02 - Credits
Credits are the currency that powers AI generation in PyxelJam Studio. Every image, video clip, and AI pipeline step costs a small number of credits, so you always know what a project costs before you commit to it.
What is a credit?
1 credit = $0.01 of generation value. So 1,000 credits represent $10 of generation, and a plan with 3,000 monthly credits gives you $30 of AI output every month.
Because different AI models have very different real-world costs, actions are priced per model rather than at a flat rate. The platform shows you the estimated cost before you generate, so there are no surprises.
What do actions cost?
Exact prices depend on the model, resolution, and clip length you choose, but as a rule of thumb:
| Action | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Storyboard or scene image | 5-15 credits per image |
| Draft-quality video | around 10 credits per second |
| Standard-quality video (1080p) | around 15 credits per second |
| Premium video models | 25-75 credits per second |
| AI pipeline steps (script analysis, prompt generation) | 13-38 credits per run |
Faster draft models sit at the low end and are great for previewing motion before you commit; premium models (higher resolution, native audio) sit at the high end.
As a concrete example, a short 6-scene video with 12 storyboard images, six 5-second clips at standard quality, and all the AI pipeline steps lands at roughly 600-700 credits.
Monthly allowances
- Starter: 300 one-time trial credits when you verify your email (not a recurring allowance).
- Standard: 3,000 credits per month.
- Pro: 10,000 credits per month.
Your allowance refreshes on each billing cycle. Annual subscribers pay once for the year but receive their credits one month at a time, on the same day each month, so an annual plan and a monthly plan give you the same amount to work with in any given month.
Rollover
Unused subscription credits do not vanish at midnight on renewal day. They carry over with a 1-month grace period: credits from last month remain available through the current month, then expire. Credits are always spent oldest-first, so the ones closest to expiring are used before fresh ones.
Credit packs
Standard and Pro subscribers can buy one-time credit packs whenever the monthly allowance is not enough. Pack credits never expire - they stay on your balance until used. Subscription credits are always spent before pack credits, so packs act as a permanent reserve rather than something you have to race to use.
What happens when I hit zero?
Nothing bad. Your projects, assets, and generated content all stay exactly where they are. Generation simply pauses until you either:
- buy a credit pack, or
- wait for your monthly allowance to renew.
You can keep browsing, editing scripts, arranging storyboards, and doing any non-generative work in the meantime.
Where can I see my balance?
Your current balance and usage history are shown in Settings. Every generation is itemized, so you can see exactly where your credits went.
For how credits interact with plan changes and cancellation, see Billing and Invoices and Cancellation and Refunds.