# How channels earn more freedom | Propel guides

Source: https://runpropel.com/guides/channel-steps

Getting started · 5 of 6

# How channels earn more freedom.

Each channel, such as cold email or brand posts, starts at "It drafts, you approve". It moves up one step at a time, only when its record earns it, and never past the limit set for that channel. One unsupported claim drops it back and freezes it until you look.

Opening soon Propel isn't open for sign-up yet. This guide shows how it works on day one. [Join the waitlist](https://runpropel.com/waitlist) to get in first.

## What are the four steps?

- It suggests. Ideas only; nothing is written to go out.

- It drafts, you approve. Every piece waits for your yes. Every channel starts here, except communities, which stay at "It suggests".

- It posts unless you stop it. Each piece waits for a set time before it goes, so you can stop it.

- It runs on its own. Only for channels where that is safe.

## How does a channel move up?

One step at a time, and only when all of these are true at its current step:

- at least 20 pieces handled;

- at least 85% approved without an edit;

- a high enough average score from its own checks;

- measured results no worse than before.

## What drops it back?

A claim it couldn't support drops the channel to "It drafts, you approve" (or lower) and freezes it. Taking a piece down freezes it too, and the piece is kept as an example of what not to do. Stopping two pieces during their waiting time, or a sudden drop in results, moves it down one step.

## How far can each channel go?

The highest step for each channel, and the wait at "It posts unless you stop it", read from the product on 2026-11-12
Channel | Its limit | Wait before it goes |

Search articles | It runs on its own | a day |

Pages for AI answers | It runs on its own | a day |

Brand posts | It runs on its own | 30 minutes |

Emails to your users | It runs on its own | 15 minutes |

Your own opinion posts | It runs on its own | 30 minutes |

Cold email | It posts unless you stop it | an hour |

LinkedIn messages | It posts unless you stop it | an hour |

Communities | It suggests | Not used |

On the Free plan, every channel stays at "It drafts, you approve". The same table is on [Approvals and limits](https://runpropel.com/approvals).

Getting started

- [Start with your website](https://runpropel.com/guides/start)
- [Connect GitHub, read-only](https://runpropel.com/guides/github)
- [Connect a mailbox and send safely](https://runpropel.com/guides/mailbox)
- [How credits work](https://runpropel.com/guides/credits)
- [How channels earn more freedom](https://runpropel.com/guides/channel-steps)
- [Approvals from Slack and email](https://runpropel.com/guides/approvals)

See also

- [Approvals and limits](https://runpropel.com/approvals)
- [Pricing](https://runpropel.com/pricing)

## Questions about this guide

### Can I keep a channel at drafts forever?

Yes. A channel only moves up when it has earned it, and you can keep any channel where it is.

### Can a channel pass its limit if it does really well?

No. The limit is set per channel and nothing raises it.

### What counts as an unsupported claim?

A claim that doesn't trace to a page or file Propel has read about your product. It drops the channel back straight away.