# AI credits

> Understand how AI credits are consumed when the AI Agent generates campaign content, and what Lifetime accounts need to configure.

AI credits are consumed each time the AI Agent generates or refines marketing campaign content. Your monthly allotment resets at the start of each billing period.

## How credits are consumed

Each generation is charged based on the volume of content produced:

| Generation size | Credits charged |
|---|---|
| Small (up to ~2,000 tokens) | 0.5 credits |
| Medium (~2,000–5,000 tokens) | 1.0 credit |
| Large (~5,000–10,000 tokens) | 2.0 credits |
| Extra large (10,000+ tokens) | 3.0 credits |

A "small" generation is roughly a single short email. A "medium" generation covers a standard 3-email journey. A "large" or "extra large" generation covers complex multi-step campaigns.

> **Tip** Refining an existing draft also uses credits, but typically fewer than generating from scratch.

## Monthly allotment by plan

| Plan | AI credits / month |
|---|---|
| Starter | 50 |
| Lite | 150 |
| Growth | 400 |
| Business | 1,000 |
| Enterprise | 3,000 |

Credits are included in your plan at no extra charge. They reset monthly with your billing cycle.

> **Note** There is no way to roll unused AI credits over to the next month. If you need more, upgrade your plan or contact support.

## Lifetime accounts — bring your own key

Lifetime accounts do not receive a platform AI credit allotment. Instead, you must connect your own API key from Anthropic (Claude) or OpenAI (GPT) to use the AI Agent.

> **Important** Without a configured AI key, the AI Agent is blocked for Lifetime accounts. You cannot fall through to platform credits.

**To add your own AI key:**

1. Go to **Settings → AI Keys**.
2. Enter your Anthropic or OpenAI API key.
3. Save. The AI Agent will use your key for all generations, and there are no per-credit charges from Caramel.

See [AI keys](../settings/ai-keys) for full setup instructions.

## Next steps

- [AI Campaign Generator](../marketing/ai-campaign-generator)
- [Plans and features](plans-and-features)
- [Manage your subscription](manage-your-subscription)