How credits are used

AI credits are the fuel for the Assistant. Every turn you ask it to run and every image you generate spends credits from your monthly allowance — and how much depends mostly on which model you pick.

Manual work never touches your balance. Typing text, drawing shapes, picking colors, arranging layers and exporting are all free. Credits are spent only when the AI does the work.

Model multipliers#

The single biggest factor in how fast credits go is the model you choose. In the model picker (Choose a model), each model carries a {mult}x credits multiplier — 1x, 2x, and so on. One Assistant turn costs roughly a base amount times that multiplier, so a 2x model burns through your allowance about twice as fast as a 1x one for the same request.

This is what the Pricing page means by "heavier models use more per request." The trade is straightforward:

• Lighter models (low multiplier) are fast and cheap — ideal for quick edits, tidying layout, or small copy tweaks.
• Heavier models (higher multiplier) reason harder and handle complex, multi-step work — worth the extra credits when the task is genuinely difficult.

You can switch models per turn, so there's no need to commit to one. Match the model to the job. Choosing a model & thinking effort goes deeper on when each is worth it.

Generating images#

AI image generation is billed separately, per image. The generation picker shows the exact cost as {num} credits per image, so you always know the price before you commit.

The catch is variations: asking for several options at once multiplies that per-image cost. If you're exploring directions, start with one or two and refine from there rather than generating a full grid every time. See Generating images with AI for the full workflow.

Reading the usage badge#

Your live balance sits in a credits badge in the Assistant area. It shows the remaining number plus a small progress bar that shrinks as you spend — and turns red when you're out. Hover it and the tooltip reads {plan} plan — AI credits remaining, so you can confirm both your plan and what's left at a glance.

The badge updates the moment a turn completes, so you can watch a run's cost land in real time. Click it and the Pricing page opens in a new tab — your canvas stays open and untouched behind it.

When credits refill#

Your allowance is a monthly grant that resets each billing period. At the start of each period the balance returns to your plan's full amount.

Unused credits do not roll over. Whatever you don't spend this period doesn't carry forward — the balance simply resets to your plan's monthly grant.

Running out#

If a turn would need more credits than you have left, the app stops before charging you and shows the You're out of AI credits dialog: "Upgrade your plan to keep designing with the assistant." You get two buttons:

• See plans — opens the Pricing page so you can move to a plan with a larger allowance.
• Maybe later — dismisses the dialog.

Nothing is lost when this happens. Your design is exactly as you left it; only the AI turn is blocked. Pick up manual editing right away, or upgrade to keep the Assistant going.

Stretching your credits#

A few habits make a monthly allowance go a long way:

• Batch your instructions. One prompt that lists several changes costs a single turn; five separate prompts cost five.
• Use a lighter model for routine work. Save the heavy multipliers for genuinely hard reasoning.
• Generate fewer image variations at a time. Each image has a per-image cost — request a couple, then iterate.
• Lean on manual editing. Adjusting text, color and layout by hand is always free.

Where to go next#

Ready to move to a bigger allowance? See Upgrading & managing billing, or review what each plan grants in Plans & AI credits.