docs: explain monetization change flow and remove rental pricing model as an option

sources/academy/build-and-publish/apify-store-basics/how_actor_monetization_works.md

@@ -95,15 +95,16 @@ If you want more details about rental pricing, refer to our [rental pricing docu
 
 ### Changing monetization
 
-Some monetization updates are applied immediately. However, significant pricing changes require a 14-day notice period.
+Monetization changes fall into two categories:
 
-Significant changes include:
+- _Non-significant changes_ (take effect immediately): decreasing prices, removing events, updating descriptions
+- _Significant changes_ (require a 14-day notice period): increasing prices, adding new paid events, changing the pricing model
 
-- Increasing prices
-- Adding a new paid pricing event (PPE)
-- Changing the pricing model
+When you submit a significant change, your users receive a notification and the current pricing stays active for 14 days. You can only make significant changes _once per month_ per Actor, and you _cannot cancel_ a planned change on your own - you need to contact [Apify support](https://apify.com/contact).
 
-You can make these significant changes only once per month.
+This means roughly one month passes between your first significant change and when you can make the next one. Plan your pricing carefully before committing.
+
+For full details, refer to the [monetization change rules](/platform/actors/publishing/monetize#change-monetization).
 
 ### Tracking and promotion
 

sources/academy/build-and-publish/apify-store-basics/how_store_works.md

@@ -37,11 +37,7 @@ Actors on Apify Store can be public or private:
 
 ## How Actor monetization works (briefly)
 
-You can monetize your Actors using three different pricing models:
-
-- Pay for usage: charge based on how much the Actor is used.
-- Pay per event: the price is based on specific events triggered by the Actor.
-- Monthly billing: set a fixed monthly rental rate for using the Actor.
+You can monetize your Actors using pay-per-event pricing, where users pay for specific events triggered by the Actor.
 
 For detailed information on which pricing model might work for your Actor, refer to [How Actor monetization works](/academy/actor-marketing-playbook/store-basics/how-actor-monetization-works).
 

sources/academy/build-and-publish/interacting-with-users/emails_to_actor_users.md

@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ A common situation in web scraping that's out of your control.
 
 Inform users about the reason for changes and how the changes impact them and the Actor + give them a date when the change takes effect.
 
-### 3. Actor changing its payment model (from rental to pay-per-result, for example)
+### 3. Actor changing its payment model (e.g., changing pay-per-event pricing)
 
 Email 1 (before the change, warning about deprecation).
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ Actor downtime, performance issues, Actor directly influenced by platform hiccup
 
 Apologize to users and or let them know you're working on it/everything is fixed now. This approach helps maintain trust and reassures users that you're addressing the situation.
 
-:::tip
+:::tip AI-assisted email drafts
 
 It might be an obvious tip, but If you're not great at emails, just write a short draft and ask ChatGPT to polish it. Play with the style until you find the one that suits you. You can even create templates for each situation. If ChatGPT is being too wordy, you can ask it to write at 9th or 10th-grade level, and it will use simpler words and sentences.
 

sources/academy/build-and-publish/interacting-with-users/issues_tab.md

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ Now that the Issues tab is public and on the web, it also serves other goals:
 
 Check out how the team behind the **Apollo.io leads scraper** manages their [Issues tab](https://apify.com/curious_coder/apollo-io-scraper/issues/open) for a great example of professional responses and quick problem-solving.
 
-Note that this Actor is a rental, so users expect a high-quality service.
+Note that this is a paid Actor, so users expect a high-quality service.
 
 ![issues tab example](images/issues-tab-example.png)
 

sources/academy/build-and-publish/why_publish.md

@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ Public Actors require higher standards than private ones. Since users depend on
 
 ### When you need to change things
 
-If you need to make breaking changes to your Actor, contact [community@apify.com](mailto:community@apify.com) beforehand. Major pricing changes require 14-day notice and are limited to once per month. The platform helps communicate changes to your users.
+If you need to make breaking changes to your Actor, contact [community@apify.com](mailto:community@apify.com) beforehand. Significant pricing changes require a 14-day notice period and are limited to once per month. The platform helps communicate changes to your users.
 
 ## Getting started
 

sources/platform/actors/publishing/index.mdx

@@ -30,10 +30,7 @@ Publishing your Actor on Apify Store transforms your code, eliminating tradition
   - Multiple payment options with automated billing & transactions
   - Minimal marketing efforts required due to marketplace presence
 
-Packaging your software as an Actor allows you to launch new SaaS product faster and earn income through various monetization models that match your Actor's value proposition like:
-
-- Pay-per-event for specific operations
-- Fixed rental fee for continuous access
+Packaging your software as an Actor allows you to launch new SaaS product faster and earn income through monetization that matches your Actor's value proposition.
 
 To learn more, visit the [Actors in Store](/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pricing-models) page.
 

sources/platform/actors/publishing/monetize/index.mdx

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 title: Monetize your Actor
-description: Monetize your Actors on Apify Store by choosing a pricing model such as pay per event or a flat monthly rental fee for users.
+description: Monetize your Actors on Apify Store with pay-per-event pricing. Learn how to set up, configure, and manage monetization changes for your published Actors.
 slug: /actors/publishing/monetize
 sidebar_position: 2
 ---
@@ -9,15 +9,16 @@ import Tabs from '@theme/Tabs';
 import TabItem from '@theme/TabItem';
 import RentalSunset from '../../../../_partials/_rental-sunsetting.mdx';
 
+<RentalSunset/>
+
 Apify Store allows you to monetize your web scraping, automation, and AI agent projects by publishing them as paid Actors. This guide explains the available pricing models and how to get started.
 
 ## Pricing models
 
 Actors in Apify Store can be published under one of the following pricing models:
 
-- _Pay per event (PPE)_: Users pay for specific events that are programmatically triggered from the Actor's source code. These events are defined by the developer and can include actions such as generating a single result or starting an Actor. The developer also chooses whether to pass the platform usage costs to users.
 - _Pay per usage_: Users can run the Actor without any additional charges beyond the platform usage costs generated by the Actor.
-- _Rental_: Users pay for the platform usage costs. However, after a trial period, they need to pay a flat monthly fee to the developer to continue using the Actor.
+- _Pay per event (PPE)_: Users pay for specific events that are programmatically triggered from the Actor's source code. These events are defined by the developer and can include actions such as generating a single result or starting an Actor. The developer also chooses whether to pass the platform usage costs to users.
 
     <RentalSunset/>
 
@@ -56,22 +57,45 @@ To monetize your Actor:
 
 You can change the monetization setting of your Actor by using the same wizard as for the setup in the **Monetization** section of your Actor's **Publication** tab.
 
-Most changes take effect **immediately**. However, **major changes** require a 14-day notice period and are limited to once per month to protect users.
+Changes are split into two categories: _significant_ and _non-significant_. Non-significant changes take effect immediately, while significant changes require a 14-day notice period to give your users time to adjust.
 
-**Major changes** that require 14-day notice include:
+#### Significant changes
+
+The following changes are considered significant and require a _14-day notice period_:
 
 - Changing the pricing model (e.g., from rental to pay-per-event)
 - Increasing prices
-- Adding new events
+- Adding new paid events
+
+When you submit a significant change, users of your Actor are notified and the change is scheduled to take effect after 14 days. During this waiting period, the current pricing remains active.
+
+#### Non-significant changes
 
-All other changes (such as decreasing prices, adjusting descriptions, or removing events) take effect immediately.
+The following changes take effect **immediately**:
 
-:::info Frequency of major monetization adjustments
+- Decreasing prices
+- Removing events
+- Updating event descriptions
+- Adjusting other non-pricing settings
 
-You can make major monetization changes to each Actor only **once per month**. After making a major change, you must wait until it takes effect (14 days) plus an additional period before making another major change. For further information & guidelines, please refer to the [Terms & Conditions](/legal/store-publishing-terms-and-conditions)
+#### Restrictions on significant changes
+
+:::caution You cannot cancel a planned change
+
+Once you commit to a significant change, you cannot cancel or modify it yourself. If you need to revert a planned change, contact [Apify support](https://apify.com/contact).
 
 :::
 
+Significant changes are limited to _once per month_ per Actor. After submitting a significant change, you must wait for the full cycle to complete before making another one:
+
+1. You submit a significant change (e.g., a price increase).
+1. The change takes effect after _14 days_.
+1. You can then submit your next significant change, which also takes _14 days_ to apply.
+
+This means approximately _one month_ passes between committing to one significant change and having the next one take effect. Plan your pricing strategy carefully before committing.
+
+For full details on the rules governing monetization changes, refer to the [Store publishing terms and conditions](/legal/store-publishing-terms-and-conditions).
+
 ## Monthly payouts and analytics
 
 Payout invoices are automatically generated on the 11th of each month, summarizing the profits from all your Actors for the previous month.
@@ -83,7 +107,7 @@ If your PPE Actor's price doesn't cover its monthly platform usage costs, it wil
 
 :::
 
-You have 3 days to review your payout invoice in the **Development >Insights > Payout** section. During this period, you can either approve the invoice or request a revision, which we will process promptly.
+You have 3 days to review your payout invoice in the **Development > Insights > Payout** section. During this period, you can either approve the invoice or request a revision, which we will process promptly.
 If no action is taken, the payout will be automatically approved on the 14th, with funds disbursed shortly after. Payouts require meeting minimum thresholds of either:
 
 - $20 for PayPal