Free vs Pro: What Unlocks
Exactly what is gated on the free plan and how locked features appear inside the Studio.
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How Locked Features Appear
On the free plan, premium controls are visible but gated. A locked section shows a lock overlay with the required plan ("Pro plan or higher required") and an Upgrade to Unlock button that opens your upgrade options. Nothing is hidden: you can always see what a higher plan would give you.
What Is Gated to Pro
The free plan covers the core simulator and the FREE-tier modes. These areas require Pro Creator (or higher):
- Audio, Arts, Video (Recorder), and Cloud tabs
- The Sound, MIDI and Audio Hub and premium sound samples
- Visual styles, trails, and impact FX
- Titles, branding, and counters
- Layer sorting and global visuals
- Advanced physics and ball placement
- World & boundary and outside-collider controls
- Ghost and Spiral modes
- Publishing to every platform beyond YouTube
- Cloud storage and bulk operations
Export Limits on Free
Free exports render at up to 1080p, carry a ballengine.app watermark, and are limited to 5 per month. Pro Creator removes the watermark and raises the allowance to 100 exports per month, still at up to 1080p. Studio Elite adds 2K and 4K resolution, unlimited exports, and a custom branded watermark. Higher frame rates above 60 FPS need a powerful, plugged-in machine to hold steadily.
Elite-Only Extras
A few capabilities sit above Pro. Studio Elite adds 2K and 4K rendering, unlimited exports, a custom branded watermark, up to 3 separate brands (each with their own connected accounts and schedule), early access to in-development features, and the advanced multi-round sequencing in Spiral mode. If a control specifically asks for Elite, that is why.
Beta Access and the Offline Lock
Two things affect what is unlocked beyond your plan. Beta testers are granted Elite-level access while their beta is active. And because the engine validates your plan with our servers, premium features lock with an "Internet connection required" message if you go offline: reconnect to restore them.
Maximize Your Creation Potential
Ready to dive deeper? Check out our guides, pricing options, community showcases, and help center.