Billing

Aethera operates on a credit-based subscription system that provides flexible access to AI-powered features across the platform. Understanding how credits work, subscription tiers, and billing cycles helps you choose the right plan and manage your usage effectively.

Credit System Overview

What Are Credits?

Credits are the universal currency within Aethera that power all AI operations across the platform. Every AI-powered action consumes credits, providing a transparent and predictable usage model.

Credit-Powered Features:

Chat Interface: AI conversations and responses
Image Generation: Creating images with AI models
Image Editing: AI-powered image modifications
Image Upscaling: Enhancing images to 4K resolution
Compose Documents: AI writing assistance and document creation
Knowledge Processing: Document analysis and processing

Credits provide a unified way to access all of Aethera’s AI capabilities, allowing you to use your allocation across any features that matter most to your workflow.

How Credits Work

Credit Consumption:

Each AI operation consumes a specific number of credits
Different features have different credit costs based on computational requirements
Credits are deducted immediately when operations are performed
Your credit balance is updated in real-time across the platform

Credit Allocation:

Credits are allocated monthly based on your subscription tier
Monthly credits are granted at the start of each billing cycle
Unused credits from previous months do not roll over
Your credit allowance resets to the full amount each month

Credit Monitoring:

Real-time credit balance display throughout the platform
Usage tracking to understand your consumption patterns
Notifications when approaching credit limits
Detailed usage reports available in your account settings

Subscription Plans

Plan Structure

Aethera offers a simple yet flexible subscription structure designed to scale with your needs:

Free Plan:

Cost: $0/month
Credits: Limited monthly credit allocation
Features: Access to core Aethera functionality with usage limits
Best For: Personal use, evaluation, and light usage

Premium Plans:

7 Subscription Tiers: Tiers 1-7 with increasing credit allocations
Same Features: All tiers include full access to Aethera’s complete feature set
Only Difference: Monthly credit allocation increases with each tier
Billing Options: Monthly or yearly billing available for all tiers

Subscription Tiers

Tier Selection Logic: The only difference between premium tiers is the monthly credit allocation. Choose your tier based on your expected monthly usage:

Tier 1: Entry-level credit allocation for moderate usage
Tier 2: Increased credits for regular users
Tier 3: Higher allocation for frequent usage
Tier 4: Professional-level credits for heavy usage
Tier 5: Enterprise-level allocation for teams
Tier 6: High-volume credits for extensive usage
Tier 7: Maximum credit allocation for unlimited-style usage

All Tiers Include:

Full feature access across all Aethera capabilities
Access to all AI models and features
Priority support and updates
Advanced collaboration features
Professional usage rights

Billing Options

Monthly vs Yearly Billing

Monthly Billing:

Payment Frequency: Charged monthly
Flexibility: Easy to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel
Credit Distribution: Full monthly allocation granted at billing cycle start
Best For: Flexible usage patterns or evaluation periods

Yearly Billing:

Payment Frequency: Charged annually with significant savings
Credit Distribution: Monthly credit amounts distributed each month
Cost Savings: Substantial discount compared to monthly billing
Best For: Committed users with predictable usage patterns

Billing Cycle Management:

Credits are granted at the start of each billing period
Yearly subscribers receive monthly credit distributions
Billing dates remain consistent month-to-month
Prorated adjustments for mid-cycle plan changes

Plan Changes

Upgrading Your Plan:

Access Billing Settings

Navigate to the “Billing” section in your account settings.

Review Current Plan

Check your current tier and credit usage patterns.

Select New Tier

Choose a higher tier that better matches your usage needs.

Confirm Upgrade

Complete the upgrade process with immediate access to increased credits.

Upgrade Benefits:

Immediate Access: Upgraded credit allocation available immediately
Prorated Billing: Only pay the difference for the current billing period
Credit Adjustment: Receive prorated credit increase for remaining period
No Interruption: Seamless transition with no service disruption

Downgrading Your Plan:

End of Cycle: Downgrades typically take effect at the next billing cycle
Credit Management: Current credit balance maintained until next cycle
Flexible Changes: Can upgrade again at any time if needs change
Fair Billing: No penalties for plan adjustments

Team Plans

Team Plan Structure

Aethera offers team plans that provide collaborative features while maintaining the same credit-based system for individual usage.

Team Plan Tiers:

Tiers 1-3 (Small Teams):

Minimum Seats: 2 seats
Maximum Flexibility: Perfect for small teams and partnerships
Individual Credits: Each team member gets the tier’s full credit allocation
Billing: Single consolidated billing for all team members

Tiers 4-7 (Larger Teams):

Minimum Seats: 3 seats
Enterprise Scale: Designed for larger teams and organizations
Professional Features: Enhanced collaboration and management tools
Centralized Billing: Unified billing and member management

Team plans provide individual credit allocations for each team member while offering centralized billing and management. Each team member receives the full credit allocation for your chosen tier.

Team Plan Benefits

Centralized Management:

Single Billing: One payment covers all team members
Member Management: Add, remove, and manage team member access
Usage Visibility: Monitor team usage and credit consumption
Administrative Controls: Manage permissions and access levels

Individual Credit Allocation:

Personal Credits: Each team member receives their own credit allocation
Independent Usage: Team members use credits independently
No Sharing Required: Credits are not shared between team members
Full Access: Each member has complete access to all Aethera features

Collaboration Features:

Shared Workspaces: Collaborate on documents and projects
Knowledge Sharing: Shared knowledge bases and document sets
Team Personas: Shared AI personas and configurations
Project Collaboration: Work together on Compose documents and creative projects

Usage Management

Monitoring Credit Usage

Real-Time Balance:

Credit balance displayed throughout the platform
Live updates as credits are consumed
Clear visibility into remaining allocation
Monthly reset indicators

Usage Patterns:

Track which features consume the most credits
Understand your usage distribution across different AI operations
Plan credit allocation based on historical usage
Optimize workflow based on credit efficiency

Credit Notifications:

Alerts when approaching monthly credit limits
Notifications about upcoming billing cycles
Usage reports and summaries
Recommendations for plan optimization

Optimizing Credit Usage

Efficient Usage Strategies:

Batch Operations: Group similar tasks to optimize credit consumption
Feature Selection: Choose appropriate AI models and features for your needs
Quality vs Quantity: Balance output quality with credit efficiency
Planning: Distribute usage throughout the month for consistent access

Understanding Costs:

Different AI operations have different credit costs
More advanced features typically consume more credits
Quality settings and complexity affect credit usage
Batch operations may offer credit efficiency benefits

Billing Management

Payment and Invoicing

Payment Methods:

Credit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and other major cards
Debit Cards: Bank debit cards accepted
Secure Processing: PCI-compliant payment processing
Auto-renewal: Automatic billing for uninterrupted service

Invoice Management:

Monthly Statements: Detailed billing statements for all charges
Usage Breakdown: Credit consumption reports and summaries
Tax Handling: Appropriate tax calculation and reporting
Receipt Access: Easy access to payment receipts and invoices

Account Administration

Billing Settings:

Payment Method Management: Update cards and payment information
Billing Address: Manage billing address and contact information
Plan Management: Upgrade, downgrade, or modify subscription plans
Invoice Preferences: Set invoice delivery and format preferences

Support and Assistance:

Billing Support: Dedicated support for billing and payment questions
Plan Guidance: Help choosing the right tier for your needs
Usage Consultation: Assistance with optimizing credit usage
Technical Support: Help with account and billing technical issues

⚠️

Credits do not roll over between billing cycles. Each month you receive your full tier allocation regardless of previous month usage. Plan your usage accordingly to maximize value.

Getting Started

Choosing Your Plan

Assessment Questions:

Usage Volume: How frequently will you use AI features?
Feature Mix: Which Aethera features are most important to your workflow?
Team Size: Will you need team collaboration features?
Budget Considerations: Monthly vs yearly billing preferences?
Growth Plans: Expected usage growth over time?

Plan Selection Process:

Start with Free Plan

Begin with the free plan to understand your usage patterns and feature needs.

Monitor Usage

Track your credit consumption and identify which features you use most frequently.

Evaluate Needs

Assess whether your usage patterns require a premium plan upgrade.

Select Appropriate Tier

Choose the tier that provides adequate credits with some buffer for usage spikes.

Consider Team Needs

Evaluate whether team features and centralized billing would benefit your organization.

Migration and Upgrades

From Free to Premium:

Immediate Upgrade: Instant access to increased credit allocation
Feature Unlock: Access to advanced features and capabilities
Usage Scaling: Credits to support increased platform usage
Professional Features: Enhanced capabilities for professional use

Between Premium Tiers:

Flexible Changes: Easy upgrades and downgrades between tiers
Prorated Billing: Fair billing adjustments for mid-cycle changes
Credit Adjustments: Immediate credit allocation updates
No Penalties: No fees or penalties for plan changes

Understanding Aethera’s billing system empowers you to choose the right plan, manage your usage effectively, and scale your access to AI capabilities as your needs grow. The credit-based system provides transparency and flexibility while the tiered structure ensures you only pay for the level of access you need.