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

# How Credits Work

> Flowy's credit wallet — what spends credits, topping up, auto-reload, and refunds.

export const DemoVideo = ({src, poster, caption, aspectRatio = "16 / 10", className = ""}) => {
  return <figure className={`not-prose my-6 w-full ${className}`}>
      <div className="overflow-hidden rounded-2xl border border-gray-950/10 bg-gray-100 dark:border-white/10 dark:bg-white/5" style={{
    aspectRatio
  }}>
        <video src={src} poster={poster} loop autoPlay muted playsInline className="h-full w-full object-cover" />
      </div>
      {caption && <figcaption className="mt-2 text-center text-sm text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400">
          {caption}
        </figcaption>}
    </figure>;
};

Flowy runs on credits: generating spends them, and every workspace has its own shared wallet. Credits never expire, and failed generations refund themselves.

<DemoVideo src="/videos/help/topup.mp4" poster="/images/posters/help/topup.jpg" caption="Checking the balance and buying credits from Settings → Billing" />

## What uses credits

Generating content spends credits — images, video, audio, and the other node types you run on the [canvas](/canvas/nodes/overview). Video is the most credit-intensive, so longer, higher-resolution clips cost more than a quick image. Studio renders use credits where applicable, and the [AI assistant](/canvas/ai/overview) is metered as it plans, edits nodes, and analyzes your work.

Paid plans include a monthly credit allowance — 20,000 on Lite up to 300,000 on Ultra — while the Free plan is pure pay-as-you-go. See [plans & pricing](/billing/plans).

## View your balance

Open **Settings → Billing**. The overview shows your available credits, plus any credits temporarily on hold for in-flight generations. The wallet is shared across everyone in the workspace.

## Top up

You can buy credits on any plan, and they stack on top of any monthly allowance.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Settings → Billing and choose Buy credits">
    Only the workspace owner can buy credits.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick an amount">
    Choose a preset credit pack, or enter a custom amount from **$5 to $1,000**. Some packs include bonus credits, and the dialog shows exactly how many credits you'll receive.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete checkout">
    Pay through the secure checkout. Your balance updates as soon as the payment completes.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Purchased credits **never expire** — they stay in the workspace wallet until you spend them.
</Note>

## Auto-reload

Turn on **Auto-reload** in **Settings → Billing** to top up automatically when the balance runs low. Add a card, then set a credit threshold and a reload amount between $5 and $1,000 — for example, "charge \$20 when the balance falls below 5,000 credits." Flowy charges your default payment method whenever the balance crosses the threshold, so a long render never stalls on an empty wallet.

## The credit lifecycle

Credits move through three states on every generation, which keeps your balance honest when something goes wrong:

1. **Reserved** — when a generation starts, the credits it needs go on hold so they can't be spent twice.
2. **Deducted** — when it succeeds, the reserved credits are charged and the result lands on your canvas.
3. **Refunded** — if it fails, the reserved credits return to your wallet automatically.

<Warning>
  You are never charged for failed generations — the refund is automatic, no support ticket needed. See [refunds](/help/refunds) for details.
</Warning>