Our Philosophy
At Altera, we believe that everyone should have access to their Shopify data, regardless of their budget. That's why we offer a generous Community Plan that provides core import and export functionality completely free of charge. Our goal is to make Shopify data as accessible as possible for the entire community.
We want to support small businesses, developers experimenting with new ideas, and anyone who needs basic data management tools without the barrier of upfront costs.
Community Plan Features
The Community Plan includes access to all of Altera's core functionality:
Full data type support: Import and export all supported data types including Products, Orders, Customers, Collections, and more
Unlimited exports: Export your data as often as needed with no restrictions
Complete file format support: Work with Excel files (.xlsx, .xls), CSV files, and Google Shopping
Built for Shopify quality: Same reliable, secure experience as our paid plans
Limitations and Fair Use
While we want to provide generous free access, we do have some limitations to ensure the service remains sustainable and performs well for everyone:
Job Priority
Jobs started from the Community Plan may have lower priority than those from paid plans. This means:
Potential queuing: During busy periods, your jobs might not start immediately and could be queued behind paid plan jobs
Normal processing: Most of the time, you won't notice any difference in processing speed
Usage Monitoring
In extreme circumstances, we may need to limit usage if it's affecting the performance or availability of the service for other customers. This would only happen in extreme cases and we would:
Contact you first: We'll reach out to discuss the situation before implementing any restrictions
Work with you: Help you find solutions that work for both your needs and our service capacity
Be transparent: Clearly communicate any temporary limitations and their duration
Plan Evolution
As Altera grows and evolves, the specific features and limitations of the Community Plan may change. When this happens:
Advance notice: We'll do our best to notify Community Plan users of any changes well ahead of time
Grandfathering: Existing users will typically keep their current access level during transition periods
Clear communication: Any changes will be clearly explained with reasoning and alternatives provided
Community first: We remain committed to providing meaningful free access to core functionality
Upgrading to Paid Plans
If you find that the Community Plan limitations affect your workflow, consider upgrading to one of our paid plans for:
Higher priority processing: Your jobs will process faster with priority queuing
Enhanced support: Access to priority customer support
Advanced features: Additional functionality like scheduled exports and imports
Increased limits: Higher file size limits and processing capacity
You can view our current pricing and plan details within the app or contact our support team to discuss which plan might be right for your needs.
Getting Help
Community Plan users have access to:
Knowledge base: Full access to our documentation and guides
Technical support: Help through our standard support channels
Feature requests: Ability to suggest improvements and new features
If you have questions about the Community Plan or need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to our support team. We're here to help you make the most of Altera, regardless of which plan you're using.