🌡️How Bandwidth Works in BIG Digital Download
This guide explains in detail how bandwidth works in our app, how we calculate usage, what happens when you exceed your plan’s limit, how additional charges are billed, and what differences exist between non-Enterprise and Enterprise plans.
Our goal is to ensure that you clearly understand how bandwidth is measured and billed, so you can manage your store without surprises.
1. What is Bandwidth?
In BIG Digital Download, bandwidth refers to the amount of data transferred when your customers download your digital files. Every time a customer downloads a file, that download consumes bandwidth.
Example: If you upload a file of 500MB and one customer downloads it, that equals 0.5GB of bandwidth consumed.
If 10 customers download the same 500MB file, that equals 5GB consumed.
2. Bandwidth Allocation by Plan
Enterprise Plan: Also starts with 1,000GB per month, but you can exceed this limit and pay for additional usage (0.023$ usd x GB additional).
Other Plans (e.g., Plus): Also include bandwidth, but if you reach the 1TB limit, downloads will stop until your rolling usage falls below 1TB again.
3. How Bandwidth is Calculated
We use a rolling 30-day window to provide accurate usage tracking:
With every download, the app checks the last 30 days of bandwidth consumption.
It sums up the total bandwidth consumed.
It subtracts 1TB allowance.
If the result is positive, that portion is marked as billable usage.
Once daily, the app gathers all new billable usage and prepares it for billing through Shopify.
The overage is tagged as billable immediately, ensuring it is not double-counted on future days.
4. What Happens If You Exceed the Limit
If you’re on Plus or ULTRA (non-Enterprise) Plans: Once you hit the 1TB limit, your customers will temporarily be unable to download files until your rolling 30-day usage falls below 1TB again.
If you’re on Enterprise Plan: You can exceed 1TB, and any extra usage will be charged at $0.023 per GB. Downloads will continue without interruption.
5. Practical Examples
Example A (Enterprise Plan)
Last 30 days: 1,100GB consumed.
Included: 1,000GB.
Extra: 100GB.
Charge: 100 × $0.023 = $2.30 (tagged as billable that same day, and Shopify will process the charge immediately or in the following days).
Example B (Plus Plan)
Last 30 days: 1,050GB consumed.
Result: Downloads are temporarily blocked until your rolling usage goes back under 1TB.
No overage charge, but service is restricted.
6. Monitoring Your Bandwidth
You can check your usage directly inside Shopify:
Log in to your Shopify Admin.
Go to the Apps section.
Open the BIG Digital Download app.
Inside the app, go to the Dashboard.
Your total bandwidth consumption will be displayed there.
7. Billing & Payment
When you exceed your included 1TB bandwidth, the app immediately tags the excess usage as billable.
This prevents the same bandwidth from being re-counted on future days.
The charge is sent to Shopify on the same day the overage occurs.
Shopify may apply the charge that day or in the following days, depending on their billing system.
All charges appear in your Shopify billing history for transparency.
8. Consequences of Excessive Usage
If your store repeatedly exceeds the fair usage policy, your account could be flagged as a high-traffic data transfer site, which may lead to:
Temporary restrictions on downloads.
A request to upgrade to Enterprise for continued service.
9. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1: What is the "cut-off" date for bandwidth calculations? There is no fixed cut-off date. The system uses a rolling 30-day window and recalculates daily.
Q2: How much bandwidth have I used this month? You can see your total usage in the Dashboard at any time. This is the most accurate number.
Q3: Can I see daily usage after the cut-off? Currently, no. The system calculates daily but only displays total usage.
Q4: Is there a counter for extra GB usage? No, but you can calculate overages by subtracting 1,000GB from your Dashboard total.
Q5: How can I avoid overages or download restrictions? We recommend setting a download limit (3–5 per customer) to prevent abuse and control bandwidth usage.
Q6: When does the bandwidth counter reset? The counter does not reset on a fixed date. It works with a rolling 30-day window. Each day, the system looks back 30 days and recalculates your usage.
Q7: What happens if my customers consume 1,000GB and I’m on the Pro Plan? Once you hit the 1TB limit, downloads are blocked. Your customers will not be able to download files until your rolling usage falls back under 1TB.
Q8: Can I upgrade to Enterprise just for one month and then downgrade again? Yes. You can upgrade to the Enterprise Plan during a high-traffic month (for example, if you run promotions and expect to exceed 1TB). Once the month ends, you can downgrade back to another plan if you no longer need additional bandwidth.
Q9: If my customers consumed 1,030GB of bandwidth, when will they be able to download again on the Pro Plan? They will be able to download again as soon as the rolling 30-day calculation drops below 1TB. For example, if on Day 31, 50GB of usage “drops off” the calculation window, your total will be 980GB, and downloads will automatically be re-enabled.
Q10: How does payment work in the Enterprise Plan? If you exceed your included 1TB, the additional usage is tagged as billable immediately. The charge is processed automatically and daily through Shopify. You may see the charge the same day or in the following days, depending on Shopify’s billing process.
BIG Digital Download is designed to provide a fair, precise, and transparent system for bandwidth usage. By tagging extra usage as billable on the same day it occurs, we ensure accuracy and prevent future double-counting. Shopify then processes these charges immediately or shortly after.
By understanding how bandwidth is tracked and billed, you can better manage your store, protect your resources, and ensure your customers have smooth access to your digital products.
If you still have questions, please contact our support team — we’re here to help!
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