Understanding AI Credits

AI credits power Palett's advanced features like image generation, video creation, and enhanced AI capabilities. Understanding how credits work helps you maximize value and manage costs effectively.

What Are AI Credits?

Credits are the currency for AI-powered features:

• Image generation
• Video generation
• Advanced AI chat features (on some plans)

Think of credits like: Minutes on a phone plan or tokens in an arcade

Each AI operation costs credits based on complexity and resource usage

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Credit Costs

Image Generation

Use case guide:

• Draft: Internal iteration, testing concepts
• Standard: Most client presentations
• High Quality: Final presentations, prints, portfolio

Video Generation

Use case guide:

• Fast: Social media, quick demos
• Medium: Client presentations (most versatile)
• Slow: Luxury projects, cinematic presentations

AI Chat

Free Plans: 100 messages/day (no credit cost)

Paid Plans: Unlimited messages (included, no credit cost)

Exception: Generating images/videos via chat uses normal credit costs

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Credit Allocations by Plan

Free Tier

One-time starter credits: 25 credits

What you can do:

• 12 draft images, OR
• 6 standard images, OR
• 4 high-quality images, OR
• Mix of the above

No monthly refresh: Once used, must upgrade for more

Best for: Trying Palett, small projects, portfolio use

Professional ($49/month or $470/year)

Monthly allocation: 350 credits

What you can do each month:

• ~87 draft images, OR
• ~43 standard images + ~14 draft images, OR
• ~3-5 medium-quality videos, OR
• Mix of images and videos

Resets: On your billing date each month

Unused credits: Don't roll over (use it or lose it)

Best for: Solo designers, 5-10 projects/month

Studio ($149/month or $1,430/year)

Monthly allocation: 800 credits

What you can do each month:

• ~200 draft images, OR
• ~100 standard images, OR
• ~8-12 videos, OR
• Mix across projects

Best for: Small teams, 15-20 projects/month

Agency ($299/month or $2,870/year)

Monthly allocation: 2,500 credits

What you can do each month:

• ~625 draft images, OR
• ~312 standard images, OR
• ~25-40 videos, OR
• Large-scale production

Best for: Large teams, agencies, high-volume users

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Buying Additional Credits

Credit Packs (Available to All Plans)

When you need them:

• Exceeded monthly allocation
• Large project with high generation needs
• One-time presentation requiring many variations

Available packs:

Key benefits:

• ✅ Never expire (unlike monthly allocation)
• ✅ Roll over month to month
• ✅ Stack with monthly credits
• ✅ Available on all plans (including Free)

Purchase: Account Settings → Billing → Buy Credits

Credit Usage Priority

Palett uses credits in this order:

1. Monthly allocation first (use it or lose it)
2. Purchased packs second (never expire)

Example:

• You have 50 monthly credits left
• You bought a 100-credit pack
• You generate 10 standard images (40 credits)
• Result: 10 credits taken from monthly, 30 monthly remaining, pack untouched

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Monitoring Your Usage

Credit Balance

Check anytime:

• Click your profile icon → "Credits"
• Shows: Monthly remaining + Pack credits

Example display:

Monthly Credits: 230 / 350 remaining
Purchased Credits: 100
Total Available: 330 credits

Usage History

View detailed breakdown:

1. Go to Account Settings → Billing → Usage History
2. See:
   • Date and time of each generation
   • Credits used per operation
   • Project and session info
   • Remaining balance after each use

Use for:

• Track spending patterns
• Identify high-usage projects
• Plan future credit needs
• Audit team usage (Agency plans)

Low Balance Alerts

Automatic notifications:

• At 25% remaining (email + in-app)
• At 10% remaining (email + in-app)
• At 0% (in-app, prompts to upgrade or buy pack)

Configure alerts: Account Settings → Notifications → Credit Alerts

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Optimizing Credit Usage

Strategy 1: Iterate Cheaply

Workflow:

1. Generate 5-10 draft images (2 credits each = 10-20 credits)
2. Review internally or with client
3. Client picks 1-2 favorites
4. Regenerate favorites in high quality (6 credits each = 6-12 credits)

Total: 16-32 credits

vs. Generating all in high quality: 30-60 credits

Savings: 40-50%

Strategy 2: Batch Similar Requests

Instead of:

• Generate 1 living room concept
• Review, adjust prompt
• Generate another
• Repeat 5 times

Do this:

• Write 5 slightly different prompts upfront
• Generate all 5 at once
• Review batch, pick best
• Refine only the winner

Why: Avoids incremental "one more try" spending

Strategy 3: Reuse Successful Prompts

Keep a library of prompts that worked:

• "Modern kitchen with marble and brass (Prompt #3)"
• "Coastal living room with blues and whites (Prompt #7)"

Benefit: Less trial and error = fewer wasted credits

Strategy 4: Use AI Chat for Guidance

Before generating:

1. Ask AI: "What prompt would work best for a modern bathroom?"
2. AI suggests optimized prompt
3. Generate once with good prompt (4 credits)

vs. Trial and error: 3-5 generations to get it right (12-20 credits)

Strategy 5: Prioritize Projects

High-value projects: Use high-quality generations

Internal projects: Use draft or standard quality

Exploratory concepts: Use draft exclusively

Budget allocation:

• 60% for client presentations (standard/high quality)
• 30% for iteration (drafts)
• 10% for experimentation (drafts)

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Credit Best Practices

For Solo Designers

Monthly budget: 350 credits (Professional plan)

Suggested allocation:

• 5 client projects: 60 credits each (300 credits)
• Internal exploration: 50 credits
• Result: ~10 images per project + experimentation room

Tips:

• Use drafts liberally
• Only finalize 2-3 images per project in high quality
• Buy a pack for big months (wedding season, etc.)

For Teams

Monthly budget: 800 credits (Studio plan)

Suggested allocation per member (4-person team):

• ~200 credits each
• Pool credits for shared projects
• Track individual usage in team settings

Tips:

• Establish team guidelines (when to use draft vs. high quality)
• Review usage monthly
• Buy packs for team events (conference prep, pitch season)

For Agencies

Monthly budget: 2,500 credits (Agency plan)

Project-based allocation:

• Residential projects: 100-150 credits
• Commercial projects: 200-300 credits
• Pitch presentations: 300-500 credits

Tips:

• Assign credit budgets per project at kickoff
• Monitor usage mid-month
• Reserve 20% for unexpected client requests

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Common Questions

"Do unused credits roll over?"

Monthly allocation: No (resets each month)

Purchased packs: Yes (never expire)

Strategy: Buy packs before month-end if you'll lose unused monthly credits

"Can I share credits with my team?"

Yes, on team accounts:

• All team members draw from same pool
• Admins can view usage per member
• Set permissions to control who can generate

"What happens if I run out?"

Mid-project:

1. Palett notifies you ("0 credits remaining")
2. You can't generate until you buy a pack or upgrade plan
3. All other features (search, boards) still work

Options:

• Buy credit pack instantly (takes 1 minute)
• Upgrade plan for larger monthly allocation
• Wait until next billing cycle (monthly allocation refreshes)

"Can I get a refund on unused credits?"

Monthly allocation: No refunds (use it or lose it)

Purchased packs: No refunds once purchased (but they never expire)

Downgrading plans: Purchased pack credits remain available

"Do credits expire?"

Monthly allocation: Yes (resets monthly on billing date)

Purchased packs: No (keep forever)

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Troubleshooting

"Credits were deducted but generation failed"

Palett automatically refunds if generation fails

Check: Usage History shows refund within 5 minutes

If not refunded: Contact support with generation ID

"Usage shows more credits than I generated"

Possible causes:

• Failed generations counted (should be refunded automatically)
• Team member usage (check team activity log)
• Multiple regenerations of same image

Solution: Review Usage History for details, contact support if discrepancy remains

"Can't buy credit pack"

Check:

• Payment method valid (expired card?)
• Billing address complete
• Browser allows payment popup

Alternative: Try different payment method or contact support

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What's Next?

• Image Generation: Use your credits to create visualizations
• Video Generation: Create walkthrough videos
• Managing Subscription: Upgrade for more monthly credits

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Need help with credits? Chat with us (bottom right) or email support@palett.space.