> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.newly.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How credits work

> What a credit is, what uses credits in Newly v2, and where to see your balance.

Newly v2, at app.newly.app and in Newly for Mac, runs on prepaid credits. This page explains what uses them and how to keep track of your balance.

## What a credit is

A credit is prepaid usage that belongs to your **organization**, not to a single person. Plans add credits every month. The $25 plan adds 100 credits, so $1 of plan buys 4 credits. You can also buy one-time top-ups. See [Plans and top-ups](/billing/plans-and-top-ups) for the full list.

Everyone who works in your organization's projects spends from the same balance.

<Note>
  You need a positive balance to create a project, to send a message to Newly Agent, and to create a Newly Backend. New accounts start with 0 credits unless Newly gives you credits or a gift plan.
</Note>

## Credits follow work, not messages

A message doesn't cost a fixed amount. Every step the agent takes to answer it uses credits: reading your project, writing code, building, and checking the app.

* A quick question can use a fraction of a credit.
* A first build of a new app, or a long fix, can use dozens.

All modes are charged the same way. **Ask** and **Plan** aren't discounted. They often cost less only because the agent does less work in them. See [Build, Plan, Ask and Design](/build/modes).

## What uses credits

* **Newly Agent work.** Every message you send to Newly Agent in **Build**, **Plan**, **Ask** or **Design**, in Remote chats and in Local chats.
* **Automatic fix turns.** When a build fails or your app crashes, the agent may start a turn to fix it. That turn uses credits like any other.
* **AI features in your app.** Requests your app makes to **AI models**, in dev or production, including requests from your app's users. See [AI features in your app](/backend/ai-models).

## What doesn't draw down credits

These don't draw down credits today:

* previews, cloud simulators and the Web view
* native builds
* TestFlight uploads
* Newly Backend hosting
* **Restore to here** and **Undo**
* Local chats that use your own Claude or Codex login (Mac only, see [Local chats on your Mac](/mac/local-chats))

## What makes a request cost more

A turn costs more when the agent has more to do. The main factors are:

* how much the agent has to read, write and build
* the size of your project and of the conversation so far
* attached images and screenshots
* repeated build-and-fix loops

### Ways to spend less

* Be specific about what you want and where.
* Ask for one change per message.
* Use **Ask** or **Plan** to agree on an approach before the agent builds.
* Press the stop button if a turn heads the wrong way. Work completed so far stays saved.
* Use **Restore to here** to go back to an earlier point instead of asking the agent to undo its changes. See [Undo and Restore to here](/code/undo-and-restore).

For more, see [Prompting tips](/build/prompting-tips).

## Where to see your balance

* **Account footer.** Your balance shows under your name at the bottom of the sidebar.
* **Billing.** Select your name at the bottom of the sidebar, then select **Billing**. **Available credits** shows your total. Select it to see a breakdown by **Plan**, **Top-up** and **From Newly**, each with its expiry ("until" a date, or "never expires").

There's no per-message or per-chat cost history.

## Why your balance moves in steps

Newly sets credits aside while a step runs and settles the real amount when it finishes. Your balance can change in jumps rather than smoothly.

The last step of a turn can take your balance slightly below zero. The next credits you buy or receive cover that amount first.

## Shared projects

When you work in a project someone shared with you, the project owner's organization pays for the turns. See [Share a project](/code/sharing-projects).

## Prices

Prices can change. **Billing** in the app always shows current prices.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Plans and top-ups" icon="layer-group" href="/billing/plans-and-top-ups">
    Plan tiers, annual billing, top-ups and credits from Newly.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Running out of credits" icon="battery-empty" href="/billing/out-of-credits">
    What happens at 0 credits and how to continue.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>