How the Assistant uses credits
The Assistant spends credits only when it calls the AI, and it tells you about how many before a request runs. Answers computed in your browser and the checks cost nothing.
On this page
The estimate before a request
Before a request that calls the AI runs, the panel shows its estimate and what you have left, as a line like:
About 4 to 9 credits · 312 left
- The range is what the request should cost; the exact cost depends on how much the AI reads and writes.
- A request never spends more than you have left. For a run in the background, the plan card adds the most it may spend, for example never more than 120.
- When you have fewer credits than even the first step needs, the line shows that step's cost instead of a range, so you know before you send.
Instant answers show No credits instead.
What uses more, what uses nothing
| Costs nothing | Costs a few credits | Costs more |
|---|---|---|
| Instant answers: describe a view, the checks, STRIDE starting points, changes since a version, the library search | A question about a selection or a view | A first draft, a change across a large diagram |
| The suggestions under the box | A short description of a view | A review, a threat model, a research across your library |
| Reading, pinning and deleting your conversation | A request with an image or a PDF |
To spend less: select what the question is about, or say this view; use instant tools first; split a large change into two requests. A request that fails or that you cancel may still use part of its credits, for what the AI had already done.
Where to see your credits
- In the editor, the credits gauge of the status bar shows what you have used and left, and when they renew. On Free, it shows your welcome credits and the date they end.
- AI usage and credits… opens the detail: your use this period, by day, and when the credits renew. In a Team, it also shows your share of the team's credits this month.
The figures of each plan (monthly credits, welcome credits, packs) are on Credits and credit packs.
When credits run out
- Before a request: the panel says Not enough AI credits for this call., with what it needs and what is left, and offers what fits your plan: Buy 500 credits, Upgrade or See usage.
- During a run: the run stops cleanly and keeps what it found so far (a staged proposal, findings). You can apply what was staged, then continue later.
- Instant tools keep working, with no credits at all.
In a Team or Enterprise organisation, the credits are the organisation's: when your share is used up, an owner of the organisation can add some.
Your own AI key, or a local AI
An organisation that uses its own AI key, or a local model, spends no iyedy credits: the usage view then counts requests instead. See Turn on the Assistant for your organisation.
Web searches
Web searches of a research request are counted apart from credits, per month; the panel says how many are left before you approve them.
What this means for you
- On Free, your welcome credits go further with instant tools first and focused questions.
- On Pro and Pro+, credits renew each month; the pack adds more when you need them.
- In an organisation, ask an owner when your share runs low.
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