I'm approaching limits?
Astell provides real-time visibility through the dashboard and will email you before taking action in fair-use situations. The earliest user-visible signal is usually reduced throughput for heavy background processing (especially during peak hours), while text syncing and normal usage continue.
What should I do if I have legitimate extreme usage needs?
If you have legitimate extreme usage needs, email founders@labtwofour.com with your team size, expected workload, and timeline. Astell will help set up an enterprise or custom arrangement.
How do I request a fair use review or appeal a decision?
To request a fair use review or appeal a decision, email founders@labtwofour.com. If you're appealing, include relevant context, your expected usage, and why the usage is legitimate. Astell will review and explain the decision and next steps.