Per-seat pricing charges for every user; flat team pricing charges for a team size. For an agency, the difference shows up as the roster grows, and as freelancers, reviewers, and part-time collaborators each consume a seat. With ApproveLite, the plan price is the plan price: we don't multiply it by every team member. Here's the transparent math, using ApproveLite's current plans and a clearly labeled illustrative per-seat example. Prices are as of October 2026 and can change.
ApproveLite's current plans
ApproveLite uses flat team pricing with no per-seat charges:
| Plan | Price | Team size |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $15/month | Up to 3 team members |
| Teams | $29/month | Up to 10 team members |
| Business | $59/month | Up to 25 team members |
Every plan includes unlimited projects, unlimited clients, and unlimited versions. Clients and external reviewers don't count as team members; they review through links, so the plan price is the plan price.
The per-seat math, illustrated
Per-seat pricing scales with headcount. Here's an illustrative example: a hypothetical per-seat tool at $29 per user per month, not tied to any specific vendor.
- A 3-person team pays 3 × $29 = $87/month
- A 10-person team pays 10 × $29 = $290/month
- A 25-person team pays 25 × $29 = $725/month
ApproveLite's flat plans cap those same team sizes at $15, $29, and $59 respectively. The gap isn't magic. It's the pricing model: per-seat multiplies, flat caps.
Why the model matters for agencies
Agencies don't have a fixed roster. Freelancers come and go per project, account managers join mid-quarter, and reviewers may only touch the tool once a week. Under per-seat pricing, every one of those people is a line item. Under flat team pricing, you pay for the team size and stop counting individuals.
That said, per-seat pricing isn't always worse. A very small, stable team might pay less per-seat than a flat plan's minimum. The point isn't that one model is always right. You should do the math at your own headcount, including the people who only review occasionally.
What to check before comparing
- Seat definition: does a reviewer or client count as a paid seat?
- Your real headcount: full-timers plus freelancers plus occasional reviewers
- Hidden tiers: storage caps, client limits, or version limits that change the effective price
- Current pricing: both models change; verify at decision time
How to run your own comparison
- Write down your team size, plus the people who review occasionally.
- Multiply the per-seat price of any tool by that number.
- Compare against flat plans at the matching team size.
- Check the feature limits at each tier, not just the headline price.
The bottom line
Flat team pricing rewards agencies that grow and that involve many reviewers; per-seat pricing rewards small, stable teams. Neither is universally better. But the comparison only works when you count every seat you'd actually use. ApproveLite's pricing page has the current plans, and the product page walks through how the workflow fits an agency. For the full evaluation lens, see what to look for in client approval software.
Frequently asked questions
Does ApproveLite charge per seat?
No. Plans are priced by team size ($15 for up to 3 members, $29 for up to 10, $59 for up to 25), with no per-seat charges.
Do clients count as seats in ApproveLite?
Clients review through links without accounts, so they don't consume team seats. The plan covers your team members.
Is per-seat pricing ever cheaper?
Yes, for a small, stable team it can be. The flat model wins as the roster and reviewer count grow. Run the numbers for your own situation.
See ApproveLite pricing
The real answer to "what does an agency pay?" is a calculation, not a slogan. Check ApproveLite's flat plans, do the math at your headcount, and compare.