Credit System

The credit system is the foundation of Aethera’s billing model, providing a transparent and predictable way to access AI-powered features across the platform. Understanding how credits work, their costs, and how they’re consumed helps you optimize your usage and choose the right subscription tier.

Understanding Credits

What Are Credits?

Credits are Aethera’s universal currency for AI operations. Think of them as digital tokens that enable access to computational resources required for AI processing.

Core Principles:

Universal Currency: One credit system powers all AI features
Transparent Pricing: Each operation has a clear credit cost
Real-Time Deduction: Credits are consumed immediately when operations complete
Monthly Allocation: Credits are granted based on your subscription tier each month
No Rollover: Unused credits don’t carry forward to the next billing cycle

Why Credits Work Better:

Predictable Costs: Know exactly what each operation will cost
Flexible Usage: Use credits across any AI features you need
Usage Control: Clear visibility into consumption patterns
Fair Pricing: Pay based on actual computational resource usage

Credits provide a fair and transparent way to access AI capabilities, ensuring you only pay for the computational resources you actually use.

Credit Consumption by Feature

Image Generation Studio

Image Generation:

Standard Generation: Varies by model and settings
Batch Generation: Multiplied by number of images requested (1-4)
Model Dependency: Different AI models have different credit costs
Quality Settings: Higher quality may consume more credits

Image Editing:

Edit Operations: 1 credit per edit
Version Creation: Each edit creates a new version
Iterative Refinement: Multiple edits consume credits separately
Efficient Workflow: Edit costs are lower than generating new images

Image Upscaling:

4K Enhancement: 2 credits per upscaling operation
Professional Quality: Higher cost reflects advanced processing requirements
One-Time Cost: Single payment for permanent quality improvement
Strategic Usage: Best value for final, finished images

Compose Documents

AI Writing Assistance:

Content Generation: Credits based on content length and complexity
Text Enhancement: Ask AI features consume credits per operation
Style Transformations: Tone changes and improvements cost credits
Document Processing: AI analysis and suggestions require credits

Knowledge Integration:

Document Analysis: Processing uploaded documents consumes credits
Knowledge Base Queries: AI-powered search and retrieval operations
Content Synthesis: Combining knowledge sources into new content

Chat Interface

AI Conversations:

Message Processing: Each AI response consumes credits
Context Length: Longer conversations may cost more credits
Model Selection: Different AI models have varying credit costs
Knowledge Integration: Using knowledge bases in chat increases costs

Advanced Features:

Voice Interactions: Voice input and processing
Web Search Integration: AI-powered web search capabilities
Document References: Incorporating documents into conversations

Credit Allocation and Billing

Monthly Credit Distribution

Allocation Timing:

Credits are granted at the start of each billing cycle
Yearly subscribers receive monthly distributions
Mid-cycle upgrades provide prorated credit increases
No partial month penalties for downgrades

Allocation Rules:

Full Reset: Each month you receive your tier’s complete allocation
No Accumulation: Previous month’s unused credits don’t carry over
Immediate Access: New credits are available instantly
Fair Distribution: Equal monthly amounts for yearly subscribers

Credit Balance Management

Real-Time Tracking:

Credit balance updates immediately after each operation
Live balance display throughout the platform interface
Operation costs shown before execution
Clear feedback on remaining credits

Usage Monitoring:

Daily and monthly usage summaries
Feature-specific consumption breakdowns
Historical usage patterns and trends
Predictive usage analysis and recommendations

Monitor your credit usage patterns to understand which features you use most. This helps you choose the optimal subscription tier and plan your monthly usage effectively.

Credit Cost Optimization

Efficient Usage Strategies

Strategic Planning:

High-Value Operations: Use credits for operations that provide maximum value
Batch Processing: Group similar operations when possible
Quality Balance: Choose appropriate quality settings for your needs
Feature Selection: Use the most cost-effective features for each task

Workflow Optimization:

Draft and Refine: Start with lower-cost operations, then enhance
Edit vs Regenerate: Editing costs less than generating new content
Model Selection: Choose AI models based on cost and quality requirements
Progressive Enhancement: Build quality through multiple, targeted operations

Understanding Value

Cost vs Benefit Analysis:

Time Savings: Consider the time credits save compared to manual work
Quality Improvement: Higher credit costs often deliver superior results
Professional Output: Credit investment in professional-quality results
Learning Curve: Credits spent on experimentation and learning

ROI Considerations:

Business Value: How credit-powered features contribute to business goals
Creative Output: The value of AI-enhanced creative work
Productivity Gains: Efficiency improvements from AI assistance
Quality Enhancement: Professional results that justify credit investment

Credit Management Best Practices

Monthly Planning

Usage Planning:

Assess Needs: Evaluate your typical monthly AI usage requirements
Track Patterns: Monitor which features you use most frequently
Buffer Planning: Keep some credits in reserve for unexpected needs
Tier Evaluation: Regularly assess whether your tier matches your usage

Workflow Integration:

Daily Limits: Set informal daily credit usage targets
Feature Prioritization: Allocate credits to your most important features
Quality Planning: Decide when to invest in higher-quality operations
Project Budgeting: Plan credit usage for specific projects or goals

Usage Optimization

Efficiency Techniques:

Batch Operations: Group similar tasks to maximize efficiency
Progressive Quality: Start with standard quality, enhance as needed
Strategic Timing: Spread usage throughout the month for consistent access
Feature Mixing: Use a combination of low and high-cost features

Monitoring and Adjustment:

Weekly Reviews: Check usage patterns and adjust strategies
Feature Analysis: Identify which features provide the best value
Tier Optimization: Consider tier changes based on usage patterns
Budget Management: Ensure credit usage aligns with subscription value

⚠️

Credits reset completely each month and don’t roll over. Plan your usage to maximize value from your monthly allocation.

Credit System Benefits

Transparency and Control

Clear Pricing:

Every operation has a defined credit cost
No hidden fees or surprise charges
Predictable monthly costs based on subscription tier
Real-time visibility into consumption

Usage Control:

Complete control over when and how to use credits
Ability to pace usage throughout the month
Choice in quality vs quantity trade-offs
Flexibility to prioritize different features

Flexibility and Scalability

Feature Flexibility:

Use credits across any AI features you need
No separate billing for different capabilities
Adapt usage based on changing needs
Experiment with different features without additional costs

Scalable Usage:

Start small and scale up as needs grow
Tier changes accommodate usage evolution
Team plans maintain individual credit allocation
Enterprise scaling with higher-tier allocations

The credit system provides a foundation for predictable, transparent, and flexible access to Aethera’s AI capabilities, ensuring you can plan your usage effectively while maintaining complete control over your AI-powered workflows.