> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.valendata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Credits
> What runs cost: every AI model, browser and proxy minute, search, code run, row, and verification, priced in credits.
Valendata uses a credit-based, pay-for-what-you-use billing model. Every action a run takes is metered separately and priced in credits, listed exactly below — no bundled flat fees, no hidden categories.
## What credits cover
Every time you run a skill or workflow, Valendata deducts credits based on the exact resources that run consumed. Everything is billed at the published rate in 0.01-credit increments — never rounded up to a whole credit. Browser time is billed per second for as long as your run holds the browser, from session start until the run finishes (idle gaps between steps of a running workflow included).
Warm or idle browser time after your run ends is free. Valendata may keep a finished run's browser ready for a couple of minutes so your next run starts instantly — that time is never charged to you.
If a run fails because of our infrastructure (our proxy, our cloud browser, a worker restart, an error in our code, or an AI provider outage), every credit it used is refunded automatically and the run is marked "Failed on our side — refunded". See [Runs](/concepts/runs#why-a-run-failed). Runs that fail because the site is down, blocks the run, asks for a login, or changed its page, or because of bad inputs or a cancel, are charged as usual.
### AI model usage
Cost depends on which model a run uses, and scales with tokens used:
| Model | Input (credits / 1k tokens) | Output (credits / 1k tokens) |
| - | - | - |
| Gemini 3 Flash *(default — fast & smart)* | 0.125 | 0.75 |
| Gemini 3.1 Pro *(most capable Gemini)* | 0.50 | 3.00 |
| Claude Sonnet 4.6 *(balanced Claude)* | 0.75 | 3.75 |
| Claude Opus 4.6 *(advanced reasoning)* | 1.25 | 6.25 |
| Claude Opus 4.7 *(maximum intelligence)* | 1.25 | 6.25 |
Bring-your-own-key (BYOK) users pay their own provider directly for tokens; the model picker still applies for capability, but token cost is between you and your provider.
### Browser & proxy time
| Resource | Cost |
| - | - |
| Browser session time | 2.0 credits / minute |
| + Sticky Identity proxy *(stays logged into one site as a stable IP)* | +2.2 credits / minute, on top of browser time |
| + Rotating Residential proxy *(premium residential network for reliable access from the right region)* | +2.9 credits / minute, on top of browser time |
Browser time is billed per second at this rate, in 0.01-credit increments: 45 seconds costs 1.5 credits, and 60.04 seconds costs 2.00 credits. Not every task needs a proxy — Valendata decides automatically based on what the task requires, and the surcharge only applies for the actual time a proxy tier is in use.
### Other metered actions
| Resource | Cost |
| - | - |
| Web search query | 2.0 credits / query |
| Sandbox code execution | 1.0 credit / execution |
| Extracted data row | 0.1 credit / row (10 rows = 1 credit) |
| Verification handling — reCAPTCHA v2 | 0.20 credits / solve |
| Verification handling — reCAPTCHA v3 | 0.25 credits / solve |
| Verification handling — Cloudflare Turnstile | 0.30 credits / solve |
Verification handling only happens (and only bills) when a task actually meets a challenge, and only where the site permits it — most tasks never touch this line at all. If a site refuses access, the run stops and reports `blocked` rather than trying to get around it.
Every new Valendata account receives **100 free credits** at sign-up, no credit card required. Use them to build and test your first skills before choosing a plan.
## Pricing tiers
Credits are sold in bundles. The more you buy at once, the lower the per-credit cost.
**\$10**
* 1,000 credits
* **\$0.0100 per credit**
* Perfect for topping up or trying things out
**\$45** *(save 10%)*
* 5,000 credits
* **\$0.0090 per credit**
* Great for regular use
**\$80** *(save 20%)*
* 10,000 credits
* **\$0.0080 per credit**
* Best for power users and heavy workloads
**Custom pricing**
* 50,000+ credits
* Negotiated per-credit rate
* Custom SLAs, invoicing, and dedicated support — [contact us](https://app.valendata.com)
The Pro bundle gives you the lowest per-credit cost at \$0.0080 — a 20% saving over Starter. For anyone running skills regularly, it's the most cost-efficient bundle to buy.
## Credits never expire
**Purchased credits never expire.** If you buy 5,000 credits today and use 1,200 over the next month, your remaining 3,800 are still there, no deadlines, no cut-off dates. You can buy in bulk whenever it suits your budget.
Subscription plan credits work differently: they refresh each month on your billing date. Unused monthly credits do not carry over — every plan resets to its monthly grant each cycle. (Purchased top-up credits are separate from this and never expire, as above.)
## Checking your credit balance
Click the credit pill in the top header to open the **Credits & Billing** panel. From there you can view your transaction history, per-run breakdowns, and top up your balance. Credits are added immediately after payment.
From code, read your balance with [`GET /v1/account`](/api-reference/account/get) and what you spent with [`GET /v1/usage`](/api-reference/account/usage). Every run result reports its own `credits_charged`. See [Runs](/concepts/runs#what-a-finished-run-holds).
## Who pays in a workspace
Runs in a workspace draw from the workspace owner's balance, whoever starts them. The owner can cap each member's monthly spend. See [Workspaces](/concepts/workspaces#shared-credit-balance).
## Frequently asked questions
Yes. New credits are added to your existing balance. Credits from different purchases are pooled together and drawn down as a single balance — oldest credits are consumed first.
There is no recurring free tier, but every account starts with 100 free credits. These are enough to run several skills and evaluate the platform before purchasing a bundle.
Enterprise plans offer volume pricing for 50,000 or more credits, custom SLAs, dedicated support, and invoiced billing. [Contact the Valendata team](https://app.valendata.com) to discuss your requirements.
This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.