# Apify Actor monetization honesty: rental, PPE, and pricing claims that survive a README audit

*Not legal, tax, or investment advice. Mechanics below come from docs.apify.com monetization / Store / payout pages and Store Publishing Terms as of 2026-10-15. Console UI and fees evolve — re-open the linked pages before you change prices. This article does not link or endorse any of our products or any specific Actor.*

This article is not a Store publishing checklist. Here the only job is: what you can **honestly claim** about how users pay you, how Apify splits revenue, what “rental” still means in 2026, and when money actually leaves Apify.

## 1) Lead answer

1.  **Current publishable models** on the Monetize index ([Monetize Actors](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize)): **Pay per event (PPE)** and **Pay per usage**. Rental is documented for users still on it, but is **being sunset** (see #2).
    
2.  **PPE creator profit** ([PPE](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/pay-per-event), [pricing & costs](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/pricing-and-costs), Terms §10.2.1):  
    `profit = (0.8 × revenue) − platform costs`  
    You keep **80%** of event fees charged to users; Apify keeps **20%**; then **platform usage** for those runs is subtracted from your side (unless you pass usage to users — with transparency / quality-score tradeoffs).
    
3.  **Free-plan users do not fund your profit** on PPE / rental: only **paid-plan** customers count toward revenue and cost in the formula ([PPE](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/pay-per-event), [rental](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/rental)). Apify covers free users’ platform costs in that calc — you still owe them a **transparent** free-tier story in README / input schema ([Monetize](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize)).
    
4.  **“Pay per result” is not a separate docs page** (URL 404 on archive day). Official path for per-result billing is PPE — especially the synthetic event `apify-default-dataset-item` (charges each `pushData` to the **default** dataset) ([PPE](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/pay-per-event)). Do not invent a third model name in marketing copy.
    
5.  **Rental sunset (2026)** ([rental](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/rental), [Actors in Store](https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store)): **Apr 1** — no new rental Actors / no rental price changes; **Oct 1** — rental fully retired; remaining Actors migrated to **pay-per-usage**. Rental profit was `0.8 × rental fees` (paid-plan renters only). Users still pay **platform usage on top** of the monthly rent — docs call that out as a common confusion source.
    
6.  **Payout rails** ([Manage payouts](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/monthly-payouts)): billing details + payment method + **KYC**; invoices issued **day 11** for prior month; review **days 11–14** (auto-approve **14th** if idle); payouts **days 21–25**. Minimums: **$20** PayPal/Wise, **$100** other methods; under-min rolls over. Wire is SWIFT from **Czech Republic (CZ)** with **SHA** shared fees; intermediary fees often **$10–$50** (**not** a promise — range from docs). UI profit figures are **estimates** (Terms §9.2).
    

## 2) Pricing models — honesty table (creator claims)

| Model | What users pay | What you can claim | Fail / overclaim |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **PPE** | Prices you define per event (+ optional platform usage if “PPE + usage” on) | “Users pay for named events; primary event is shown on the detail page” | “Flat unlimited runs for $X” when you charge per event; hiding that **PPE + usage** adds platform bills ([Actors in Store](https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store)) |
| **Pay per usage** | Platform resources only; **no** developer surcharge ([Actors in Store](https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store)) | “Free Actor / usage-only — you pay Apify compute & proxies” | Calling it “monetized” as if you earn event fees |
| **Rental** (sunset) | Trial → monthly rent **plus** platform usage; after trial needs Apify **paid plan** ([Actors in Store](https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store)) | Historical: “$Y/month after N-day trial”; warn usage is **extra** | New rental launches after **2026-04-01**; “all-in monthly price” that ignores CU/proxy; promising rental after **2026-10-01** retirement |

**Per-result honesty:** Say you charge **per default-dataset item** (or your custom event), not “Apify pay-per-result product” as a separate Store category. Synthetic `apify-default-dataset-item` is default-on and auto-charges `pushData` to the default dataset only ([PPE](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/pay-per-event)).

## 3) PPE profit — worked example (official numbers)

Docs example ([pricing & costs](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/pricing-and-costs)): two **paid** users generate **$31** event revenue and **$4** platform cost; free user ignored.

Python `Decimal` (archived in the archived sources):

| Line | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Revenue (paid users) | $31.00 |
| Your 80% share of revenue | $24.80 |
| Platform costs (paid users) | $4.00 |
| **Profit** | **$20.80** |

Same month, a third **free-plan** user might show activity in analytics — that slice is **not** in the profit formula.

**Negative profit isolation:** if one Actor’s net is negative, Apify treats that Actor as **$0** for the month so it does **not** drag down other Actors’ positive profit ([PPE](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/pay-per-event), [Manage payouts](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/monthly-payouts)).

**Pass usage to users:** “Pay per event + usage” exists to avoid eating platform costs while you tune prices — docs warn it hurts **pricing transparency** and **Actor quality score**, and enabling the toggle takes **14 days** to take effect (turning it **off** is immediate) ([PPE](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/pay-per-event)). Standby runs: users **always** pay platform usage on top of events.

## 4) Rental — what not to promise in 2026

From [rental](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/rental) / [Actors in Store](https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store):

| Claim | Pass if… | Fail if… |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sunset calendar | You cite Apr 1 / Oct 1 **2026** milestones | You market “new rental Actor” after Apr 1 |
| Profit share | “80% of rental fees from paid-plan renters” | “80% of everything the user spends on Apify” |
| Total user cost | README shows rent **+** expected platform usage | “$30/mo all-in” when usage often adds more (docs cite confusion examples like $20 rent → $35–50 total) |
| AI / MCP discovery | You know rental Actors are **excluded** from Apify MCP search results | You promise “same agent discoverability as PPE” for rental |
| Migration | You plan PPE (or usage-only) before Oct 1 retirement | You assume rental continues indefinitely |

Illustrative rental month from docs: one paid renter at **$30** → your profit **$24** (`0.8 × 30`). Free-plan trialist who never upgrades contributes **$0**.

## 5) Listing / README honesty self-check

| Check | Pass if… | Fail if… |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Primary event | One event clearly represents main value; highlighted on detail page ([PPE](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/pay-per-event)) | Vague “usage-based” with no named events |
| Free users | Limits stated in README **and** input schema; graceful exit message ([Monetize](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize)) | Free users hit a crash that looks like a platform bug |
| Spending limits | You respect `ACTOR_MAX_TOTAL_CHARGE_USD`; charge as work completes; stop when `eventChargeLimitReached` ([PPE](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/pay-per-event)) | Batch-charge at end so aborted runs bill for inaccessible data |
| Start event | Prefer synthetic `apify-actor-start` (default **$0.00005**; Apify covers first **5s** compute) — don’t also keep a custom start event | Manually charging `apify-actor-start` in code (docs: it **fails**) |
| Discount tiers | Higher tiers ≤ lower-tier prices; tiers follow **platform-wide** spend, not per-Actor ([Terms §9.3](https://docs.apify.com/legal/store-publishing-terms-and-conditions)) | Advertising “GOLD price” as if every user gets it |
| UI estimates | You treat Console profit / payout previews as **estimates** (refunds, unpaid invoices) ([Terms §9.2](https://docs.apify.com/legal/store-publishing-terms-and-conditions)) | Quoting a UI number as a guaranteed payout |
| Agentic / Skyfire eligibility | PPE, events-only (no PPE+usage), limited permissions, no Standby, KYC done ([Monetize](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize)) | Claiming “all my Actors take agent pay” when rental/usage or full permissions block it |

## 6) Payout timing & minimums (creator side)

From [Manage payouts](https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/monthly-payouts) + Terms:

| Topic | Official |
| --- | --- |
| Eligibility | Billing details + payout method + **KYC**; incomplete KYC → earnings **roll** to next month; Terms also allow forfeit after **12 months** failed KYC |
| Invoice | Auto on **11th** for **previous** calendar month; only **paid / legitimate** user funds |
| Review window | **3 days** (11–14); idle → auto-approve on **14th** |
| Cash-out window | Roughly **21–25** of the month |
| Min threshold | **USD 20** PayPal / Wise; **USD 100** other; under-min rolls; Terms: under-min for **12 continuous months** → abandoned / forfeited |
| Wire | From **CZ** via **SWIFT**, SHA shared costs; US **ACH not** available |
| Deductions | Possible if Apify credits a user for Actor malfunction — reviewable in the invoice window |

Do **not** promise “payday on the 1st” or “same-week wire everywhere.” Do not promise PayPal is fee-free — docs say PayPal may still charge as the intermediary.

## 7) What this article deliberately skips

*   Store **publish** sections, README structure, automated tests, quality score deep dive → a separate guide.
    
*   Step-by-step Console screenshots / submitting an Actor → not here; not published.
    
*   Partner Creator special commission contracts → Terms mention them; details **Not verified** beyond “adjusted structure.”
    
*   Exact intermediary bank fee for your country beyond the documented **$10–$50** typical range.
    

## 8) Not verified

1.  Whether any Console UI still offers a labeled “Pay per result” radio separate from PPE on archive day (standalone docs URL **404**; PPE synthetic covers the use case).
    
2.  Partner Creator % schedules (contract-only).
    
3.  Exact calendar day your bank posts a SHA SWIFT (docs: “few additional business days”).
    
4.  Live quality-score weight of “PPE + usage” beyond the qualitative warning.
    

## Sources (archived)

*   https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize
    
*   https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/pay-per-event
    
*   https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/rental
    
*   https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/pricing-and-costs
    
*   https://docs.apify.com/actors/publishing/monetize/monthly-payouts
    
*   https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store
    
*   https://docs.apify.com/legal/store-publishing-terms-and-conditions
    

Evidence: the archived sources (`sources.md`, `run.log`, html/txt).