> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.faaaster.io/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# How are Faaaster's AI features billed?

The **AI assistant** is **free** as part of support: it doesn't use any credits. **Credits** are only used for the agent's **development sessions**, and the **MCP server** doesn't consume anything.

## Contents

- [The assistant: free, with a usage limit](#2-the-assistant-free-with-a-usage-limit)
- [Credits: for development sessions](#2-credits-for-development-sessions)
- [When the balance runs out](#2-when-the-balance-runs-out)
- [Why MCP doesn't consume anything](#2-why-mcp-doesnt-consume-anything)

## The assistant: free, with a usage limit

Your questions, diagnostics, approved actions and troubleshooting done directly on a site cost you nothing.

A daily and monthly **usage limit** applies to each **organization**. When it's reached, the assistant tells you that it's taking a break until the next day, or until the next month. Our team can still be reached with the **Write to the team** link shown below its message.

## Credits: for development sessions

Building or changing features on a site with the agent is a separate service: it uses **credits**, tied to your **organization** and not to a site or a user. This mode is currently reserved for partners, and only the organization's owner and admins can start a paid session.

Consumption is calculated **based on usage**: a long session that touches many files costs more than a one-off change.

> **The balance is shared across the organization**, not per user or per site. Three people working the same afternoon draw from the same pool.

Credits are added by the Faaaster team.

> ⚠️ **Self-service credit purchases aren't available yet.** To top up your balance, ask the assistant (**Support** button): it will pass your request on to our team. Better to plan ahead than to be cut off in the middle of a session.

## When the balance runs out

The agent refuses to start a development session and tells you so. The assistant, however, remains available for all your support questions.

## Why MCP doesn't consume anything

The difference comes down to who provides the model:

- with the **MCP server**, it's **your agent** — Claude, Codex, Cursor — and its billing stays with its provider;
- with the **built-in agent**, it's Faaaster, hence the credit consumption for development sessions.

So if you're an owner, admin or member of a site, MCP lets you work on it with your own agent, without dipping into your credits.

👉 [What is the AI assistant?](https://help.faaaster.io/en-us/article/ai-assistant-1g9a30/) · [How do I manage my sites from my own AI agent?](https://help.faaaster.io/en-us/article/mcp-server-1t6puln/)