Optimize AI costs
AI features like Agent are powerful tools, but strategic use can help you maximize value while controlling costs. Here are effective ways to reduce AI spending.Use Plan Mode for cost-effective collaboration
Plan Mode is one of the most effective ways to save on AI costs. When you enable Plan Mode, Agent creates a detailed plan without making any code changes. This approach offers several cost benefits:- Chat before committing: Discuss and refine the approach with Agent before any work begins
- Lower token costs: Planning conversations use fewer tokens than code generation and editing
- Precision targeting: Review and adjust the plan to ensure Agent only works on what matters
- Iterative refinement: Get the scope right before spending tokens on implementation
Control costs with Agent modes and Code Optimizations
Agent modes (Economy, Power, Turbo) let you choose cost vs. capability—Economy uses fewer credits per task. We recommend using Code Optimizations to balance cost and quality. Code Optimizations controls how much Agent reviews its own code, which affects both token usage and output quality:- Choose when to use it: Turn it on for most work—Agent reviews its own code, catches mistakes, and reduces costly rework. Turn it off when you want maximum control and minimal tokens (e.g., quick edits or budget-conscious work).
- Review before execution: Monitor what Agent plans to do before it makes changes
- Selective approval: Choose which changes to apply, avoiding work that doesn’t align with your goals
- Reduced iterations: Using Code Optimizations can mean fewer correction cycles and wasted tokens
Purchase credit packs
If you’re on a Core or Pro plan and need additional credits beyond your monthly subscription allowance, you can purchase credit packs from Settings → Account → Billing. Credit packs have discounts when you buy larger amounts, making them ideal for covering temporary usage spikes or preparing for larger projects.Available credit packs
Credit packs are available in four sizes, with increasing discounts on larger purchases:| Credit Pack | Price | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| $100 credits | $100 | — |
| $300 credits | $290 | $10 off |
| $500 credits | $480 | $20 off |
| $1,000 credits | $950 | $50 off |
How credit packs work
- Purchase location: Available in Settings → Account → Billing for Core and Pro plan customers
- Expiration: Credit packs expire six months after the purchase date
- No renewal: Credit packs do not automatically renew
- No rollover: Unused credits from a pack do not roll over after expiration
- Automatic usage: Credits are automatically used from the credit pack that expires earliest first, helping you maximize the value of your purchases
Your usage alerts and budgets will apply to usage after you use any credit packs you may have. If you want to limit your usage to just credits you’ve purchased in your pack, set any alerts or limits to $0.01.
Set up alerts and budgets
You can establish monthly usage alerts and budgets for all usage-based billing services to monitor and control your costs.Usage alerts
Usage alerts notify you when you reach a specific spending threshold beyond your monthly credits. You’ll receive notifications on Replit and via email when you hit your set amount. For Core accounts, open Settings → Account → Billing to set up a usage alert. For organizations, you can set your usage alert via the usage page by selecting Manage under Usage total.Service shutdown limit
When this limit is reached, services will be suspended until the budget is increased or the next billing cycle begins. This will help prevent extra charges. For Core accounts, open Settings → Account → Billing to set up a service shutdown limit.Organization budgets
For organizations, you can set your usage budget from the settings page. Budgets must be in increments of .You must have organization admin or owner permissions to enable a monthly usage limit. If you don’t have access, contact your organization owner.