When you create with AI, there’s always one quiet question in the background. What does this actually cost me?
At Async, we designed our credit system to be simple, predictable, and flexible. Credits give you a clear way to understand how AI generation works, while still letting you create freely without micromanaging every action.
This post breaks down what AI credits are, how they work, and how to get the most value out of them.
What is an AI credit?
An AI credit is the unit Async uses to measure the cost of generating media with AI.
Whenever you generate content using AI, such as images, video, animation, or other AI powered features, a certain number of credits are consumed. The exact number depends on factors like complexity, duration, and resolution.
In simple terms, credits help balance usage fairly. More complex generations use more compute, so they consume more credits. Simpler tasks use fewer.
You don’t need to calculate this manually. Async handles the logic for you and always shows your remaining balance clearly.
How credits work in practice
Think of credits as fuel for AI creation.
Each time you generate content, Async deducts the required credits automatically. There’s no extra checkout step and no interruption to your workflow. You focus on creating, and credits work quietly in the background.
Different AI models consume different amounts of credits. Before running out, you’ll always be able to see your remaining credits in the dashboard, so there are no surprises.
Where to see your credit balance
Your current credit balance is displayed directly in the top navigation bar of the Async dashboard.
This makes it easy to:
• Check how many credits you have left
• Plan larger generations
• Decide whether to upgrade or top up
You don’t need to dig through settings or billing pages to understand your usage. It’s always visible while you work.
How to get more credits
There are two ways to add credits to your account.
Upgrade your subscription plan
Each subscription plan includes a monthly credit allowance. Upgrading your plan gives you a higher monthly limit, which is ideal if you’re creating regularly or working on larger projects.
Upgrades take effect immediately, with a prorated charge, so you can start using the additional credits right away.
Purchase a Top-up pack
If you need extra credits quickly, you can purchase a Top-up pack.
Top-up credits are added instantly and are designed for flexibility. They’re useful when you have a short term spike in usage or a deadline that can’t wait until the next billing cycle.
Managing your credits and subscription
Do unused credits roll over?
Monthly subscription credits reset at the start of each billing cycle.
This means unused monthly credits do not roll over to the next month. Each cycle starts fresh with your plan’s included allowance.
Credits purchased through Top Up Packs will be consumed first and will expire in 2 months.
This setup keeps subscription pricing predictable while still giving you the option to stock up when needed.
What happens on a yearly plan?
If you choose a yearly subscription,you receive the credit allowance month by month. However, each month's allowance will be reset.
Can credits be refunded?
Credits are non-refundable once they’ve been used to generate content.
However, if a technical error prevents a generation from completing successfully, credits are automatically restored. You won’t lose credits due to failed or interrupted generations caused by system issues.
If something doesn’t look right, our support team is always happy to help review it.
Changing your plan
You can change your subscription plan at any time.
• Upgrades take effect immediately and are charged on a prorated basis.
• Downgrades are scheduled to take effect at the end of your current billing cycle.
This way, you always keep access to what you’ve already paid for, while still having the flexibility to adjust as your needs change.
Business plan for large teams and custom credits
For businesses with higher volume needs or advanced workflows, Async offers Business plan.
Business plan includes:
• Custom credit packs
• Tailored pricing
• Dedicated support
If you’re interested, you can contact our sales team or fill out the inquiry form to learn more.
Designed to stay out of your way
The goal of the Async credit system is simple: give creators clarity without slowing them down.
Credits let us scale AI responsibly, keep pricing transparent, and support everything from casual creation to enterprise workflows.
Once you understand the basics, you rarely need to think about them again.
And that’s exactly how it should be.
