Understanding TubeOnAI’s Credit Billing System

A Fairer, Smarter Way to Pay for AI

TubeOnAI began with minute-based billing, which worked well for YouTube videos — our original focus. However, as we expanded to support more content types such as documents, PDFs, audio, and presentations, the minute-based approach became inconsistent and often inaccurate for non-video formats.

To solve this, TubeOnAI now uses a credit-based billing system that charges you only for the actual AI work performed — not by video length or file size. It’s transparent, flexible, and fair.

Why Switch to Credits?

The Problem with Minute-Based Billing

• ❌ Same cost for both simple and complex content
• ❌ No control over AI model quality or speed
• ❌ Charged for video duration instead of actual AI usage
• ❌ Only accurate for video-based tasks

The Credit-Based Solution

• ✅ Pay only for real AI usage
• ✅ Choose your AI model to balance cost and quality
• ✅ See the estimated cost upfront before confirming
• ✅ Works seamlessly for videos, documents, audio, and articles
• ✅ Automatic refunds for failed or incomplete tasks

How Credits Work

• 1 credit = $0.001 (one-tenth of a cent)
• 1,000 credits = $1.00

Credits depend on:

• AI tokens used (input + output)
• Model selected (basic or premium)
• Content length and complexity
• Language and speech speed (for audio/video)

You’ll always see an estimated cost before processing begins.

What 1,000 Credits Can Get You ($1)

🎥 Video & Audio

📄 Documents

🎧 Average Credits per Hour (Audio/Video)

💻 Cost by AI Model

All calculations are based on gpt-5-mini as the default model with verified accuracy from real credit data.

What Affects Credit Usage

1. Content Length – Longer = more tokens
2. Speech Speed – Faster = more words
3. Language – Some languages use more tokens
4. Summary Detail – Detailed = more credits
5. Model Choice – Premium models cost more

Smart Tips to Save Credits

• 💡 Use gpt-4o-mini for short or simple content (up to 90% cheaper)
• 💡 Use premium models only when top-tier accuracy is essential
• 💡 Choose Brief summaries for concise insights
• 💡 Monitor your Credit Logs regularly
• 💡 Prefer YouTube sources — transcripts are free via API

Credit Balance Guide

Credit Sources:

• Subscription (monthly/yearly)
• One-time top-ups
• Rollover (depending on plan)
• Bonus or promo credits

🚨 Automatic Credit Protection

You’ll never lose credits due to failed operations.

Examples:

• Video fails to download → Full refund
• Summary fails after transcription → Pay only for transcription
• API timeout → Full refund

Key Benefits at a Glance

1. Transparent – Real-time usage and cost tracking
2. Fair – Pay only for actual AI work
3. Flexible – Choose your model and summary detail
4. Insightful – Dashboard shows trends and usage patterns
5. Protected – Instant refunds for failed tasks

FAQs

Q: Will I pay more than before?

A: Most users pay less. Basic models save 20–40%, while premium ones offer higher quality for a small increase.

Q: How do I know the cost before running something?

A: You’ll always see an estimated credit cost before confirming.

Q: What if I run out of credits?

A: You’ll receive alerts — simply top up or upgrade anytime.

Q: Do credits expire?

A: Purchased credits never expire. Subscription credits roll over based on your plan.

Q: Hidden fees?

A: None — everything is shown upfront.

How Costs Are Calculated

Formula:

API Cost = (InputTokens/1M × InputPrice) + (OutputTokens/1M × OutputPrice)
Credits = API Cost × 1,000
Minimum = 1 credit per task

Average: 1.16 tokens ≈ 1 English word

Platform Comparison

TubeOnAI Advantage: Pay only for what you use, with full visibility and zero risk.

Save More with Smart Usage

• Use lower-cost models for everyday work
• Avoid unnecessary regenerations
• Check weekly usage trends
• Enable low-credit alerts

💰 Goal: Save 20–30% monthly with smart model selection.

Why This System Works

🎯 Fair: Pay for real AI work — not estimates

💰 Save: Average user saves $15–25/month

🔍 Transparent: See exactly what you spend

⚡ Flexible: Choose between speed, quality, or balance

🛡️ Protected: Automatic refunds for failures

🌍 Universal: Works for videos, documents, audio, and web content

Need Help?

📚 Resources: Credit calculator, tutorials, and migration guide

💬 Support: Live chat (9 AM–6 PM EST), email, or community forum

🎁 Bonus: 200 free credits when switching from minute-based billing

The Bottom Line

TubeOnAI’s credit system gives you control, transparency, and savings.

✅ Choose your model

✅ Pay only for actual AI work

✅ Track usage in real time

✅ Works across all content types

✅ Enjoy instant refunds

Most users save money while gaining flexibility and precision.

Last updated: October 2025

Updated on: 27/10/2025