Feels like we’re bouncing between these 2 threads, and again, I totally agree we do not do a good job of presenting this information, so thank you for asking questions — we’re actively working on this and know we need to improve it, so I’ll clarify here: 
:skin-tone-2:
• Free, Basic, and Advanced give you access to managed auth for up to 1000 users in production. The managed auth product enable you to retrieve credentials for those accounts provided you configure your own OAuth clients for any OAuth apps like Gmail, Google Drive, etc. Since you’re retrieving raw credentials from our API, you can then make authenticated requests from your own app and code base.
• You can also use every other part of the Connect API in development mode on any plan.
• To use the rest of the functionality of the Connect product (the components API and all the prebuilt tools, Connect Proxy, Pipedream OAuth clients, etc) in production, that has historically required a Business plan.
• We’re just now rolling out a new, lower-priced alternative to that plan specifically focused on earlier stage companies who want all those Connect capabilities at $150/month. The plan is to make that subscription self service on our pricing page, we just finished that work yet.