How Credits Work
Every API call consumes credits based on the tokens processed. The cost depends on which Theo engine handles the request:| Engine | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
Theo Flash (fast) | Lowest | Simple Q&A, classification |
Theo Reason (think) | Medium | Deep reasoning, analysis |
Theo Code (code) | Medium-High | Code generation |
Theo Create (image) | Per-image | Image generation |
Theo Research (research) | Variable | Web research |
- Cache hits cost 0 credits — identical cached requests are free
- Usage is tracked in real-time in the dashboard
- Credits are deducted immediately after each completion
Add Credits
- Navigate to Billing in the dashboard sidebar
- Click Add Credits
- Choose an amount or set up auto-top-up
- Complete payment via the secure billing portal
Auto-Recharge
Keep your balance topped up automatically. Pick an amount and a cadence (weekly or monthly), and we’ll add credits on that schedule using the card on file. Cancel anytime from the billing portal.Spending Caps
Protect against unexpected charges by setting spending limits:- Daily cap — maximum credit spend per day
- Monthly cap — maximum credit spend per billing cycle
- Per-key caps — limit individual API keys independently
402 insufficient_credits until the cap resets or is raised.
Monitoring
- Real-time credit balance in the dashboard header
- Per-request cost visible in every API response (
usage.cost_cents) - Historical cost breakdown in Usage & Analytics
- Alerts when balance drops below a configurable threshold
Test vs. Production Keys
| Key Prefix | Billing | Rate Limits |
|---|---|---|
theo_sk_test_ | No billing | Lower limits |
theo_sk_live_ | Billed per token | Full limits |