> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://workllm.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Understanding credits
> How credits work in WorkLLM, what uses them, and how to make the most of your plan
## What are credits
Credits are how WorkLLM measures your usage. Every plan includes a set number of credits each month, and different actions use different amounts depending on how much work goes into them.
You do not need to think about tokens, models, or technical details. Credits are designed to be a simple, predictable way to see what you are using and what you have left.
You can see your remaining credits at any time from your workspace dashboard, along with a running breakdown of what has used them.
## What uses credits
Credits are used whenever you or your team actively ask WorkLLM to do something. This includes:
### Chat and questions
Every message you send to an Agent or in AI Chat uses credits. A short, simple question uses very few credits. A longer or more detailed request uses more, since it takes more work to answer well.
### Web search
When a question needs current information from the web, WorkLLM runs a search on your behalf. This adds a flat 2 credit search charge on top of the credits used for the message itself. For example, a typical question that includes a search uses its normal message credits plus 2 credit for the web search.
### Documents and files
When you upload a document, image, spreadsheet, audio file, or video and ask questions about it, WorkLLM needs to process that content so it can find and use the relevant parts. This is billed separately from the message itself, since it depends on the size of what you upload rather than the question you ask.
Processing cost scales with the size of what you upload, a short document costs very little, while a large file, long audio, or long video costs more. This is always shown as its own line item, separate from your chat usage, so you can see exactly what a specific upload cost.
### AI Agent workflows and connected apps (coming soon)
When an Agent needs to take action in one of your connected apps, such as checking your calendar, looking something up in a connected tool, or running a multi-step workflow, WorkLLM adds a flat 1 credit connected app charge on top of the credits used for the Agent's own reasoning. This charge is the same flat 1 credit regardless of how many apps or steps are involved in that action, so it stays simple to predict.
### Deep research
For requests that require deeper, multi-step research across several sources, WorkLLM uses more resources to pull everything together into one clear answer. These use noticeably more credits than a typical question, since they represent significantly more work behind the scenes.
## What does not use credits
WorkLLM runs some processes automatically in the background to keep your workspace organized and safe. None of these use your credits:
* Naming and organizing your conversation threads
* Understanding what type of request you're making so it can be routed correctly
* Safety and content checks on your messages
* General workspace and Org Memory upkeep
These are part of how WorkLLM works behind the scenes, not something you asked for directly, so they are never deducted from your balance.
## Roughly how many credits things cost
These are approximate guides to help you get a feel for your usage. Actual amounts vary based on the specific request.
| Action | Typical credit range |
| ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Quick question or simple request | Less than 1-2 credit |
| Typical question or task | 5 to 8 credits |
| Question that includes a web search | Message credits + 2 credit for the search |
| Longer or more detailed request | 8 to 12 credits |
| Question about an uploaded document | 5 to 12 credits, plus file processing based on size |
| Agent action using a connected app | Message credits + 1 credit for the connected app action |
| Deep research request | 20 to 30 credits |
Most everyday work, quick questions, typical tasks, and the occasional search, uses only a few credits at a time. Credits add up faster on longer, more complex, or research-heavy requests, since those genuinely take more work to complete well.
## Plans and included credits
| Plan | Monthly price | Credits included | Best for |
| ----- | ------------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Basic | \$20/month | 2,000 credits | Individuals and small teams with everyday Q\&A, occasional search, and light document work |
| Pro | \$30/month | 3,000 credits | Teams doing heavier daily usage, frequent document work, and regular Agent workflows |
Neither plan charges credits for the background processes described above.
### Credits are pooled across your workspace
Your monthly credits are shared across your entire organization, not assigned separately to each person. If your team has 10 members, everyone draws from the same pool of credits, so a quieter week for some team members leaves more room for others who need it that month.
This also means your total available credits scale with your team. A larger workspace with more people naturally has more total activity, so plan and credit amounts are set at the organization level to reflect that, rather than splitting a fixed amount evenly per user.
### Additional credits
If you use your full monthly allowance before your renewal date, you can purchase additional credits at any time without interrupting your work. Additional credits on the Growth plan are priced lower per credit than on the Starter plan, since Growth is built for higher, sustained usage.
Exact additional credit rates for your plan are shown in your workspace billing settings.
## Tracking your usage
Your workspace dashboard shows:
* Your remaining credit balance, updated in real time
* A breakdown of recent usage by type: chat, search, document processing, and Agent actions
* An estimated credit cost shown before you run larger requests, such as deep research or a document-heavy Agent task, so there are no surprises
If your team is approaching its monthly limit, workspace admins receive a notification with time to plan ahead before running low.
## Frequently asked questions
No. Background processes like organizing threads, routing your request, and safety checks never use your credits. You are only charged for the work you directly ask for.
If your question included a web search, referenced an uploaded document, or triggered an Agent action in a connected app, an additional charge is added on top of the message's own credits. Your usage breakdown will show exactly what contributed to the total.
Processing an uploaded document, image, audio, or video file is billed separately from your chat credits, based on the size of the file. This is always shown as its own line item, separate from the question you ask, so it's clear what a specific upload cost.
Yes. Credits are pooled across your whole workspace rather than assigned individually, so all members draw from the same monthly balance. Admins can see a breakdown of usage by team member in the dashboard.
You can purchase additional credits at any time from your billing settings, at a rate lower than your plan's included credit rate. Your workspace will never stop working without your say, there is no automatic interruption.
Check your current plan details in workspace billing settings for the most up to date rollover policy.
Yes. Every action in your usage history shows its individual credit cost, so you can see exactly what a document upload, a search, or an Agent workflow cost you.
## Need help
If you have questions about your credit usage or want help choosing the right plan for your team, reach out to us at [hello@workllm.io](mailto:hello@workllm.io).