Usage Balance FAQ: How Billing Works for Reports and Paid AI
The old report-credit system has been replaced by a shared usage balance for paid AI features. This FAQ explains what the new balance covers, how Pro works, and what happens when you use more than your included allowance.
What is usage balance?
Usage balance is the shared balance used for premium chat models, report generation, report section regenerations, and content generation tools. It replaces report credits as the main billing system.
Where do I manage it?
Open the Usage page in the app. That is where you can see your available balance, monthly Pro allowance, carryover balance, top-ups, auto-reload, and activity history.
What does Pro include?
- Pro includes US$25.00 per month of paid AI usage.
- That monthly Pro allowance is used first.
- It does not roll over into the next billing cycle.
Does Personal include monthly paid AI usage?
No. Personal members can still use paid AI features, but they do so from carryover balance added through top-ups or auto-reload.
What is carryover balance?
Carryover balance is the part of your usage balance that comes from manual top-ups, auto-reloads, or converted legacy credits. Unlike the monthly Pro allowance, carryover balance stays in your account until you spend it.
What can usage balance be used for?
- Premium chat models
- AI report generation
- Report section regenerations
- Content generation tools
Free chat models remain available where your plan includes them, but paid models and paid report generation draw from usage balance.
How do top-ups work?
A top-up adds more carryover balance to your account. This is useful if you want to keep using paid models or generate more reports after your included allowance is gone.
What is auto-reload?
Auto-reload is optional. If you enable it, your saved card adds more carryover balance when your balance falls below your chosen minimum. If it is off, paid usage stops when your balance runs out. There is no surprise postpaid billing without your saved payment method and auto-reload choice.
What happened to my old report credits?
Legacy report credits were converted into the new usage balance model. They were not discarded. Existing value was moved into the carryover side of your balance so you can keep using it under the new system.
Are reports still cheaper than before?
Yes. Reports are now priced from actual AI usage instead of a flat report-credit pack model. That means many report flows are cheaper and more flexible, especially when you choose the model that fits the job.
What happens if I use the tool heavily?
Heavy usage is no longer silently bundled into every plan. Once your included allowance and carryover balance are used up, you can continue only by adding more balance or turning on auto-reload.