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Automat Studio uses a single credits balance to pay for generation. Every model has a credit price, every generation spends credits, and subscriptions top your credits up every month. This guide explains how credits work and what each plan offers.

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How Credits Work

Usage is based on generation activity, not time spent in the app. Each generation has a credit price (shown on the generate button and in the model picker) that is deducted from your credit balance. Your balance can come from three places:
  • Free signup credits — every new account starts with 500 credits.
  • Plan credits — your subscription includes a set number of credits every month (see the plans table below). Plan credits refresh every month and do not carry over. This is true on yearly billing too: yearly plans receive the same credit refresh at each monthly anniversary of the subscription.
  • Purchased credits — one-off credit packs you can buy at any time, with or without a subscription. Purchased credits never expire.
The app shows one combined credit counter. Plan (and free signup) credits are spent first; purchased credits are used once those run out. Your account page shows the breakdown of plan vs purchased credits.
Credits do not unlock features from higher subscription tiers. Feature access is determined by your active subscription plan, while credits pay for generation usage.

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What Counts as Usage

The following activities spend credits:
  • Character images — Generating new character portraits
  • Location images — Generating new location visuals
  • First frames — Generating still images for shots
  • Videos — Generating video clips from first frames
  • Dialogue & lip sync — Generating character voice audio and syncing it to video
  • SFX & VFX — Generating sound effects and visual effects for your shots
  • Custom aesthetics — Creating your own visual styles from reference images

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What Doesn’t Count as Usage

The following activities are free and don’t spend credits:
  • Browsing — Viewing your projects, characters, locations, and shots
  • Organizing — Creating projects, scenes, and structuring your workflow
  • Preparing assets — Writing descriptions, adjusting settings, and planning shots
  • Failed generations — If a generation fails (including content filter failures), no credits are spent
Only successful generations spend credits. You won’t be charged for failed attempts or system errors.

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Subscription Plans

Each subscription includes monthly credits worth 20% more than the plan’s price, plus access to plan-gated features. Higher tiers are designed to support more exploratory and long-form workflows. Every plan is available with monthly or yearly billing (yearly saves 20%) — credits refresh monthly on both.
There is currently no unlimited plan. If you find yourself consistently running out of credits, upgrade to a higher tier or top up with a credit pack.
Unused plan credits do not carry over when the monthly refresh lands, and expire if you cancel your subscription. Purchased credits remain available until used.

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Upgrading Your Plan

You can upgrade your subscription at any time. Upgrades are prorated automatically—you’ll only be charged the difference for the remaining time in your billing cycle. Your upgraded plan takes effect immediately, and additional plan credits are added for the rest of the month. In some cases, this may be a partial credit increase depending on when you upgrade. To upgrade:
  1. Visit your account settings or the subscriptions page
  2. Select your desired plan
  3. Confirm the upgrade
To avoid double-charging, both billing and plan credits may be prorated when upgrading mid-cycle.

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Example

If you start on the 10planandupgradetothe10 plan and upgrade to the 25 plan partway through the month, you’ll only be charged the difference for the remaining time. Your plan credits for that month will increase accordingly. At the start of your next billing cycle, your full 3,000 monthly credits will be applied.

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Downgrading Your Plan

Downgrades are not prorated and take effect at the end of your current billing cycle. You’ll retain full access to your current plan’s features and credits until then. To downgrade:
  1. Visit your account settings or the subscriptions page
  2. Select a lower-tier plan
  3. Confirm the downgrade
Your new plan and monthly credits will begin on your next billing date. While a downgrade is scheduled, your account and subscriptions pages show the upcoming change and its effective date — no need to submit it again.

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Tips for Managing Credits

  • Plan before you generate — Write detailed descriptions and prepare your assets before generating to get better results on the first try
  • Use the right model — Choosing appropriate models (see Models guide) can help you achieve desired results with fewer regenerations
  • Save successful generations — Once you create a character or location you like, save it and reuse it across scenes
  • Apply aesthetics — Using consistent aesthetics helps maintain visual coherence, reducing the need for regeneration
  • Top up strategically — Purchased credits never expire, so a credit pack is a safe way to cover overflow beyond your plan’s monthly credits

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Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Browse common questions about Automat Studio features

Getting Help

Reach out if you have questions about your plan or credits