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Full evaluationGlossary · Updated Sep 2, 2026
Usage-based pricing and credits
Charging by consumption such as tokens, generations, minutes, operations, or resolutions instead of a flat seat fee.
Definition
Usage-based models bill for what you use, often through credits that map to model calls or generations. They favour light or bursty usage and scale with value delivered, but costs can spike with heavy iteration, and credit systems can be opaque. Per-resolution pricing in support and per-operation pricing in automation are variants.
Why it matters when choosing a tool
Estimate realistic volumes and test how quickly credits deplete during normal work before committing to a usage-based plan.
Where you will meet it
AI Automation & Workflows, AI Customer Support, AI Video Generation
Related terms
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