Why AI tools use credits so quickly

Short answer. A credit is whatever the vendor says it is, and the amount an action costs depends on the action. Credits usually vanish faster than expected because (1) each step of a process costs credits, (2) some features or models cost far more than others, (3) retries, edits and regenerations are charged again, (4) a pool is shared by every seat, (5) unused credits expire, or (6) something runs when you are not watching. To find out which one is yours, run one small job and write down the credits it used.

This guide uses what each vendor’s pricing page said when we read it. We have not run these tools, and credit rules change. The vendor’s usage screen and terms are the final authority.

The six causes, with what the pages say

Cause	What we recorded
Every step costs credits	Make: “most actions” use one credit, so a scenario with five steps run 200 times uses about 1,000. Some advanced AI features use more
Costs differ by feature or model	invideo AI lists different credit costs for images and videos, and says it can change credit costs at any time without notice
Edits and retries are charged again	Fliki: credits follow the length of audio generated or video exported, and changing the text, voice or pauses reprocesses the audio and charges credits
A pool is shared	Lindy: credits are pooled across the team, every active user is billed, and extra credits cost $10 per 1,000 (currency not named)
Credits expire	Make says credits expire at the end of the term. Lindy says monthly credits do not roll over. invideo says unused credits do not roll over
Automations run unattended	A duplicate or looping automation repeats every metered action. See why an automation runs twice

Diagnose it in four steps

1. Pick one job that you can repeat, such as one video, one scenario run or one summary.
2. Run it once and note the credits before and after, using the tool’s own usage display if it has one. We did not verify that every tool shows usage.
3. Compare with the plan’s allowance. Divide the monthly credits by what one job used. That gives the number of jobs, not a cost.
4. Change one thing and run it again, such as a cheaper model, a shorter clip or fewer steps. The difference shows where the credits go.

Safe ways to slow the drain

• Test with the smallest version of the job first (a short clip, a few records).
• Avoid regenerating when an edit would do, where the tool charges for both. Check the tool’s rule first.
• Turn off anything that runs on a schedule while you test.
• Check whether the tool can buy extra credits automatically, and switch that off until you trust the usage.
• Keep a list of who uses the shared pool.
• If a feature uses most of your credits, decide whether you need it. A cheaper alternative may cover the job.

When credits run out

Vendors differ. Make says scenarios stop running until credits are added. Check the plan’s page for what happens at the limit before you leave anything unattended, and see how automation tools bill their usage.

What this guide cannot tell you

How many credits your job will use. Credit costs per model are not stable, and we do not convert credits into money. Use the cost planner only with numbers you have measured.

Sources and dates

Pricing pages and FAQs read on 21 and 22 October 2026: Make, invideo AI, Fliki and Lindy. Make’s expiry and action-cost statements come from its FAQ.