01In plain English
Instead of unlimited use, the plan gives you a pool of credits each month or year. Every action costs credits: an image, a minute of video, a voice clip or a task. Bigger or better outputs usually cost more credits than small ones.
02How it works
The vendor sets a price list in credits, and you buy a bundle of them with your plan. Each action then has its own cost. Making a standard image might use a few credits, a long video clip many more, and a high-quality or fast setting costs extra. The balance drops as you work, and when it hits zero you either wait for the monthly refill, buy a top-up pack or move to a bigger plan. Unused credits may carry over or may vanish at the end of the period. It works like an arcade: the entry price buys tokens, and each game takes a different number of them, so what you can actually play depends on the games you choose.
03Why it matters when you are choosing
Two plans with the same price can give you very different amounts of work, because each tool decides what a credit buys. The headline price only makes sense once you know how many of the things you actually make it covers.
04What to check
Work out what a credit buys for the thing you make most, whether unused credits roll over, and what extra credits cost once you run out.
05Where you will meet it
06Common questions
What is the catch with credit-based plans?
The price per credit looks small, but heavy features can burn credits quickly, and you cannot see the real cost until you use them. Test your normal workflow on a trial, count the credits it uses, and divide by the plan price to see what a finished piece costs.
Do unused credits roll over?
It depends on the tool. Some let credits carry over for a limited time, others reset them every month, and bought top-up packs often last longer than plan credits. Look for a rollover policy on the pricing page or in the terms, since it changes the value of a plan.
Is credit-based pricing cheaper than unlimited?
Only if you use less than the unlimited plan would give you. Light and occasional users often save money on credits, while heavy daily users usually do better with a flat plan. Estimate your normal month of work before you choose either one.