Prepaid AI credits let customers buy a balance first and draw down a stated number of credits per task. Unlike a subscription plus later usage charges, the prepaid balance creates a spending boundary.
Increase tasks in the demo to drain the balance. Further work waits when credits run out. Show both credits per task and the currency equivalent so users can interpret cost.
Stripe's 2025 AI pricing framework describes prepaid credits as a risk guardrail, and its 2026 billing comparison says the abstraction must be understandable. State expiry, refund and rollover rules too.
When to use
Use for variable AI demand when an upfront spending boundary helps.