How much should you charge fans for a chat or video call?
The first question almost every creator asks us is the same one: what should I charge? There is no single right number, but there is a sensible way to get to yours. Here it is, with the actual rupee maths.
Start with your time, not with other creators
It is tempting to look at what someone with twice your followers charges and copy it. Don't. Their audience, their niche and their schedule are different from yours. Start instead with a simple question: how much would an hour of my full attention need to be worth for me to happily say yes?
Be honest. If you are a student with free evenings, that number might be modest. If you coach clients professionally or already earn from brand work, it should be higher. Write the number down. Everything else comes from it.
Turn that hourly number into session prices
Most fans do not book an hour. On Zinsta, a package can be anything from 5 minutes to an hour, and most fans pick something between 10 and 20 minutes. So split your hourly figure into the lengths you want to offer, then adjust for the format.
- Chat is the easiest for you. You can answer from anywhere, and you can think before you type.
- Voice calls need a quiet room and your full attention for the whole session.
- Video calls need all of that, plus you have to look ready and have decent light. Most creators charge the most for video.
Say your hourly number is Rs 4,000. A fair starting menu could look like this:
| Session | Price | You keep (80%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10-minute chat | Rs 500 | Rs 400 |
| 15-minute voice call | Rs 1,000 | Rs 800 |
| 20-minute video call | Rs 1,600 | Rs 1,280 |
Notice the chat is a little cheaper per minute than the call. That is deliberate. A low-cost first option gets shy fans through the door, and many of them come back for a call later.
Do the maths after the fee
Zinsta keeps 20% of each session and you keep 80%. You see your exact earnings before you accept any request, so there are no surprises. Still, it helps to think in take-home numbers from day one.
A quick example. You take ten 15-minute voice calls a week at Rs 1,000 each:
- Fans pay: 10 × Rs 1,000 = Rs 10,000 a week
- You keep 80%: Rs 8,000 a week
- Over four weeks: about Rs 32,000
That is two and a half hours of calls a week. Earnings become withdrawable three days after each session, and you can send them to your bank account, JazzCash or Easypaisa once you have at least Rs 1,000 available. Play with your own numbers on the earnings calculator.
Offer two or three options, not seven
A long price list makes people hesitate. Two or three packages is the sweet spot: one low-commitment option (usually a short chat), one middle option, and one premium option for people who really want your time. You can always change them later from the Studio in the app.
When to raise your prices
Your first prices are a guess. Treat the first few weeks as a test and watch what happens. These are good signs that you are too cheap:
- You regularly get more requests than you can accept.
- Most sessions run to the full time, and fans often add extra minutes.
- The same people keep booking you again and again.
When that happens, raise prices by a modest step and see whether requests stay steady. Fans who value your time will understand. The ones who leave were probably only there because you were cheap.
When to lower them, or change something else
If people visit your profile but hardly anyone books, price may be the problem, but often it is not. Check these first:
- Your photo. A clear, friendly photo of your face beats a logo or a group shot.
- Your bio. Say exactly what fans get. "I review your singing and give you three things to work on" is better than "Talk to me!"
- Your hours. If you are only online at 3 pm on weekdays, most of your audience is at school, university or work. Evenings usually work better.
- Being online. Instant requests only reach you while you are online. Even an hour a day at a regular time helps fans find you.
Small things that make a session feel worth the price
- Greet the fan by name and ask what they want from the session in the first minute.
- For video calls, sit facing a window or a lamp. If load-shedding is due, keep your phone charged and switch to mobile data if the Wi-Fi drops.
- End with one clear takeaway: a tip, an exercise, a next step.
- Reply to reviews. New fans read them before they book.
Common questions
What is the lowest price I can set?
Packages on Zinsta start at Rs 100. Very low prices can attract a lot of requests you may not have time for, so start where you feel your time is respected.
Can I charge differently for chat and video?
Yes. Every package has its own type, length and price, so you can price chat, voice and video separately.
Do I have to accept every request?
No. You accept or decline each request, and you choose when you are online. If you decline or do not accept within two minutes, the fan gets a full refund automatically.
Set your prices on Zinsta
Choose your own rates for chat, voice and video, keep 80% of every session, and withdraw to JazzCash, Easypaisa or your bank. See how it works for creators, or read six ways creators in Pakistan earn from their followers.
