> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://meilisearch-6b28dec2-update-v1-50.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a project

> Create a new Meilisearch Cloud project from the dashboard in a few steps.

A project is an isolated Meilisearch instance. Creating one takes two steps: choose a plan type, then configure the project.

## Prerequisites

* A Meilisearch Cloud account. [Sign up at cloud.meilisearch.com](https://cloud.meilisearch.com) if you do not have one.

## Step 1: Click "New project"

From the [Cloud dashboard](https://cloud.meilisearch.com), click the **New project** button.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/meilisearch-6b28dec2-update-v1-50/px_ahBQ5I6-lm8Mp/assets/images/platform/infrastructure/new_project_button.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=px_ahBQ5I6-lm8Mp&q=85&s=8613545ae9a2d7cd1568c70e7c0837bb" alt="Meilisearch Cloud projects list with the New project button" width="3460" height="1978" data-path="assets/images/platform/infrastructure/new_project_button.png" />
</Frame>

## Step 2: Choose a plan type

You will be asked to choose between two billing models:

| Plan type          | Description                                                                                                              |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Resource-Based** | Select compute and storage to match your performance needs. You pay a fixed hourly rate for the resources you provision. |
| **Usage-Based**    | Pay as you go. Costs adjust automatically based on your actual searches and documents.                                   |

See [Resource-based vs usage-based](/capabilities/platform/infrastructure/overview#resource-based-vs-usage-based-projects) for guidance on which to choose.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/meilisearch-6b28dec2-update-v1-50/px_ahBQ5I6-lm8Mp/assets/images/platform/infrastructure/plan_type_selection.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=px_ahBQ5I6-lm8Mp&q=85&s=f429054fdc06f701ebe718e2c92ddf1c" alt="Create project modal showing Resource-Based and Usage-Based plan type options" width="3464" height="1974" data-path="assets/images/platform/infrastructure/plan_type_selection.png" />
</Frame>

## Step 3: Configure the project

Both plan types share three common fields:

| Field                   | Description                                                                                                                              |
| ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Project name**        | Between 3 and 40 characters.                                                                                                             |
| **Region**              | The region where your project is hosted. Cannot be changed after creation. See [Regions](/capabilities/platform/infrastructure/regions). |
| **Meilisearch version** | The version to deploy. Defaults to the latest stable release.                                                                            |

### Resource-Based configuration

Select a resource tier (Memory and vCPU). The Cloud UI shows the hourly cost and estimated monthly cost for the selected tier. Resource-based projects include Meilisearch team support. See [resource-based pricing](/capabilities/platform/billing/pricing_model#resource-based-pricing) for more details.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/meilisearch-6b28dec2-update-v1-50/px_ahBQ5I6-lm8Mp/assets/images/platform/infrastructure/resource_based_config.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=px_ahBQ5I6-lm8Mp&q=85&s=2ff759779928a9fb60a43186361207e5" alt="Configure resource-based project form showing memory, vCPU, and hourly cost breakdown" width="3456" height="1974" data-path="assets/images/platform/infrastructure/resource_based_config.png" />
</Frame>

### Usage-Based configuration

Select a plan:

| Plan       | Included searches                | Included documents          | Resources | Support             |
| ---------- | -------------------------------- | --------------------------- | --------- | ------------------- |
| **Build**  | 50K/month, then \$0.40 per 1,000 | 100K, then \$0.30 per 1,000 | Shared    | Community (Discord) |
| **Custom** | Tailored to your needs           | Tailored to your needs      | Dedicated | Meilisearch team    |

See [usage-based pricing](/capabilities/platform/billing/pricing_model#usage-based-pricing) for more details.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/meilisearch-6b28dec2-update-v1-50/px_ahBQ5I6-lm8Mp/assets/images/platform/infrastructure/usage_based_config.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=px_ahBQ5I6-lm8Mp&q=85&s=2cd2e48e75c51e095afc1428d5115575" alt="Configure usage-based project form showing Build plan option with pricing details" width="3460" height="1980" data-path="assets/images/platform/infrastructure/usage_based_config.png" />
</Frame>

## Step 4: Create the project

Click **Create project**. Meilisearch Cloud provisions the instance. The project appears in your dashboard with a **creating** status while it is being provisioned, then becomes available in a few seconds.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/meilisearch-6b28dec2-update-v1-50/px_ahBQ5I6-lm8Mp/assets/images/platform/infrastructure/project_creating.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=px_ahBQ5I6-lm8Mp&q=85&s=2609e1587324cd7a5d9b11bfe5402e40" alt="Meilisearch Cloud projects list showing a project with creating status" width="3454" height="1986" data-path="assets/images/platform/infrastructure/project_creating.png" />
</Frame>

## Next steps

* [Add documents](/getting_started/first_project#creating-an-index-and-adding-documents) using your project's API URL and admin key
* [Manage resources](/capabilities/platform/infrastructure/manage_resources) to scale as your data grows
* [Invite team members](/capabilities/platform/teams/overview) to collaborate on the project