How Credits Work

Credits are how TeamBench meters AI usage. Every interaction with an AI model -- whether it is a content review, a chat message, or an Auto-Improve request -- consumes a certain number of credits. Understanding how credits work helps you manage your usage and choose the right plan.

Each TeamBench plan includes a monthly credit allocation. These credits refresh at the start of each billing cycle. The Free plan includes enough credits for moderate usage -- enough to evaluate the platform and perform regular reviews. The Pro plan includes a substantially larger allocation designed for teams that review content as a core part of their workflow.

Different AI models consume credits at different rates, called multipliers. A standard model might have a 1x multiplier, meaning it uses the base credit rate. A more powerful model might have a 3x or 5x multiplier, meaning each interaction costs three or five times the base rate. This reflects the significantly higher computational cost of running more capable models. You can see each model's multiplier before selecting it.

Monthly credits expire at the end of each billing cycle. If you have 1,000 credits and use 600, the remaining 400 do not carry over to the next month. This is important to understand for usage planning -- there is no benefit to hoarding monthly credits. Use them during the period they are allocated.

Addon credits work differently. If you need more capacity than your plan provides, you can purchase addon credit packs. These credits are permanent -- they do not expire at the end of the month. They are consumed only after your monthly allocation is depleted. This gives you a safety net for months with higher-than-usual content volume.

The two-tier system (monthly expiring plus addon permanent) is designed to provide predictability with flexibility. Your monthly allocation handles your regular usage. Addon credits handle spikes without forcing you to upgrade your plan permanently.

To monitor your credit usage, check the credit indicator in the application. It shows your remaining credits for the current period and your addon balance. If you find yourself consistently running out of monthly credits before the cycle ends, it may be time to upgrade your plan or adjust your model selection to use models with lower multipliers for routine reviews.

A practical strategy is to use standard models (1x multiplier) for routine reviews where speed matters more than nuance, and reserve premium models (higher multipliers) for high-stakes content where the additional evaluation quality justifies the extra credit cost. This stretches your credits further without sacrificing quality where it matters most.