Credits Guide
How Credits Work
This guide explains what credits are, what drives their cost, how to pick the right model for a task, and how to keep your spend under control.
What are credits?
Credits measure computational effort. Every time you generate something — text, an image, a video, or audio — you use credits based on the processing power, memory, and model time the task requires.
What Affects How Many Credits You Use
| Factor | Lower cost | Higher cost |
|---|---|---|
| Model tier | Standard tiers | Ultra tiers |
| Text length | Short prompts, short replies | Long context, multi-turn conversations |
| Image resolution | Standard resolution | High-res / 4K |
| Video duration | 4 seconds | 8–16+ seconds |
| Audio length | Short clip | Long narration |
| Number of outputs | 1 version | Multi-model fan-out (MoA) generates N versions |
| Task complexity | Simple Q&A | Research + writing + media in one task |
What Compounds Your Costs
Regenerations — each retry costs the same as the original. Refine your prompt or make small manual edits instead of regenerating.
Agent retries — each failed retry costs credits. Attach required files and give clear, well-scoped instructions before you start. If a task keeps failing on the same step, stop it and fix the input.
Long conversations — every message re-processes the full context window. Use in-editor manual tools for small tweaks instead of re-prompting.
Editing vs. creating — small edits cost far less than generating from scratch.
How to Choose the Right Model
You don't need to memorize model names to spend wisely.
Use a standard option when:
- You want a reliable everyday default.
- The task needs decent quality but isn't high-stakes.
- Examples: drafting an internal update, creating a presentation outline.
Use a higher-end option when:
- The output is user-facing or high-visibility.
- You're working on a final version rather than a draft.
- Examples: writing polished external copy, complex analysis or coding, generating a final campaign image.
Practical Examples
| Task | Good starting choice | When to upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Summarize a document or email thread | Standard | Only if the summary misses nuance |
| Draft a blog outline or internal memo | Standard | If the writing needs stronger structure or polish |
| Complex reasoning, coding, or strategy work | Higher-end | Start high if accuracy matters more than speed |
| Generate a poster or polished creative asset | Standard image model | Upgrade for final-quality visuals |
| Create a short test video | Standard video model | Upgrade for realism or final delivery |
| Generate audio or music | Single model first | Use Auto-select only if you want multiple versions |
How Model Selection Works
Genspark uses two model-selection systems, depending on the product.
Most products use a simple Standard / Ultra quality tier — you choose in the input box before you generate. Standard is the everyday default; Ultra is for final, high-stakes outputs.
Note: these are model-quality tiers — separate from the Cloud Computer subscription plans.
Products That Let You Pick the Exact Model by Name
A smaller set of products expose the full model list so you can choose exactly what you want — including lower-cost, standard, and high-end options by name: AI Chat, Genspark Code, Claw, AI Image, AI Video, and AgentBase.
| Product | Model selector location |
|---|---|
| AI Chat, Genspark Code, Claw, AgentBase | Button at the bottom of the toolbar |
| AI Image, AI Video | Parameter bar above the prompt input |
AI Audio and AI Music are the exception — they give you both a Standard/Ultra tier selector and a model-by-name picker (Auto-select), so you can choose whichever way you prefer to work.
⚠️ Auto-select multiplies cost: AI Audio and AI Music default to Auto-select, which generates several versions at once — you pay for each. Pick a single model manually to control spend.
Model Cost Reference
Model lineups and prices change frequently — check the live pricing inside Genspark. When in doubt, start with a lower-cost option and upgrade only if the output falls short.
Simple Ways to Use Fewer Credits
- Start with a lower-cost option first. Switch to a higher-end model only for the final pass.
- Keep prompts focused. A clear prompt usually reduces unnecessary retries.
- Generate one version before generating many. Confirm the direction first, then ask for variants.
- Avoid multi-model fan-out unless you need it. In Audio and Music, Auto-select multiplies cost.
- Save top-tier models for high-value tasks. Use them when better quality will actually change the outcome.
Your Credit Balance
Open the Credits item in the bottom-left menu to open the /credit-usage page — your current balance, remaining allocation, and refresh date.
The Settings dialog has a Billing section for plan and payment management only; balance and history live on the /credit-usage page.
The usage log can take a few hours to catch up — a task you just ran may not appear right away even though your balance already reflects it.
When Credits Replenish
| Plan | Refresh schedule |
|---|---|
| Free | 100 credits/day, automatically. Free users see a rolling one-month window, not a fixed refresh date. |
| Plus / Pro | Monthly, at the start of your billing cycle. |
⚠️ Credits don't carry over: monthly plan credits reset each billing period. Separately purchased top-up credits are valid for 3 months and carry across cycles.
Changing Plans and Your Credits
Upgrading — takes effect immediately; you're charged a prorated amount; supplemental credits (the difference) are added right away.
Downgrading — current plan stays active until end of billing period; credits don't carry over to the lower plan.
⚠️ Unused credits from a higher plan don't carry to a lower plan. Spend them before your renewal date.
Canceling — plan stays active until end of period; account reverts to Free (100 daily credits) after that; credits from the canceled period aren't refunded.
After upgrading — Plus and Pro include unlimited AI Chat and AI Image at zero credit cost. Your paid plan's monthly allocation replaces the Free plan's 100 daily credits; you don't get both.
Changing Your Billing Interval (Monthly ↔ Yearly)
Yearly plans grant your credit allocation each month across the year, not the full year up front. So "unused credits" on an annual plan always means the current month's credits, just like a monthly plan.
Monthly → Yearly: takes effect immediately with a prorated charge. Your credit allocation refreshes right away, and continues to refresh each month across the year.
Yearly → Monthly: what happens depends on whether the new monthly plan gives you more or fewer credits than your current plan.
- Same or lower allocation → treated as a downgrade. Your current plan runs to the end of the billing period; the new monthly plan begins at your next renewal.
- Higher allocation → treated as an upgrade. Takes effect immediately with a prorated charge; your new (higher) monthly allocation is issued right away.
FAQ
Do failed generations cost credits?
- It depends on how the generation failed. If your prompt was blocked by the safety filter before anything was generated, your credits are refunded automatically. If a generation completed and the output was then flagged, it's still charged — the model did the work — even though it displays as "failed."
What doesn't cost credits?
- Browsing, organizing, or viewing files in AI Drive.
- Editing notes or switching views in Dashboards & CRM.
- Generations that are automatically refunded (prompt-blocked failures; not output-flagged NSFW content).
Why did one task cost more than another?
- Cost scales with model tier, output length/resolution/duration, number of versions, and task complexity.
Can I get credits back for a failed or low-quality generation?
- Prompt-blocked failures are refunded automatically. Output-flagged NSFW content is still charged. Quality disputes don't get automatic refunds. For technical billing issues, contact support with a link to the task, what went wrong, and your approximate balance before and after.
What happens if I hit the Auto-select limit unexpectedly?
- Auto-select fans out to multiple models and charges for each. Switch to a single model in AI Audio or AI Music to control spend.
Why did I hit a usage limit when I still have credits?
- AI Chat and AI Image have a fair-use limit separate from your credit balance. Very heavy use can trigger a temporary limit based on model spend over a fixed 5-hour window. Once the window starts, it clears entirely when the 5 hours are up — you'll see the reset time when you hit it. Buying more credits won't lift it, and hitting it doesn't cost you any credits. Higher plans have higher limits.
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