How Credits Work

Credits power every AI-generated output in TrussNote. This article explains exactly how they are counted, consumed, and replenished.

The credit model

TrussNote uses credits rather than a flat usage fee because different AI outputs have vastly different computational costs. A one-line RFI question costs far less to generate than a full 30-page proposal with code references and risk analysis.

Credits allow you to use the tools that matter most without paying for complexity you do not need.

How credits are counted

Credits are deducted when a report is successfully generated. If a generation fails before completing, no credits are deducted.

The cost per report depends on:

• Tool complexity: Zoning Analysis and Proposal Builder consume more credits than RFI Generator
• Input length: Longer project descriptions and uploaded documents consume slightly more
• Output detail level: Reports with more sections and depth consume more

You can see the credit cost before generating by checking the credit estimate shown on each tool's input form.

Credit pools

Your organization has one shared credit pool. All team members draw from the same pool. Admins can view real-time consumption by member from the Billing page.

Plan credits

Plan credits are included with your subscription. They reset at the start of each billing period and do not roll over.

Top-up credits

Top-up credits are purchased separately and are added to your pool on top of your plan credits. They do not expire and persist across billing periods until used.

When generating reports, plan credits are consumed first. Top-up credits are only used after plan credits are exhausted.

Billing cycle and reset

Credits reset on the same day each month based on your subscription start date. If you started your subscription on the 15th of the month, your credits reset on the 15th of every month.

You can find your next reset date on the Billing page.

What happens at zero credits

When your organization reaches zero credits:

• AI tools display a "Credits exhausted" message
• Previously generated reports remain accessible
• Sharing, downloading, and viewing all continue to work normally
• You can purchase a top-up immediately from the Billing page to restore access without waiting for the monthly reset

Viewing credit usage

Go to Settings > Billing to see:

• Total credits this period
• Credits used so far
• Credits remaining
• Usage breakdown by team member
• Recent tool usage history

Frequently asked questions

Do credits expire? Plan credits expire at the end of each billing period. Top-up credits never expire.

Can I get a refund if I do not use all my credits? Unused plan credits are not refunded. If you consistently have large numbers of unused credits, consider downgrading to a smaller plan.

What if I run out mid-project? Purchase a credit top-up from the Billing page. Top-ups are added instantly so you can continue working without interruption.

Can I set alerts before credits run out? Low-credit notifications are sent automatically when you drop below 20% of your plan allocation. Custom threshold alerts are on the roadmap.