Credits, explained
What AI credits pay for, the typical cost of each action in Fast and Smart mode, what is free, and how to keep an eye on your balance.
AI credits are the currency for work that costs real compute: the agent planning and building, generating images, producing renders and drawings. Manual editing, browsing, and asking the router to work out what you mean are not charged.
What is free
- Routing. Working out what kind of request you made is always free.
- Manual tools. Sliders, push/pull handles, the Recipe, the Parameters panel, and the command palette do not use credits.
- Browsing, viewing, sharing.
- Help agent questions in Fast mode. By default they are free in Fast mode, and cost 1 credit in Smart.
What things cost
| Action | Fast | Smart |
|---|---|---|
| Routing decision | Free | Free |
| Simple agent edit (fillet, resize) | 1 | 2 |
| Multi-step build from a prompt | about 6 (typically 5 to 10) | about 15 (typically 10 to 25) |
| Concept image (each) | 5 | 8 |
| Photo or drawing to model | 10 | 20 |
| Auto drawing sheet | 5 | 8 |
| 4K render | 5 | 5 |
| AI render enhancement | 5 | 8 |
| Verification check (render and compare) | Free | 1 |
| Voice dictation, per minute | 1 | 1 |
| Live voice mode, per minute | 4 | 6 |
| Help agent question | Free | 1 |
Larger requests can cost more than the typical figure, because the agent does more work. The charge appears with each result.
Smart vs Fast
Fast is cheaper and quicker, and handles most everyday work. Smart is more capable and costs more per action. You switch at any time in the prompt bar, and the effort dial (Quick, Balanced, Thorough) changes how deeply it works. See Smart vs Fast, and how much effort to ask for.
Monthly credits and packs
| Type | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Monthly credits (from your plan) | Reset each billing period. Unused monthly credits do not roll over |
| Credit packs (top-ups) | Bought any time. They carry over |
| Promo credits | Occasionally granted. Treated separately |
Free trial users get a one-time allowance of 300 credits for the trial.
Where to see your balance and history
- A credit meter in the app shows your balance at a glance.
- Account, AI credits lists usage: what you spent, when, and on which action.
- Each agent result shows the credits charged and your remaining balance.
You can reach the credits page quickly: press ⌘K (or Ctrl + K) and type credits.
Rough planning
| You want to... | Rough credits in Fast |
|---|---|
| Build a simple object and tweak it 10 times | 6 + 10 = about 16 |
| Explore looks with two rounds of concept images (8 images) | 40 |
| Turn a sketch into a model and refine | 10 + about 10 = about 20 |
| Make a drawing sheet | 5 |
| Do a 20-minute Live voice chat | about 80 |
Use these as a feel for scale, not a promise. Live voice is the biggest credit user per minute, so treat it as a thinking tool and switch to typing for precise edits.
Getting more from your credits
- Start in Fast. Escalate to Smart for hard requests.
- Be specific. A clear request is less likely to need a retry.
- Use Tweak when a result is close, instead of starting a new request.
- Use the sliders for numbers you can change yourself.
- Ask questions with routing, which is free.
- Explore in Concept before building things you may discard.
- End Live voice sessions when you pause to think.
Limits and safeguards
- Credit checks run before expensive operations, so you are not surprised halfway through.
- There are rate limits to protect accounts and keep the service fast for everyone.
- Team plans will pool credits across members when they launch.
Try it
Check where your credits went. Press ⌘K, type credits, and open AI credits. Find your most expensive action, and ask yourself: could Fast mode have done it?
Did this help?
Keep reading
Start here
Smart vs Fast, and how much effort to ask for
Smart and Fast are two modes in the prompt bar, and effort is a separate dial. Learn which to use when, and what each costs.
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Credit packs and running low
Top up any time with a credit pack, understand which credits are used and which carry over, and keep working when your balance gets low.
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Plans and limits
What each plan includes: Things, private Things, storage, credits, exports and features. And what happens when you reach a limit (spoiler: nothing is deleted or locked).
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