Controlling Costs

Two separate costs

Running an AI assistant involves two costs:

  1. Hosting ($18.99/mo) — This is what you pay us to run and maintain your assistant's server. It's a flat monthly fee.
  2. AI API usage (varies) — This is what your AI provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc.) charges you for the AI model's processing. You pay them directly.

What does AI API usage typically cost?

Most people spend $5–$20 per month on API usage for casual use. Heavy use or complex tasks can cost more. The exact amount depends on how much you chat, which model you use, and what tasks you ask it to do.

Setting spending limits

Each AI provider lets you cap your spending:

OpenAI

Go to platform.openai.com → Billing. Under "Usage limits", set a monthly budget. Once you hit it, your API key stops working — no surprise charges.

Anthropic

Go to console.anthropic.com → Billing. Set a monthly spending limit under "Usage limits". Your key stops working once the limit is reached.

Google (Gemini)

Google offers a generous free tier for Gemini. For paid usage, set budget alerts in the Google Cloud Console under Billing → Budgets & Alerts.

Recommendation: Start with a $10 monthly limit on your AI provider. You can always raise it later once you see how much you actually use.

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