# 💎 New Pickaxe Credit System is Live **URL:** \ **Category:** Releases & Features\ **Created:** [October 24, 2025, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391 "2025-10-24T19:57:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![abhi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/abhi/32/5009_2.png) [@abhi](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/abhi)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/1 "2025-10-24T19:57:35Z")
Hi everyone, We’re happy to introduce our new **Pickaxe Credit System** , designed to make tracking and using credits simpler for everyone. ![Screenshot 2025-10-24 at 3.25.40 PM](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/uploads/pickaxeproject/original/2X/0/084439cfccdeaae2e17486dc3e39cd2da06cf998.png) Every plan now comes with **free monthly credits** that automatically renew each month: - **Free plan:** $5 worth of credits - **Gold plan:** $15 worth of credits - **Pro plan:** $50 worth of credits Credits **refresh automatically each month** and **cannot be stacked or carried forward**. Each new month starts a fresh cycle. You can check your balance and enable **Auto-Reload** anytime at 👉 [Pickaxe](https://pickaxe.co/user/account) Auto-Reload helps you stay worry-free by adding new credits automatically when your balance runs low, so your Pickaxes keep running smoothly. To see how much each conversation or message costs, go to your **Studio → Users → Activity** , then click the **“i”** icon. You’ll see details like the exact dollar amount spent, tokens used, and generation time. ![Screenshot 2025-10-24 at 3.35.29 PM](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/uploads/pickaxeproject/original/2X/c/c511ad506639526c76adc46082b75788bd3185fa.jpeg) You can see detailed breakdown after clicking on “i” ![Screenshot 2025-10-24 at 3.41.15 PM](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/uploads/pickaxeproject/original/2X/2/2fc8f97479dab28df65057d4c9bb36231bd1a97c.png) This update makes it easier to manage your usage, understand your costs, and enjoy a seamless Pickaxe experience. Check your account today and explore the new system. – ### 💬 Frequently Asked Questions **1. How much does one query cost?** On average, one query costs **around 1/10th of a cent**. It can be slightly less or more depending on your prompt length and response size. **2. Do unused credits carry over to the next month?** No, credits **do not stack or roll over**. For example, if you’re on the free plan, you’ll get **$5 worth of credits every month** , and it resets at the start of each new month. **3. When do credits renew?** Credits refresh **automatically every 30 days** based on your plan cycle. **4. Can I buy more credits if I run out?** Yes, you can add more credits anytime or enable **Auto-Reload** to automatically top up your balance when it gets low. **5. Where can I see how much each message costs?** Go to your **Studio → Users → Activity** , then click the **“i”** icon beside any activity. You’ll see the total cost, tokens used, and model details. **6. What happens if my credits finish?** Your Pickaxe usage will pause until more credits are added, either manually or automatically through Auto-Reload. **7. Can I use my own API key instead of Pickaxe credits?** No. If you’re a new user, you cannot connect your own API key. Existing users with API keys are grandfathered in until April, and they’ll be able to adjust in the **Studio Settings**. **8. Will the cost per query change?** The cost may vary slightly depending on the model you use and the length of your prompts, but it generally stays around **1/10th of a cent per query**. **9. How can I track how my users are using credits?** If you manage a Studio, go to **Users → Activity** to view all user interactions, see usage patterns, and even assign bonus credits manually. **10. How often are guest credits refreshed?** Guest credits refresh **every 30 days** , depending on your Studio’s settings. **11. Can I control how many credits my end-users get?** Yes. In your **Access tab** , you can set how many credits guests or new users receive and whether those credits refresh monthly. **12. What happens if a Pickaxe exceeds its credit limit during a chat?** The chat will pause, and users will be prompted to add credits or upgrade their plan. **13. Does enabling Auto-Reload change my plan or monthly free credits?** No. Auto-Reload simply adds more credits when your balance is low. It doesn’t affect your free monthly credits. **1.4 Can I transfer my credits to another account?** Credits are connected to your individual Pickaxe account and cannot be transferred. **15. How do I know which Pickaxe used the most credits?** You can check in **Studio → Activity** for a breakdown of credit usage by tool, user, or message. ---
**Author:** ![lumora](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/lumora/32/5244_2.png) [@lumora](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/lumora)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/2 "2025-10-24T20:41:45Z")
This makes calculation of plan pricing a bit confusing - before I could just charge my users relative to the number of credits they consumed but now I need to calculate by exact query cost? How are we supposed to figure out simple billing models now? ---
**Author:** ![nathaniel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/nathaniel/32/11_2.png) [@nathaniel](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/nathaniel)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/3 "2025-10-24T20:45:24Z")
Great point! To be clear, we haven’t changed the way you charge your users in your studio at all, so rest assured that will remain straightforward and usage based. We found that the vast majority of our successful users were using their API keys (as opposed to Pickaxe credits) to power their tools. As they weren’t getting the benefit anyway, we realized it was best to just bite the bullet and unify the system! ---
**Author:** ![abhi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/abhi/32/5009_2.png) [@abhi](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/abhi)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 2:16am UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/4 "2025-10-25T02:16:21Z")
Hi Lumora, thanks for the great question! The new credit system actually gives you **more value, flexibility, and transparency** than before. Earlier, plans came with fixed one-time credits that ran out and had to be topped up manually. Now, credits can be added **automatically every month** based on real dollar value, so you always know what you’re getting and spending. Here’s a quick comparison: | **Plan** | **Previous Credits / Messages (per month)** | **New Approx. Messages per Month\*** | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Free Plan** | 500 | 💹 **1,000 – 10,000 messages** | | | **Gold Plan** | 2,000 | 💹 **3,000 – 30,000 messages** | | | **Pro Plan** | 10,000 | 💹 **10,000 – 100,000 messages** | | _\*Message range is an estimate based on an average cost of 1/20th of a cent ($0.0005) to half a cent ($0.005) per AI interaction. Actual usage may vary depending on prompt length, response size, and model type._ You can still charge your customers using your existing credit system while benefiting from the new, higher-value Pickaxe credits. This means you can **offer your users more while potentially earning higher profits** in the process. Overall, this update gives you clearer value, predictable monthly refreshes, and more control over your pricing and revenue. 💛 ---
**Author:** ![forward\_ai\_team](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/forward_ai_team/32/3059_2.png) [@forward\_ai\_team](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/forward_ai_team)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/5 "2025-10-27T15:05:28Z")
@abhi Are credits sold at the same rate as the providers charge? In other words, is it more expensive to do it through pickaxe as opposed to having an API key for each provider? ---
**Author:** ![lindsay\_support](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/lindsay_support/32/4508_2.png) [@lindsay\_support](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/lindsay_support)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/6 "2025-10-27T17:55:28Z")
@forward_ai_team great question - it should cost about the same amount whether using our system or an API key! As Abhi flagged, you can see a detailed breakdown of prompt run cost using message insights 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![abhi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/abhi/32/5009_2.png) [@abhi](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/abhi)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 12:05am UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/7 "2025-10-28T00:05:31Z")
> [@forward\_ai\_team](#): > > @abhi Are credits sold at the same rate as the providers charge? In other words, is it more expensive to do it through pickaxe as opposed to having an API key for each provider? I think @lindsay_support already answered this really well, I just want to add a bit about the **convenience side.** With Pickaxe, you don’t need to manage multiple API keys or keep them updated. **If one provider has issues, you can easily switch between models** like OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini within seconds. No extra setup or configuration needed. Our **pricing is both competitive and transparent**. As mentioned earlier, Pickaxe only grows when creators grow. **The goal is to help builders run profitable, sustainable AI tools without the hassle of managing multiple APIs or systems.** Hope this helps add a little extra context! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rainmaker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@rainmaker](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/rainmaker)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/8 "2025-10-28T18:01:03Z")
Will this new system also allow us to use up our PickAxe credits before it switches to the API keys we have inserted into our Pickaxes, or is it not intelligent enough yet to distinguish when credits are gone and make the switch to charge via our API keys like OpenAI? ---
**Author:** ![nathaniel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/nathaniel/32/11_2.png) [@nathaniel](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/nathaniel)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/9 "2025-10-28T19:09:46Z")
We are sunsetting API key support over the next 6 months. However, this system provides the exact benefit you’re after, all you have to do it setup payments through us [on your account page](https://pickaxe.co/user/account). We simply forward the cost of model on to you, so when your “monthly” credits run out, it switches over to as needed billing. This works in exactly the same way the model providers do, with the added advantage that you don’t have to setup API keys on a million different platforms. ---
**Author:** ![rainmaker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@rainmaker](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/rainmaker)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/10 "2025-10-28T19:39:52Z")
Sounds good. How are more complicated setups handled, like image creation through Flux Pro that requires a Replicate API token? I ask because they moved to a per-use basis months ago and require you to prepay, which is not ideal since you have to keep logging in and upping your account based on demand. The main issue for everyone is making sure that, as demand increases, you don’t experience service interruptions, such as not having enough prepay to cover demand. ---
**Author:** ![nathaniel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/nathaniel/32/11_2.png) [@nathaniel](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/nathaniel)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/11 "2025-10-28T19:53:01Z")
For now, those integrations remain unchanged. Over the next few weeks, we will likely add the ability for you to choose for many of those services to be paid for through us, like usage, just to make it all a bit easier to manage. Great question and something we’re thinking about. ---
**Author:** ![enochleffingwell](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/enochleffingwell/32/1613_2.png) [@enochleffingwell](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/enochleffingwell)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/12 "2025-10-28T22:50:16Z")
I am very much excited about the direction your company is going with this new credit system. Thank you for doing the hard work in putting this together. It’s all the great things I like about OpenRouter but now on my favorite AI platform! Although it’s different. I do see this as an upgraded convenience for all of us users. On top of releasing such details analytics for us to know HOW our tokens are being spent per usage. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for Pickaxe to serve us! This is next level. Thank you to the Pickaxe team! ---
**Author:** ![riskacademy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/riskacademy/32/228_2.png) [@riskacademy](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/riskacademy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/13 "2025-10-29T19:11:02Z")
Right, right, I just went from zero extra cost per month to $200 extra per month and I am on pro. Can’t say I am excited about the new credits system. Pro also +50% to what it was when I switched up to it from ■■■■■■■ LTD ---
**Author:** ![abhi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/abhi/32/5009_2.png) [@abhi](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/abhi)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/14 "2025-10-29T19:41:42Z")
Hi, > [@riskacademy](#): > > Right, right, I just went from zero extra cost per month to $200 extra per month and I am on pro. Can’t say I am excited about the new credits system. Pro also +50% to what it was when I switched up to it from LTD It seems there’s a bit of a misunderstanding. Your previous _ **credits were** _ _ **not taken away, they were simply converted into real dollar value** _. Pro users previously received 10,000 fixed credits per month, and now that same amount is the **minimum** , often going up to _ **10 times more usage** _ depending on the model and message length. Here’s a quick look: | **Plan** | **Previous Credits / Messages (per month)** | **New Approx. Messages per Month** \* | | --- | --- | --- | | **Pro Plan** | 10,000 | 📈 10,000 – 100,000 messages | P.S. Even before this update, many users added their own API keys, which meant their 10,000 Pickaxe _credits went unused_ while their API provider still charged them. It was **almost like paying twice**. The new system **prevents that double billing** and makes everything more profitable and efficient for users. **Pickaxe grows only when our users grow.** Our goal is to make sure creators keep their profits and never pay more than they should. ---
**Author:** ![riskacademy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/riskacademy/32/228_2.png) [@riskacademy](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/riskacademy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/15 "2025-10-29T19:56:14Z")
Is it a misunderstanding? I had zero extra costs before (and never ran out of credits), now I have $200 extra per month. I think what you are saying Pickaxe changed the balance of the scales a while back and I only noticed now. Well, I did notice and not excited about it. Unless your cost reporting in the dashboard is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![nathaniel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/nathaniel/32/11_2.png) [@nathaniel](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/nathaniel)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 8:42pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/16 "2025-10-29T20:42:45Z")
I’m sorry to hear you’ve experienced this change negatively. Let me reiterate why it’s a positive for you: 1. If you had an API key, you can still use that (until April of next year) 2. If you use our system, we now provide transparency on the exact cost of your usage 3. Seeing as we made the switch a few days ago, and reset everyone’s usage at that time, if you’re still finding you need more credits, it means your usage is costing hundreds of dollars a day. I’d check out the new [model cost estimates in the builder](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/model-cost-estimates-in-the-builder/7422/2) and the [new usage analytics in the dashboard](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/usage-analytics-on-the-dashboard/7425). Those should help you manage costs! ---
**Author:** ![nathaniel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/nathaniel/32/11_2.png) [@nathaniel](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/nathaniel)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/17 "2025-10-29T21:15:21Z")
Also, if you switched to pro a while ago, you still have the original price. We don’t increase prices on existing users, so as long as you stay subscribed you should be all good! ---
**Author:** ![grohaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f8ce5/32.png) [@grohaus](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/grohaus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 3:31pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/18 "2025-10-30T15:31:14Z")
I’m confused. After April, will I still be able to use my API keys or not? In the header of the email announcement, it made it sound like this was going to allow us to use credits, and once those ran out, the API would kick in. The FAQ in the post above also suggested it would still be possible to use API keys if that was our preference. But your comment and the rest of the email make it sound like, after April, all credits will have to be purchased through Pickaxe. A big reason I went with Pickaxe was the ability to BYOK, which is critical for us as we have a line item for these expenses in our budget. Also, it creates a bit of a billing nightmare for people we’ve built studios for who BYOK as part of the deal. If BYOK is going away, I’ll need to move my bots to another platform, which isn’t going to be an overnight process, so if that’s needed, I’ll want to start that process ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![nathaniel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/nathaniel/32/11_2.png) [@nathaniel](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/nathaniel)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/19 "2025-10-30T16:07:53Z")
BYOK is indeed going away in April! In the meantime, we’re here to help in any way we can. Though _usage_ will need to be _paid for_ through Pickaxe starting in April, we’re working to accommodate lots of different billing requirements, including separate invoices for model cost, and separate invoices for each model provider where required. Costs and billing shouldn’t change much beyond that! And as you say, recurring plan credits will now transition seamlessly into as needed usage based payments. That said, if you’d like some more guidance don’t hesitate to [schedule a call with us](https://pickaxe.co/book-a-call) or come by [our office hours](https://luma.com/pickaxeofficehours)! ---
**Author:** ![forward\_ai\_team](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/forward_ai_team/32/3059_2.png) [@forward\_ai\_team](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/forward_ai_team)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391/20 "2025-10-30T17:34:37Z")
This change also affected us negatively. If the new credits system was in place this month, we would also have seen a 400$ increase in costs. We will definitely have to reconsider our services. What this means, is that we were previously being undercharged by pickaxe on our AI usage. [Next page](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/new-pickaxe-credit-system-is-live/7391.md?page=2)