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

# Credits: how Alfera charges for work

> Alfera runs on credits. One dollar is 100 credits. You spend credits only when a task runs — never for seats, integrations, or idle time.

Credits are how you pay for the work Alfera does. You buy credits in monthly packages and spend them only when Alfera executes a task. Seats, integrations, and idle time are never charged.

## How credits work

* **1 dollar = 100 credits**
* **Pro plan = 5,000 credits per month** (\$50)
* You are charged only when a task runs. If Alfera is idle, your balance does not decrease.

## Typical credit usage

| Task type           | Credits used    | Example                                    |
| ------------------- | --------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| Simple task         | 10-30 credits   | Reply to a single customer email           |
| Multi-step workflow | 200-600 credits | Triage a batch of leads and update the CRM |
| Long-running job    | 5,000+ credits  | Outreach campaign to 500 prospects         |

## Keeping control of spend

* **Choose your monthly package** and change it anytime from billing settings
* **Every run has approval gates**, so you review costly actions before they execute
* **Live usage view** in the dashboard shows exactly where your credits go
* **Runs pause with a clear message if you hit zero** — nothing is charged beyond your balance

## Frequently asked questions

<Accordion title="What do credits pay for?">
  Credits cover the compute, AI model usage, and tool actions Alfera consumes while running your tasks. You are never charged for seats, connecting integrations, or idle time.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="What happens if I run out?">
  If your credit balance reaches zero, Alfera pauses new runs and notifies you. Nothing continues in the background and you are never charged overages. Add more credits or upgrade your plan to resume.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Can I change my credit package?">
  Yes. You can upgrade, downgrade, or change your monthly credit amount at any time from your billing settings. Changes take effect on your next billing cycle.
</Accordion>

Alfera uses a credit system so you only pay for the work you actually use. One dollar equals 100 credits, and you are only charged when Alfera completes a task. Seats, integrations, and idle time cost nothing.

## How the credit model works

* **1 dollar = 100 credits**
* **Pro plan = \$50/month = 5,000 credits/month**
* You are charged only when a task runs and produces a result
* No charges for connected tools, team members, or time Alfera spends waiting

<Note>
  Check your billing dashboard to see your current balance, usage this month, and projected spend.
</Note>

## What tasks cost

| Task type           | Credits used       | Example                                                                                                     |
| ------------------- | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Simple task         | 10 to 30 credits   | Reply to a customer email: read the thread, check the order, draft a reply                                  |
| Multi-step workflow | 200 to 600 credits | Triage a batch of inbound leads: research each contact, enrich data, add to CRM, draft a personalized reply |
| Long-running job    | 5,000+ credits     | Outreach to 500 prospects: research each, write personalized emails, schedule follow-ups over several days  |

## How to control your spend

Alfera gives you three levers to keep costs predictable:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Set your monthly package">
    Pick a Pro plan tier from 5,000 credits up to 3,000,000 credits self-serve. Enterprise plans support custom volumes beyond that.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use approval gates">
    Any customer-facing or destructive action waits for your one-tap approval before it runs. This prevents accidental over-spend on large jobs.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Monitor live usage">
    View your current balance, credits used this month, and a forecast of remaining spend in real time from your billing dashboard.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Approval gates are enabled by default. You can adjust what requires approval in your workspace settings.
</Tip>

## Frequently asked questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What do credits pay for?">
    Credits pay for the compute and AI model usage required to complete your tasks. This includes reading data from connected tools, reasoning through multi-step workflows, writing drafts, and generating deliverables like sheets or reports. You are not charged for connecting tools, adding team members, or idle time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I keep control of spend?">
    Set a monthly credit package that matches your expected volume, enable approval gates for large or destructive jobs, and check your live usage dashboard regularly. If you notice usage climbing faster than expected, you can pause scheduled runs or adjust approval settings at any time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens if I run out of credits?">
    Your runs will pause automatically. No tasks are lost, and nothing is deleted. You can add more credits from your billing dashboard to resume immediately, or wait for your next monthly cycle if you are on a recurring plan.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I scale up?">
    Yes. Pro plans scale self-serve from 5,000 credits up to 3,000,000 credits per month. If you need more than that, or want annual invoicing and custom terms, contact us about an Enterprise plan.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related articles

* [Compare Alfera plans](/billing/plans)