> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://julius.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Understanding credits

> Learn how credits work in Julius, how they're consumed, and how many you get with each plan.

## What are credits?

Instead of counting messages, Julius now measures usage in credits. Different tasks cost different amounts of credits depending on the compute involved. A simple message costs less than running a full analysis or executing code.

This change lets us give you access to frontier AI models, larger context windows, and better compute environments without raising prices. In our testing, Julius is up to **7× more capable on complex, multi-step tasks** under the new credit system. For most users (roughly 95%), day-to-day usage feels the same — just with noticeably better results.

For the full context on why we made this switch, see our [February 28th announcement](https://julius.ai/content/billing-update-messages-to-usage-credits).

## Credits by plan

| Plan                 | Monthly credits |
| -------------------- | --------------- |
| **Free**             | 100 (one-time)  |
| **Plus**             | 2,000           |
| **Pro**              | 5,000           |
| **Max** (\$200)      | 25,000          |
| **Max** (\$500)      | 70,000          |
| **Business** (\$450) | 60,000          |
| **Business** (\$750) | 100,000         |

**Max** and **Business** each come at two levels: the higher price unlocks more monthly credits. Paid-plan credits renew each billing cycle. The Free plan's 100 credits are a one-time grant and don't renew.

<Tip>
  Annual plans are billed once per year at a discounted rate, with all credits granted upfront. See [julius.ai/pricing](https://julius.ai/pricing) for current pricing.
</Tip>

## How credits are consumed

Not every action costs the same number of credits. A few things affect the cost:

1. **Action type** — a simple message costs less than running a full analysis or executing code
2. **AI model** — more capable models use more credits
3. **Complexity** — longer outputs, bigger datasets, and multi-step tasks add up faster

<Tip>
  You can track your credit usage in real time on the [Usage page](https://julius.ai/settings/usage).
</Tip>

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How many credits does a single message cost?">
    There's no single answer — cost depends on the message complexity and which tools are invoked (e.g., web search, slides, financial APIs). A quick question will cost far less than a multi-step analysis that pulls data, runs code, and generates a deliverable.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does model selection affect credit usage?">
    Yes — model choice is one of the biggest drivers of credit consumption. Faster models like **Julius 1.2 Lite** and **Claude Sonnet 4.6** consume credits far more slowly than frontier models like **Julius 1.2 Max**, **Claude Opus 4.8**, and **GPT-5.5**. If you want to stretch your credits further on simpler tasks, pick a lighter model.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I check my credit balance?">
    You can view your current balance, credit grants, and usage history at any time on the [Usage page](https://julius.ai/settings/usage).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens to my existing coupons or discounts?">
    Any coupons attached to your subscription will continue to be honored under the new credit system. Your pricing and discounts carry over unchanged.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="When are credits granted?">
    Monthly subscribers get their credits when their subscription starts, and again each time their billing cycle renews. Annual subscribers receive all their credits upfront when their subscription starts or renews. Free plan users receive a one-time grant of 100 credits when they sign up; these credits don't renew.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do unused credits roll over?">
    No. Unused credits expire at the end of your billing cycle and don't carry over.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I buy more credits?">
    Yes. If you run out before your next billing cycle, you can purchase more from your [subscription settings](https://julius.ai/settings/subscription). Note that top-ups are non-refundable.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do credits work on annual plans?">
    Annual plan subscribers receive all their credits upfront when their subscription starts or renews. For example, a Pro annual subscriber gets all 50,000 credits for the year on day one. Your billing cycle and pricing stay the same.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What does this change mean for my plan?">
    For most users, nothing changes except that Julius gets a lot better. Based on our data, fewer than 5% of users will exceed their monthly credit limits under normal usage. Most will see the same or more capacity than before, paired with noticeably better results.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need to do anything?">
    No action required. Existing paid users will be automatically moved to the credit-based system before their next billing cycle. Your plan and price stay exactly the same.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is the credit refund policy?">
    Credits are non-refundable, whether you bought them as a top-up or received them through your subscription. Credits are also non-transferable between accounts and are forfeited at the end of your billing period if your subscription is cancelled. This applies unless otherwise required by law. For full details, see the [Refund Policy](/account/refund-policy).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I transfer credits to another account?">
    No. Credits are non-transferable and are tied to the account they were granted to.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

<Info>
  We know moving to credits is a shift for long-time users, and our team is here to help. If you're running into any issues with your grants or have questions during the transition, reach out to [**team@julius.ai**](mailto:team@julius.ai) and we'll get you sorted.
</Info>