Stop a server and billing

You pay for a server from the moment you start it until it stops. So make sure every server stops when its match is over.

Ways a server stops

Your server exits. When the match is over, have your server program close itself. The server then stops. This is the best way, because it needs nothing else.
You stop it. In the dashboard, click Stop next to the server in the Servers tab. With the API, send DELETE /v1/servers/{instance_id} with your server key.
The lobby host ends the match. POST /v1/lobbies/{lobby_id}/end stops the lobby’s server and returns the lobby to waiting.
Its time runs out. See ttl below.

If your server crashes, it stops too, and billing stops with it.

ttl is the most seconds a server may run, counted from when it started. When the time is up, Simpl stops it. 0 means no limit.

Set it when you start a server, as ttl in POST /v1/servers. For matchmaking, set it in the queue’s server_settings.
You can change it later with PATCH /v1/servers/{instance_id}.
On the Free plan the limit is 30 minutes. A server with no ttl gets 30 minutes, and a longer ttl fails with PLAN_LIMIT_EXCEEDED.

A ttl is a good safety net: if your server ever gets stuck without exiting, the ttl still stops it.

Servers are billed by the second, at the hourly price of their size. See Regions and Sizes.
Billing starts when you start the server, including the time it takes to start up.
Billing stops when Simpl sees the server has stopped. When your server exits by itself, that usually takes under a minute.
If your total for a month is under $2.00, Simpl doesn’t charge your card. The amount is added to next month’s bill instead.

For what each plan includes and costs, see Plan Limits.