Packaging and monetization

AI Credits Pricing Calculator

Name: LLM Margin
Rating: 4.8 (127 reviews)
Author: LLM Margin

Convert token costs into customer-friendly credits, safe plan allowances, and profitable top-up packages.

Your scenario

Adjust the assumptions. Results update instantly.

Model

Monthly plan price

Price of the subscription tier that includes credits.

Target gross margin

Margin the plan must retain after expected credit use.

Input tokens per credit

tokens

Average input consumed by one credit-bearing action.

Output tokens per credit

tokens

Average output consumed by one credit-bearing action.

Other cost per action

Search, image, voice, storage, or third-party API cost.

Credits included today

credits

Current or proposed monthly allowance.

Expected unused credits

Percentage of included credits customers will not redeem.

Expected credit margin

25/100

The current allowance is too generous for this plan price.

Customers are expected to redeem 850 of 1K credits, producing $21.68 in variable cost per subscription.

Recommended included credits

401

At 70% target margin

Cost of one credit

$0.0255

Underlying AI and tool cost

Retail value per credit

$0.0290

Plan price divided by allowance

100-credit top-up

$8.50

Minimum price at target margin

Recommended next moves

Reduce the allowance toward 401 credits or raise the plan price.
Define one credit as the modeled action costing $0.0255 rather than exposing tokens.
Recalculate with lower breakage if credits roll over or customers learn to consume more efficiently.

Turn this snapshot into an operating model

Save scenarios, monitor assumptions, and model your complete AI SaaS margin.

See LLM Margin plans

Methodology

How this calculator works

Calculate the underlying cost of one credit-bearing AI action.

Adjust expected usage for credits that expire or remain unused.

Recommend an allowance and top-up price that protect your target margin.

What makes this useful

This starts with real model COGS and works backward into a credit system customers can understand.

Frequently asked questions

How much should one AI credit be worth?

Tie each credit to a clear customer action, then price it above the expected blended cost of that action rather than exposing raw tokens.

Should unused credits roll over?

Rollover reduces breakage and increases future cost liability. If credits roll over, use a lower allowance or an expiration window in the model.

How should top-up credits be priced?

Top-ups should cover the full marginal cost and preserve your target margin. They can cost more per credit than the subscription allowance.

Continue your analysis

Usage Limit Calculator

Set a usage allowance that is generous to customers and safe for gross margin.

Open tool

Power User Calculator

Find the exact power-user mix your current pricing can survive.

Open tool

Feature Profitability Calculator

Calculate contribution margin and the minimum profitable price for one AI feature.

Open tool

AI Credits Pricing Calculator uses current model prices and your operating assumptions to estimate business impact. Treat the output as a planning model, then replace defaults with p50, p95, and p99 telemetry from your own product.