Step 6: Select Tier

Phase: plan

Context

You have app_spec and required_services. Now pick the right run402 tier.

What to do

Default to Prototype on testnet. This is free (test USDC via faucet) and perfect for trying things out.

run402 tiers

TierPriceDurationStorageAPI CallsBest for
Prototype$0.107 days250 MB500kTrying it out, demos, experiments
Hobby$5.0030 days1 GB5MPersonal projects, small groups
Team$20.0030 days10 GB50MTeams, events, ongoing use

Payment networks

  • Base Sepolia (testnet) — Free. Use run402's faucet to get test USDC. Perfect for prototypes.
  • Base mainnet — Real USDC. For apps you want to keep running.
  • Stripe subscription — Credit card payment. Only available as an upgrade after the initial prototype. See Step 20 for the upgrade flow.

What to tell the user

For first-time users, simply say:

"I'll set this up as a free prototype first. It'll last 7 days — plenty of time to try it out. If you love it, we can make it permanent later."

Only suggest higher tiers if the user explicitly asks about keeping the app long-term or if the app clearly needs more than 250 MB storage or 500k API calls.

Pricing API

You can fetch current pricing from: POST https://run402.com/v1/projects/quote (no auth required)

Expected output

  • selected_tier — "prototype", "hobby", or "team"
  • payment_network — "base-sepolia" (testnet, free) or "base-mainnet" (real USDC)

Memory directive