Billing & Usage
Tracecast uses a credit system called Tracecast Units (TCUs) to measure usage. This guide explains how billing works, what's included in each plan, and how to manage your usage.
To view your account's usage and billing information, navigate to Settings → Usage and Billing.View Usage & Billing
Understanding Tracecast Units (TCUs)
Tracecast uses a normalized unit called Tracecast Units (TCUs) to measure product usage. Every time Tracecast AI runs—whether answering questions, generating reports, or completing tasks—it consumes TCU based on the complexity and length of the work.
Typical Usage Examples
Task TypeApproximate TCU
Quick question~0.05 TCU
Standard analysis and tasks~0.50 to ~2 TCU
Heavy data processing and longer running tasks~2+ TCU

Actual TCU consumption depends on a number of factors, including the amount of information processed and generated, your own data, and the complexity of a task.

Subscription Plans
Tracecast offers two subscription tiers, both billed monthly.
Starter Plan — $45/month
  • 20 TCU included each billing cycle
  • Best for individuals or small teams with moderate AI usage
  • Add-on credits available at $2.25/TCU
  • Effective rate of $2.25/TCU on included credits
Pro Plan — $200/month
  • 100 TCU included each billing cycle
  • Best for teams with heavy or frequent AI usage
  • Add-on credits available at $2.00/TCU (11% savings vs. Starter)
  • Effective rate of $2.00/TCU on included credits
How Credits Work
Your account has two separate credit pools:
Subscription Credits

These are the TCU included with your monthly plan.

  • Reset each billing cycle to your plan's included amount
  • Do not roll over—unused subscription credits expire at the end of each billing period
  • Used first when your agent runs
Purchased Credits

These are additional TCU you buy as one-time add-ons.

  • Roll over indefinitely—they never expire
  • Only used after your subscription credits are depleted

Deduction order: When your agent runs, subscription credits are used first. Purchased credits are only consumed once subscription credits reach zero.

Purchasing Additional Credits

You can purchase add-on TCUs at any time.

  • Minimum purchase: 10 TCU
  • Pricing: Based on your current plan
    • Starter subscribers: $2.25/TCU
    • Pro subscribers: $2.00/TCU

Purchased credits are added to your account immediately and never expire.

Billing Cycle

All Tracecast subscriptions are aligned to the 1st of each month.

Starting Mid-Month

If you subscribe partway through a month, you'll receive a prorated amount of credits for the remaining days. Your first charge will also be prorated. Starting on the 1st of the following month, you'll be charged the full monthly rate and receive your full credit allocation.

Example: Subscribe on December 15th → receive approximately 50% of your monthly credits → full credits and billing begin January 1st.

Renewals

On the 1st of each month:

  • Your subscription credits reset to the full plan amount
  • Any unused subscription credits from the previous month do not carry over
  • Your purchased credits remain unchanged
Upgrading Your Plan
You can upgrade from Starter to Pro at any time.
What Happens When You Upgrade
  • Takes effect immediately
  • You receive prorated Pro credits for the remainder of your billing period. Unused Starter Plan payment is credited towards your new Pro subscription.
  • Your purchased credits are unaffected
Downgrading
Downgrades from Pro to Starter take effect at the end of your current billing period. You'll keep your Pro credits until your next renewal date.
What Happens If You Run Out of Credits
Balance Checks

Before running complex operations, Tracecast checks that you have sufficient credits. If your balance is too low:

  • You'll see a notification explaining the issue
  • You'll be directed to add credits or upgrade your plan
  • The operation won't proceed until you have sufficient balance
Overdraft
If a run consumes more credits than estimated and your subscription credits go negative, the overdraft will be deducted from your next month's credits.
Scheduled Tasks and Auto-Pause
If you use scheduled tasks (recurring AI agent runs), Tracecast automatically manages them based on your credit balance.
Auto-Pause
When your balance drops below a minimum threshold after a task completes, tasks with insufficient balance are automatically paused. You'll retain all task configurations—nothing is deleted.
Auto-Resume

When credits are added to your account (via renewal, upgrade, or purchase), paused tasks automatically resume if:

  • They were paused due to insufficient balance (not manually paused)
  • Your new balance meets the minimum threshold

Manually paused tasks are never auto-resumed.

Canceling Your Subscription
You can cancel your subscription at any time from the billing portal.
During Cancellation Period
  • Your subscription enters a "canceling" state
  • You retain full access until your current billing period ends
  • You can reactivate at any time before the period ends
After Cancellation

When your billing period ends:

  • Subscription credits are forfeited (set to zero)
  • Purchased credits are frozen—preserved but not usable
  • AI agents and tasks become inactive
Reactivating

If you resubscribe later:

  • Your frozen purchased credits are made available
  • You receive new subscription credits (prorated if mid-month)
  • All your data and configurations remain intact
Managing Your Billing
Billing Portal

Access your billing portal from Settings → Usage and Billing → Manage Billing. From here you can:

  • Update payment methods
  • View invoices and payment history
  • Cancel or reactivate your subscription
  • Download receipts
Usage Dashboard

The Usage page shows:

  • Your current billing cycle dates
  • Available credit balance (subscription + purchased)
  • Usage breakdown for the current period
  • Per-thread usage details
FAQ
How is TCU calculated?
TCU is calculated based on the computational work your AI agent performs. More complex requests, longer conversations, and detailed outputs consume more TCU.
Do my credits expire?

Subscription credits reset each billing cycle. Unused subscription credits don't roll over. Purchased add-on credits never expire and roll over indefinitely.

How do I get more credits?
You can purchase additional credits anytime from the Usage page. $2.00/TCU for Pro plans and $2.25/TCU for Starter plans.
Will I lose my data if I cancel my plan?
No. Your conversations, configurations, and data are preserved. If you resubscribe, everything will be restored, including any purchased credits you had.
Can I get a refund for unused TCUs?
TCUs are non-refundable.
How do I upgrade from Starter to Pro?

To upgrade your plan navigate to Settings → Usage and Billing and click Upgrade to Pro.

Is there a free trial?
Contact our sales team to learn about trial options for your organization.
Who do I contact for billing issues?
For billing questions or issues, reach out to our support team or use the help option in your dashboard.
Summary
FeatureStarter ($45/mo)Pro ($200/mo)
Included TCU20/mo100/mo
Effective rate$2.25/TCU$2.00/TCU
Add-on rate$2.25/TCU$2.00/TCU
Billing cycle1st of month1st of month

Need help? Visit your billing settings or contact support for assistance.