Usage-based credits: pay for work that ran
Proofsource bills AI visibility work in credits. One checked AI answer is one credit, fixed actions have a set credit price, and variable work such as page reads or agent steps is charged at actual use, never above the cap shown before you start. Nothing is reserved, every charge is dated when it ran, and failed work is free. One credit pool serves the whole workspace.
| Work | Credits |
|---|---|
| Checked AI answers | 3,120 |
| Fix drafts | 240 |
| Page reads | 160 |
| Shared reports | 60 |
Credit-based usage, in short
The facts, ready to quote.
- Unit
- One checked AI answer is one credit
- Variable work
- Charged at actual use, never above the shown cap
- Failed work
- Free. Nothing is held back; each step is charged when it runs, with its date
- Pool
- One credit pool per workspace
- How to get credits
- Monthly credit plans or top-up packs; enterprise and managed tiers by contract
- Rollover
- Unused plan credits roll over, up to a cap
Usage-based credit pricing, explained
Usage-based pricing charges for what you use instead of a flat seat or feature fee. Many AI tools express usage in credits, a single unit that covers different kinds of work. The question that matters is what one credit buys and when it is charged.
In Proofsource one credit pays for one checked AI answer: a question asked of one AI engine such as ChatGPT or Gemini, read and checked for mentions, competitors and citations. Fixed actions such as sharing a report or drafting a fix have a set credit price shown on the button. Variable actions, such as reading pages or running an agent, show an estimate and a cap; you pay what was actually used, never more than the cap.
Credits are charged at actual use, step by step, and only for work that succeeded. Scheduled work is debited after it runs, dated when it ran. There are no holds or reservations that freeze part of your balance, and a step that fails costs nothing.
How it works
Pay for AI visibility work in credits: one checked AI answer is one credit, variable work is charged at actual use up to a shown cap, and failed work is free.
Get credits
Choose a monthly credit plan, or add a top-up pack when you need more. Enterprise and managed tiers are set by contract.
See the price first
Fixed actions show their credit price. Variable work shows an estimate and a cap before you start.
Work runs
Before work starts, Proofsource checks your balance. Each step is charged as it runs, at actual use.
Pay only for success
Failed work is free. Scheduled work is charged after it succeeds, dated when it ran.
Roll over
Unused plan credits roll over to the next period, up to a cap, with a small grace allowance.
See it in the product
Screens from the Proofsource app, drawn with sample data for an example brand.
Every capability, live today
12 shipped capabilities behind Credit-based usage, each in the product now.
Credit model
One credit equals one checked AI answer, from one credit pool per workspace; variable actions are charged at actual use, capped at the shown cap.
Credit wallet
Balance, ledger, usage, rates, quotes, fix prices, top-ups and moving credits, with clear rules for how plan credits and the wallet balance work together. Balance and usage are also available through the API.
Monthly credit plans and top-up packs
Monthly plan sizes in credits, with rollover up to a cap and a grace allowance, plus credit packs and a custom amount with volume pricing at higher monthly use.
Fixed action prices
Share report, SEO refresh, keyword work, drafts and other actions each have a set credit price.
Variable action caps
Page search, proof checks, agent steps and screenshot reads show an estimate, then a cap.
Charged after success
Scheduled work is debited only after it succeeded, dated when it ran.
When credits run short
A banner tells you when the wallet is empty, and a click your balance cannot cover gets a plain answer and a sheet to add credits, not an error.
Plan limits and credit settings
Per-workspace credit settings, the caps that come with each paid plan, plan start dates and billing period bounds, and a set number of rechecks per period, all read from one place so limits match everywhere.
Price card quote and credits calculator
Pick questions, cadence, brands and yearly billing to get one quote, and open a calculator from pricing that shows what credits buy, in the page language.
Welcome credits and trial rules
Credits are granted when a trial starts, with clear rules for how long it runs and how it is extended, and one plain sentence with a Contact sales link where a trial reaches a limit.
Enterprise and managed tiers
Contract-priced enterprise and a managed, done-for-you tier for a set period, with a Get a demo form for plan and enterprise questions.
Autopilot monthly budget
Cap the credits autopilot may use each month.
Who it is for
Start small, grow with use
Pay for the answers you check now and add credits as you track more questions.
Predictable, auditable spend
Every charge is dated when it ran, with no holds, and failed work never shows up.
Know the cost of each job
Fixed prices and capped estimates appear before you press the button.
Hands-off with a ceiling
Set a monthly autopilot budget so automatic fixing never exceeds it.
Why it matters
Failed work is free
You pay for answers and work that succeeded.
No surprises
Fixed prices and caps show before work starts.
No holds
Nothing is reserved; your full balance stays usable.
One pool for everyone
The whole workspace shares credits, with allowances where you want them.
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Credit-based usage: Proofsource and other tools
Credit-based usage is becoming common in AI visibility. From each company's own public pages:
| Capability | Proofsource | AthenaHQ | Profound | Rankscale | Ahrefs | Peec AI | Otterly.AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usage measured in credits | YesOne credit per checked AI answer | YesPlans meter usage in credits; credit calculator pageSource | YesAI Marketer credits, shared across teamSource | YesUnlimited search terms; answers metered by creditsSource | RelatedPrompt checks per month by tier, overage per checkSource | RelatedPeec Agent is credit-basedSource | Not listed |
| Unused credits roll over | YesPlan credits roll over up to a cap | Not listed | Not listed | YesUnused credits roll over up to 2x or 3x by planSource | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Credit estimate before buying | YesCalculator from your last 30 days of use | YesCredit calculator pageSource | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Failed work not charged | YesFailed work is free; charged after success | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Top-ups when you need more | YesCredit packs plus a custom amount, with volume pricing at higher use. | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | RelatedPrompt checks per month by tier, overage per check; per-platform or all-platform add-onSource | Not listed | YesAdd-on of +100 prompts on Standard and PremiumSource |
| Free trial or welcome credits | YesCredits are granted when a trial starts and on welcome. | YesStarter includes free credit on signupSource | Yes7 days, 50 prompts, 3 engines, 1 region, 1 languageSource | YesTry Pro for Free; free test availableSource | Not listed | RelatedNot stated on pricing page; free pitch projects for agenciesSource | Yes7 days per changelog; sign-up popup says 14Source |
| Enterprise or managed tier | YesA contract-priced enterprise tier and a managed, done-for-you tier. | YesEnterprise: 2-hour SLA, dedicated Slack channel, GEO specialistSource | YesEmail, dedicated Slack, or specialist with 24-hour SLA on EnterpriseSource | RelatedPriority support and dedicated onboarding on Growth and EnterpriseSource | Not listed | Not listed | YesEnterprise: quarterly checkSource |
Where each of them shines
AthenaHQ publishes a credit calculator and offers a free plan with starter credits.
Profound shares AI Marketer credits across the team, with wallets per team on Enterprise. Compare in full
Rankscale includes every engine on every plan and rolls unused credits over.
Ahrefs offers per-platform or all-platform add-ons with clear monthly check tiers. Compare in full
Peec AI pairs plan-based prompt tracking with a credit-based in-app agent. Compare in full
Four engines in base plans with add-on engines and extra prompt packs. Compare in full
Questions about Credit-based usage
What does one Proofsource credit buy?
One credit pays for one checked AI answer. Fixed actions have a set credit price, and variable work is charged at actual use up to a cap shown first.
Am I charged when something fails?
No. Failed work is free. Scheduled work is charged only after it succeeds, dated when it ran.
Do you reserve credits before a job runs?
No. Proofsource checks your balance before work starts and charges each step as it runs. Nothing is held.
Do unused credits expire?
Unused plan credits roll over to the next period, up to a cap.
Can I limit how many credits a person or feature uses?
Yes. Set credit allowances per person or role, and a monthly budget for autopilot.
How do I add credits?
Choose a monthly credit plan or buy a top-up pack. When a paid click is refused, a sheet opens to add credits right there.
Do all engines cost the same?
Pricing is in credits on the price card and in the app before you confirm. Plans cover up to 10 AI engines, from ChatGPT and Perplexity to Gemini, Copilot and Grok.
Is there an enterprise option?
Yes. Enterprise and managed tiers are priced by contract. Use Contact sales in the app or on the pricing page.
Keep exploring
Try it on your own brand.
Proofsource is live: scan your brand and see Credit-based usage at work with your own answers, competitors and sources.
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