Credits
Understanding how agent usage is tracked and managed
What It Is
Every AI action in OverClaw — chatting with an agent, running a task, browsing the web, generating an image — consumes credits. Credits are the unit of usage within your subscription. Your plan includes a monthly credit allocation, and OverClaw tracks consumption in real-time so you always know where you stand.
How Credits Are Used
Different actions consume different amounts of credits depending on the complexity of the work:
| Action | Credit Usage | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Chat message | Low | Single AI model call |
| Web search | Low | Search + result parsing |
| Code execution | Medium | AI call + cloud sandbox time |
| Image generation | Medium | Image model processing |
| Presentation generation | Medium | AI + slide generation |
| Simple task (2-3 subtasks) | Medium-High | Multiple AI calls + tool usage |
| Complex task (10+ subtasks) | High | Full pipeline with multiple agents and tools |
The main cost driver for tasks is the number of subtasks — each subtask involves its own AI processing, tool calls, and review cycle.
Spend Management
OverClaw includes built-in safeguards so you're never surprised:
- Real-time tracking — View your current usage at any time in Settings
- Hourly limits — Automatic protection against runaway costs from complex tasks
- Monthly allocation — Each subscription tier includes a monthly credit allowance
- Graceful handling — When you approach your limit, agents pause and let you know
You can monitor your credit usage in Settings → Subscription. The dashboard shows current consumption broken down by agent and action type.
Credit Boosts
Need more capacity mid-cycle? Purchase a one-time credit boost from within the app. Boosts are applied immediately and increase your available credits for the current billing period.
Multiple boost sizes are available to match your needs — from small top-ups for occasional heavy usage to larger boosts for sustained workloads.
What You Need to Know
- Credits reset each billing cycle. Your base allocation refreshes monthly with your subscription.
- Boosts are one-time. They apply to the current cycle only.
- Usage is per-workspace. Each Office tracks its own consumption independently.
- Estimates are conservative. You won't be charged more than the actual usage amount.
Tips
- Start with chat for simple requests. Chat uses fewer credits than full tasks.
- Use tasks for complex, multi-step work. The automation saves time even though it uses more credits.
- Monitor usage after large tasks. Check Settings to see how much a task consumed so you can plan accordingly.
- Purchase boosts proactively. If you know a heavy workload is coming, boost before you hit the limit.
FAQ
What happens when I run out of credits? Your agents pause and you'll see a notification. You can either wait for your next billing cycle or purchase a credit boost to continue immediately.
Can I see which agents use the most credits? Yes. The usage dashboard in Settings breaks down consumption by agent, so you can identify which workflows are most resource-intensive.
Do credits roll over? Base allocation resets each cycle. Boosts apply only to the current billing period.