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

# How usage billing works

> Explains how usage billing works—separate from subscriptions—with monthly allowances, per-minute charges for voice and chat, and a real-time spend dashboard.

Usage is billed separately from your subscription. Your plan covers the platform itself; usage is metered in real dollars based on what your agents actually consume. Every minute your agents run voice conversations or handle chat messages costs money—this is tracked and charged as **credits**, which are a real dollar balance (not play money).

## How it works

**Credits = dollars.** When you see "Credits available: \$50," that's fifty real dollars you can spend on voice and chat usage. Your subscription includes a monthly allowance of credits:

* **Starter plan:** \$25 monthly allowance
* **Growth plan:** \$75 monthly allowance
* **Scale plan:** \$150 monthly allowance

If you're on a trial, your allowance is capped at \$5 regardless of plan, to prevent accidental overspending.

**Included allowance resets each billing period.** On the date your subscription renews, your included credits refresh. You can spend them freely through the month.

**Overage is metered.** Once you've used your included allowance, additional usage is charged against credits you've purchased (via **Add credits**). There's no surprise bill at month-end—you buy credits when you need them, and usage burns from your balance in real time.

**What costs credits:** Each minute of voice conversation and each message in a chat conversation costs money. The exact cost depends on usage volume and the AI backend, but it's always calculated and shown transparently in your usage dashboard.

## Tracking your spend

**Balance view** shows how much you have left this billing period plus any purchased credits. A progress bar indicates your usage: green = plenty of room, amber = running low, red = out of credits.

**Spend over time** is a daily chart showing your usage trend. This helps you spot patterns and estimate upcoming costs.

**Usage history** lists every transaction: plan grants (monthly allowances), top-ups (credits you purchased), and usage deductions (what your agents burned). Each entry shows the date, description, and amount.

## Staying in control

**Auto-reload** automatically tops up your balance from your saved card when you get low. Handy for avoiding downtime, but you can turn it off anytime.

**Monthly spend limit** caps how much you're willing to spend in a single billing period. Once you hit the limit, your agents pause until the period resets. This is your safety valve against runaway costs.

## Related

* [How to add credits](/docs/billing/add-credits)
* [Subscription plans](/docs/getting-started/plans)
* [What is Brandless](/docs/)