How minutes work

Last updated 17 October 2026

Explained counts minutes only while it is listening to a call. Everything else in the app is free to use, as often as you like.

What uses minutes

• A running session: Interview, Meeting or Practice interview.
• Resuming a past session, which starts listening again.

What is free

• Signing in, adding your résumé or job description, and checking your microphone and call audio.
• Reading past sessions: their summaries, action items and transcripts.
• Changing settings and modes.

How a session is counted

Every minute is counted when it begins. The first minute is used when you start a session, and one more at the start of each minute it keeps running. A session of 3 minutes and 10 seconds uses 4 minutes. Ending the session stops the count straight away.

Your free minutes

Every new account gets 3 free minutes to try Explained on a real call. No card is needed.

Minute packs

• Packs of 60, 300 or 900 minutes are paid once and never expire.
• Buying another pack adds its minutes to what you have left.
• Your remaining minutes are shown in the app under Settings → Account.

Unlimited

While your Unlimited subscription is active, sessions are not counted at all. If you cancel, Unlimited stays on until the end of the month you paid for; after that, any pack minutes you still had are there to use.

When you run out

If your minutes run out during a call, the session ends and Explained shows your account, where you can buy more or switch to Unlimited.

Refunds

Purchases are final and we do not offer refunds, including for unused minutes. See Refunds in our Terms.